Best Home Key Lock: Yale Assure 2 Plus vs. Schlage Encode Plus vs. Level Lock+

Today, I’m summarizing my experience with three Apple Home Key locks: the Yale Assure 2 Plus, Schlage Encode Plus, and Level Lock+. Apple’s Home Key is a must-have feature for families with iPhones and Apple Watches.

But after using each of these locks in my home for at least six months each, I’ve learned that not only does Home Key’s reliability differ between these models, but each model has a couple of unique features that set it apart. This isn’t meant to be as in-depth as my past comparisons; it’s just a quick-hit recap, which I thought was necessary after finishing my testing on the newest addition to the Home Key lineup: the Yale Assure 2 Plus.

Home Key Functionality

If you buy any of these locks, Home Key will be your primary unlocking method—it doesn’t make sense otherwise. Just hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the lock, and boom, it unlocks—just like Apple Pay. You can also add an optional security measure that requires Face ID authentication, but I prefer express mode.

In my tests, Home Key works best with the Schlage Encode Plus—it’s nearly flawless, with a success rate of over 99% on the first try. The Yale Assure 2 Plus comes in a close second, failing only a couple of times during my months of testing. The Level Lock+? Well, it's sleek but struggles a bit, failing about 10% of the time on the first attempt. It always worked on the second attempt, but it’s not ideal when you’ve got fists full of groceries.

If Apple Home Key is your top priority, Schlage Encode Plus is the most reliable. Yale isn’t far behind, but Level falls short.

Keypad vs. Sleekness

Keypads are perfect for guests, dog walkers, or anyone not using Apple devices. If you want one, the Yale Assure 2 Plus and Schlage Encode Plus have you covered. Yale’s keypad is one of the best—responsive and satisfying to use. As a bonus, there’s no keyhole, which means this is the only lock of the three that isn’t susceptible to being picked. Unfortunately, the Assure locks are no longer made with glass like previous generations, so it doesn’t look as nice as before, but it’s still more appealing than the Schlage Encode.

The Schlage lock isn’t the most visually appealing from either side of the door, but it offers a huge convenience: you can create passcodes directly in the Apple Home app. After the initial setup, there’s no need to mess with a third-party app—everything from passcodes to battery life percentage is accessible right in the Home app.

Meanwhile, the Level Lock+ is all about sleekness. It looks like a regular lock and blends in better with a traditional door aesthetic, making it my top pick for design. But it doesn’t come with a keypad, and adding Level’s keypad not only kills its sleek vibe but is also unlikely to match the performance of the built-in keypads from competitors—and it costs an extra $79 on top of an already pricey lock. Instead of a keypad, Level offers two NFC key cards and two traditional keys, which aren’t as versatile or convenient but still get the job done for non-Apple users.

So, if you have non-Apple users in your house, the Yale or Schlage locks make more sense thanks to the keypad. But if looks matter most, Level Lock+ is the way to go.

Build Quality & Power

The Schlage Encode Plus and Yale Assure Plus are rock solid—they have super strong motors, which is great if your door doesn’t always align perfectly.

Both locks run on four AA batteries, which gives them plenty of juice to keep the NFC reader responsive and is likely the reason that Home Key works more efficiently than on the Level Lock+.

The key advantage of the Yale Assure 2 Plus is its DoorSense feature, which alerts you if the door isn’t fully shut. With the other two locks, it’s possible for them to appear locked in the app when, in reality, the deadbolt is turned, but the door isn’t actually latched or secure.

The Level Lock+ is beautiful and compact, but it has the weakest motor of any smart lock I’ve ever tested. It’s powered by a single CR2 battery hidden in the bolt, which is clever but doesn’t provide the same power as the AA setups. I’ve noticed that if my door isn’t perfectly shut, Level struggles to lock, while the other two locks just power through.

The Schlage Encode Plus and the Level Lock+ both gave me around six months of battery runtime, while I only got three months with the Yale Assure 2 Plus. It’s worth noting that all the previous Yale locks that I’ve reviewed had batteries that lasted six months, so there may be a firmware update in the works.

Which One Should You Get?

If you want the best Apple experience, Schlage Encode Plus wins, hands down. It’s the most reliable, has a strong motor, and the built-in keypad, which can be accessed via the Home app, is clutch if you have guests who need lock access.

Yale Assure 2 Plus is close behind. It’s a well-rounded smart lock with great keypad functionality, and while it’s still bulky, it looks better than the Schlage. The two standout features are the DoorSense sensor, which provides added peace of mind, and the fact that it’s the only lock without a keyhole—a plus if you’re concerned about lock picking, but a downside if you prefer having a physical key as a backup.

And finally, Level Lock+ is for those who value design above all else. It’s sleek, minimal and doesn’t even look like a smart lock, but it lacks a keypad and doesn’t perform as reliably with Home Key. So if aesthetics matter more to you than raw power or features, it’s still a solid choice.

For me, I’m sticking with the Schlage Encode Plus because I like the idea of staying in the Home App exclusively. I just wish it looked a bit nicer.