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Keypad or fingerprint smart lock?
Updated
Get a keypad if other people need to get in, like a dog walker, a cleaner or guests, because you can text a code. Get a fingerprint reader if it is mostly your own household and you want the fastest way in. Most fingerprint locks on our list also have a keypad, so many buyers do not have to choose.
How they compare
| Keypad code | Fingerprint | |
|---|---|---|
| Share with a guest | Yes, send a code, and many apps let you set a schedule | No. The person has to be at the lock to enroll |
| Take access away | Delete the code | Delete the print |
| Someone watching you type | A risk. Some locks let you add extra digits to hide the code | Nothing to watch |
| Wet, cold or dirty hands | Usually fine | Owners of some models report misreads |
| Kids | Need to remember a code | Just a finger |
Wyze's support page describes an anti-peep feature on the Lock Bolt v2: you can type extra digits before your code and it still unlocks. eufy's support page says its smart locks store fingerprint and passcode data on the lock, not in the cloud.
Locks that do both
- eufy C220: fingerprint, keypad, app and a key. Owners say the reader is fast. Caveat: not for Apple Home or Matter, per the listing.
- Wyze Lock Bolt v2: fingerprint, keypad, app and keys, plus USB-C emergency power. Caveat: owners give mixed reports on the fingerprint reader.
- Aqara U100: fingerprint, codes, Apple Home Key and a key. Caveat: remote control needs a hub.
- ULTRALOQ Bolt SE: fingerprint, codes, app and keys, with Matter over Thread. Caveat: owners report fingerprint misreads and connection trouble.
Keypad only
If nobody in the house cares about fingerprints, a keypad lock is simpler. The Schlage Encode has a touchscreen keypad and up to 100 codes, per the listing. The Yale Assure Lock 2 Wi-Fi has a keypad and works with Apple HomeKit, per the listing.
Whichever you pick
- Keep a physical key somewhere safe. A dead battery stops a keypad and a fingerprint reader alike. See what happens when the battery dies.
- Enroll two fingers per person, one from each hand.
- Delete old codes when a guest or worker no longer needs them.
Before any of that, make sure the lock fits your door with the fit checker. Full picks are on our shortlist. This page is general information, not security advice.