Smart Locks · owner-verdict comparison

Level Lock+ vs Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt: 81% of 232 owners recommend it, vs 41% of 133 for the Level Lock+.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Level Lock+

41%of 133 owners recommend
41% recommend · 16% neutral · 43% don't
Owners praise
  • Much more reliable after the Matter/Thread update, going from flaky to fast and solid
  • Unlocks with a tap of an Apple Watch or phone via HomeKey/Apple Wallet
  • Looks like a normal deadbolt, not a smart lock
Owners complain about
  • Connectivity is unreliable, with frequent Bluetooth/HomeKit disconnects and drop-offs
  • Firmware/Matter updates break HomeKit or HomeKey pairing and knock the lock offline
  • Poor battery life, and it dies suddenly with little or no warning
Full owner report →

Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt

81%of 232 owners recommend
81% recommend · 3% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Rock-solid, reliable operation
  • Remote code control and notifications
  • Built-in WiFi, no hub needed
Owners complain about
  • Battery drains fast on WiFi
  • Connectivity drops, occasional dead units
  • Expensive for a deadbolt
Full owner report →

What Level Lock+ owners say

“I have Level Locks and love them.”
— @peterrasmussen3100 on YouTube
“Maybe it’s fully deserved, but I like mine (Level Touch.)”
— bakerzdosen on Reddit
“Don’t buy this thing you can hit it with a hammer and it will unlock itself”
— @shanemowery7255 on YouTube

What Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt owners say

“I have the Schlage Encode Plus HomeKey lock. HomeKey fucking rocks. I love having my house key in wallet. It is so unbelievably slick.”
— seaessbee on Reddit
“Smart door lock (Schlage Encode) for my mom's place. It sends notifications for each user's access codes when the door is locked or unlocked.”
— LionSuneater on Reddit
“The Schlage encode is actually not designed to stand up to that level of humidity. I learned this after going through their customer support for each lock that stopped working.”
— Captain_hindsight126 on Reddit