We install every major smart lock brand sold in the US: Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly. The right one depends on four things: whether you need a rekeyable keyway, which app ecosystem you use, whether your HOA allows exterior changes, and how your door is built. This page compares them the way an installer sees them.
What you get
- Every major brand, supplied or bring your own
- Straight comparison of keyways, connectivity and ecosystems
- Recommendations by door type and household
- Installed, paired and tested in one visit
What actually matters when picking a brand
Marketing pages list features. Installers care about four things.
- Keyway. A physical key override you can rekey is your insurance policy, and can a smart lock be rekeyed gives the brand-by-brand answer. Some locks have none, some have a proprietary cylinder, and some use a standard residential keyway.
- Connectivity. Built-in Wi-Fi is convenient but costs battery. Bluetooth plus a bridge, Z-Wave, Thread or Matter each suit a different home.
- Ecosystem. Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa each support some locks natively and others through workarounds. Apple Home Key, the tap-your-iPhone feature, is limited to a few models.
- Fit. Retrofit locks keep your existing hardware; full replacements need a standard door prep. Door thickness and HOA rules narrow the field fast.
Schlage and Yale
The two names we install most, for different reasons.
Schlage
Schlage Encode is the lock we install most: built-in Wi-Fi, a keypad, heavy hardware and a standard Schlage C keyway that any locksmith can rekey. Encode Plus adds Apple Home Key, so an iPhone or Apple Watch tap unlocks the door. The Encode lever version suits doors that need a handle. Schlage also makes keypad-only deadbolts for people who want no app at all. Works with Alexa and Google Home; Encode Plus is the pick for Apple households. Details, models and rekey options are on our Schlage smart lock page.
Yale
Yale Assure Lock 2 is modular: choose a touchscreen or push-button keypad, keyed or key-free; Bluetooth is built in, and you add a Wi-Fi module or a Z-Wave module depending on your setup. The keyed version uses a standard residential keyway we can rekey. Yale's app is built on the same platform as August's, and the Wi-Fi module version integrates well with host tools, which is why we recommend it for vacation rentals. Yale also sells a Matter-over-Thread lock designed for Google Home, in keyed and key-free versions. See the Yale smart lock page for the full lineup.
Need smart lock brands we install today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Kwikset and August
One is the value keypad choice, the other the retrofit standard.
Kwikset
Kwikset Halo is a built-in Wi-Fi keypad deadbolt at a friendlier price, and Halo Touch swaps the keypad for a fingerprint reader. Both use SmartKey cylinders, which we can rekey in minutes to match every other Kwikset lock in your home, an advantage in a house already on Kwikset keys. Kwikset also sells keypad-only SmartCode deadbolts, and the newer Halo Select adds Matter, with Apple Home Key on the Halo Select Plus. See our Kwikset SmartKey page for how the rekey works, and the Kwikset smart lock page for Halo, Halo Touch and SmartCode.
August
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a retrofit: it replaces only the interior thumb-turn of a single-cylinder deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your existing keys stay as they are. It has Wi-Fi built in, a door sensor that knows whether the door is actually closed, auto-lock, and works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home. Add the August keypad for code entry. It is the standard answer for HOA condos in University City, Downtown and Coronado where exterior hardware cannot change. Compatibility and setup are covered on our August smart lock page.
Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly
Four brands with distinct strengths.
Level
Level Bolt is the invisible option: it replaces the bolt mechanism inside the door and keeps both your exterior and interior hardware, and your keys. Level Lock Pro, which replaced the Lock+, is a full deadbolt with a clean minimalist look, a physical keyway and Apple Home Key support. Both run over Bluetooth, with remote access through the Level Connect Wi-Fi bridge or, on current Matter versions, a Matter hub. A favorite for Apple households and period doors. More on the Level smart lock page.
Ultraloq
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro combines a fingerprint reader, a keypad, a physical key override and app access, with a built-in Wi-Fi version. It has a micro-USB emergency power port on the outside. Popular with people who want fingerprint entry on a main door, a garage entry or an ADU without paying premium-brand prices. See the Ultraloq smart lock page.
Eufy
Eufy smart locks pair fingerprint and keypad entry with built-in Wi-Fi and an app that does not require a subscription, and most models include a key override. The fingerprint readers are quick, and the lineup includes models with a built-in camera for people who want a doorbell view from the lock.
Lockly
Lockly is known for its shuffled keypad, which rearranges the digits each time so a bystander cannot learn your code from smudges or watching, plus fingerprint entry and a key override. Wi-Fi arrives through an included hub on the Secure Pro models, and the Vision line adds a video doorbell to the lock.
Side-by-side comparison
| Brand | Typical model | Keyway (rekeyable?) | Connectivity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schlage | Encode, Encode Plus | Yes, Schlage C keyway, rekeyable by any locksmith | Wi-Fi built in; Encode Plus adds Apple Home Key | Primary doors, set-and-forget, Apple or Alexa homes |
| Yale | Assure Lock 2 | Keyed or key-free versions; keyed uses a standard residential keyway | Bluetooth built in; Wi-Fi or Z-Wave module | Rentals and hosts, HomeKit or Z-Wave hub homes |
| Kwikset | Halo, Halo Touch, Halo Select | Yes, SmartKey cylinder, quick rekey | Wi-Fi built in; Halo Select adds Matter, Select Plus adds Home Key | Value Wi-Fi keypad, homes already on Kwikset keys |
| August | Wi-Fi Smart Lock (retrofit) | Keeps your existing deadbolt and keys | Wi-Fi built in, Bluetooth | Condos and HOAs where the outside must not change |
| Level | Bolt, Lock Pro | Bolt keeps existing keys; Lock Pro has its own keyway | Bluetooth, Matter on current models; Home Key on Lock Pro; Wi-Fi via bridge | Apple households, minimalist or period doors |
| Ultraloq | U-Bolt Pro | Yes, key override; rekey confirmed on-site | Bluetooth; Wi-Fi model or bridge | Fingerprint entry on a budget, garages, ADUs |
| Eufy | Smart Lock series | Yes on most, key override | Wi-Fi built in | Fingerprint plus a subscription-free app |
| Lockly | Secure Pro, Vision | Yes, key override | Bluetooth; Wi-Fi via the hub included with Secure Pro | Shuffled keypad privacy, video options |
Support changes with firmware and new models; we confirm details for the exact lock before you buy.
Which brand fits which San Diego home
- Apple household, primary door: Schlage Encode Plus, Level Lock Pro or Kwikset Halo Select Plus for Home Key.
- Google or Alexa household: Schlage Encode, Kwikset Halo or Yale with the Wi-Fi module.
- HOA condo, outside cannot change: August Wi-Fi retrofit or Level Bolt. Common in University City and Downtown towers.
- Short-term rental: Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2 Wi-Fi for scheduled codes.
- House already on Kwikset keys: Kwikset Halo, rekeyed to match in minutes.
- Coastal door in Point Loma or Pacific Beach: a full-replacement lock with a serviceable cylinder and a good weather rating, checked yearly.
- No app wanted: a keypad-only deadbolt from Schlage or Kwikset.
- Larger homes in Poway or Rancho Santa Fe with several doors: one brand throughout, override keys keyed alike.
We install what you bought, or supply the right one
Most customers already own a lock when they call. We check it against your door before opening the box, install and set it up, and tell you plainly if it is a poor match for your door or your goals. If you would rather we supply the lock, we bring a model we trust and quote the hardware up front. Either way the install includes alignment, pairing, codes and a walkthrough. Read more on our smart lock installation page, or see the best smart locks for San Diego homes guide for our current picks.
Smart Lock Brands We Install: common questions
Which smart lock brand is the most reliable?
In our experience Schlage and Yale full-replacement locks and the August retrofit have the fewest callbacks when installed on a properly aligned door. Reliability depends more on the door and the install than on the badge, which is why we fix alignment on every job.
Which smart locks work with Apple Home Key?
Apple Home Key, the feature that unlocks the door with a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch, is available on a short list of locks, including the Schlage Encode Plus and Sense Pro, Level Lock Pro, the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus and the Kwikset Halo Select Plus. Check the exact model name, since the standard versions of those locks do not include it.
Which smart locks still have a key?
Schlage Encode, Kwikset Halo, keyed Yale Assure Lock 2 models, Level Lock and Lock Pro, Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro and most Eufy and Lockly models include a physical key override. August and Level Bolt keep your existing deadbolt and its key. Key-free Yale models have no keyway at all.
Can you match a smart lock to my other Schlage or Kwikset keys?
Yes. Schlage Encode uses the Schlage C keyway and Kwikset Halo uses SmartKey, so each can be rekeyed to match other locks of the same brand. If your house mixes brands we can often swap cylinders so one key works everywhere.
Should I buy the lock myself or have you supply it?
Either works. Buying it yourself lets you shop for the best price; having us supply it means the model is guaranteed to fit your door and you have one point of contact if anything goes wrong. Tell us your door type and goals and we will recommend a model either way.
Do you install brands not listed here?
Yes. Aqara, Wyze, TP-Link, Philips and others go on the same standard doors, and we install them on the same terms. If a brand has a quirk we know about, we will tell you before you buy.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Best Smart Locks for San Diego Homes (2026 Installer Picks) – An installer's picks for the best smart locks in San Diego by use case: keypad with key backup, retrofit, Airbnb, no-app keypad, Apple Home and budget.
- Can a Smart Lock Be Rekeyed? Brand-by-Brand Answer – Most smart locks have a key override that can be rekeyed like any lock. The answer for Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly.
- Smart Locks for Airbnb Hosts in San Diego: The Practical Setup – How San Diego Airbnb hosts should set up a smart lock: expiring guest codes, remote access, a rekeyed backup key, batteries, beach Wi-Fi and HOA rules.
- Schlage Encode vs Yale Assure Lock 2 vs Kwikset Halo: Which to Buy – An installer compares Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2 and Kwikset Halo: keyways, Apple Home Key, fingerprint, Wi-Fi, price tier and our pick by home.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.