Tested 7 smart locks across 3 STRs over 3 years — here's what surprised me

Memphis, Tennessee
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Tested 7 smart locks across 3 STRs over 3 years — here's what surprised me

Robert Baron
Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 5 votes

I've been running short-term rentals for a few years now — two in Memphis and one in Northwest Indiana near the Indiana Dunes. Across that time and three different doors, I've installed, lived with, and in some cases returned seven different smart locks: Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi), August Wi-Fi 4th gen, Level Lock+, Igloohome Smart Deadbolt, Lockly Vision Elite, and the Eufy E330.

The lock that "won" for me wasn't the prettiest and didn't have a fingerprint reader. It was the boring one — the Schlage Encode. Built-in Wi-Fi (no hub), ANSI Grade 1 build, clean integration with Hospitable, Hostaway, and OwnerRez. The real-time activity log saved me twice on guest-can't-get-in calls when I was hundreds of miles away.

A few surprises I didn't see coming:

  1. Battery life varies more than spec sheets suggest. Schlage advertised a year on 4 AAs; I got 5–6 months on a busy property. The Lockly Vision Elite with the camera died in 6–8 weeks.
  2. The Yale Assure 2 touchscreen is harder to use with wet/cold fingers than Schlage's physical buttons. Memphis humidity, Indiana snow, ask my cleaner.
  3. The Igloohome offline-code algorithm is genuinely great for cabins with flaky Wi-Fi.
  4. Level Lock+ is gorgeous and the wrong choice for portfolio operators. No external keypad, no native PMS integration.

Happy to share the full comparison and my PMS-integration notes if anyone wants them. Curious what the BP crowd is running — anyone using something I missed?

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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3mo

I have the Schlage Connect Z Wave lock. Been great for the last 9 years. Zero issues.

I love the Z Wave connectivity. I have it paired up with a Samsung SmartThings hub. Easy to do and allow me to run other devices. Like my Emerson Sensi thermostat.

Plus the Z Wave radio uses much less energy than a WiFi radio so batteries last longer. 

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  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3mo

    I have the Schlage Connect Z Wave lock. Been great for the last 9 years. Zero issues.

    I love the Z Wave connectivity. I have it paired up with a Samsung SmartThings hub. Easy to do and allow me to run other devices. Like my Emerson Sensi thermostat.

    Plus the Z Wave radio uses much less energy than a WiFi radio so batteries last longer. 

    1Reply
  • Lauren Kormylo
    Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3mo

    I use the Encode also, haven't tried anything else. My STR is a mile from the ocean so exposed to a level of salt air. I had a problem with it after 3 years, where a guest's code worked for a few days, and then stopped working altogether. I had some spare codes preprogrammed in and gave her one of those, and she used that for the rest of her stay. I live on the other side of the country and luckily was flying there the following week. Because I'm so far away, I didn't want to take a chance on doing a factory reset or trying to fix it, so I replaced it. In the busy summer, I probably only get 4 months on the batteries. Once they get to 35%, they seem to drop like a rock, so I have to be vigilant about changing them then. I'm happy with the features, guests find it easy to use, I rarely have to answer any questions about the lock. One requirement I have is that a lock also take a physical key, and the Encode has that.

    0Reply
  • Grant Woodward
    Member since 2021 · 47 posts · 42 votes
    3mo

    I have Schlage Encodes and continue to buy them as I add new. They are rock solid and have given me no reason to switch. Integration with Hospitable works great. I'm getting very similar battery life ~6 months. 

    0Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    3mo

    Schlage encode has been the most popular STR lock for years.

    I have a wifi version one at my personal house too and it works great.

    1Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3mo

    Great info, and another +1 for (almost) everyone's favorite Schlage Encode! I use them on about 60 properties.

    [email protected]813-563-0877
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  • Patricia Andriolo-Bull
    Member since 2022 · 527 posts · 413 votes
    3mo

    I use Igloo lockbox and find it's like magic given no WiFi.  I highly recommend this in setups where you don't have access to Wifi (condos that restrict putting it at the door and have mortise lock preventing a traditional door lock).  I was amazed that I could find a lockbox that I could connect to remotely and link with so many apps including Airbnb (for free).  No manual lock with one code or having to go over to manually change the code between guests.  

    0Reply
  • Michael K GallagherBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus OH · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3mo
    Quote from @Robert Baron:

    I've been running short-term rentals for a few years now — two in Memphis and one in Northwest Indiana near the Indiana Dunes. Across that time and three different doors, I've installed, lived with, and in some cases returned seven different smart locks: Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi), August Wi-Fi 4th gen, Level Lock+, Igloohome Smart Deadbolt, Lockly Vision Elite, and the Eufy E330.

    The lock that "won" for me wasn't the prettiest and didn't have a fingerprint reader. It was the boring one — the Schlage Encode. Built-in Wi-Fi (no hub), ANSI Grade 1 build, clean integration with Hospitable, Hostaway, and OwnerRez. The real-time activity log saved me twice on guest-can't-get-in calls when I was hundreds of miles away.

    A few surprises I didn't see coming:

    1. Battery life varies more than spec sheets suggest. Schlage advertised a year on 4 AAs; I got 5–6 months on a busy property. The Lockly Vision Elite with the camera died in 6–8 weeks.
    2. The Yale Assure 2 touchscreen is harder to use with wet/cold fingers than Schlage's physical buttons. Memphis humidity, Indiana snow, ask my cleaner.
    3. The Igloohome offline-code algorithm is genuinely great for cabins with flaky Wi-Fi.
    4. Level Lock+ is gorgeous and the wrong choice for portfolio operators. No external keypad, no native PMS integration.

    Happy to share the full comparison and my PMS-integration notes if anyone wants them. Curious what the BP crowd is running — anyone using something I missed?


    Thanks for putting this together and sharing. I don't do much with STR but on my normal rentals we do the electronic deadbolts, but they are not smart and have the physical buttons. I agree the touch screens are difficult to use and cause more issues than they are worth.

    [email protected]614-362-2231
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  • Dave StokleyBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 699 posts · 799 votes
    3mo

    I manage 80 listings and we basically require our owners to have the Schlage Encode. You definitely want the one with the white background. The one with the dark background is very hard to see at night.

    0Reply
  • Jon Martin
    Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3mo

    I started with the August because I didn't know any better. Works great most of the time but the old keypad eats batteries. New keypad seems to be better in that regard. The real issue is that the August requires 3 separate components to do what the Encode does with 1 component. Plus if someone presses a button on the August bridge (that has to be plugged in 24/7) it becomes disabled and can be a headache to reprogram. 

    In fairness to the August, I do like the App a lot more than the Schlage because it has a big red/green button for locked/unlocked and is an overall more intuitive app. The big advantage it has is it can tell you if the door is open or closed- I don't think the Encode app does this?

    0Reply
  • Dan H.Pro Member
    Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    3mo

    I recently changed from kaba to Schlage encode plus with hopes to transition to the thread network (but currently is connect only to WiFi).   The thought of connecting to thread network was the same as @Michael Baum z-wave lock rationale.

    I made the change from Kaba due to Kaba’s fees.

    Kaba battery life is in a different stratosphere than Schlage encode plus connected to WiFi.  The more interesting comparison would be kaba versus Schlage encode plus connected to thread network (or z-wave network).   Kaba 3 AA batteries lasts about 2 years.   My Schlage encode plus with 4 AA batteries connected to WiFi appear to be on pace for around 200 days.   So the kaba lasts over 3 times longer on 75% of the batteries.

    Kaba is a great lock with good technology, but paying the annual fee when there are dues free options almost as good.   I can purchase a lot of batteries for the price of the kaba fee.

    Best lock: kaba - every functionality, incredible battery life

    Best lock for the cost maybe the Schlage encode plus.

    0Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    3mo

    I love the Schlage encode (it's what we use) with 3 caveats:

    1. I would prefer an actual punch-pad than a smooth touch pad, like in my old Schlage;

    2. With a touch pad it ought to sense your hand is coming close and light up automatically, because in the dark you are apt to punch the wrong number and have to start all over. I know my own code so I know where to hit it but guests screw up the first run through every time when they come after dark;

    3. It's not great on batteries. Even with energizer lithiums we see 4-5 months at best. 

    That said, it's way better than the Kwikset Halo we were using before it - the mechanics on that thing were like a toy and the motor constantly got hung up on any little thing with the door. Kwikset's app was better but the lock mechanics were junk compared to the Schlage. 

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    • Jules Aton
      MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      1w

      Agree 100% with all. I started including to touch bottom left to wake up the keyboard in my check in instructions which I think has been helpful. At least it works for me about 50% of the time in the dark lol.

      0Reply
  • Matthew Tregoning
    Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 263 posts · 125 votes
    1w

    The battery warning is only useful if someone actually owns that task. I'd put the replacement on a cleaner's scheduled visit, not leave it sitting in the app until the next guest can't get in.

    0Reply
  • Thomas SloanPro Member
    Partnership at BiggerPockets · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 16 votes
    1w

    Have you tried any of the other EUFY products? I am looking at switching one of my properties over to an NVR kit instead of the normal subscription systems. EUFY stood out to me as a good solution. I currently use SimpliSafe.

    [email protected]
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    • Lauren Kormylo
      Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      1w

      I use 3 Eufy exterior cameras at home - a doorbell camera with the double view for packages at ground level (hard wired), a solar powered camera, and a small camera with a magnetic mount (rechargeable). I also got the HomeBase hub unit for more storage. They've all worked pretty well, I'm happy with them. There have been a few times a delivery to the front door was not recorded because the person approached from the extreme side and the doorbell camera wasn't quite fast enough to start recording before they dropped the package and took off the same way. The app works well. The cameras all have good resolution, and the batteries seem to last a long time on a charge. I wondered about the solar camera at first, because the app showed it wasn't charging for days. But I figured out that it doesn't charge until the battery goes down to a certain level, and then it kicks in to fully charge it, so it's not constantly recharging. I'm happy not to pay a subscription.

      0Reply
  • Diana KhanPro Member
    Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 479 posts · 174 votes
    1w
    Quote from @Robert Baron:

    I've been running short-term rentals for a few years now — two in Memphis and one in Northwest Indiana near the Indiana Dunes. Across that time and three different doors, I've installed, lived with, and in some cases returned seven different smart locks: Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi), August Wi-Fi 4th gen, Level Lock+, Igloohome Smart Deadbolt, Lockly Vision Elite, and the Eufy E330.

    The lock that "won" for me wasn't the prettiest and didn't have a fingerprint reader. It was the boring one — the Schlage Encode. Built-in Wi-Fi (no hub), ANSI Grade 1 build, clean integration with Hospitable, Hostaway, and OwnerRez. The real-time activity log saved me twice on guest-can't-get-in calls when I was hundreds of miles away.

    A few surprises I didn't see coming:

    1. Battery life varies more than spec sheets suggest. Schlage advertised a year on 4 AAs; I got 5–6 months on a busy property. The Lockly Vision Elite with the camera died in 6–8 weeks.
    2. The Yale Assure 2 touchscreen is harder to use with wet/cold fingers than Schlage's physical buttons. Memphis humidity, Indiana snow, ask my cleaner.
    3. The Igloohome offline-code algorithm is genuinely great for cabins with flaky Wi-Fi.
    4. Level Lock+ is gorgeous and the wrong choice for portfolio operators. No external keypad, no native PMS integration.

    Happy to share the full comparison and my PMS-integration notes if anyone wants them. Curious what the BP crowd is running — anyone using something I missed?

    @Robert Baron, the activity log would probably be one of the biggest selling points for me. From the landlord and legal side, I like anything that gives an owner a clear record of access while also making it easy to change or remove codes when someone’s stay ends.

    I’ve worked with property owners where access becomes an issue for reasons that have nothing to do with the lock itself. Having a clear process for who gets access, when that access ends, and what happens if the technology fails can save a lot of headaches later.

    Really useful comparison, @Robert Baron. I work with landlords and real estate investors, so I always enjoy seeing the operational side of managing properties discussed this thoroughly. Happy to stay connected and learn from what you’re seeing with your STRs.

    [email protected]240-266-0291
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  • Tyler Divin
    Property Manager · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2018 · 178 posts · 134 votes
    1d

    Schlage Encode with Duracell Lithium Ion batteries for the win!

    0Reply
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