Best Smart Lock Gifts for the Holidays (2026)
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| # | Product | Best For | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) | Best overall | $229 | 9.3/10 | Visit Site → |
| 2 | Yale Assure Lock 2 | Best for security-system integration | $249 | 9.1/10 | Visit Site → |
| 3 | Schlage Encode Plus | Best for Apple Home Key | $299 | 9/10 | Visit Site → |
| 4 | Kwikset Halo | Best budget WiFi lock | $159 | 8.5/10 | Visit Site → |
| 5 | Wyze Lock Bolt | Best under $100 | $69 | 8/10 | Visit Site → |
Last Updated: August 2026
TL;DR: Quick Summary
- Our #1 pick is the August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) (9.3/10) — best overall gift at $229, retrofits over an existing deadbolt in minutes
- Runner-up: Yale Assure Lock 2 (9.1/10) — best pick for a household already using SimpliSafe, Ring, ADT, or Vivint
- Best budget pick: Wyze Lock Bolt at $69
- We ranked five real, currently-sold smart locks by installation ease, gift-ability, and value — no discontinued or vaporware products
A smart lock is one of the most useful smart home gifts you can give — no more spare keys under the mat, temporary codes for guests and cleaners, and a permanent record of who came and went. It’s also one of the rare smart home gifts that genuinely gets used every single day, not left in a drawer after the novelty wears off.
The best smart lock gift is the August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen), which earned our top spot for its retrofit-friendly install, GPS auto-unlock, and the most polished app experience of any lock in this guide.
Quick Comparison: Best Smart Lock Gifts for the Holidays
| Lock | Price | Rating | Standout Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) | $229 | 9.3/10 | GPS auto-unlock | Best overall gift |
| Yale Assure Lock 2 | $249 | 9.1/10 | Security-system integration | SimpliSafe/Ring/ADT/Vivint households |
| Schlage Encode Plus | $299 | 9.0/10 | Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock | Apple households |
| Kwikset Halo | $159 | 8.5/10 | Built-in WiFi at a lower price | Best budget WiFi lock |
| Wyze Lock Bolt | $69 | 8.0/10 | Fingerprint + keypad under $100 | Tightest budget |
August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Best overall smart lock gift — retrofit install, GPS auto-unlock, and the most polished app of any lock we cover.
Is a Smart Lock a Good Gift?
Mostly yes, with one real caveat worth naming upfront: unlike most gifts, a smart lock requires the recipient to actually install it before they can use it. It’s not plug-and-play out of the box the way a camera or doorbell is. That said, installation for every lock on this list is a 15-30 minute job with just a screwdriver — no electrician, no rewiring, no special tools. If you want to make the gift genuinely effortless, offer to help install it the day it’s opened rather than leaving the box to sit in a closet.
The upside more than makes up for that one extra step: a smart lock is used literally every day, unlike a lot of gadget gifts that get tried once and forgotten.
Detailed Reviews
1. August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) — Best Overall
Get August Wifi Smart Lock 4th GenAugust has been refining smart locks longer than almost anyone, and the 4th generation WiFi model is their best work. It retrofits over an existing deadbolt in minutes, keeps the exterior hardware unchanged, and pairs with the most polished app experience of any lock in this guide.
Get the August WiFi Smart Lock — $229What We Liked
- Retrofit design keeps the exterior of the door unchanged
- GPS auto-unlock as you approach the door
- DoorSense confirms the door is actually closed, not just locked
- Complete activity log with timestamps
What Could Be Better
- Keypad sold separately ($49)
- Auto-unlock needs a short calibration period to work reliably
Is it worth it? Yes — at $229, it’s the most complete, most giftable smart lock experience on this list, and the one least likely to frustrate a recipient during setup.
2. Yale Assure Lock 2 — Best for Security-System Integration
Get Yale Assure Lock 2If the recipient already runs a security system — SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, ADT, or Vivint — the Yale Assure Lock 2 is the pick. It integrates directly with all four, locking automatically when the system arms and unlocking when it disarms.
Get the Yale Assure Lock 2 — $249What We Liked
- Deep integration with SimpliSafe, Ring, ADT, and Vivint
- Modular connectivity — WiFi, Z-Wave, Zigbee, or Matter
- Backlit touchscreen keypad with temporary and one-time codes
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 certified
What Could Be Better
- Full value depends on the recipient already owning a compatible security system
- At $249, it's a premium gift-budget lock
Is it worth it? Yes, specifically for a household already inside one of those four security ecosystems — otherwise the August delivers more standalone value for less money.
3. Schlage Encode Plus — Best for Apple Home Key
Get Schlage Encode PlusFor an Apple household, the Schlage Encode Plus is the standout gift. It’s one of the few locks that supports Apple Home Key — tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to the lock and it opens instantly, no app or code required.
Get the Schlage Encode Plus — $299What We Liked
- Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock, even with a low phone battery
- Built-in WiFi, no separate hub required
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 — the highest residential security rating available
- 12-month battery life, the longest of any WiFi lock in this guide
What Could Be Better
- At $299, it's the most expensive lock on this list
- Home Key benefit is largely wasted outside an Apple household
Is it worth it? Yes, for an iPhone or Apple Watch household specifically — the tap-to-unlock experience is genuinely the smoothest of any lock we cover.
4. Kwikset Halo — Best Budget WiFi Lock
Get Kwikset HaloThe Kwikset Halo delivers reliable WiFi smart lock functionality — remote lock/unlock, keypad codes, auto-lock, activity history — at the lowest price point for a full-featured WiFi-connected lock.
Get the Kwikset Halo — $159What We Liked
- Built-in WiFi at a meaningfully lower price than August, Yale, or Schlage
- SmartKey lets the owner re-key the lock themselves in seconds
- Full Alexa and Google Home voice control
What Could Be Better
- No fingerprint scanning
- Fewer smart home integrations than the pricier options above
Is it worth it? Yes, for a gift budget that needs to stay reasonable while still delivering genuine WiFi remote access — nothing else on this list matches its price-to-feature ratio for a connected lock.
5. Wyze Lock Bolt — Best Under $100
Get Wyze Lock BoltAt $69, the Wyze Lock Bolt proves a functional smart lock doesn’t have to cost $150+. Fingerprint unlock, keypad codes, and a solid app experience — the trade-off is Bluetooth-only connectivity, meaning no remote access when away from home.
Get the Wyze Lock Bolt — $69What We Liked
- Least expensive lock on this list by a wide margin
- Fingerprint and keypad entry at a sub-$100 price point
- No subscription required for any feature
What Could Be Better
- Bluetooth-only — no remote access or notifications away from home
- Smallest feature set of the five locks here
Is it worth it? Yes, if the recipient mainly wants keyless entry without the cost of full remote access — stop carrying keys, share codes with guests, unlock with a fingerprint, all for under $70.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a smart lock a good holiday gift?
Yes, with one caveat: it’s a gift the recipient has to install themselves, usually in 15-30 minutes with just a screwdriver. If they’re comfortable with basic DIY, it’s an excellent, genuinely useful gift. If not, consider offering to help install it on the spot rather than leaving them to figure it out alone.
Can someone install a smart lock themselves in one afternoon?
Yes, in most cases in well under an hour. Smart locks replace an existing deadbolt using the same standard door prep and bore holes, so no drilling or carpentry is required. The most common hiccup is aligning the mounting plate — following the manufacturer’s video guide resolves this for nearly everyone.
Do smart locks work with existing deadbolts?
Yes. Every lock in this guide is designed to retrofit onto a standard residential deadbolt bore pattern. If the recipient’s current deadbolt works normally, a smart lock from this list will fit without modifying the door.
What’s the best budget smart lock gift?
The Wyze Lock Bolt at $69 is the most affordable full-featured option — fingerprint and keypad entry at a price point nothing else on this list touches. The trade-off is Bluetooth-only connectivity, meaning no remote access when away from home. The Kwikset Halo at $159 is the best budget pick if WiFi remote access matters.
Do smart locks need WiFi to work at all?
No. Every smart lock includes local entry methods (keypad, fingerprint, or app via Bluetooth) that work without any internet connection. WiFi is only required for remote access — checking or controlling the lock from outside Bluetooth range. The Wyze Lock Bolt is Bluetooth-only by design and never needs WiFi.
Which Smart Lock Gift Should You Choose?
The August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is our #1 pick for smart lock gifts. It’s the most complete, most broadly appreciated option, and the retrofit installation makes it approachable for a recipient who isn’t especially handy. For a household already running a security system, the Yale Assure Lock 2 is the more integrated choice. Apple households should look at the Schlage Encode Plus for the Home Key experience. And if budget needs to stay under $100, the Wyze Lock Bolt delivers real, daily-use functionality for $69.
Want the full ranked comparison across every smart lock we’ve tested, not just gift picks? See our complete Best Smart Locks guide. Pairing a smart lock with a video doorbell rounds out front-door security for the same recipient.
Get the August WiFi Smart Lock — Our #1 PickRelated Articles
- Best Smart Locks — Full ranked comparison across every budget
- Best Video Doorbell — Pair with a smart lock for complete front-door security
- Best Security Camera Gifts Under $100 — More gift-guide picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a smart lock a good holiday gift?
Yes, with one caveat: it's a gift the recipient has to install themselves, usually in 15-30 minutes with just a screwdriver. If they're comfortable with basic DIY, it's an excellent, genuinely useful gift. If not, consider offering to help install it on the spot rather than leaving them to figure it out alone.
Can someone install a smart lock themselves in one afternoon?
Yes, in most cases in well under an hour. Smart locks replace an existing deadbolt using the same standard door prep and bore holes, so no drilling or carpentry is required. The most common hiccup is aligning the mounting plate — following the manufacturer's video guide resolves this for nearly everyone.
Do smart locks work with existing deadbolts?
Yes. Every lock in this guide is designed to retrofit onto a standard residential deadbolt bore pattern. If the recipient's current deadbolt works normally, a smart lock from this list will fit without modifying the door.
What's the best budget smart lock gift?
The Wyze Lock Bolt at $69 is the most affordable full-featured option — fingerprint and keypad entry at a price point nothing else on this list touches. The trade-off is Bluetooth-only connectivity, meaning no remote access when away from home. The Kwikset Halo at $159 is the best budget pick if WiFi remote access matters.
Do smart locks need WiFi to work at all?
No. Every smart lock includes local entry methods (keypad, fingerprint, or app via Bluetooth) that work without any internet connection. WiFi is only required for remote access — checking or controlling the lock from outside Bluetooth range. The Wyze Lock Bolt is Bluetooth-only by design and never needs WiFi.