Kwikset Locks Review: Sturdy, Dependable Locks for Every Home and Budget

Although we love that Kwikset offers tons of options, it can make it harder to find what you want. Fortunately, we’ve sorted through the options to save you time.

Keep reading for more details about some of Kwikset’s best locks.

While there are other Kwikset locks with basic home automation features (discussed below), this is the only true smart lock on the list. The Kevo uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone so you can unlock your door by touching your phone to the lock—you don’t have to type in any codes, open any apps, or fumble in your bag for your keys.

Kevo is also the only Kwikset lock that comes with an app, which means it has extra features. However, most of these extra features aren’t available unless you pay for Kevo Plus—a $99.99 upgrade that gives you remote access to the lock. (While this may seem frustrating, we should point out that other lock makers have similar setups.)

With Kevo Plus and the app you can lock and unlock the door remotely so you don’t have to panic if you forget to lock the door when you leave the house. You can also send eKeys to let someone in to walk your dog while you’re at work or water your plants while you’re on vacation. If you’d like, you can send scheduled keys so someone cleaning your home will have access during a certain window of time but not later in the day. The app also lets you see when those keys get used so you’ll know when someone enters your house—whether it’s your teenager getting home from school or your friend checking on your cat.

High-quality alternatives with basic home automation features

These locks have fewer features than the Kevo, but they come with either Zigbee or Z-Wave compatibility so they can connect to other home automation products. The 914 deadbolt has a physical keypad while the 916 has a touchscreen. The 916 even made our list of the best digital door locks.

These locks have similar features and are in the same price range, so it’s up to you to decide if you prefer the physical keypad or the touchscreen.

Standout features of both locks:

• Either Zigbee or Z-Wave compatibility
• Automatic locking after 30 secs
• Up to 30 access codes

Simple, budget-friendly locks that boost security

Not everyone can spend between $100 and $200 on fancy locks (especially if you need to secure multiple doors), but there are still great budget-friendly options that can improve your security.

Kwikset offers normal deadbolts and doorknobs that still make your home more secure. We like the 980 deadbolt and the 740 Juno doorknob because they’re sturdy, inexpensive, and attractive.

These deadbolts and doorknobs don’t come with tons of fancy features, but they do come with Kwikset’s SmartKey tech that lets you rekey your own locks. If you want to upgrade all the exterior doors on your home without getting lots of different keys, this makes things much easier.