7 Best Schlage Smart Locks (September 2026)

If you are shopping for the best Schlage smart locks in 2026, the shortlist is a lot shorter than the catalogue suggests. We worked through all seven Schlage keypad, deadbolt, and lever models in the current lineup, read the manufacturer specifications line by line, and sorted through the owner reviews on each one. Only three of them belong on most doorways, and two of the rest earn their place for very specific reasons.

Our verdict up front: the Schlage Encode Plus is the best overall Schlage smart lock, because it pairs ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 mechanical hardware with built-in Wi-Fi and Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock, and it needs no separate hub. The standard Schlage Encode is the smarter buy for anyone who does not live in an all-Apple household, and the Schlage Electronic Keypad Lock is the one to buy when a phone-free, app-free door is genuinely what you want.

How we ranked them: mechanical security certification first, then connectivity, then access code capacity, then battery economics, then door fitment. Every lock below keeps a working mechanical backup, runs on ordinary batteries, and carries no subscription. That last point matters more than it sounds if you are about to hand codes to a dog walker, a cleaner, or a short-term guest. If you are still split between brands, our roundup of the best Kwikset smart locks covers the other side of that argument.

Last updated for September 2026. We earn from qualifying purchases.

The Three Best Schlage Smart Locks to Buy First in 2026

Those three cover the overwhelming majority of use cases. The Encode Plus wins on ecosystem reach and code capacity, the Encode wins on value because it gives up very little, and the Sense is the pick if Apple Home is already the centre of your home but you would rather not put a Wi-Fi radio in your front door.

The remaining four are not filler. One is the right answer for a Z-Wave mesh, one is the only quiet lever-handle smart lock Schlage makes, and two are plain keypad locks with no app at all, which a growing number of homeowners actively prefer.

Every Schlage Smart Lock We Compared, Side by Side

One note before you read the individual write-ups: Schlage builds to two different security tiers here. The deadbolt models carry ANSI/BHMA Grade 1/AAA certification, which is the highest residential rating. The two standalone keypad levers are Grade 2/AAA, which is still a genuinely good residential rating but a step below.

1. Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt: The Best Overall Schlage Lock

This is the lock we kept putting back on the front of the shortlist. The Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is a full replacement deadbolt with the radio built into the interior escutcheon, so there is no hub to mount, no bridge to pair, and no cloud account you have to create before the door works. It weighs 3.4 pounds and measures 0.9 x 3 x 5 inches, and the whole thing installs with a screwdriver and a phone QR code walkthrough.

What actually impressed us was the mechanical side. This is a zinc-bodied lock with a 5-pin cylinder backup, one-touch exterior locking, an auto-lock with selectable time delays, and a built-in customizable alarm that watches for door movement and forced entry. Owners consistently describe the deadbolt throw as quiet and smooth, and the installation as genuinely painless even on a door that has never had a deadbolt in it.

The electronics match the hardware. You get up to 250 programmable access codes with scheduling, a full lock history in the app, and low-battery warnings on both the keypad and your phone. Homeowners using it for short-term rentals report that the built-in Airbnb support, which generates guest codes on booking and retires them after checkout, is the single feature that justifies the step up from the standard Encode.

Connectivity and ecosystem reach

This is the only Schlage in the lineup that pairs with Apple Home, and it adds Apple Watch tap-to-unlock on top of iPhone. It also works with Alexa, Google Home, and Ring, which means it drops into a mixed household without argument. Everything runs over built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so there is no hub to own.

Security hardware and door fitment

ANSI/BHMA Grade 1/AAA certification is the headline spec here, and it is a real one rather than marketing language. It fits standard doors from 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in thick with a 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset, and no hardwiring is required, so it drops into the standard 2-1/8 in bore most exterior doors already have. The warranty splits into a limited lifetime mechanical and finish term plus a limited three-year electronics term.

Who should skip it

If nobody in your house uses an Apple device, the Apple Home Key support is dead weight and the standard Encode gives you nearly the same experience. A minority of owners also report capacitive keypad misreads and intermittent Wi-Fi pairing that required a reset after a battery change, so if you want zero connectivity in the door, this is the wrong lock.

2. Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt: The Best Value for Most Homes

If you want one Schlage smart lock and you are not sure which, this is the one. The Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt with Century trim carries the same built-in Wi-Fi radio, the same customizable door and tamper alarm, the same fingerprint-resistant touchscreen, and the same screwdriver-only install, and it sits a clear step below the Plus on cost. It weighs 3.4 pounds and shares the same 0.9 x 3 x 5 inch footprint.

Review volume tells you something important here. With more than 16k reviews and a 4.3 average, this is the most thoroughly exercised Schlage smart lock on the market, and the pattern in the feedback is unusually consistent: smooth mechanical operation, painless installation, dependable app control, and codes that rarely fail. Owners also report that it often retrofits straight into an existing Schlage, Nest, or Yale hole pattern without any door surgery.

You get up to 100 programmable access codes rather than the Plus’s 250, plus date-limited codes, an app that reports who unlocked and when, and voice control through Alexa and Google Home. Schlage rates battery life at up to six months on four AA batteries, and owners generally report clear battery level reporting in the app rather than surprise failures.

Why the value case holds up

The gap between this and the Encode Plus is almost entirely ecosystem rather than security. Both are BHMA certified at the highest residential Security, Durability and Finish level, both carry a physical backup key, and both auto-lock on a timer you choose. You give up Apple Home Key, the Apple Watch unlock, and the extra 150 code slots, and in exchange you keep everything else.

Fitment and installation

It fits the same doors as the Plus: 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in thick, 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset, standard single-bore, no hardwiring. The model number on this listing is BE489WBCEN622 in Matte Black with Century trim, and it carries the same limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty with a limited three-year electronics term.

Where owners complain

The capacitive keypad is the recurring soft spot. Numbers are hard to see until you wake the panel, and a smaller group of owners report dropped or doubled inputs that take several attempts to enter a code. Rekeying to an existing key set also needs a Schlage kit or a locksmith visit, which is a real annoyance if you do not want to reissue keys to the whole household.

3. Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt: The Pick for Apple Home Households

The Sense Smart Deadbolt with Camelot trim is the most mechanically conservative of the three Wi-Fi-era Schlage deadbolts, and that is exactly why some buyers still love it. It carries a 4.5 average across more than 2k reviews, the highest rating of any Schlage deadbolt in this roundup, and the feedback skews heavily toward build quality and unusually long service lives rather than features.

It is a Bluetooth lock. That single fact explains both its strengths and its limitations. It pairs with Apple HomeKit and Siri natively, codes and schedules run through the app, and you get up to 30 access codes with day and time restrictions plus a full usage history log. But locking and unlocking from anywhere requires either an Apple TV on your network or the separately sold Schlage Sense Wi-Fi adapter.

Mechanically it is a traditional Schlage: a 5-pin tumbler in a C keyway with one physical key, a tamper alarm, an auto-lock timer, and a Camelot trim in Satin Nickel. It fits doors 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in thick, and a thick door kit extends that range to 1-7/8 in through 2-1/4 in, which is a genuinely useful option on older solid-wood entries.

When the Bluetooth-only design is the right call

If you already run Apple Home and want the lock to join that network directly without a Wi-Fi credential sitting in your door, the Sense is elegant. Apple Home users on r/HomeKit report consistent satisfaction with the Home Key and Siri integration, including remote unlock while away. It is also a lever-free, simple device that a locksmith can rekey to your existing key set.

Where it frustrates people

The app is plain. Reviewers mention limited filtering and history views, a motor that is noticeably louder than the newer Encode models, and slow Bluetooth link-up times on some remote unlock attempts. Schlage customer support is also reported as difficult to reach. If you want remote access with no extra hardware purchase, budget for the Wi-Fi adapter or move up to the Encode.

4. Schlage Connect Z-Wave Deadbolt: Best for Local Hub Automation

The Connect is the odd one out in this lineup and the reason we kept it. Instead of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it carries a Z-Wave Plus radio that talks to a hub you already own, such as SmartThings, Ring Alarm, Vera, or Nexia. Owners who run a Z-Wave mesh consistently praise that it works locally, without handing their front-door state to a vendor cloud, and the encrypted connection uses S2 Security.

On paper the power story is the strongest in the group. Schlage rates four AA batteries at up to one year, and some owners report running that long on daily use, which is roughly double the figure attached to the Wi-Fi deadbolts. The ANSI/BHMA Grade 1/AAA certification and the built-in alarm are the same hardware pedigree as the Encode family.

Code capacity is 30 unique access codes programmed on the backlit fingerprint-resistant touchscreen, which reviewers single out as easy to read even in direct sunlight. It fits the same doors as the other deadbolts here, 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in thick with a 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset, and installs with a screwdriver only. It weighs 3 pounds and the listing is the BE469ZPCEN619 in Century trim, Satin Nickel.

When a Z-Wave owner should choose this over Wi-Fi

If your automation already runs through a hub, the Connect removes Wi-Fi as a failure point entirely and keeps working when your internet does not. It is also the model reviewers most often recommend to people who want to keep their existing key set, because it can be fitted onto an existing Schlage cylinder.

What you give up, and what to watch

This is the lowest-rated lock in the lineup at 4.1, and the reasons are consistent. Hub apps typically expose only lock state and battery level, so codes must be programmed at the door rather than from your phone. The electronically driven deadbolt also adds roughly a second of delay, the mechanism is loud, and a deadbolt that is not aligned and turning smoothly will eat batteries and jam.

5. Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Lever: The Quiet Lever-Handle Option

The single biggest practical difference between a lever lock and a deadbolt is noise, and it is why the Encode lever keeps showing up in rental and accessibility discussions. Owners describe the handle action as noticeably quieter than any smart deadbolt, which matters in a hallway, a rental unit, or a house where someone sleeps near the entry door.

This is still a full smart lock rather than a stripped-down one. You get built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with no hub required, Schlage Home app control, code management, a customizable door and tamper alarm, a fingerprint-resistant touchscreen, and auto-lock with a choice of time delays. It works with Alexa and Google Home and carries the same BHMA highest residential Security, Durability and Finish certification as the deadbolts.

The interior lever doubles as a pass-through switch, so you can drop the lock into an unlocked state for a door that sees a lot of daytime traffic. It weighs 4.3 pounds and measures 3 x 3 x 5.88 inches, and the listing is the FE789WBCEN622LAT in Century trim, Matte Black. A lever format also suits anyone who wants a push-down handle rather than a thumbturn, including households where turn strength is a concern.

Why rental hosts keep recommending it

Short-term rental operators describe this model as an industry standard for good reasons: quiet operation, straightforward code handling through the app, and Ring and Airbnb compatibility for handing access to a guest. If you manage interior doors as well as entries, our guide to door locks for interior spaces covers the fitment questions that come up there.

Watch the battery compartment in humid climates

The most concrete complaint in the reviews is that the battery compartment can trap humidity and condensation, which several owners in humid regions say damaged the electronics after 6 to 12 months. Other friction points: the housing can be slightly wider than other locks and needs molding modification on some doors, the internal wire connector can obstruct seating the interior unit, and only one physical key is included.

6. Schlage Electronic Keypad Lock Lever: The Highest-Rated No-App Option

Sometimes the right smart lock is the one that forgets it is a computer. The Schlage Electronic Keypad Lock in Camelot trim, Satin Chrome, is a standalone keypad lever with no app, no radio, and no cloud, and it holds a 4.5 average across more than 2k reviews. Owners frequently report keeping the same model for four years or more, which is a durability record almost nothing else in this category matches.

You get up to 19 assignable user codes plus two that come pre-programmed out of the box, a silicone-coated illuminated keypad that is easy to see in the dark, and the Flex-Lock interior switch that toggles between unlocked passage mode and automatic relocking. It relocks about five seconds after the door closes, and a programming code gates code changes.

Power comes from a single included 9V battery rated at up to two years of life with a low-battery indicator, and two physical keys are included alongside the hardware. The build is Grade 2/AAA certified metal construction, the weight is 4.2 pounds, and it installs with a screwdriver and no hardwiring. The model number here is FE595CAM626ACC in an Accent lever profile.

Who genuinely prefers no connectivity

There is a real and growing group of buyers who want exactly this. It never drops off a network, there is no account to create, no firmware conversation to have, and nothing to break when a manufacturer changes a server. For a garage-side entry, a rental unit, a shop door, or a house where the front door is nowhere near the router, that simplicity is the feature.

What you trade away

Keypad buttons occasionally stick or need more than a light press, and the wiring at the battery connector is delicate enough that owners are cautious handling it. One reviewer reported that the included 9V battery failed out of the box. There is also no remote unlock of any kind, and some internal parts are cast aluminum, which makes it a poor fit for heavy commercial traffic.

7. Schlage Touch Electronic Lock Lever: The Quick Keyless Upgrade

The Touch lock is the other standalone keypad in the Schlage range and it plays a different role. Where the Electronic Keypad Lock leans toward a lever with keys included, the Touch is a slim, keyless Century lever in Matte Black that replaces an existing lever or knob with a screwdriver and no hardwiring. Owners regularly report installing it in under ten minutes on a door that already had a Schlage handle.

You get a fingerprint-resistant touchscreen with downlighting that illuminates the numbers for entry in the dark, an interior lever that acts as a pass-through switch for a permanently unlocked passage, and an emergency 9V battery contact on the exterior so you can still get in if the internal battery dies. Separate codes for a dog walker or a guest are trivial to program.

Fitment is the strongest argument for it. It fits a 2-1/8 in standard bore with 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backsets and door thickness from 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in, which covers the large majority of existing interior and secondary doors. It weighs 4.2 pounds, and the listing is the FE695CEN622LAT, Grade 2/AAA certified metal construction with a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty.

Where it earns its keep

Owners praise straightforward programming, a durable feel, and reliable operation in extreme heat and desert cold, and the pass-through lever makes it a good fit for closets, mud rooms, and shop doors. Because there is no key cylinder at all, key loss stops being a category of problem in the house.

The limitation nobody should skip

There is no app and no smart-home connectivity, so this is a plain electronic keypad lock. More importantly, the interior thumb lever is a motorized switch, which means a board failure can leave no mechanical operation at all. Some wiring through the door is easy to pinch during install, and the keypad LED needs a press on the hidden Schlage logo to wake.

How to Choose a Schlage Smart Lock: Seven Decisions That Matter

Pick the radio first: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Z-Wave

Everything else is downstream of this one choice. Built-in Wi-Fi models talk to the Schlage Home app and your smart home platform directly, with no hub to buy. Bluetooth models like the Sense need an Apple TV or a separately sold adapter for remote access. Z-Wave models like the Connect need a hub you probably already run.

Owners on r/HomeImprovement and r/homesecurity report the most common setup failure is network-related rather than lock-related, so decide the radio before you fall for a feature list. If your front door is far from your router, a Z-Wave mesh is often the more reliable answer than a Wi-Fi deadbolt.

Decode the Encode, Encode Plus, and Sense confusion

The naming is genuinely unhelpful, so here is the short version. The Encode Plus adds Apple Home and Apple Watch tap-to-unlock, raises code capacity to 250, and is the only one of the three that works with Apple Home. The Encode is the same lock without the Apple layer, holding 100 codes, and it is the value pick. The Sense is the older Bluetooth design with 30 codes and native HomeKit but no built-in Wi-Fi.

If you are torn, ask one question: does everyone in the house carry an iPhone or Apple Watch? If yes, Encode Plus. If some of them do not, the standard Encode wastes very little for the step down, which is the consensus in owner feedback.

What the Matter question actually comes down to

Matter-over-Thread is the interoperability standard the industry is converging on, and it is worth understanding what it means for this lineup. None of the seven models reviewed here carry Matter certification in their listed specifications, including the Encode Plus, and the Sense in this roundup is a Bluetooth lock with an optional adapter.

Certification status changes as manufacturers ship updates, so verify the exact model number with Schlage before you order if Matter is a hard requirement for your home. Several roundups online repeat the opposite claim, and buying on the belief that a model is Matter-certified is a listed deal-breaker in owner feedback.

ANSI/BHMA grades and why Grade 1 is worth it

The grade is a verifiable credential rather than a marketing adjective, and it measures two things: how many cycles the lock survives and how much force it resists. Grade 1 is rated for 250,000 cycles and 150 lbs of forced-entry resistance, which is the highest residential level and is what the Encode family, the Sense, and the Connect all carry. The two standalone keypad levers are Grade 2.

For most exterior doors that is worth the step up. For an interior lever, closet, or secondary door, Grade 2 construction is entirely adequate.

Access code capacity for families, sitters, and rental hosts

Capacity is really a question of how many people come and go. The Encode Plus holds 250 codes, the Encode holds 100, and the Sense, Connect, and Electronic Keypad Lock sit at 30, 30, and 19 respectively. For a family with a sitter, a dog walker, and a cleaner, any of those is plenty.

For rental hosts, scheduling matters more than raw count. The Wi-Fi models generate date-limited codes through the app, and the Encode Plus and Encode both integrate with Airbnb so guest codes appear on booking and retire after checkout.

Battery type, battery life, and what it really costs

Most of the lineup runs on four AA batteries, rated at up to six months on the Encode and up to a full year on the Z-Wave Connect. The two standalone keypad levers run on a single 9V battery, rated at up to two years. The gap between six months and a year is roughly a handful of battery changes per year, which is a small price for local control that keeps working when the internet does not.

None of these locks carries a subscription, and that recurring zero is one of the things owners consistently value over cloud-plan competitors. If you want to reduce battery changes further, run the lock on Bluetooth rather than leaving Wi-Fi as the primary path in the app.

Camelot or Century trim, and the finishes that wear well

Camelot is the softer, more traditional curve and Century is the flatter, more contemporary face. Both appear across the lineup, so choose on your door rather than on the electronics. On finishes, Matte Black and Satin Nickel dominate the range, with Aged Bronze and Bright Chrome available on many models.

One practical note from the feedback: Matte Black is the finish most likely to arrive chipped, so inspect it before you install.

Door Fitment and Installation: What to Check Before You Order

Every Schlage smart lock here is a full replacement, not a retrofit that hangs on an existing deadbolt. That single fact decides whether you can install it at all, so measure before you buy. Exterior doors are almost always a 2-1/8 in bore with a 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset and a thickness between 1-3/8 in and 1-3/4 in, which is exactly what the deadbolts in this lineup accept. The Sense also offers a thick door kit for 1-7/8 in through 2-1/4 in doors.

Interior lever doors are a different fitment question, because a lever needs a 2-1/8 in bore with the same backset options. If you are replacing an existing Schlage lever or knob, the fit is usually close to drop-in.

What you need is small: a Phillips screwdriver, a tape measure, and about 30 minutes. Schlage includes the installation hardware and instructions in the box, and the Wi-Fi models use an interactive QR code walkthrough in the Schlage Home app rather than a paper manual. Owners who have done it report it often fits straight into an existing Schlage, Nest, or Yale hole pattern with no door modification at all.

Two things worth doing before the box arrives. Have a locksmith rekey the new cylinder to your existing key set, which removes the need to reissue keys to family, cleaners, and dog walkers. And stand at your front door with your phone and confirm the router actually reaches it, because that is the single most cited disappointment in owner feedback.

If Your Schlage Smart Lock Stops Working: Four Fixes

If it will not join your Wi-Fi. The Schlage Home app expects the lock on a 2.4 GHz network, and a router positioned far from the front door is the most common cause of pairing failure. Move the router or add a mesh node near the entry, split your bands so the 2.4 GHz SSID is separate, and reboot the router before re-pairing. If the lock keeps dropping off after a battery change, a full reset and re-pair is the fix owners report working.

If a fresh battery does not help. Check that the cells are seated in the correct direction and that the contact springs are not bent or corroded, a common issue after a partial drain. The low-battery warning on the keypad can leave the lock in a protected state until the old cells are fully removed and the new ones seated. Every model here also has a recovery path: a 9V battery contact on the exterior of the keypad levers, and a physical backup key on the deadbolts.

If the batteries are dying fast. Always-on Wi-Fi is the usual culprit, because the radio is the most power-hungry part of the lock. Using Bluetooth as the primary path in the app, turning off any unused notifications, and making sure the deadbolt is aligned and turning smoothly all help. Misalignment is the leading cause of short battery life and jamming on the Z-Wave Connect specifically.

If the keypad is misbehaving. Capacitive touchscreens on the Encode family need the panel woken before the numbers become visible, and owners report occasional dropped or doubled inputs, particularly in cold weather or while wearing gloves. If you are buying for an exposed door with heavy traffic, the push-button style keypad on the standalone locks is a more forgiving choice. If you want to understand how the cylinder behind that keypad is actually built, our guide to practice locks for skill progression is worth a read.

When Not to Buy a Schlage Smart Lock

You rent and cannot modify the exterior door. These are full replacements. If your lease, landlord, or HOA does not permit changing the entry hardware, none of the seven models is the answer.

Your front door is a Wi-Fi dead zone. The Wi-Fi models need a reachable 2.4 GHz network at the door. A Z-Wave model, or a standalone keypad with no radio at all, solves a problem the Wi-Fi models will not.

Your door is not a standard single-bore deadbolt prep. A door with a mortise body, a multi-point lock, or an unusually thick slab may need a thick door kit or may not be modifiable at all. Measure first.

You are buying the Encode Plus without a single Apple device. The Apple Home Key layer is the reason for the step up, and it does nothing for a mixed or Android household. The standard Encode gives you nearly the same lock.

You are buying on the belief that a model is Matter-certified. Verify the exact model number with the manufacturer first, because that assumption is one of the most common purchase mistakes in this category.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line: Which Schlage Smart Lock Should You Buy?

Buy the Encode Plus if your household is all-Apple and you want the widest code capacity and the best radio in the range. Buy the standard Encode if you want one Schlage smart lock that works for everyone, because you give up very little. Buy the Sense if you want native HomeKit without putting Wi-Fi credentials in your front door.

Buy the Connect if you already run a Z-Wave hub and want local control with the longest rated battery life among the connected locks. Buy the Encode lever for a quiet door, rental unit, or easier push-down entry. And buy one of the two standalone keypad levers if you would rather own a lock than a computer, which is not a compromise we take lightly.

Whichever you choose, measure the door, confirm the network reaches the entry, and ask a locksmith to rekey the cylinder to your existing keys. That thirty minutes of work is the difference between a smooth install and a locked-out afternoon.