It’s 2023 and smart locks have been on the market for some years now, but I bet you're still using traditional locks on your house? You know what, I’ll cut you some slack. Your home is your own private space. If you like using traditional locks on your doors, then so be it. To each their own, as they say. But if you are using traditional locks on your Airbnbs and Rentals, then my friend you are committing a grave mistake.
The future of locks is here and what better place than to try these locks at your Airbnb. Not only will a smart lock make your life easier, but it will also provide an added layer of security for both you and your guests. However, I am not here to talk about the advantages a smart lock has over traditional locks because we’ve already covered that in detail in our other blog “Why use smart lock on Airbnb”. Rather, in this blog, I will review five of the best smart locks on the market that you can order from Amazon right now. I want to help you begin your transition towards making your properties smart and help gain a unique selling point in this ultra-saturated market.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Here are 5 of the best smart locks on the market for your Airbnbs and Rentals:
SIFELY S Smart Lock
The SIFELEY S Smart Lock is a new generation smart lock introduced by SIFLEY. Its standout feature is its sleek and industrial design. It has a touch screen keypad which wakes up on touch. The touch screen itself is significantly bright and is suitable for use at any time of the day. According to reviews, it is easy to install on any door and only requires a Phillips screwdriver. Tests also indicate that the lock has a 10–12-month battery life on four standard AA batteries. Additionally, the SIFELY S Smart Lock also has a fingerprint scanner. The scanner is robust and works effectively in any condition with minimal lag. It can also store more than 150 fingerprints in its memory.
There are even more ways of unlocking the door using the SIFELY S Smart Lock. One such way is that of E-Keys. E-Keys are access codes generated on the SIFELY App or Oaks Smart Lock App. Once generated, you can use the E-Key on the app to unlock the door by simply using your smartphone. You can also share the E-Key on any of the apps and depending on the use case, you can create one time E-Keys, permanent E-Keys, or time limited E-Keys. This can prove to be a gamechanger for Airbnb hosts and out of town homeowners. However, one must note that these apps require SIFELY Wifi Gateway to work properly.
The biggest problem with the SIFELY S Smart Lock is that it doesn’t automatically connect to the internet. Rather, it requires a SIFELY Wifi Gateway to function effectively. Without this Gateway, the Smart Lock loses a significant portion of its functionality such as its ability to remotely access the locking mechanism, setting up codes remotely, accessing real time entry/exit logs and its connection with Alexa voice assistant. Additionally, even with the Gateway, the Smart Lock does not have capabilities to sync with Google’s or Samsung’s assistants.
SIFELY S Smart Lock
SIFELY S Smart Lock with Wifi Gateway
The KWIKSET Halo excels in its simplicity. It uses a built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection that syncs with the KWIKSET smartphone app to remotely control the smart lock. Additionally, the KWIKSET Halo directly supports Alexa and Google Assistant. However, it is yet to support Samsung’s assistant.
The smart lock itself can store up to 250 codes. These codes are classified into four categories: One Time, Anytime, Recurring, and Scheduled. One Time codes, as the name implies, can only be used once within the 24 hours of its creation. Anytime codes work at any time unless they are deleted from the system. Recurring codes can be set to function on specific times of specific days. While Scheduled codes can be programmed to work for a scheduled period of time. This can be useful for Airbnb hosts who can set up a code that works only for the weekend that a guest has scheduled.
The KWIKSET Halo is also BHMA Grade AAA certified and has a 20-minute fire rating which makes it one of the most secure smart locks on the market. It’s trademark Smartkey Security technology also improves the Halo’s locking mechanism from bumps and lock picking.
The only problem with the KWIKSET Halo is its lack of a fingerprint scanner. This is surprising since most modern smart locks have this feature, however this is not a big deal with Airbnb as fingerprint wouldn’t be used. The smart lock also has a relatively small battery life with most users claiming that the battery does not go past 4-5 months. Fortunately, the removal and installation of the required AA batteries is very easy.
The EUFY Smart Lock E110 Retrofit does everything that you would expect a smart lock to do. It has an eye-catching, modern design with a bright, user-friendly touch screen. The keypad on the touchscreen is very responsive. It also has fingerprint scanner, making the smart lock even more efficient.
The EUFY Smart Lock E110 Retrofit can store up to 100 unique codes. These codes are generated in the Eufy App and, like the KWIKSET Halo, can be programmed to 4 different types: One Time, Anytime, Recurring, and Time Limited.
The EUFY Smart Lock E110 Retrofit’s built-in wifi means that, out of the box, you can use the lock remotely. You can also not use it with smart hubs such as Alexa and Google Assistant.
One drawback of the EUFY Smart Lock E110 Retrofit is its concerning battery life with reviews claiming that the battery lasts for 2-3 months depending on how often the smart lock is used.
The EUFY Smart Lock E110 Retrofit rates highly amongst users is because the smart lock has proven to be very easy to install and it is secure. Additionally, buyers claim that EUFY has excellent customer service.
The ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is arguably one of the best smart locks on the market. It’s newly integrated Wifi feature make it perfect for remote use while also creating room for user modifications. It is compatible with Alexa and Google assistant voice commands and also works with Smartthings and IFTTT.
The ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock has a cool design feature in the shape of an LED ring. This ring turns green when the smart lock is unlocked and flashes red when you input an incorrect code. The design includes a fingerprint scanner that is also responsive with the LED ring.
In terms of software, the ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock has a smartphone app that you can use to customize the smart lock. It lets you create permanent, one time, scheduled or temporary codes as well as fingerprint access. The app also enables you to see if the door is locked or unlocked, who unlocked the door at what time, and the battery level. These features can prove to be essential for Airbnb hosts who want to keep tabs about how often people enter and exit their property.
An interesting feature of the ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro WiFi Smart Lock is that when you arrive at your door and your hands are full, the ULTRALOQ will unlock with your smartphone in your pocket.
The SMONET ZNS-H001 is the newest addition in the company’s extensive portfolio of locks, smart locks, and other security technologies. It features an OLED touch screen with a fingerprint scanner and has a minimalist, sleek design. It is compatible with Alexa and Google assistant when you purchase the SMONET Wifi Gateway separately.
The fingerprint scanner can hold memory of almost 250 fingerprints and is fairly quick - on average taking less than half a second to scan. SMONET has also added a smart input function where you can enter random numbers before or after the code to unlock the door. A perfect use for this function is when someone is standing right next to you and you don’t want them to know the code. Let’s assume that your code is 4444. So, in order to throw the person off, you can enter something like 537844441628 or 98754444 to unlock the door. As long as the target code is entered, the door will open. This can be useful for Airbnb hosts who often have guests around when they are opening the door.
Like all the other smart locks, the SMONET ZNS-H001 also lets you create permanent, one time, scheduled or temporary codes. It can also open doors through an IC card or through your smartphone. With the Gateway, you can remotely lock and unlock the SMONET ZNS-H001. You can remotely add, delete, or edit entry codes while also checking when and how many times the door has been unlocked.
These features make the SMONET ZNS-H001 a very smart choice for Airbnb hosts and renters for it creates room for safe and remote surveillance.
