Home Assistant Compatible Smart Locks: What Actually Works Locally (2026)

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Home Assistant users shopping for a "smart home compatible" lock usually discover the phrase means almost nothing. A lock can be Zigbee and still require its manufacturer's proprietary hub. A lock can be Matter-certified and still refuse to hand over PIN code management to Home Assistant's Matter integration. A lock can advertise "works with Alexa, Google, Apple" and still route every command through a vendor cloud that goes dark the moment the internet does. None of that is disclosed on the product page.

The question that actually matters is narrower: does this lock expose a lock entity over Z-Wave JS, ZHA/Zigbee2MQTT, or Matter-over-Thread, and does it keep working when Wi-Fi or the internet drops? Locks that answer yes are a small, specific list. Locks that answer no include some of the biggest names in the category — Wi-Fi-only Schlage, August, and eufy models chief among them.

This guide sorts smart locks by protocol first and brand second, because protocol is what determines whether local control is even possible. It also documents the parts competing roundups tend to skip: which exact hardware module or firmware revision breaks local control, which "Zigbee" lock secretly needs a separate hub, and why Home Assistant's own Matter lock support only became fully usable in April 2026.

It's built for anyone specifying a lock for a Home Assistant install where "keeps working during an outage" is a requirement, not a nice-to-have — first-time Home Assistant users replacing a builder-grade deadbolt through experienced tinkerers auditing an existing lock for cloud dependency.

Quick Reference — Protocol vs. Local Control

Protocol First, Brand Second

Z-Wave has been the default recommendation for locks for years, for a structural reason: it runs on a dedicated sub-GHz band (908 MHz in the US) instead of the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum that Wi-Fi and Zigbee share, and Z-Wave JS surfaces every lock event — lock, unlock, code-entered, jam, tamper — as a discrete automation trigger. Zigbee locks work the same way in principle through ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, but pairing is fussier and not every "Zigbee" lock is a direct fit — some route through a manufacturer's own Zigbee hub before Home Assistant ever sees the device (see the Aqara U100 below).

Matter-over-Thread is the newer, future-facing option: no brand-specific bridge, fast local push updates, and growing manufacturer support. Its catch has been feature depth. Until Home Assistant Core 2026.4 (released April 1, 2026), the Matter integration exposed lock/unlock and battery state only — no PIN code slots. The 2026.4 release added a "Manage lock" option to set codes and access types, but support is inconsistent across lock models and firmware versions.

Wi-Fi-only locks — most August models, eufy locks, and the Wi-Fi mode of the Schlage Encode Plus — route commands through a manufacturer cloud. When that cloud or the home's internet connection is down, remote control and often local automations stop working. Treat any lock without a Z-Wave, Zigbee, or Matter-over-Thread radio as cloud-dependent, full stop.

For the underlying protocol tradeoffs in more depth, see Zigbee vs Z-Wave vs Matter and Matter Explained.

Z-Wave Smart Locks — The Established Local Standard

Z-Wave JS gives these locks the deepest event exposure in Home Assistant: lock state, unlock-by-code (with which code slot fired), jam, and tamper all arrive as separate entities rather than a single collapsed lock state.

Yale Assure Lock 2 with Z-Wave (YRD420-ZW2 / YRD410-ZW2)

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement, touchscreen or push-button keypad variants, up to 250 user codes
• Removable Yale Z-Wave Smart Module — the same lock body also accepts Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Matter modules
• DoorSense door-open/close sensor included
• 4× AA batteries, roughly 6–9 months on the Bluetooth module, less on Wi-Fi

Positioning: mid-tier

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Pros

• Native Z-Wave JS lock entity, fully local, no Yale account required
• Modular design means the same lock can be repurposed for a different protocol later
• Wide finish and keypad selection

Cons

• Module revision matters: the ZW2 is 500-series Z-Wave Plus v1; the ZW3 is 700-series with S2 security and OTA updates, but DoorSense reporting has been unreliable on some Assure 2 models running ZW3, and pairing has failed after lock firmware 1.3.10
• Requires "whisper pairing" — the Z-Wave coordinator needs to be physically close to the lock during inclusion or entities won't populate
• Battery drain reports usually trace back to a weak Z-Wave mesh near the door, not the lock itself

Verdict: The most flexible Z-Wave option for Home Assistant, provided the module revision is confirmed before purchase.

Perfect for: buyers who want a Z-Wave lock now with the option to swap protocols later without replacing the deadbolt.

Schlage Connect BE469ZP (Z-Wave Plus)

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement, resistive (not touchscreen) keypad, built-in alarm, BHMA Grade 1, up to 30 user codes
• Also available in a Zigbee variant
• Dedicated Z-Wave enroll button, OTA-updatable firmware
• 4× AA batteries

Positioning: mid-tier

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Pros

• S2 Access security, native Z-Wave JS lock entity, fully local beyond the coordinator itself
• Enabling the alarmType/alarmLevel entities surfaces who unlocked the door, jam events, and tamper — these are disabled by default
• BHMA Grade 1 build, the highest residential security rating

Cons

• Only the BE469ZP is OTA-updatable — the older BE469NX and BE468 run classic (500-series) Z-Wave and cannot receive firmware updates at all
• Secure S2 inclusion frequently requires a USB extension cable to bring the coordinator right up to the lock; failed includes leave an "Unknown Node" in the network
• Jam and tamper entities have been reported to "stick" (not auto-clear) after triggering
• Bulkier and louder motor than most competitors in this list

Verdict: The most secure Z-Wave option here, at the cost of a fussier pairing process and a bulkier install.

Perfect for: security-first buyers who want Grade 1 hardware and are prepared to work through the S2 pairing process once.

Zigbee Smart Locks — Budget-Friendly, Fussier to Pair

Zigbee locks share the 2.4 GHz band with Wi-Fi, which makes them somewhat more interference-prone than Z-Wave, but ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT both expose a native lock entity once paired to a Zigbee coordinator.

Kwikset SmartCode 916 / 914 Zigbee

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement; 916 is touchscreen, 914 is push-button
• SmartKey re-key mechanism, up to 30 codes, auto-lock via DIP switch
• Also sold in a Z-Wave variant and a separate "Amazon Key Edition" — the latter is not standard-hub compatible
• 4× AA batteries

Positioning: budget

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Pros

• Confirmed working directly on both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT with no manufacturer hub in the loop
• Cheapest confirmed local-control lock in this category
• SmartKey re-key lets the existing house key profile carry over

Cons

• Multiple 916 SKUs exist — Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Amazon Key Edition — and only the Zigbee SKU pairs directly with a Zigbee coordinator; matching the exact variant before buying is essential
• Several users have needed a factory reset walkthrough before the keypad would reliably close the bolt
• Keypad reported to crack under direct sun exposure; motor is on the louder side

Verdict: The lowest-cost path to a directly-paired Zigbee lock, as long as the exact SKU is verified.

Perfect for: budget-conscious buyers who already run ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT and want the simplest possible entry point. See the full Kwikset lock guide for the broader model lineup.

Aqara Smart Lock U100 (Zigbee — hub required)

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement, touchscreen keypad, 3D fingerprint reader, NFC (MIFARE Classic only), IP65, USB-C emergency power, Apple Home Key
• 4× AA alkaline batteries

Positioning: mid-tier

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Pros

• Fingerprint reader and Apple Home Key at a competitive price point
• Once bridged, exposes lock/unlock and battery to Home Assistant via Matter or HomeKit Controller

Cons

• The lock speaks Zigbee only to an Aqara hub (M2 on firmware 4.0.0+, M3, E1, or M100) — there is no direct-to-HA pairing path, despite the Zigbee radio. Aqara's own product FAQ states it "is not compatible with Home Assistant," which really means not directly
• PIN code, fingerprint, and NFC enrollment stay locked inside the Aqara app regardless of the bridge used
• NTAG215 NFC tags do not work — MIFARE Classic only

Verdict: A capable fingerprint lock, but it adds a hub dependency that a lock labeled "Zigbee" shouldn't need — factor a Zigbee hub into the budget and setup plan.

Perfect for: buyers who specifically want fingerprint entry and are already invested in the Aqara ecosystem.

Matter-over-Thread Locks — The Future-Proof Pick

Matter-over-Thread locks pair directly to Home Assistant's Matter Server through a Thread border router — no manufacturer bridge required. Lock/unlock and battery state have always worked; PIN code management arrived with HA Core 2026.4 and remains inconsistent across models.

Aqara Smart Lock U200 (Matter over Thread, retrofit)

Specs

• Retrofit design — replaces only the interior thumb-turn, keeps the existing exterior cylinder and key; roughly 20-minute install
• Fingerprint, PIN, NFC, app control, and Apple Home Key
• Firmware v66+ recommended for reliable HA pairing

Positioning: mid-to-premium

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Pros

• Keeps the existing exterior hardware and physical key — the least disruptive install in this list
• Native Matter-over-Thread, no Aqara hub required for basic HA control
• Commissioned locally and shareable to other ecosystems via Matter multi-admin

Cons

• Requires a working Thread border router — the single most common reason setup fails for this device
• PIN code and event-log management via Matter's Door Lock credential clusters was missing entirely until HA 2026.4, and some users report it still doesn't fully work on every U200 firmware

Verdict: The strongest retrofit option for anyone who wants to keep their existing key while gaining full Matter-over-Thread control.

Perfect for: renters or homeowners who don't want to replace the exterior lock hardware at all.

Nuki Smart Lock (US)

Specs

• Retrofit design, tool-free install over an existing single-cylinder deadbolt
• Product line includes Smart Lock (AA batteries), Smart Lock Go (budget), Smart Lock Pro (rechargeable, built-in Wi-Fi), Smart Lock Ultra (brushless motor, universal cylinder)
• Certified Matter-over-Thread models: Smart Lock Pro, Smart Lock Ultra, Smart Lock Go

Positioning: mid-to-premium

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Pros

• Officially certified under the "Works with Home Assistant" program — the nuki_matter integration (introduced in HA 2025.5) runs as Local Push, meaning state updates arrive instantly rather than on a polling interval
• No cloud account is required for Matter/HA control once the device is calibrated — the Nuki app is needed only once during setup and can be removed afterward
• Nuki eliminated its Premium subscription fee entirely in December 2025, alongside the earlier Wi-Fi paywall

Cons

• Thread commissioning issues have been reported (OTBR shows active but the device won't add), and "unable to unlatch" errors on the Go model
• The 2026.4 Matter lock manager reportedly doesn't yet work reliably on the US Ultra model

Verdict: The closest thing to an officially blessed Home Assistant lock on the market, with genuine Local Push status.

Perfect for: buyers who want the strongest official HA certification and don't mind occasional Thread commissioning friction.

Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement, fingerprint reader (sub-second recognition), keypad, app, physical key, auto-lock
• BHMA AAA rated, IP65 exterior
• Built on the Silicon Labs MG24 SoC — no Wi-Fi radio on this SKU, Bluetooth used only for setup
• 8× AA batteries (lithium recommended)

Positioning: mid-tier

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Pros

• No subscription, no forced cloud dependency — Matter-over-Thread is the native mode, not a bolt-on
• Fingerprint entry at a lower price point than most competing biometric locks

Cons

• Same Matter ceiling as every lock in this category: fingerprint enrollment stays in the vendor app, and PIN management via HA depends on firmware
• Commissioning failures reported ("cannot add Ultraloq Bolt F Matter to HA") tracing back to Thread border router setup
• Eight AA batteries is more than most competitors require, and the motor has been described as noisy

Verdict: A solid biometric option for a Matter-first setup, with the standard caveats around Thread commissioning.

Perfect for: buyers who want fingerprint entry without a Wi-Fi radio in the mix.

Level Lock+ with Matter

Specs

• Invisible retrofit — the motor and bolt hide inside the door; exterior and interior hardware look unchanged
• Apple Home Key and NFC on the "+" model; Level Bolt (no keypad) and Level Lock Pro (adds door-status sensor) are siblings
• Matter-over-Thread added via a firmware update

Positioning: premium

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Pros

• The only lock in this list with zero visible change to the door — genuinely invisible retrofit
• Matter-over-Thread firmware fixed the responsiveness issues that plagued the earlier Bluetooth/HomeKit-only version
• Existing Level Lock+ owners received a free firmware upgrade to gain Matter support

Cons

• Highest price point in this list for what is functionally the same lock/unlock and battery feature set as cheaper Matter options
• Pre-Matter units relying on Bluetooth/HomeKit alone were laggy and range-limited — worth confirming firmware version on any used unit

Verdict: Buy this one for the invisible install, not for extra HA features over the Aqara U200 or Nuki.

Perfect for: buyers prioritizing aesthetics who don't want any visible sign a smart lock was installed.

The Lock to Avoid for Local-Only Setups — Schlage Encode Plus

Specs

• Full deadbolt replacement, touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key, up to 100 codes, BHMA Grade 1

Positioning: premium, cloud-dependent

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Pros

• Strong build quality and Apple Home Key support for HomeKit-first households

Cons

• This is not a Matter device. Schlage's own support team has stated directly that the Encode Plus "is not a Matter-enabled device and does not currently support integration with the Matter protocol" — a claim that has circulated incorrectly in other buying guides
• Connects via Wi-Fi (cloud) or HomeKit over Thread/BLE — neither is a native Home Assistant path
• The only way to reach Home Assistant is a workaround: bridge state through Apple Home using a HomePod or Apple TV as the Thread border router, then expose that through HomeKit Actions, or use the cloud-based Schlage integration, which lags 10–15 seconds behind the lock's actual state
• Cannot be paired to both HomeKit and Home Assistant's HomeKit Controller simultaneously
• Wi-Fi mode drains the battery in under three months; the HomeKit/Thread mode lasts over a year

Verdict: A genuinely good HomeKit lock and a poor fit for a local-first Home Assistant setup — treat it as cloud/HomeKit-dependent rather than as an HA-native option.

Perfect for: Apple Home households that don't need Home Assistant as the primary controller.

Specifications Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

For a Home Assistant setup where local control genuinely matters, the decision tree is simple: pick Z-Wave or Matter-over-Thread first, confirm the exact SKU and firmware revision second, and treat any Wi-Fi-only lock as a convenience device rather than an automation-grade one. The Yale Assure Lock 2 and Schlage Connect BE469ZP remain the most battle-tested Z-Wave options, the Kwikset SmartCode 916 Zigbee is the cheapest lock that pairs directly with no hub in the loop, and the Nuki Smart Lock and Aqara U200 lead the Matter-over-Thread retrofit category with genuine local push control.

The one recurring trap across every protocol is assuming a spec sheet claim — "Zigbee," "Matter-enabled," "smart home compatible" — means direct, hub-free Home Assistant support. It doesn't always. Verify the exact module or hardware revision before buying, check current Z-Wave JS or Matter integration notes for that specific model, and budget for the coordinator or Thread border router the lock actually needs.

For the coordinator side of this setup, see Best Zigbee Coordinators & Dongles for Home Assistant; for troubleshooting an existing lock's battery life or rekeying, see the Smart Lock Battery, Rekey & Troubleshooting Guide; and for getting Home Assistant itself running before any of this, start with the Home Assistant Beginner's Guide.

→ Check the current price of the Yale Assure Lock 2 with Z-Wave on Amazon