Schlage Smart Lock Review & Pricing in 2025
Are Schlage smart locks worth the premium price? After testing them in our home for a month, we think so.
Last Updated on Aug 26, 2025
What We Like
- Lifetime warranty for mechanical and finish failures
- Automatically locks behind you
- Tap to unlock feature consistently works and is easy to use
What We Don't Like
- No budget options
- Only some models can integrate with a home security system
- Some features only work with iPhones, not Androids
Bottom Line
Schlage’s known for providing some of the best smart locks in the industry. They feature an impressive build quality that’s backed by a lifetime warranty against mechanical failures. Add on Schlage’s convenient smart capabilities like tap unlock for Apple smart watches and it’s easy to see where they get their reputation.
We don’t make recommendations based on reputations, though, so we bought two Schlage smart locks ourselves; one that’s a standalone model and one that pairs with some of the best home security systems. After spending a month testing it in our home, we found that they really do live up to their reputation, although that premium quality comes with a premium price tag.
>> Read More: Smart Locks Buyers Guide
Schlage Smart Lock Pricing and Options
Brace yourself, Schlage’s smart locks are expensive across the board compared to brands like Yale and Kwikset. Schlage doesn’t offer any options we would consider budget-friendly. All prices that start at over $200. That said, we think they’re worth the price given the lifetime warranty and ease of use. Here’s an overview of Schlage’s smart lock pricing and options:
| Schlage Smart Lock | Schlage Encode | Schlage Encode Lever | Schlage Encode Plus | Schlage Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Home Integrations | Google Home, Alexa | Google Home, Alexa | Google Home, Alexa | Google Home, Alexa, Z-Wave |
| Apple Home Keys | No | No | Yes | No |
| Schlage App | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Works with Single-Bore Door | No | Yes | No | No |
| Auto-Lock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forced Entry Alarm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Three-Year for Electronics and Lifetime for Mechanical and Finish | Three-Year for Electronics and Lifetime for Mechanical and Finish | Three-Year for Electronics and Lifetime for Mechanical and Finish | Three-Year for Electronics and Lifetime for Mechanical and Finish |
| Price | $300 | $310 | $330 | $240 |
Pro Tip: Schlage doesn’t sell their locks directly to consumers, so we bought ours through a third-party retailer. We took the time to check a few retailers and found most of their models regularly sell for about $30 less than their MSRP if you take the time to look for the best deal available.
Schlage Encode
The Encode line encompasses Schlage’s primary standalone smart lock products. They’re not totally standalone devices since they can integrate with Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices, but that’s the extent of their third-party support. While we appreciated the option for voice control, we still controlled our Schlage Encode Wi-Fi with the Schlage app most of the time.
As a standalone smart lock, it’s hard to find a better option than the Schlage Encode series. It received the highest available ratings by both commercial and residential lock rating standards. That brings commercial-level security to your front door. But, don’t expect it to integrate with your home security system.
>> Check Out: Best Home Security Systems That Work with Alexa in 2025
Schlage Connect
Looking for a smart lock that can connect to your home security system or smart home products? That’s where Schlage Connect comes in. It still offers commercial grade security, although it follows the 2010 standard (older) instead of the current standard. However, it supports Z-Wave or ZigBee connectivity instead of the Schlage app. This let us connect it with all of our favorite smart home devices.
We connected the Schlage Connect we tested to our Vivint home security system and used our Vivint Smart Hub and app to control the lock. We could also set up to 30 passcodes from our Vivint system.
FYI: Need more than 30 passcodes for your smart lock? You might need to sacrifice integration with your home security system as the Schlage Encode series is the only line of smart locks from Schlage to support up to 100 passcodes.
Schlage Arrive
This model has not been released yet. But, it’s arriving soon – no pun intended – so we’ll cover it anyway. It brings a bit of both what the Encode and Connect locks offer.
You can control it with the Schlage app and it integrates with some home security systems, specifically Ring. Check out our Ring review to see if that combo is right for you. This model will also be Schlage’s first smart lock to support up to 250 passcodes.
Schlage Smart Lock Installation
Installing any Schlage smart lock is simple and straightforward. Even if you don’t already have a deadbolt on your door, you can still easily install a Schlage smart lock, particularly the Schlage Encode Lever. If you have a deadbolt, installing any of the other models will be a breeze as well. Here’s how we installed both Schlage smart locks we tested:
- Uninstall Your Current Deadbolt: If you’re replacing your deadbolt, you’ll need to first uninstall your current deadbolt. For the Schlage Encode Lever, you’ll uninstall your doorknob instead.
- Install the Latch Bolt: Twist the faceplate to adjust the length of the latch bolt until the hole in the latch bolt lines up in the middle of the hole in your door when installed. Then, attach it to your door with the provided screws.
- Attach the Exterior Assembly: The exterior assembly slides into place and gets secured with the provided screws. While sliding the exterior assembly into place, route the cable under the latch bolt.
- Connect the Interior Assembly: Move over to the other side of the door and install the interior assembly. Don’t forget to connect the cable from the exterior assembly and nestle it into the interior assembly before securing it to your door.
Replacing our deadbolt with our Schlage smart lock took about an hour and we’d expect replacing a doorknob with the Schlage Encode Lever to take about the same amount of time.
We only needed help when connecting the interior and exterior assemblies. One person held the exterior assembly in place while the other connected the interior assembly. If you’re on your own, you can use a piece of tape to hold the exterior assembly in place while attaching it to the interior assembly.
Extra Help: There’s nothing special about installing a Schlage smart lock. That means you can follow the steps we lay out in our guide to installing a smart lock on your door without any variation. We go through the whole process in detail.
Our Experience Using Schlage Smart Locks
Overall, we enjoyed our experience using both the Schlage smart locks we tested. First, we tried the Schlage Connect Z-Wave so we could see how it worked alongside a home security system. Then, we tested the Schlage Encode Wi-Fi so we could try out their mobile app too.
Security Features
After we installed our Schlage smart lock, we knew nobody was getting through our front door. Their Commercial Grade 1 rating includes third-party testing against unauthorized entry by force, torque, or blowtorch. That’s the type of security we like to see when trying to protect our home from invasion.
Aside from the durability of the lock itself, they also offer a few security measures that other providers overlook. For instance, their touchscreens are fingerprint-resistant, preventing a potential thief from pulling your fingerprint and using it to unlock your door.
>> Learn More: A 2025 Guide to Personal Digital Security & Online Safety
Access Codes
To our surprise, Schlage only provides up to 100 access codes. Most competitors, especially in this price range, offer up to 250 access codes. Schlage will be able to offer that as well once they release the Schlage Arrive. For most people, though, 100 will be plenty. We only ended up using 17 access codes for our family and some close friends.
Heads Up!: While the entire Encode series by Schlage supports up to 100 access codes, the Schlage Connect only supports up to 30 codes. We could see some users reaching that 30 code limit, particularly if you have a lot of contractors working on or maintaining your home.
Third-Party Smart Home Integrations
All Schlage smart locks can at least integrate with Alexa, Google Home, and Airbnb. Those first two enable voice control over your smart lock so you can unlock your door with a simple phrase.
We much preferred our time testing the Schlage Connect since it could, well, connect with a huge list of third-party smart home devices. In our case, we used it to connect with the Vivint security system we were testing at the same time. That let us set up an automation where our security system automatically switched from Away to Home mode when we unlocked our door and walked in after work.
>> Read About: Best Airbnb & Vacation Home Security Systems of 2025
Mobile App
There’s no question about it. The Schlage Home app is more geared toward iOS users than Android. They even offer iOS specific features like tap to unlock for iPhones and Apple Watches with the Schlage Encode Plus. Take note that the app only works with the Schlage Encode series.
FYI: Schlage just launched an overhaul of their mobile app and we like the changes. It seemed to be all about making the app more user friendly with a clear button on the home screen for engaging or disengaging your lock. We also found it easier to review the activity history of our lock with the new interface.
Warranty
Most smart locks come with a warranty, but they’re rarely lifetime warranties. Schlage offers a lifetime warranty for mechanical and finish failures. That means if anything inside the lock stops working or if there’s rust, chipping, or scrape. The electronics, on the other hand, are under a three-year warranty, which still beats the industry-standard one year warranty.
Schlage Smart Lock Options vs. The Competition
How does Schlage stack up against the competition? Well, there’s two main drawbacks we saw when testing our Schlage locks and that’s the high price tag and industrial look.
If Schlage’s locks are outside of your budget, we recommend going with Kwikset instead. Their smart locks start at about $150 and still offer solid security. They did not reach Commercial Grade 1 like Schlage, but they have the same AAA rating for residential locks which still made us feel comfortable during our time testing a Kwikset smart lock.
For a more aesthetic lock, the Yale smart locks look great. They feature a sleek design that can blend into any home’s aesthetic thanks to its customizability. When we bought our Yale smart lock, we chose to not have a physical key so it was just the keypad on the doorway for an even sleeker look.
Final Thoughts: Is Schlage the Best Smart Lock For You?
While Schlage’s smart locks cost a pretty penny, they’re well worth the price if you can afford it. That goes for all of their models. They all feature the highest ratings available for residential and commercial locks, so the security they offer is top notch. Not to mention the lifetime warranty against manufacturing and finish failures.
But, which Schlage smart lock is right for you? Here’s a simple breakdown so you can pick the perfect smart lock for your circumstance:
- Schlage Encode Wi-Fi: The baseline Encode is perfect for anyone that wants a standalone smart lock replacement for their deadbolt. If you’re an Android user, we recommend this over the Encode Plus as you won’t be able to use the Apple Keys feature anyways.
- Schlage Encode Lever: Don’t have a deadbolt on your door? The Schlage Encode Lever still lets you add a smart lock to your door without a complicated install. It replaces your doorknob.
- Schlage Encode Plus: For the best of the best, you’ll need to go with the Encode Plus. It supports Apple Keys so all you need to do to unlock your door is tap your apple watch against your smart lock.
- Schlage Connect: If you already have a home security or home automation system, you’ll want the Schlage Connect. It’s the only one to support third-party integrations through Z-Wave or ZigBee.
You really can’t go wrong with any Schlage smart lock as they offer some of the best security in the industry. And at the end of the day, the point of any lock is to make your home more secure.
FAQs About Schlage Smart Locks
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Does Schlage make reliable smart locks?
Yes, Schlage makes some of the most reliable smart locks in the industry backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The company was founded over 100 years ago, too, so you don’t need to worry about them going out of business leaving you with a warranty you can’t claim.
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Can Schlage smart locks be picked by a criminal?
If you’ve seen the LockPickingLawyer on YouTube, you know that any lock can be picked and Schlage smart locks are no different. That said, they’ve received the highest certifications available for commercial and residential locks.
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Do I need an existing deadbolt on my door to get a Schlage smart lock?
No, you do not need an existing deadbolt to install a Schlage smart lock on your door. They make a model that replaces a doorknob or you can hire a professional to drill the holes in your door required for Schlage’s deadbolt smart locks.
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When does the Schlage Arrive release?
The Schlage Arrive is expected to be released by the end of Spring 2025.
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Can Schlage smart locks integrate into a home security system?
Only select Schlage smart locks can integrate into a home security system, namely the Schlage Connect, and that only goes for some home security systems. That’s why we recommend buying a smart lock through your home security provider to ensure complete compatibility.
