Best Smart Locks in Canada | Cansumer (2024)

There used to be a perception that Canadians never locked their front doors, and in some rural areas, this is probably still true. Home security is something we all worry about, but crime in Canada is relatively low when compared to other developed and industrialized nations.

The number of break-ins in Canada has been in decline since 2000. While the rate remains statistically low (431 incidents per 100,000 population), there were still 159,812 burglaries across Canada in 2018.

So what do we do to protect our homes and loved ones? The most common measure, adopted by Canadians is to routinely lock the doors and windows at home. Now what if you could check and set your lock while you’re away from home, get a notification when the door is unlocked and never have to fumble with keys again? Below we look at the best smart locks in Canada.

For background information, see our comparison table and buying advice.

Best smart locks

• Best overall – Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt
• Best touchscreen – Nest X Yale Smart Lock
• Best Keyless – Yale Assure
• Best wifi – Schlage Encode
• Best app control – August Pro Smart Lock
• Best value – August Smart Lock

Best smart locks comparison

Our pick for best overall – Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt

Schlage is one of the best selling smart lock manufacturers in Canada. This model is also one of the most secure door locks available. It scores a respectable Grade 1 certification from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which means it is up there with commercial-grade building security.

It has a lit touchscreen that is matte in finish, to protect it from scuffs and fingerprints. This is crucial for added security. Repeated use of the same code numbers leaves an imprint on the keypad.

This model is key or keyless entry, so if you forget your keys, there’s no need to panic. Each family member can have their own 4 digit entry code.

It has an anti-pick shield to stop anyone tampering with it, and the batteries last for a year. This Schlage product comes with universal latches and deadbolts and is compatible with your Alexa home hub.

It uses Z-wave technology to integrate with your home automation and also gives you complete remote access. It has 3 alert modes; tamper, activity, and forced entry, as well as an audible alarm.

The only downside is that the lock is incompatible with Alexa voice commands.

However, this is a lot of smart door lock for the money, but it was the security grading and the connectivity that had us crown this our favourite.

Best touchscreen – Nest X Yale Smart Lock

This Nest X smart lock is compatible with your Nest home hub and is controlled via an app on your smartphone. It has 1-touch locking, activated by tapping the lock as you exit the house, and auto-lock feature controlled via your Nest when it knows you are away from home.

And it will even send you alerts when the door is unlocked, or someone attempts to break in. Entry via the touchscreen allows you to set passcodes for family and friends, and you can even set the passcodes to expire at a time of your choosing. This is useful for allowing one-off access.

It also lets you see the access history, and if your batteries run low, the lock has an indicator that tells you when you need to replace them.

This Smart lock is ANSI Grade 2 certified, so it is very secure, and it carries a lifetime limited warranty for finish and mechanical parts; two years for electronics warranty.

As a package, this lock has all the security you could want with the convenience of your home hub.

Best keyless – Yale Assure

This Yale Assure connects to your Apple Home app and is controlled via Siri. You can ask it to lock your front door, and it will obey the command. This smart lock allows you to create daily schedules to ensure your door is secured at the same time every day.

On top of that, you get a backlit touchscreen to make it easier to operate the lock in the dark. You can also connect other Apple products like an Apple TV, your iPad and iPhone to give you complete control.

When the battery fades, you can recharge it by placing a 9v battery on the charging pads in case of an emergency. You also get an auto-lock feature and up to 25 PINs for trusted family and friends.

This is a 21st-century lock in every sense.

Best wifi – Schlage Encode

This Schlage smart lock is wifi enabled, and it doesn’t require a home hub to connect to. You can connect anywhere with the Amazon Key App. It has the potential for voice control, and the touchscreen is fingerprint-resistant.

It means however many times you punch in your chosen code, it leaves no trace on the pad. This lock also has a built-in alarm that alerts you if an intruder is forcing the door.

You get a low battery indicator, 3 years electronic warranty and a lifetime guarantee on the mechanics and the styling. You can also connect to the Amazon Cloud Cam to get visuals

The only downside with wifi connectivity is it is only as good as the wifi in your area. If it loses signal, you could find that you are unable to control the lock remotely.

It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Ring, and you can program 100 entry codes at any one time.

Best app control – August Smart Lock Pro

This is a futuristic-looking smart lock. It adapts to fit your existing single-cylinder deadbolts, and according to the makers, it only takes 10 minutes to install.

You get connectivity to Alexa, Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant, and Nest, as well as wifi. The lock uses Bluetooth technology encryption and is a 3rd generation model. What else does it have?

It comes with a unique DoorSense feature that tells you if your door is shut and secure. It alerts you when the door is unlocked and even tells you who is entering your home via their specific code.

And if you want to know the activity, you can access a tracker for the full report. And if you connect to Alexa, you can control the lock by voice control.

Best value – August Smart Lock

This smart lock is about value for money. For that, it’s hard to beat. This is the basic version that has no wifi bridge, hence the low price tag. The bridge is sold separately or with higher spec packages. It is worth investing in one to connect to Google Assistant, Alexa and the other home hubs available.

In this basic form, your phone becomes your key, so while you can’t control the lock remotely, it is still a smart lock in every other sense. For the remote option, you would need that wifi bridge.

This lock uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with your smartphone, so as you approach the door, it will automatically open. It also locks when you walk away.

It has DoorSense that alerts you if the door is shut but not locked. Again, you need a wifi bridge for this. The manufacturers claim that installation takes just 10 minutes, and the lock is compatible with existing deadbolts.

For the money, we had to crown this our best value smart door lock.

Bottom line

What to consider when looking for a smart lock

Smartphone connectivity

Every smart lock should have some kind of connectivity to your smart device or home hub. Most connect via an app that either corresponds with your home hubs, like Nest or Alexa, while others are dedicated apps that come with the smart door lock.

Z-Wave connectivity

Z-wave is the way that domestic products connect. It creates an umbrella effect of all your smart devices communicating. Home hubs like Google Assistant and Alexa are integral to this process. The “Z” stands for Zigbee and is a way of getting different brands of home appliances to talk to each other.

If you want an integrated smart lock, Z-wave technology is the way to go. Not all smart locks use this method, with some preferring Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth connectivity

Bluetooth is virtually impossible to hack because it involves the hacker being within proximity to their target. The idea of using Bluetooth in your smart lock is so that as you approach the front door, it connects to your phone and unlocks it automatically for you.

Some of the cheaper brands use Bluetooth as a way of connecting your phone with the lock, so it becomes the front door key.

Home hub connectivity

Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Nest, the list is endless. It seems that everyone wants a home hub. Smart locks that connect to these devices are the ultimate in convenience. Imagine being able to control your door lock by voice command.

Alarm Alerts

Getting a smart lock that sends alerts to your phone when the door is unlocked is a great way of getting peace of mind. The person opening the door is identified by their unique PIN and you get an alert on your phone to tell you who is unlocking the door.

Also, wouldn’t you want an alarm system that alerts you if anyone is attempting to enter your door by force?

Activity reports

Most high-end smart locks produce statistics that show the activity surrounding your door. It tells you when the busy times are and if anyone is there who shouldn’t be.

Auto features

A smart lock that auto-unlocks as you approach it is a beneficial thing. You may have your hands full, or rushing to get in from the rain. Having auto-unlock is going to save you time fumbling at the bottom of your bag for the house keys.

Similarly, a door that automatically locks when you leave is equally as good. And with home hubs, like Alexa, they can learn the patterns of when you are out and so detect whether the door is unlocked and lock it without your input.

Remote controls

You’ve left for work and you realize that you forgot to lock the door. The app on your smartphone enables you to do it remotely. Similarly, if you have a trusted person making a one-off visit, you can open the door for them and then lock it from the comfort of your workplace.

Some smart locks can connect with the cloud and activate visuals so you can see what is happening at the door.

Keyless entry

Keyless entry is probably one of the main reasons why you opted for a smart lock in the first place. There are a finite amount of door keys available on a traditional door lock, but with a smart lock, you needn’t worry. Some can store up to 100 PINs

If the kids forgot their keys, they can still access the house using the pin codes. It also means that if you ever lose your keys, you have a means of entry.

Touchpad entry

Keyless and touchpad overlap in that they are virtually the same thing. However, not all keyless smart locks have a keypad entry. The keypad gives you the freedom to be keyless, but it also keeps you in control to decide who gets access and who doesn’t. You can even program some keypads to have temporary pin codes that expire at a set date and time.

It means that if you need to give access, say to contractors when you are not around, you can, and then the codes will expire when you choose.

Also, when you are shopping for a smart lock, think about the number of codes the lock can handle. If you have a large family, buying a lock that has a 4-PIN capacity won’t work.

Warranty

Most manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on the mechanics and casings of your smart lock but restrict the electronics warranty to 3 years.

Which smart lock is right for you?

You want the most secure smart lock

The ANSI ratings are important to consider. Our best overall pick has a Grade 1 rating, making it the best lock for security. Perhaps you live in Saskatchewan, which has the highest burglary rate in Canada at 754 per 100,000 population.

Compare that to Ontario, which has fewer than 300 per 100,000 population. If you feel that crime is higher in your area, then your number 1 consideration should be on how hard that lock is to crack.

You want an integrated smart lock

Buy a smart lock with home hub connectivity. Z-wave technology is the way to go, connecting all your smart devices as one. The August Smart Lock Pro connects to Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant, Alexa, and Nest. It is the best for connectivity and offers a ton of features.

You can even control the lock via voice control.

You want keyless entry

Are you tired of people losing their house keys? Maybe, you have a large family and it is the easiest way for them to access the home? Either way, keyless entry means that no one needs to have a key again. It means that the kids can come and go as they please.

The other advantage is that if you get a smart lock with activity reports and alerts that tell you who is unlocking the door, you know that your family is safe.

FAQs

Will it work in the extreme cold?

There will always be extremes where technology cannot function, but most smart locks are stress-tested to temperatures of -15 to -30 Celsius, so they should cope. Moisture getting inside your lock and freezing is your biggest enemy. The lock itself should be fine. However, the batteries are the weak link, because the cold affects how they work and also drains their charge.

How long do the batteries last?

Some manufacturers state that their batteries will last between 1 and 3 years. It’s always a good idea to keep spares. Some door locks charge via a 9v battery applied to a recharging pad on the outside of the smart lock.

Will the smart lock work if there is a power outage?

Yes. Smart locks are not connected to the mains supply and rely on battery power. The only way you might lose some functions on your lock is if there is a power outage long enough to drain the battery on your home hub. That may affect connectivity.

What to read next

• Best Dash Cams in Canada

Over to you

We’re interested to know – why are you considering getting a smart lock? What feature(s) are most important to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below!