There are three things I want from a smart lock: an attractive design, more than two ways to control it, and the ability to connect directly with my smart home, with no single-purpose Wi-Fi bridge taking up an outlet in my house.

Yale’s newest smart lock series, the Yale Assure Lock 2, ticks all those boxes.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 starts at $159.99 for a physical keypad or $179.99 for a touchscreen, and you can get either version with or without a physical keyhole for the same price.

Like its earlier smart locks, Yale’s Assure 2 Lock uses networking modules to add different connectivity options.

I tested the $259.99 Assure Lock 2 Key-Free Touchscreen with Wi-Fi, which comes with the Wi-Fi module included and adds out-of-home control through the Yale app as well as Google Home and Amazon Alexa integration (SmartThings Wi-Fi integration is coming soon).

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is the most discreet-looking keypad lock I’ve tested.

Even better, the rear housing is significantly smaller than the earlier Yale Assure models and much smaller than most other deadbolt smart locks I’ve tested.

If you do opt for the keyed model, Yale sells replacement cylinders for Schlage and Kwikset keyways and can key them to your existing locks — though if you have multiple exterior doors, you don’t really need a keyhole on the one with the smart lock, do you? .

The built-in Apple Home integration means I can add the lock to a Goodnight Scene or a Leaving or Arriving Automation.

The lock I tested had the Wi-Fi module installed, and while it’s great to see a lock with Wi-Fi built in, I don’t think it’s the version most people should get. .

The Wi-Fi module adds out-of-home control with the Yale app, as well as integration with more smart home platforms.

The Assure 2 is a solid smart lock.

The $160 to $180 Bluetooth model (keypad or touchscreen), in contrast, is a real bargain: it’s the least expensive smart lock that works with Apple Home, you get out-of-home control if you already have an iPhone and Apple Home hub, and it’s upgradeable if you decided you wanted to add Wi-Fi later. .

If you are all-in on Alexa or Google Home, I don’t recommend getting the Wi-Fi version yet.

Wait until they get the bugs worked out with the smart home integrations, or even better, wait for the Matter over Thread module, which Lovejoy says will arrive soon after Matter is ready for manufacturers later this year

The new smart home standard should support connecting the lock to all the same platforms the Wi-Fi module does, with less latency and better battery life

The Matter module, like the Wi-Fi and Z-Wave modules, can be bought separately, so there’s no price penalty for buying the Bluetooth version now and adding a module later, but if you don’t use Apple Home, you won't be able to control the lock when you're not at home

As this can be anything from a Google Nest Hub Max to an Echo 4th gen smart speaker to an Eero Wi-Fi router and more, hopefully it won't involve a separate purchase

The smart lock can also be paired to Apple Home, but not directly; you need to set it up in Yale Access app first