Best Smart Locks for Apple Home (HomeKit & Matter)

Quick answer: The best smart locks for Apple Home are those with HomeKit or Matter support. Our top pick is the Schlage Encode Plus (Apple Home Key, Matter, built-in Wi-Fi). For remote access you still need a home hub such as a HomePod or Apple TV. Compare more in our Apple Home smart lock list.

Not every smart lock supports Apple Home. The ecosystem has stricter certification requirements than Alexa or Google Home, and historically fewer models have made it through Apple's HomeKit approval process. That gap is narrowing with Matter — any Matter-certified lock works with Apple Home — but you still need to verify compatibility before buying.

This guide covers what Apple Home requires from a smart lock, which models meet those requirements, and what to check before committing.

What Apple Home requires from a smart lock

For a smart lock to work with Apple Home, it must be either:

1. HomeKit certified — officially approved by Apple through their MFi (Made for iPhone) program, or
2. Matter certified — carries the Matter logo; all Matter devices work with Apple Home

A lock that says "Works with Alexa" and "Works with Google Home" does not necessarily work with Apple Home. Never assume — check for the Apple Home badge or Matter certification specifically.

Additionally, Apple Home smart locks require a Home Hub to function remotely and in automations. A Home Hub is one of the following Apple devices, always on and connected to your network:

• Apple TV 4K (any generation)
• HomePod (any generation)
• HomePod mini

An iPad can also serve as a Home Hub, but only when it's at home. An iPhone alone is not sufficient for remote access or automation triggers.

Matter: the simplest path to Apple Home compatibility

Matter-certified smart locks are compatible with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Samsung SmartThings simultaneously. For Apple Home users considering a smart lock purchase, a Matter-certified model eliminates ecosystem compatibility uncertainty entirely.

Matter locks that also support Thread benefit from local communication — they continue to work (for local control) even during internet outages, as long as the Thread Border Router is powered. Apple TV 4K and HomePod are Thread Border Routers.

→ Full explanation: What Is Matter?

Best smart locks for Apple Home

Schlage Encode Plus

The most straightforward recommendation for Apple Home users. The Schlage Encode Plus is a Grade 2 deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread certification. It supports Apple Home natively and without a bridge — pair it directly with the Apple Home app.

Entry options: numeric keypad on the exterior, physical backup key cylinder, app control, and Siri voice commands. Access codes can be created and managed in the Apple Home app or the Schlage Home app.

Installation: full deadbolt replacement (removes your existing deadbolt entirely). Requires a standard door prep; installation takes 20–30 minutes.

The Encode Plus is priced at the higher end of consumer smart locks, but it's the most reliably HomeKit-compatible full deadbolt available in the US market based on published compatibility data.

Yale Assure Lock 2 (Matter version)

Yale's Assure Lock 2 is available in multiple configurations. The Matter-certified version works with all four major ecosystems including Apple Home. Available in two exterior styles: touchscreen keypad or key-free (no backup key cylinder).

The key-free option removes the emergency physical key backup — acceptable if you're comfortable relying entirely on electronic entry and app-based emergency access. The touch keypad version is the safer choice for most users.

Installation is comparable to the Schlage Encode Plus — full deadbolt replacement with standard hardware. Yale has a long history in the residential deadbolt market; the Assure Lock 2 is a current-generation product.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock supports Apple Home (HomeKit). As a retrofit lock, it installs on the interior of your existing deadbolt — the exterior hardware remains unchanged. This makes it the HomeKit-compatible option for renters who can't replace the full deadbolt.

Remote access is built in (Wi-Fi). Auto-lock and auto-unlock via geofencing work through the August app and Apple Home. Siri commands work through Apple Home once the lock is added to your Home.

Limitation: no keypad on the August device itself (the keypad is an optional add-on). For keypad entry, purchase the August Smart Keypad separately.

Level Lock+

The Level Lock installs inside the deadbolt housing, replacing only the interior components. Externally, the door looks completely stock — no visible smart lock hardware on either side. Supports Apple Home (HomeKit) via Bluetooth.

Limitation: Bluetooth only. Remote access requires being within Bluetooth range of the lock or using an Apple Home Hub as a bridge. This works well within the Apple ecosystem (the Home Hub forwards commands), but it means the lock is more Apple Home-dependent than the Wi-Fi options above.

Best for: iPhone users who want the most invisible installation possible and are fully committed to the Apple ecosystem.

What doesn't work with Apple Home (important)

Several popular smart locks explicitly do not support Apple Home:

• Schlage Encode (the non-Plus version) — supports Alexa and Google Home but not HomeKit
• Kwikset Halo and Halo Touch — Alexa and Google Home only
• Wyze Lock — Alexa and Google Home only
• Many Z-Wave locks when used through SmartThings — SmartThings is not an Apple Home integration path

Always verify HomeKit or Matter certification specifically — not just "smart home compatible."

Setting up a smart lock in Apple Home

For HomeKit-certified locks (non-Matter): open the Apple Home app, tap the + button, select "Add Accessory," and scan the HomeKit QR code printed on the lock or in the box. The lock is added to your Home and can be assigned to a room.

For Matter-certified locks: the process is slightly different. In the Apple Home app, scan the Matter QR code. The lock joins your Matter fabric and is simultaneously available in Apple Home and any other ecosystem you add it to.

Once added, you can:

• Lock and unlock from the Apple Home app or Control Center
• Use Siri ("Hey Siri, lock the front door")
• Create automations in Apple Home ("When I leave home, lock the front door")
• Share access with family members through the Apple Home sharing feature
• View the lock status in the Apple Home widget

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Home Hub for a HomeKit smart lock?

Yes. Remote access (locking the door when you're away) and automations (auto-lock when you leave home) require a Home Hub — Apple TV 4K, HomePod, or HomePod mini. Without one, you can control the lock only from within Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range. Many Apple Home users already have a Home Hub for other reasons; if you don't, a HomePod mini (~$99) is the most affordable option.

Can Android users control a HomeKit lock?

Not through the Apple Home app — it's iOS only. If a lock is Matter-certified, Android users can add it to Google Home or another ecosystem separately. Each ecosystem has its own access, and they control the same physical lock via Matter's multi-admin feature. This is one of Matter's key practical advantages for mixed-device households.

Is the Schlage Encode Plus worth the price over cheaper alternatives?

For Apple Home users who want reliable HomeKit integration with a full deadbolt replacement, the Encode Plus is consistently cited in published reviews as the most reliable option in the US market. Cheaper HomeKit locks exist (some via bridging), but compatibility issues with HomeKit are more common on less-established brands. The price premium reflects both Grade 2 security hardware and reliable HomeKit implementation based on public user reports.

Can I see who used the lock and when in Apple Home?

Apple Home shows a basic activity log for compatible smart locks — who locked and unlocked, and when. For more detailed logs (including specific access code used), the lock's manufacturer app usually provides better history. Both work alongside each other.

Does HomeKit work if my internet is down?

For local control: if your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi as your Home Hub, yes — HomeKit can communicate locally without internet. For remote access from outside the home: requires internet. Matter over Thread devices have stronger local communication reliability, because Thread is a mesh protocol that doesn't rely on the cloud for local commands. This is one of the arguments for choosing a Matter + Thread lock over a Wi-Fi-only HomeKit lock for Apple Home.