Best Smart Home Devices for the Entryway and Front Door

The entryway and front door are where smart home technology has the most direct security impact. A smart lock, a video doorbell and a contact sensor cover the three main functions: controlled access, visual monitoring and entry detection. Together they give you a clear picture of who is at your door and who has entered your home.

Smart locks

A smart lock replaces or augments your existing door lock with keypad, app and voice control. The main benefits: no more lost keys, temporary codes for guests or service providers, automatic locking when you leave, and real-time alerts when the door is unlocked.

Schlage Encode Plus: integrates directly with Apple Home via Matter without needing a separate hub. Also works with Alexa and Google Home. Excellent build quality with a built-in alarm that detects physical attacks on the lock.

Yale Assure Lock SL: slim profile, available with or without a key cylinder. Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings. Module-based design means you can add Z-Wave, Zigbee or Wi-Fi connectivity separately.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th gen): installs on the interior of your existing deadbolt, keeping the original exterior key cylinder. Best for renters who cannot replace the exterior hardware. Works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home.

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: includes fingerprint reader, keypad, key and app access in one lock. One of the most versatile options for households where different people have different access preferences.

Video doorbells

A video doorbell lets you see and speak to whoever is at the door from your phone — whether you are upstairs, at work or in another country.

Ring Video Doorbell 4: the most popular option. Good video quality, reliable alerts, works with Alexa. Wired or battery powered.

Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): best integration with Google Home and Nest cameras. Identifies people, packages, vehicles and animals separately.

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual: two cameras — one at standard height and one angled down toward packages on the doorstep. No subscription required for local storage.

Contact sensors

A contact sensor on the front door sends an alert when the door opens or closes and can trigger automations — lights on when you arrive home, notification when a child returns from school. The Aqara Door and Window Sensor (Zigbee, requires a hub) and the Eve Door and Window (Thread, works with Apple Home without a hub) are both reliable with battery lives measured in years.

Smart lighting for the entryway

Motion-activated lighting means you never walk into a dark hallway. A smart bulb triggered by a motion sensor or door contact sensor turns on when you arrive and off after 5 minutes of no motion.

Exterior lighting near the front door should be on a schedule (on at sunset, off at sunrise) or motion-triggered. The Philips Hue Discover or Kasa Smart Outdoor Light are reliable options with automation built in.

Arrival and departure automations

The most useful entryway automations trigger when you arrive or leave home. Arrive home: unlock the door, turn on the hall light, deactivate security mode. Leave home: lock the door, turn off all lights, activate cameras to motion-record mode. These can be configured in the Alexa app, Google Home or Apple Home using geofencing with your phone location.

Recommended entryway setup

• Start with: a video doorbell to see who is at the door remotely + a contact sensor on the front door for arrival notifications.
• Add next: a smart lock for keyless entry and temporary guest codes.
• Later: motion-activated interior lighting, exterior flood light with motion trigger, arrival and departure automations via geofencing.

What to avoid

Do not choose a smart lock that requires a hub you do not already own if your goal is simple keyless entry — many smart locks have built-in Wi-Fi and connect directly to your home network. Avoid video doorbells with cloud-only storage if a monthly subscription is a concern — local storage options are available from Eufy, Reolink and others. A video doorbell is not a substitute for a security camera: a doorbell covers the area directly in front of the door, not the wider property.