SimpliSafe Smart Lock

amazon SimpliSafe Smart Lock reviews

SimpliSafe’s Smart Lock is quiet and easy to set up, but it requires the SimpliSafe Security System with a monthly subscription, and it lacks scheduling options.

SimpliSafe’s new Smart Lock ($99) is the company’s latest addition to stable DIY smart home security devices. Sporting a streamlined Interior and a small backlit exterior keypad, the lock can be controlled from your phone and is easy to set up. It would be a nice addition to the existing SimpliSafe Home Security System, especially if you signed up for the $25 monthly Interactive plan, which is required to use many of the lock’s features.

Design and Features

The SimpliSafe smart lock consists of an interior bar and a wireless PIN keypad that attaches to the area outside the door, on the door itself, or next. The escutcheon’s sleek interior measures 7.5 x 2.7 x 1.0 inches (HWD), has rounded edges, and comes in Cloud (white), Obsidian (black), or Nickel (white and silver) finishes. It has a large 2.5-inch-wide thumbwheel and a panel that slides out to reveal four AA batteries that power the lock, pairing button, and speaker. Inside is an RF radio used to communicate with the PIN panel and base station of the SimpliSafe Home Security System.

The PIN pad is black backlit and measures 3.6 x 2.0 x 0.9 inches (HWD). It has buttons 0-9, Lock button, and Delete button used to remove incorrect numeric entries. It has a pre-installed double-sided adhesive on the back and two mounting holes that you can use for a more permanent installation. The PIN pad is powered by a pair of 3V DL2450 coin batteries that can be replaced by removing the front of the pad using the included pushpin tool.

With the same mobile app (for Android and iOS) or web console used to control the SimpliSafe and SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro Home Security Systems, you can create unique latches for Smart Lock and assign them, friends and family members. However, you can only have four active PINs at a time, and there is no option to create specific access schedules or temporary PINs like you can with the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect, Nest X Yale Lock with Nest Connect, and Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Lattice Lock.

The SimpliSafe smart lock can be paired with an intrusion sensor from the security system to prevent locking the door latch while the door is open. Still, it does not integrate with any other SimpliSafe devices such as doorbells, cameras, or third-party devices or apps that support If This Then That (IFTTT).

You can have the door lock automatically when the security system is equipped (Home or Away) and use Amazon Alexa. Google Assistant voice commands to control the system, but you can’t just ask Alexa or Google to lock the door. Furthermore, you must subscribe to SimpliSafe’s $25 per month Interactive plan to support your voice system and receive push alerts, email, text messages, and lock and unlock your doors remotely with your phone.

The Dashboard screen in the mobile app has a large button that sets the system to Home, Away, and Off. Below that is a tab with the name of the key and an icon showing the lock’s status (locked, unlocked). Tap the padlock icon to lock and unlock the door. The upper left corner is a three-bar icon that opens a menu to configure the SimpliSafe device and view a timeline of events. Tap Settings to change subscriptions, edit network settings, and configure alerts and notifications. In Device Settings, you can configure how the lock responds to Off, Home, and Away modes set the Auto-Lock time, and change the lock’s name.

Settings and Performance

The SimpliSafe smart lock uses your existing locking cylinder and single latch assembly and, as such, requires no drilling. Following the instructions in the detailed installation instructions, I used the supplied tape to hold the outer cylinder assembly of my old lock in place on the door and remove the inner screw. I removed the mounting plate from the internal support of the padlock and attached it to the post using my old padlock mounting bolts. I then fitted the tailgate adapter, made sure the door latch was retracted (unlocked), and attached the interior to the mounting plate using the wing latches on either side of the heater. Next, I installed the PIN pad on the outside of the door, above the lock cylinder, using the pre-installed double-sided tape.

Once the physical installation is complete, all that’s left to do is activate the lock using the SimpliSafe Security System keyboard. I hit Menu, then hit the pairing button on the lock, and it was immediately added to the system. I’ve named the key, calibrated it, and the installation is complete.

The SimpliSafe smart lock worked perfectly during testing. It’s super quiet and responds instantly to lock and unlock commands using the mobile app and PIN pad. The AutoLock feature worked as advertised, and the lock was always active (locked) when the security system was set to Home and Away modes. Push, SMS, and email alerts indicating the time, date, and PIN designation arrive quickly whenever the door is locked or unlocked.

While the lock doesn’t interact directly with Alexa, it never locks whenever I use Alexa voice commands to set the security to Home or Away.

where can you get a SimpliSafe Smart Lock online

SimpliSafe Smartlock (Black) – Compatible with SimpliSafe Home Security System (New Gen): Buy it now

SimpliSafe Entryway Security Kit with 1080p HDR Video Doorbell Pro and Advanced Smart Lock: Buy it now

Conclusion

SimpliSafe Smart Lock makes sense if you’ve invested in a SimpliSafe Home Security System (and wouldn’t work without it, even though a standalone lock is working). It’s easy to install, and its slim Interior design adds style to any doorway, and you can control it with the same app you use to control your SimpliSafe system. The lock worked well in our tests and was very quiet, but it doesn’t interact with SimpliSafe or other third-party smart devices, and it lacks access scheduling and the ability to generate temporary PINs.

Advantages

Easy to install.

Use existing locking hardware.

Slim design.

Quiet.

Defect

Requires SimpliSafe security system.

Many features require a monthly subscription.

Limited access management options.

Lack of third-party device integration.