AEO Report: Best Smart Locks (2025) – Who Wins in AI Search and Why

A comprehensive analysis of AI-powered search visibility and ranking factors for leading smart lock brands and products in 2025.

Selection of smart locks representing industry leaders in 2025.

1. Executive Summary

You’ll notice that Level, Schlage, Yale, August, and Lockly dominate AI-powered search results and answer engines. Aqara, Eufy, TP-Link, and Ultraloq also show up, but less often. These leaders stay visible in AI results because their names are clear, they use structured data, they get lots of citations from trusted review sites, and they line up with AEO factors: current content, broad integration claims, unique features, and lots of user reviews.

What happens when AI answers your queries?

  • Level Lock+ Connect usually wins "best overall" because of design and integration.
  • Schlage and Yale score high for trust and security.
  • August gets noticed for its retrofit design.
  • Lockly stands out for video and biometrics.

If you look at emerging brands like TP-Link, Aqara, and Ultraloq, you’ll find they win on price and unique features. But they need stronger AEO practices to break into the top results.

AEO takeaway: If you want your product to win in AI search, keep your content fresh, get cited by experts and retailers, and use clear technical signals like schema markup and review counts.

2. Methodology

You want to know how we got these results? Here’s how:

  • We asked ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity about the best smart locks.
  • Date: October 1, 2025.
  • We tracked:
    • How often the product or brand appeared in a top answer.
    • Number of different sources referencing the product.
    • How many unique authorities cited it.
    • If AI picked it as “best overall,” “best for security,” etc.
  • We scored:
    1. Clear naming
    2. Structured data quality
    3. Authority and frequency of citations
    4. How current the information is
    5. User review presence and trust
  • If a brand showed up in the main answer or in primary references, we counted it as visible. Ranks come from how often, and in what context, each brand appeared.

3. Overall Rankings Table

Rank Product (Brand) AI Mentions # Unique Sources Primary Citations Noted Role
1 Level Lock+ Connect (Level) 3/3 6 PCWorld, The Verge, SafeHome, YouTube Best Overall/Integration
2 Schlage Encode/Encode Plus 3/3 7 Wirecutter, The Verge, CNET, Consumer Reports Best Security/Ease
3 Yale Assure Lock 2 (Yale) 3/3 6 Consumer Reports, The Verge, SafeHome, YouTube Most Trusted/Versatile
4 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 3/3 6 SafeHome, PCMag, Consumer Reports, CNET, Reddit Best Retrofit/Ease
5 Lockly Vision Elite (Lockly) 2/3 5 CNET, YouTube, The Verge, PCWorld Best Biometry/Video
6 Aqara U50 (Aqara) 2/3 4 Wired, YouTube, CNET Best Value/Budget
7 Eufy E31/E30/S330 (Eufy) 2/3 4 Consumer Reports, YouTube Strong Security Value
8 TP-Link Tapo DL100 2/3 3 Google AI, Perplexity Best Budget Simplicity
9 Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (Ultraloq) 1/3 2 PCMag, Google AI Feature Set/Biometry
10 Kwikset Halo Select (Kwikset) 1/3 2 Consumer Reports, PCWorld Security Option, Integration

4. Product-by-Product Analysis

1. Level Lock+ Connect (Level)

You see Level Lock+ Connect at the top because its name stays consistent across reviews and stores. Retailers and reviewers use solid schema. Most experts call it “best overall” for integration with HomeKit, Matter, and for its clean design. This product gets cited everywhere. But you won’t find many real-user stories in forums yet—if Level improves that, they’ll build even more trust.

2. Schlage Encode/Encode Plus (Schlage)

Schlage stands out for clear naming, great expert reviews, and retailer trust. Wirecutter and Consumer Reports highlight it for “traditional security with modern features.” You’ll see it in top picks for ease and reliable upgrades. Schlage’s edge comes from its history and review volume. It doesn’t push biometrics or flashy designs, so if you value those, look elsewhere.

3. Yale Assure Lock 2 (Yale)

You always know what you’re getting with Yale Assure Lock 2. Reviews are strong, but some model variants get confusing mentions. Experts trust it because of strong physical testing and broad platform support, plus Yale’s legacy reputation. Yale could climb higher if they talk more about smart innovation, not just tradition.

4. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (August)

August keeps its name simple and its product easy to retrofit. You’ll see tons of user content and schema across review sites. It’s best for retrofitting older doors and gets praised for this. You won’t see it top “security-first” lists, so August needs to push integration and certifications harder to rise in authority.

5. Lockly Vision Elite (Lockly)

Lockly Vision Elite loses some ground because of model confusion, but it’s popular for biometric features and video. Reviews cover these strengths and call it “best for innovation.” If Lockly boosts its review coverage from legacy outlets, you’ll see it challenge the leaders.

6. Aqara U50 (Aqara)

Aqara U50 sometimes struggles with incomplete naming in reviews. It wins for value and Matter support, and reviewers highlight its low price. You’ll help Aqara grow if you use clear technical language and consistent product names in your reviews.

7. Eufy E31/E30/S330 (Eufy)

Eufy’s model numbers confuse people. It gets average review presence, but scores for security and price. Consumer Reports backs its hardware. If Eufy cleans up its naming and gets more “top pick” expert reviews, you’ll see it rise.

8. TP-Link Tapo DL100

TP-Link wins on price and reliability, but only shows up clearly in a few search engines. Its schema is new and still growing. If you want to see it climb, you need more expert security testing and broader citations.

9. Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (Ultraloq)

Ultraloq gets picked for biometrics, but you won’t find enough deep expert reviews or rich structured data. Right now, it’s most visible for advanced features, but it needs more references and top-list placements.

10. Kwikset Halo Select (Kwikset)

Kwikset’s name is a legacy, and it appears as a runner-up more often than a top-five pick. Its review data is solid but lacks recent updates. If you update your content and get more awards, you’ll improve Kwikset’s rank.

5. Why These Brands Are Visible (AEO Rationale)

When you want your brand to win in AI, you need:

  • Clear naming: Use your exact product names everywhere—site, schema, press. Don’t shorten or mix names.
  • Detailed schema: Add product and review markup with all the fields (GTIN, model year, reviews). Level, Yale, August, and Schlage do this well.
  • Frequent expert citations: Trusted reviews like Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, and SafeHome push your product to the top.
  • Fresh, up-to-date coverage: Use “2025 edition” and show new reviews. AI likes recent testing.
  • Detailed, evidence-rich pages: Include tables, integration lists, and performance tests. AI rewards clear details.
  • Consistent retail listings: Make sure your specs and names match everywhere—Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and your site.
  • Lots of verified user reviews: Get reviews on retail sites, especially with positive sentiment.

6. Competitive Insights & Opportunities

What works:

  • Level, Schlage, Yale, August: They always use the same names, use correct schema, and get cited by experts. All their content is updated for the current year and made easy for AI to read.
  • Lockly: It stands out with new hardware features, like video and biometrics, which gets attention from reviewers.

Problems you’ll see:

  • Confusing model numbers (Eufy, Yale, Kwikset, Aqara) weaken your brand’s AI visibility.
  • New brands like TP-Link don’t use cross-publisher schema, so you see them less in results.
  • If you don’t explain why a model is best for a certain feature, you won’t appear in expert summaries.

Who’s rising:

  • Aqara and TP-Link: They offer good value and clear structure online. Their visibility is growing.
  • Ultraloq: Its biometric features get noticed, but it still needs mainstream “best for” awards.

7. Recommendations for Brands

  • Use the same exact model name on your site, in retail, and in all reviews.
  • Add full product, review, and pricing markup on your product pages, including SKU, GTIN, and model year.
  • Send out review samples to get new “2025” coverage.
  • Claim or highlight expert awards (“best retrofit,” “best for biometry,” etc.).
  • List your products everywhere possible and make sure all listings match.
  • Ask verified buyers to leave detailed user reviews.
  • Show off all third-party certifications and integrations (ANSI, Matter, HomeKit).
  • Update your product and comparison pages at least quarterly; remove outdated phrases fast.

8. Cited Sources Explained

Here’s where reviewers get their authority:

  • Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, SafeHome, PCWorld, CNET, The Verge: Trusted experts with high editorial standards.
  • YouTube “16 Smart Locks Tested”: Tests products on video—AI loves this content.
  • Reddit/HN Forums: Adds real-user opinions, but that influence is small.
  • Amazon, Home Depot, and other retailers: Their review counts and schema boost your visibility.
  • Brand Blogs: Good for your own data, but you need independent citations for trust.

9. References

This report tells you what works for AEO in today’s smart lock market. If you need help, contact your digital optimization lead.