“These systems also tend to be family-friendly, eliminating a busy parent’s worry of keeping track of their keys or having to entrust their younger children or teenagers to keep ahold of a physical key,” Garrett Lovejoy, VP of product management for Yale US Smart Residential, told The Spruce. “Many of the touchpad options also typically can hold between 15-25 different codes, allowing users to have separate codes for their immediate family, dog walker, babysitters, close friends, etc.” In our search for the best keyless entry systems, we sought recommendations and advice from a variety of sources, including Lovejoy. We considered basic locks, Bluetooth options, and smart locks, evaluating each product’s ease of installation, feature sets, and security ratings provided by organizations like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). Our top recommendation, the Schlage FE595 CAM 626 Keypad Lever with Flex-Lock, is exceptionally easy to set up and use, has a solid security rating, and will lock automatically for security or remain unlocked for ease of access at your command. Here are the best keyless entry systems. This lock replaces your doorknob, so it’s best for doors that don’t have a deadbolt. If there’s enough clearance above your doorknob, you can also use it with your deadbolt or a low-profile smart deadbolt. Either way, installation is easy and doesn’t require any special tools or wiring. An included 9-volt battery provides power, and the lock comes pre-programmed with two unique codes, so it’s ready to go right away. When you want to program new entry codes, it’s capable of holding up to 19 at a time. There’s no way to create codes that expire automatically, but you can remove individual codes at any time. This isn’t a smart lock, so there’s no app and no smart home integration, but it does have some great features. The most important is Flex-Lock, which lets you activate passage mode to keep the door unlocked when necessary or switch to automatic re-locking for greater security. If you’re going to be away for a while, the vacation feature lets you totally disable the keypad. It also has a backlit keypad, the ability to lock automatically, and a physical backup lock, so while the Schlage FE595 doesn’t have any smart features, it’s more than a basic keypad lock. The Schlage Camelot has an attractive chunky design that’s available in a number of finishes and with several different lever and knob options. If you prefer something with simpler lines, the Schlage Keypad Lever with Plymouth Trim and Flair Lever with Flex Lock is the exact same lock with a less ornate trim style.  Price at time of publish: $109 This lock has a physical key in addition to a 10-digit numerical keypad that includes a dedicated button for one-touch locking. It also has an adjustable auto-lock feature that will lock the door if you forget to. It doesn’t work with Kwikset SmartKey, though, so rekeying requires a trip to the locksmith unless you want to try to rekey the old-fashioned way. With an ANSI Grade 3 rating, the Kwikset 264 Keypad isn’t the best pick for high-security use but is in line with standard deadbolt configurations installed in most homes. Price at time of publish: $60 This lock has Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you set it up and operate it via a companion app on your phone. You don’t need to use the app, but the setup process is needlessly difficult if you don’t. The app lets you share access with other people via Bluetooth, create and remove codes, and set up temporary codes that only work on specific days and times or that expire at a specified time. Additional smart features are available, like the ability to monitor the lock when you aren’t home, but they require purchasing the optional Wi-Fi bridge device. Price at time of publish: $140 This lock has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so there’s nothing extra to buy. You can connect your phone via Bluetooth for local programming and operation and connect the lock to your wireless network for remote access. The phone app lets you operate the lock, generate new codes for both permanent and temporary access, see the status of the lock, check the battery level, and more. The app can also alert you if anyone enters an incorrect code, and the lock itself has a very loud alarm that goes off in the event of an attempted forced entry. Price at time of pubilsh: $270 This lock has some great security features beyond just being bump- and pick-proof due to the lack of a physical key. The keypad includes anti-peek protection, which lets you hide your access code by adding random digits before and after the actual code. For added security, you can set it to lock automatically after a specified amount of time and disable all access when you’re on vacation.  Price at time of publish: $40 The keypad has a removable cover that protects it from the elements, and the individual keys light up for easy access both night and day. The cover is a bit of an issue because you do need to slide it up to access the keypad, which can be a hassle if you only have one hand free. The cover can also slide all the way off, which could lead to it getting lost. Price at time of publish: $33 This lock comes with Bluetooth connectivity that enables a few smart features like auto relock that locks the door behind you. You can also control the lock through an app on your phone as long as you’re within Bluetooth range. Other smart features require an optional upgrade in the form of a Wi-Fi module. The optional Wi-Fi module connects the lock to the internet and your other smart home devices. With the internet connection, you can operate the lock and check its status when you aren’t home, receive notifications when anyone unlocks or opens the door, and even control it with voice commands.  Price at time of publish: $260 Since this is a purely mechanical lock, it does have some drawbacks. You can only set one access code at a time, and setting codes is a little complicated. It also has limited code variety compared to electronic models due to the mechanism used to set codes, and there’s no backup access method if you happen to forget your code. However, this lock offers a high level of security due to its all-steel construction and because it doesn’t have a lock cylinder to bump or pick. Price at time of publish: $143 “Installation can be very simple; there are many options that are DIY and only require a screwdriver and an instruction manual,” Garrett Lovejoy of Yale US Smart Residential told The Spruce. “With keyless entry systems, if the holes in your doors are already drilled, the installation process is as simple as changing the deadbolt. ”Most keyless entry systems are electronic, so they use batteries. That simplifies the installation process since there’s no complicated electrical wiring, but it complicates the long-term use of the lock since batteries can go dead. Some keyless entry systems let you connect a backup battery or a USB power supply in emergencies, and others have physical locks so you can use a backup key. “With most locks, however, devices will give users different types of warnings as the battery starts to get low, so be on the lookout for any blinking lights or audio warnings,” says Lovejoy. “Battery lives are typically long, and you will get lots of notice your batteries are low.”

Entry Options

Keyless entry systems are available with a wide variety of entry systems. Electronic keypads with physical keys are common, as are touchscreen keypads. In addition to electronic keypads, some keyless entry systems use purely mechanical keypads that don’t require batteries to operate. According to Lovejoy, keypads with buttons offer some advantages over touchpads, even though touchpads provide a cleaner look. “Keypad locks (especially those with push buttons) may be more obvious to use to guests, and they don’t leave fingerprints as much as a touchpad/screen,” says Lovejoy. “Those who live in colder weather environments also may benefit from a keypad option—that is, unless users own a pair of ‘smart gloves’ that allow a level of grip needed to properly use a touchscreen.” Fingerprint sensors are another entry option that is both secure and convenient. “This is a very secure option since fingerprints are all unique and are very difficult to forge,” according to Lovejoy. “It’s also a convenient option for individuals who don’t have to worry about keeping track of all of their different keys.” However, Lovejoy also warns that biometric sensors don’t always work. “Biometric sensors have come a long way, but some sensors may still have trouble in certain conditions, such as rain/snow, dirty hands from working in the yard, and more. Having a PIN code to use as a backup option for cases like these can provide users with peace of mind.” Other entry methods include Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), and Wi-Fi. Keyless entry systems with wireless connectivity require a phone to operate and can include manual operation via an app and automatic operation via the proximity of your phone or another device. In addition to all of these keyless entry options, some also include a physical lock you can operate with a key. Most keyless entry systems replace your deadbolt, in which case you can leave your existing doorknob or replace it with a knob or lever that doesn’t lock. Keyless entry systems can also replace your doorknob though, in addition to mortise locks, so it’s important to choose one that matches the lock you’re replacing.

Extra Features

Basic keyless entry systems add a way to unlock your door without a key or replace the key with a keyless entry method, but smart locks can also include a wide variety of extra features. Keyless entry systems with Bluetooth connectivity let you operate the lock via your phone, but only when you’re actually at the door. Locks that include Wi-Fi connectivity allow for smart home integration, which unlocks a lot of other features. “Users should look for a lock that integrates with other products you already have, such as Google/Alexa/etc. so that they can grow the capabilities of their smart home,” recommends Lovejoy. With a companion phone app, you can operate these Wi-Fi-connected smart locks from anywhere you have an internet connection. Some of these locks also operate automatically based on proximity to your phone or another device, which is a feature called geofencing. Others let you operate the lock with voice commands through your smart home system.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. His own front door is secured by a keyless smart lock, and he has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends, in addition to the Spruce. “One thing that users may want to consider is whether they want to invest in a keyless entry system that grants them Bluetooth connectivity,” suggests Garrett Lovejoy, VP of Product Management for Yale US Smart Residential. “If they are looking to bring a little extra convenience to their keyless entry system, having [a] Bluetooth-enabled connection to their phone makes the lock even easier to program, easy to unlock, and in some cases, this type of connection makes it easier to remotely set PIN codes.” There is some overlap between keyless entry systems and smart locks, but not all keyless door locks are smart. All smart locks are keyless entry systems because they allow unlocking with an app on your phone at a bare minimum. Many smart locks also include other keyless entry methods like keypads and biometric sensors. Smart locks tend to be more expensive, mostly due to the inclusion of wireless functionality like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Smart locks also provide greater control over your lock and some security features. “One of the major benefits of a smart lock is that if someone uses a PIN, you will have a record of whose PIN was entered and what time it was used,” says Lovejoy. “This type of record can provide more insights than relying on using a physical key. If someone ‘stole’ your code in a tragic turn of events, users will have a record of the specific code used and are able to know to change or disable that code. If the lock is connected via a mobile app, users can even be notified on their smartphone and can make all of the former adjustments remotely.” Laukkonen contacted Garrett Lovejoy, VP of Product Management from Yale US Smart Residential, a division of ASSA ABLOY, to receive his expert opinions on keyless entry systems. With Lovejoy’s insights in mind, Laukkonen prioritized factors like entry options and keypads with multiple codes, security ratings and features, and connectivity for a few smart lock recommendations to identify all the best keyless entry systems.