Best Smart Lock Under $100
Plenty of locks are advertised as smart locks under $100. Far fewer are actually smart, and almost none have Wi-Fi built in. Here are the ones that genuinely sell at this price in the US, and exactly what each one gives up to get there.
Quick answer
The Wyze Lock Bolt is the best overall smart lock under $100: a fingerprint and keypad deadbolt with a physical key backup. Renters should choose the August Smart Lock (3rd Gen), which fits over the inside of an existing deadbolt and leaves the outside of the door alone. Be clear on one thing before you buy: at this price you are getting Bluetooth or a standalone keypad, not remote unlocking from anywhere. Built-in Wi-Fi starts well above $100.
Why trust ToolBuyerHub
- Specs checked against manufacturer listings
- Only real products currently sold in the US
- Model numbers verified, not guessed
- Connectivity limits stated plainly
- Battery type and key backup confirmed
- No fake hands-on claims
Research updated August 2026.
Wyze Lock Bolt
A fingerprint deadbolt for the price most brands charge for a plain keypad.
| Product | Best for | Key Spec | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyze Lock Bolt | Overall | Fingerprint, Bluetooth | 4.4 / 5 | Check Amazon |
| August Smart Lock (3rd Gen) | Renters | Retrofit, Bluetooth | 4.2 / 5 | Check Amazon |
| Schlage BE365 Camelot | Build quality | Keypad, no radio | 4.5 / 5 | Check Amazon |
| Kwikset SmartCode 909 | Rekeying | Keypad, SmartKey | 4.3 / 5 | Check Amazon |
| Ultraloq U-Bolt | Guest codes | Fingerprint, Bluetooth | 4.2 / 5 | Check Amazon |
Wyze Lock Bolt
Best OverallPros
- Fingerprint reader is fast and accurate
- Physical key override in the cylinder
- One of the cheapest fingerprint deadbolts sold
Cons
- No Wi-Fi, so no unlocking from work
- No Alexa, Google Assistant or HomeKit
- App only reaches the lock over Bluetooth
The Wyze Lock Bolt replaces your existing deadbolt and unlocks with a fingerprint, a code on the keypad, or the supplied key. It is the closest thing to a genuine sub-$100 smart lock, and the fingerprint reader is the reason to buy it: you touch the sensor and the bolt retracts, no phone needed.
The honest limitation is connectivity. There is no Wi-Fi radio and no hub option, so you cannot let a courier in from the office and you cannot add it to a smart home routine. The Wyze app talks to the lock over Bluetooth when you are standing at the door, which is enough to add or delete codes but nothing more. It runs on four AA batteries.
August Smart Lock (3rd Gen)
Best for RentersPros
- Mounts over the inside of your existing deadbolt
- Outside of the door is untouched, so your keys still work
- DoorSense sensor tells you if the door is actually shut
Cons
- Remote access needs the August Connect bridge, sold separately
- This model does not support Apple HomeKit
- Bulky interior housing on some doors
The August Smart Lock (3rd Gen) does not replace your lock. It clamps over the thumbturn on the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the exterior keyway, the key your landlord holds, and the strike plate all stay exactly as they were. That is why it is the standard recommendation for renters and for anyone who does not want to drill anything.
Out of the box it is a Bluetooth lock: auto-unlock as you walk up, manual lock and unlock from the app, and guest access, all within range. Remote control from anywhere requires the August Connect Wi-Fi bridge, which is a separate purchase and pushes the real total above $100. Note that HomeKit lives on August's Wi-Fi Smart Lock and the older Smart Lock Pro, not on this model. It takes two AA batteries.
Schlage BE365 Camelot Keypad Deadbolt
Toughest BuildPros
- Heavy, all-metal deadbolt hardware
- No app, no pairing, nothing to break
- Long battery life from a single 9V
Cons
- No app, no phone control, no notifications
- Cannot add or revoke codes remotely
- Not a smart lock in the connected sense
If your real goal is to stop hiding a key under a plant pot, the Schlage BE365 does that job better than anything else near this price. It is a straightforward electronic keypad deadbolt: punch in a code, the bolt turns. It holds up to 19 user codes, so cleaners, dog walkers and family can each have their own, and you delete a code at the keypad when someone no longer needs it.
There is no radio in it at all. No Bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, no app, no notifications. What you get instead is Schlage deadbolt hardware and a single 9V battery that lasts a long time because nothing is transmitting. Anyone who has replaced a cheap lock after two winters will understand the trade.
Kwikset SmartCode 909
Best Rekeyable KeypadPros
- SmartKey cylinder rekeys in under a minute
- One-touch locking on the way out
- Up to 30 codes for a busy household
Cons
- No app or remote access
- SmartKey cylinders have drawn picking criticism
- Keypad finish shows wear on exposed doors
The SmartCode 909 is a keypad deadbolt with one feature the others do not have: the SmartKey cylinder. Using your current key and the supplied learn tool you can rekey the lock yourself in well under a minute, which matters if you have just moved in, lost a key, or ended a tenancy. No locksmith, no new hardware.
Like the Schlage, the 909 is standalone. There is no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi version of this model number, so if a listing promises app control it is showing you a different lock in the SmartCode range. It stores up to 30 codes, locks with a single touch of the keypad, and runs on four AA batteries.
Ultraloq U-Bolt
Best App Control on a BudgetPros
- Fingerprint, code, app or key, four ways in
- App handles temporary and scheduled codes
- Compact exterior compared with most keypad locks
Cons
- Wi-Fi needs the separate Ultraloq Bridge
- Sits right at the top of a $100 budget
- Fingerprint reader is fussier than the Wyze in cold weather
The U-Bolt is the base model of Ultraloq's deadbolt line, and it is the one that hovers around the $100 mark rather than well above it. It gives you fingerprint entry, a keypad, a mechanical key, and a Bluetooth app that can issue codes on a schedule, which is genuinely useful for a cleaner who only comes on Thursdays.
Be careful with the model names when you shop. The plain U-Bolt is Bluetooth only and needs the Ultraloq Bridge for Wi-Fi. The U-Bolt Pro and the Wi-Fi versions cost considerably more, and listings tend to blur the difference. All of them take four AA batteries.
What $100 actually buys you
The single most useful thing to understand before shopping is the connectivity ladder. A standalone keypad lock like the Schlage BE365 has no radio at all. A Bluetooth lock like the Wyze Lock Bolt, the August or the Ultraloq U-Bolt talks to your phone only when you are near the door, roughly 30 feet. A Wi-Fi lock connects to your router and can be opened from anywhere, and that feature is what pushes locks past $150.
Marketplace listings blur these three constantly. A product page will show an app screenshot and mention Alexa, when in reality the Alexa support requires a bridge that is not in the box. If remote unlocking is the reason you are buying, either budget for the bridge or plan to spend more than $100. If you simply want to stop carrying keys, everything on this list does that job well.
Check these before you order
Measure your backset, which is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the bolt hole. In the US that is almost always 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches, and every replacement deadbolt here is adjustable to fit both. Check door thickness too: 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches is standard, and thicker doors on some exterior installs need a manufacturer extension kit.
If you rent, do not buy a replacement deadbolt at all. The August retrofit uses the lock already in the door, so there is nothing to reinstate when you move out and no conversation to have with a landlord.
Mistakes to avoid
The most expensive mistake is buying a Bluetooth lock expecting remote access, discovering it needs a bridge, and ending up $40 over budget for a setup you could have bought better at the higher price to begin with. Decide first whether remote unlocking is a requirement or a nice-to-have.
The second is trusting the model number in a listing title. Kwikset SmartCode and Ultraloq U-Bolt are both product families where the standalone, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi versions look nearly identical in photos. Match the exact model number, not the family name. Finally, do not overlook the physical key backup. Every lock here has one, and on a battery-powered lock that key is what stops a dead battery from becoming a locksmith call.
FAQs
Can you actually get a smart lock under $100?
Yes, but with a caveat. Under $100 you can buy a fingerprint or keypad deadbolt that lets you stop carrying keys. What you almost never get at that price is built-in Wi-Fi, so unlocking the door remotely usually means adding a bridge or spending more.
Which sub-$100 locks work without Wi-Fi?
All of them work without Wi-Fi. The Schlage BE365 and Kwikset SmartCode 909 have no radio at all, and the Wyze Lock Bolt, August Smart Lock and Ultraloq U-Bolt use Bluetooth, which only works within about 30 feet of the door.
What is the best smart lock under $100 for renters?
The August Smart Lock (3rd Gen). It mounts over the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and the landlord's key are untouched, and it comes off without a trace when you move out.
Do any locks at this price work with Alexa or Google Assistant?
Not on their own. Voice control needs a cloud connection, which means the August Connect bridge or the Ultraloq Bridge, both sold separately. The Wyze Lock Bolt has no bridge option at all.
Does the August Smart Lock (3rd Gen) support Apple HomeKit?
No. HomeKit is on August's Wi-Fi Smart Lock and the older Smart Lock Pro, not on the 3rd Gen model. Listings often confuse the two, so check the exact model before you buy.
Will these locks fit my door?
Check two numbers first. Standard US deadbolt backset is 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches from the door edge to the center of the bore, and most doors are 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches thick. Every replacement lock here covers that range, and the August needs no measuring at all because it uses your existing bolt.
Can I install a smart lock myself?
Yes. A replacement deadbolt is a screwdriver job on a door that already has a bolt hole, usually 20 to 30 minutes. The August retrofit is faster because you only swap the interior thumbturn.
How long do the batteries last?
Roughly 6 to 12 months on the AA-powered locks, and often longer on the 9V Schlage because it has no radio. Every lock here warns you before the batteries die, and the keypad locks keep a physical key as backup.
Are cheap smart locks secure?
The deadbolt itself is the security, and a $70 deadbolt from Schlage or Kwikset is the same class of hardware as a non-electronic one. The weak points at this price are the keypad finish and, in the Kwikset case, the SmartKey cylinder, which has drawn criticism for pick resistance.
What is the difference between a keypad lock and a smart lock?
A keypad lock opens with a code and nothing else. A smart lock adds a radio, so a phone can talk to it. Under $100 that radio is nearly always Bluetooth, which means at-the-door control rather than true remote access.
Can I give a guest temporary access?
On the app-connected locks, yes. The Ultraloq U-Bolt and August both issue temporary or scheduled codes. On the Schlage and Kwikset you add a permanent code at the keypad and delete it manually afterwards.
What happens if the lock stops responding?
Replace the batteries first, since that is nearly always the cause. Every lock on this list keeps a mechanical key override, so you can always get in while you sort it out.
Our verdict
The Wyze Lock Bolt is the best smart lock under $100 because it delivers the feature people actually want at this price, fingerprint entry, without pretending to be a connected lock. Renters should take the August Smart Lock (3rd Gen) instead. If you would rather have hardware than an app, the Schlage BE365 is the most durable thing on the list. And if remote unlocking from anywhere is non-negotiable, be honest with yourself and raise the budget, because no lock under $100 does it without an extra bridge.