Circuit & Chime

Best Keypad & Fingerprint Smart Locks

Get in without your phone or a key. Keypad and fingerprint deadbolts ranked on how you actually unlock, how they fail safe, and which ecosystems they join — with live prices and honest trade-offs.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we test

The best thing about a smart lock isn’t the app — it’s never touching your keys again. The question is how you get in: a keypad code you can hand to a guest or a cleaner and revoke later, or a fingerprintthat opens the door in the time it takes to reach for it. Both beat fishing a phone out of a pocket with your arms full of groceries, and either is what you’ll actually use every day, so it’s the right thing to choose a lock around.

So these are ranked on entry method first, then on the practical stuff: whether they fail safe when the batteries die, how easy codes are to manage, and which ecosystems they join. Our overall pick is the keypad lock we’d fit to most doors; the rest cover the best build, the best fingerprint value, and renters who want a code without replacing the deadbolt. None of these locks charges a subscription to unlock or set codes. Every price is pulled live. For the retrofit-vs-replacement decision, start with the best smart locks roundup.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, storage and running cost. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t lab-tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forSubscriptionPrice
1
Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi keypad)

Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi keypad)

A full deadbolt replacement with a clean keypad and built-in Wi-Fi and — crucially — a swappable radio module, so you can move it to Matter or Z-Wave later instead of rebuying the whole lock.

Best keypad lock overallNo fee needed
$169.99 · View on Amazon

$259.9935% off

Price as of August 30, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Schlage Encode Plus (Wi-Fi + Home Key)

Schlage Encode Plus (Wi-Fi + Home Key)

The most solid-feeling lock here and one of the few with Apple Home Key — tap your iPhone or Watch to unlock. Built-in Wi-Fi and a real ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt underneath.

Best-built keypad lockNo fee needed
$319.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of August 30, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Wyze Lock Bolt (fingerprint)

Wyze Lock Bolt (fingerprint)

A fingerprint deadbolt for well under a hundred dollars, with a fast reader and a keypad backup. Not the most premium feel, but a lot of convenience for the price.

Best fingerprint valueNo fee needed
$79.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of August 30, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th gen)

Retrofits onto your existing deadbolt in minutes, so you keep your keys and your exterior hardware. The 4th-gen finally builds Wi-Fi in, dropping the separate bridge.

Best keypad for rentersNo fee needed

The picks in full

#1Best keypad lock overall

Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi keypad)

A full deadbolt replacement with a clean keypad and built-in Wi-Fi and — crucially — a swappable radio module, so you can move it to Matter or Z-Wave later instead of rebuying the whole lock.

Strengths

  • Built-in Wi-Fi, no separate bridge on this model
  • Swappable module future-proofs it (Matter/Z-Wave)
  • Keyed and key-free versions available

Trade-offs

  • Wi-Fi drains batteries faster than a hub connection
  • The module system means you must buy the right version
  • Bulkier interior than a retrofit lock
Key specWi-Fi deadbolt, keypad, swappable module
SubscriptionNo — works without a plan
Local storageNot applicable (lock)
ConnectivityWi-Fi (this model); modules for Z-Wave / Matter available
PowerAA batteries
Works withAlexa, Google Home

Worth knowing. The Assure Lock 2 ships in several radio versions — match the module to your ecosystem before buying.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 20, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Best-built keypad lock

Schlage Encode Plus (Wi-Fi + Home Key)

The most solid-feeling lock here and one of the few with Apple Home Key — tap your iPhone or Watch to unlock. Built-in Wi-Fi and a real ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt underneath.

Strengths

  • Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock
  • Sturdy ANSI Grade 1 build
  • Thread + Wi-Fi, no separate bridge

Trade-offs

  • Priciest lock here
  • Large exterior keypad
  • Battery drain with Wi-Fi always on
Key specWi-Fi + Thread deadbolt, Home Key
SubscriptionNo — works without a plan
Local storageNot applicable (lock)
ConnectivityWi-Fi + Thread + Bluetooth
PowerAA batteries
Works withAlexa, Google Home, Apple Home

Worth knowing. If you're an Apple household, Home Key support is the reason to pay the premium.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 20, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3Best fingerprint value

Wyze Lock Bolt (fingerprint)

A fingerprint deadbolt for well under a hundred dollars, with a fast reader and a keypad backup. Not the most premium feel, but a lot of convenience for the price.

Strengths

  • Fingerprint unlock, very cheap
  • Keypad and app backup
  • Long battery life

Trade-offs

  • Plastic-heavy build
  • No Apple Home
  • Check the variant for a backup physical key
Key specFingerprint deadbolt
SubscriptionNo — works without a plan
Local storageNot applicable (lock)
ConnectivityWi-Fi + Bluetooth
PowerRechargeable battery
Works withAlexa, Google Home

Worth knowing. Great value if you want fingerprint entry and don't need Apple Home.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 20, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#4Best keypad for renters

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th gen)

Retrofits onto your existing deadbolt in minutes, so you keep your keys and your exterior hardware. The 4th-gen finally builds Wi-Fi in, dropping the separate bridge.

Strengths

  • Installs over your current deadbolt — renters included
  • Keeps your existing keys working
  • Built-in Wi-Fi plus Apple Home support

Trade-offs

  • Bulky interior escutcheon
  • Battery life is only okay with Wi-Fi on
  • No keypad in the box (add-on)
Key specRetrofit deadbolt, keeps your key
SubscriptionNo — works without a plan
Local storageNot applicable (lock)
ConnectivityWi-Fi + Bluetooth (built-in)
PowerAA batteries
Works withAlexa, Google Home, Apple Home

Worth knowing. The retrofit design is the whole appeal — see our August vs Yale comparison for which philosophy fits you.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 20, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

How to choose a keyless-entry lock

Decide your everyday unlock method before anything else, because it narrows the field fast. A keypadis the most flexible: you issue a code per person — family, a dog walker, a contractor — and delete it when they no longer need it, with no key to copy or lose. A fingerprint readeris the fastest and the most satisfying; you touch the lock and you’re in, which is ideal for the main entrance you use a dozen times a day. The Yale and Schlage here are keypad locks; the Wyze Lock Bolt adds a fingerprint reader on top of a keypad, so it covers both.

Check how it fails safe

A lock is only smart until the batteries die, so how it behaves at that moment matters. Every lock here runs on its own batteries and warns you well before they’re flat, and none of them needs the internet to open from the keypad or a fingerprint at the door— an outage costs you remote features, not entry. Think about your backup, too: a keyed model keeps a traditional cylinder as a fallback, while a key-free model relies entirely on the keypad, app and (where fitted) fingerprint. If you want a metal-key safety net, buy the keyed version.

Match it to your ecosystem and your door

Let your existing setup decide the connectivity. If your household runs on iPhones and you’d like to tap to unlock as well as type a code, the Schlage Encode Plus adds Apple Home Key; the Yale Assure Lock 2works with Alexa and Google and, via its swappable module, can move to Matter later. Renters have a different constraint: you often can’t replace the whole deadbolt, which is where the retrofit August comes in — it keeps your existing lock and keys, and adds a keypad as a separate accessory for code entry. Whatever you choose, code hygiene is simple and worth doing: unique codes per person, revoked when they’re done, and a strong account password with two-factor authentication on the app. For which lock pairs with which app, the compatibility matrix lays it out.

Frequently asked questions

Are keypad or fingerprint smart locks better?

It depends on the door. Keypads are the more flexible choice because you can hand out and revoke a unique code per person — great for guests, cleaners or contractors. Fingerprint readers are faster and more convenient for a main entrance you use constantly. Some locks, like the Wyze Lock Bolt, offer both so you don't have to choose.

Do keypad smart locks work without Wi-Fi?

Yes. The keypad and fingerprint reader work locally at the door, so you can always get in even if the Wi-Fi is down or the internet is out. What you lose during an outage is remote control and notifications — not entry. Our guide on smart locks without Wi-Fi covers exactly what still works.

Can I give guests a temporary code on a smart lock?

Yes — that's one of the biggest reasons to buy a keypad lock. You can create a code for a specific person or a limited time and delete it afterwards, without copying a physical key. It's ideal for a house guest, a pet sitter or a short-term rental.

Do keypad and fingerprint locks need a subscription?

No. The locks here — Yale, Schlage, Wyze and August — don't charge a monthly fee to unlock, set codes, or use fingerprint entry. Recurring fees in the entry category come from video doorbells that store cloud recordings, not from the locks themselves.

Sources

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