Smart Locks · owner-verdict comparison

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt vs Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt: 75% of 130 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 17 for the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro.

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

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt

75%of 130 owners recommend
75% recommend · 7% neutral · 18% don't
Owners praise
  • Rock-solid and reliable, it just works
  • Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch
  • Long battery life, often many months between changes
Owners complain about
  • Goes offline or shows no response, can't control it remotely
  • Works best only with a strong Thread network or Apple hub nearby
  • Drops sometimes need a router restart, factory reset, or re-pairing
Full owner report →

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro

53%of 17 owners recommend
53% recommend · 23% neutral · 24% don't
Owners praise
  • Owners broadly report being happy with the lock, calling it solid, pretty good, and reliable for daily use
  • Fingerprint unlock is called out as a standout feature, working well most of the time
  • Runs fine without a WiFi bridge or cloud connection, so it still unlocks during network outages or power loss
Owners complain about
  • Smart-home integration is thin: Z-Wave support is described as severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't shipped, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't trigger unlock
  • A subset of owners hit outright reliability failures, from batteries dying within hours of replacement to units called garbage or plagued with ongoing trouble
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt if
  • ✓Apple users wanting HomeKey tap-to-unlock
  • ✓Homes with existing Thread or smart-home infrastructure
  • ✓Buyers wanting reliability with a physical-key backup
  • ✓Those replacing less-dependable smart locks
Skip it if
  • Buyers without Thread devices for good coverage
  • Shoppers unwilling to pay a premium price
Get the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro if
  • ✓Home Assistant users who want Z-Wave lock/unlock and status without a cloud bridge
  • ✓Families wanting fingerprint and code access for kids, guests, or delivery drivers
  • ✓Buyers who want a fingerprint deadbolt but prefer skipping WiFi/internet connectivity
  • ✓Owners fine rekeying the cylinder themselves to match existing Schlage keyways
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing deep SmartThings or Ring integration beyond basic lock and status
  • Users wanting robust Z-Wave features like secure inclusion working out of the box

What Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro owners think

Most owners who chime in say they like the U-Bolt Pro and lean on it daily without complaint, several specifically praising the fingerprint reader and the fact that it keeps working locally even without a WiFi bridge or during a network outage. The recurring frustration sits on the smart-home side: Z-Wave support gets called severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't materialized, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't drive the unlock. A smaller group ran into flat-out reliability failures, batteries dying within hours of a fresh swap or the lock simply acting up from the start. Anyone shopping this for a serious home-automation setup should expect to work around the platform gaps rather than plug and play.

What Schlage Encode Plus 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
“Replaced our August Smart Lock Pro with a Schlage Encode Plus. It’s been rock solid for about 6 months now. Works quickly. Supports Homekey.”
— smorrison0 on Reddit
“This is crap you all need to record the WiFi setup”
— @dnldnl4880 on YouTube

What Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro owners say

“one of the best fingerprints enabled options was the U-tec Ultraloq Pro smart deadbolt.”
— TheJessicator on Reddit
“I opted for the Ubolt pro zwave and have been very happy with it. Love the lock's quality and fingerprint scanner. Downside, as already mentioned, is the limited integration but that's not an issue for me.”
— synchronizedelusions on Reddit
“I'm still waiting for them to deliver the promised SmartThings integration. I would get something more established.”
— moooootz on Reddit

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt vs Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: frequently asked questions

Is the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt or the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro better?

Real owners lean toward the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt: 75% of 130 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 17 for the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro.

Who should get the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt?

Owners point the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt at apple users wanting HomeKey tap-to-unlock, and homes with existing Thread or smart-home infrastructure.

Who should get the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro?

Owners point the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro at home Assistant users who want Z-Wave lock/unlock and status without a cloud bridge, and families wanting fingerprint and code access for kids, guests, or delivery drivers.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is goes offline or shows no response, can't control it remotely. For the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, it's smart-home integration is thin: Z-Wave support is described as severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't shipped, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't trigger unlock.