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8 / 10 Score Cnet Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test Yale Smart Lock with Matter $140 at Amazon Pros Simplified design is sturdy and makes installation easier
Matter compatibility with extra support for Google Home (an app I like)
In-depth settings with vacation mode, volume settings, autolocking and more
Affordable for a smart lock at under $150
Yale's installation instructions are great and the design makes it easy, especially if you use Google Home Cons Inside battery cover is slightly flimsy
The door sensor add-on is a pain to install, although optional
No fingerprint access or similar extra features
Yale has a long-term partnership with Google Nest, yielding collaborations including the Yale x Nest smart lock. But that lock is several years old now, and Yale has a new model available in 2026: the Yale Smart Lock with Matter. (Matter is the smart home standard that platforms such as Google Home support.)
The new Yale Lock is available for around $150, making it one of the more affordable deadbolt replacement smart locks. By cutting out some of the old clutter and streamlining installation, Yale has created a lock that's particularly well-suited to smart security newcomers. It also offers many of my favorite lock features, including customizable auto-locks, quick pass creation and a vacation mode.
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