Compare Schlage Encode Smart Lock vs Lockly Secure Plus Smart Lock

Activity history, lock logs, and audit trails were repeatedly mentioned as useful for knowing who locked or unlocked the door and when.

Access logs are well supported, with multiple reviews citing event history, user access logs, and activity records extending back a year.

The tamper/forced-entry alarm exists, but loudness opinions vary sharply from quiet to deafening or 90 dB.

The app was usually described as useful or easy for status, codes, locks, and history, but setup and third-party configuration were sometimes confusing.

The app is generally described as easy, intuitive, and useful for setup and control, though one review ties app-based user code workflows to some complexity.

Auto-lock is widely supported and often appreciated, though reviewers warned it can be risky without door-sense if the door is open.

Auto-lock is widely supported and generally positive, with reviewers noting configurable relocking intervals and successful auto-lock performance.

One locksmith test found the keypad temporarily disabled after multiple invalid codes, although it did not send an active phone notification.

Locksmith reviews confirmed the bolt can adjust between common 2-3/8-inch and 2-3/4-inch backsets.

Battery evidence centered on four AA batteries, often around six months of life; Wi-Fi drain was a repeated caveat, though one reviewer reported 40 percent after five months.

Battery coverage is strong, with four AA batteries, 9-volt emergency backup options, and one long-term reviewer reporting stellar remaining battery life after about a year.

Bluetooth evidence is limited but positive, with reviewers noting nearby communication and one locksmith emphasizing encrypted Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is core to local control and is usually responsive or stable, but one review reports trouble finding the lock on some mobile devices.

Most evidence points to sturdy, heavy, secure hardware, although one reviewer criticized the bulky interior electronics housing.

Build quality is generally positive, with reviewers calling the lock sturdy, well-built, high quality, and hefty, though one also notes its larger-than-most footprint.

Doorbell and camera integration was strongest with Ring and Amazon Key for live-view lock control, but Ring Alarm support and multi-app setup caused limitations.

Door-sense is a clear limitation: one review explicitly listed no door sense and described the auto-lock open-door risk.

Door-sense evidence is mixed: reviewers mention an added or optional door sensor, but Digital Trends encountered status-reporting calibration problems.

Reviewers found the lock compatible with standard deadbolt holes and common door thicknesses, but one installation needed strike-plate alignment work.

Reviewers describe broad door-fit flexibility through standard exterior-door compatibility, deadbolt or latch-style options, and multiple lock-style choices, though one basement-door install required extra side-bracket work.

The Encode is a full deadbolt replacement, so it generally replaces rather than reuses the existing lock body.

Two reviews support replacing existing hardware, including removing an old lock and swapping in Lockly in under fifteen minutes in one test.

Feature additions are supported by evidence that Lockly added a Wi-Fi hub and door sensor, plus a later reviewer mentioning a possible backward-compatible Matter controller.

Fingerprint support is absent in the reviewed evidence; one reviewer specifically wished Schlage had added a fingerprint recognition sensor.

Fingerprint unlocking is the clearest consensus strength: every review cites the reader, and most describe it as fast, responsive, accurate, effective, or unusually convenient.

Direct finish evidence is limited, but GearBrain cited the top ANSI/BHMA Grade AAA rating for security, durability, and finish.

Finish durability is supported through Digital Trends' warranty evidence, which cites lifetime protection for exterior finishes.

Geofencing and true auto-unlock were repeatedly called out as missing compared with some alternatives.

Guest access was a major strength, especially the 100-code capacity plus temporary, recurring, scheduled, or app-based access options.

Guest access is feature-rich, including access codes, eKeys, one-time codes, offline codes, and eBadges, though TechHive found temporary PIN creation convoluted.

Reviewers strongly agreed that the lock avoids a separate hub, bridge, adapter, or Wi-Fi module, which simplifies ownership.

Hub requirement is a key limitation because reviewers say remote access and network/smart-home features require the Secure Link Wi-Fi hub.

Installation was usually described as screwdriver-simple and fast, often helped by app guides or snap-in hardware, though some reviewers found setup, programming, or alignment tricky.

Installation evidence is split: several reviewers completed setup in about 15-35 minutes or found app-guided directions simple, while TechHive called installation unusually difficult and Digital Trends noted the lock's size made it trickier.

Reviewers frequently valued the physical key backup for battery, app, or electronics failures, although some noted the package includes only one key.

Key backup is consistently present: reviews mention a physical key, traditional key access, and a covered mechanical key slot for fallback entry.

The keypad was usually easy, backlit, accessible, or responsive, with minor complaints about night visibility and limited settings granularity.

The keypad is one of the strongest features, with repeated praise for randomized number positions, Pin Genie shuffling, and shoulder-surfing protection.

Keyway evidence is limited to one locksmith review identifying the Schlage SC1/C keyway and straightforward rekeying.

Keypad and app unlocking were often described as instant or near-instant, while voice/app status updates sometimes showed lag.

Lock and unlock speed is a strength, with instant app response, a deadbolt that activates within seconds, and fast fingerprint unlocking.

Motor feedback was mixed: some reviewers found it quiet or strong, while others described it as loud, grinding, or bulky.

The motor is only directly described by PCMag, which found the lock extremely quiet in testing.

Locking reliability was generally strong, with multiple reviewers reporting flawless, smooth, or reliably working lock/unlock behavior.

Reliability is mostly positive, including smooth operation and strong physical stability, but Digital Trends reported incorrect locked/unlocked status calibration.

Notifications for lock state, code use, or battery were useful across many reviews, though invalid-code push alerts were not always available.

Notification support is a weakness because PCMag specifically says push notifications were missing compared with other smart locks.

Physical security was a major strength, with repeated Grade 1/ANSI/BHMA praise and reinforcement hardware evidence.

Pick and drill evidence is mixed: one review cites resistance to bumping and picking, while a locksmith called the stock cylinder good but not impossible to pick.

Remote access was consistently supported, letting users lock or unlock from the app or phone while away, with some app-flow caveats.

Remote access is context-dependent: reviewers say it works with the hub, but without that extra hardware the lock cannot be controlled remotely.

Security encryption evidence is limited to one locksmith review explicitly praising encrypted Bluetooth.

Security features are a major strength, with AES256 Bluetooth encryption, hack-resistant design claims, anti-code-theft measures, and secure account setup evidence.

Smart-home integration is useful but uneven: Alexa, Google, Ring, Amazon Key, and Home Assistant appear in evidence, while HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, and Ring Alarm limitations recur.

Smart-home integration is limited out of the box: some Alexa/Google support is possible with the hub, but reviewers cite missing HomeKit, IFTTT, and wider ecosystem support.

Tamper detection is supported through the built-in alarm, and one review specifically noted adjustable alarm sensitivity in the app.

The touch interface was considered responsive and fingerprint resistant by some, but another locksmith noted it is not a true modern touchscreen.

The touchscreen is described positively as seamless, capacitive, and large, with its value tied closely to the randomized keypad behavior.

Two-factor-style account verification appears in setup evidence through mobile-number/email verification and SMS plus email verification codes.

User management is flexible through access codes, schedules, time limits, virtual keys, and PIN changes, but one review noted no single-use code.

User access management is robust, with trusted users, family fingerprints, revocable permissions, and access that can be limited or removed.

Value was context-dependent: reviewers called it expensive or not the best value, but many still found it worth the money for features and security.

Value is mixed-to-negative: reviewers like the features, but repeatedly call out high price, paid hub costs, and cheaper competing alternatives.

Voice control works mainly through Alexa and Google, with unlock often requiring a PIN and Google unlock support limited or absent in several reviews.

Voice control depends on hub-enabled Alexa or Google integration; reviews also note no built-in voice support and no Apple voice ecosystem support.

Warranty evidence was positive where mentioned, including lifetime mechanical and 3-year electronics coverage or a three-year warranty.

Warranty evidence is strong but only appears in one review, which cites lifetime finish coverage and two-year electronics protection.

Weather-resistance evidence is limited to PCMag identifying the exterior keypad escutcheon as weatherproof.

Weather resistance is directly supported by one review that says the casing can withstand conditions from below freezing to extremely hot days.

Built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi is a core strength for remote access and hub-free setup, though reviewers noted connection and battery tradeoffs.

Wi-Fi is not built in on the reviewed Secure Plus; reviewers repeatedly say it depends on an extra hub or adapter, though hub-connected operation can be fast.