Discover the Nuki Smart Lock: Europe’s Trusted Security Now in the U.S.

Nuki built its name in Europe with retrofit smart locks that clamp onto the inside of a door and turn the existing cylinder. The U.S. version is a different piece of hardware: it is designed for the single-cylinder deadbolts common on American front doors, and it sells in the U.S. through Amazon and Nuki's own store. Buyers looking at it usually want to know three things: whether it fits their door, whether it works with Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa, and whether Nuki Premium still costs money every month.

This guide covers the U.S. Nuki Smart Lock's specs, the Nuki Premium change, setup, and how it compares with the two retrofit locks it competes with most directly.

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Quick verdict

• Best for Matter and Apple Home households: the Nuki Smart Lock (Deadbolt). Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Matter over Thread are built in, the battery is rechargeable, and remote access no longer needs a subscription.
• Best for fingerprint entry in one box: the Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch, which pairs the long-running August retrofit lock with a fingerprint keypad.
• Best for long battery life and odd lock types: the SwitchBot Lock Ultra, rated up to about 12 months per charge with a backup battery, with an accessory kit for Jimmy-proof and mortise locks.

What the U.S. Nuki Smart Lock is

The lock replaces only the interior thumb turn of a single-cylinder deadbolt. The exterior cylinder, the bolt and the original keys stay in place, so the outside of the door looks unchanged and a key still works if the battery runs flat. Nuki says installation takes under 15 minutes with no drilling and no wiring, and the lock can be removed later without leaving marks, which is why it shows up on so many renter shopping lists.

Key specs, from Nuki's U.S. product page and launch coverage:

• Connectivity: built-in Wi-Fi (no bridge needed), Bluetooth for nearby phone and keypad control, and Matter over Thread for smart home platforms.
• Power: a built-in rechargeable lithium battery with a magnetic charging cable. A full charge takes about two hours, and the lock can charge while still mounted on the door. Nuki's battery estimate is up to about a year on Bluetooth or Thread, and roughly half that when the lock runs on Wi-Fi.
• Access: app control, Auto Unlock based on the phone's location, auto-lock timers, night mode, schedules and up to 200 individual access permissions, with an activity log.
• Security: end-to-end encryption and tamper alerts. Nuki states the lock has independent security certification.

Nuki Smart Lock (Deadbolt)Check today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Nuki Premium: what changed

At the U.S. launch, remote access over Wi-Fi and real-time notifications were tied to Nuki Premium, a monthly per-lock subscription. Early buyers were promised free Premium if they activated before a deadline, and the fee was pushed back more than once. Nuki then dropped the paywall entirely: according to PCWorld's report on the change, Premium features are now free for new and existing U.S. users, and the company raised the hardware price instead. Nuki also offers an optional paid extended warranty called Guarantee Plus.

For buyers this matters in two ways. Older reviews that list the subscription as a con are out of date, and the lock's real cost is now a one-time hardware purchase. Check the current price on the listing, since the bundle with Keypad 2 is priced separately.

Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa

Nuki connects to smart home platforms through Matter, the cross-platform standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung. Because the U.S. lock uses Matter over Thread, the home needs a Thread border router: an Apple TV 4K or HomePod mini for Apple Home, or a Nest hub or recent Echo with Thread support for the others. Once paired, the lock shows up in the Home app (or Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings) for locking, unlocking, status and automations, and the lock answers commands on the local network.

Two limits are worth knowing before buying for an iPhone household:

• No Apple Home Key listed. Nuki does not list support for tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch on the lock to unlock it. Buyers who want that feature need a lock that advertises Home Key specifically; the smart lock security ratings guide covers several.
• Thread range. A door at the far end of a large house may sit at the edge of Thread coverage. Other Thread devices (plugs, sensors) help extend the mesh, and Wi-Fi is available as a fallback for remote access. A weak Wi-Fi signal at the front door causes problems for any Wi-Fi lock; the mesh Wi-Fi comparison covers that fix.

Installation and fit

The U.S. lock is made for single-cylinder deadbolts, meaning a key outside and a thumb turn inside. Double-cylinder deadbolts (a key on both sides) are not a match. Nuki has a compatibility check tool on its site, and it is worth using before ordering, since thumb-turn shapes and door thickness vary.

The general process for a retrofit lock like this:

1. Remove the interior thumb turn and its plate, leaving the exterior cylinder and bolt in place.
2. Fit the mounting plate and adapter that match the deadbolt's tailpiece.
3. Attach the lock body, then pair it in the Nuki app and run the calibration so the motor learns the bolt's travel.
4. Add the phone, Auto Unlock, auto-lock timing and any keypad or door sensor.
5. Add the lock to Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa with its Matter code.

Test the deadbolt by hand before installing. If the bolt drags or needs the door pushed to close, any motorized lock will struggle and drain its battery faster; adjusting the strike plate first saves trouble later.

Keypad and door sensor add-ons

The lock itself has no exterior keypad, since it sits entirely inside the door. Nuki sells Keypad 2, which adds access codes and a fingerprint reader, and a Keypad 2 NFC version that adds tap-to-unlock. Both talk to the lock over Bluetooth, so they need to be mounted within range of the door. A separate Door Sensor reports whether the door is open or shut, which makes auto-lock more reliable because the lock knows the door has actually closed.

Households with children or older relatives who don't carry a phone often find a keypad matters more than any app feature, so it is worth budgeting for one from the start.

Nuki vs. August vs. SwitchBot

Feature	Nuki Smart Lock (Deadbolt)	Yale August Wi-Fi + Keypad Touch	SwitchBot Lock Ultra
Install type	Retrofit over single-cylinder deadbolt	Retrofit over existing deadbolt	Retrofit over most standard U.S. deadbolts
Wireless	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Bluetooth; Wi-Fi and Matter through a SwitchBot hub
Apple Home path	Matter over Thread	Native HomeKit	Matter through SwitchBot Hub Mini
Power	Built-in rechargeable battery	Replaceable batteries	Rechargeable main battery plus CR123A backup, rated up to about 12 months per charge
Fingerprint keypad	Optional (Keypad 2)	Included	Bundled in fingerprint versions
Subscription for remote access	None (Premium now free)	None	None
Best fit	Matter homes, renters	Fingerprint entry, HomeKit users	Long battery life, Jimmy-proof or mortise locks with kit
Shop	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch

August popularized the retrofit idea in the U.S., and the Wi-Fi model still mounts over an existing deadbolt so the keys keep working. This bundle adds Yale's Keypad Touch with a fingerprint reader and entry codes, and Wi-Fi is built into the lock, so no bridge is needed. It suits buyers who want fingerprint entry out of the box and a mature app with Auto-Lock, Auto-Unlock and an activity feed.

Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad TouchCheck today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

SwitchBot Lock Ultra

SwitchBot's retrofit lock targets battery life and compatibility. Its "Triple Power" design pairs a USB-C rechargeable battery (rated up to about 12 months per charge) with a backup CR123A cell and an emergency jump-start, so a dead battery is unlikely to lock anyone out. The fingerprint version stores up to 100 fingerprints, and an accessory kit (sold separately) adapts it to Jimmy-proof and mortise locks found in many apartments. Apple Home control runs through SwitchBot's Hub Mini acting as a Matter bridge, so budget for the hub if Home app control is the goal.

SwitchBot Lock UltraCheck today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Who should buy the Nuki

The Nuki Smart Lock makes the most sense for a household that already has a Thread border router and wants the lock to appear natively in Apple Home or Google Home, for renters who need a lock they can remove at move-out, and for anyone who prefers a rechargeable battery over swapping disposables. It is a weaker fit for double-cylinder deadbolts, for buyers set on Apple Home Key, and for doors with poor Wi-Fi and no Thread devices nearby.

A smart lock is also one piece of a front-door setup. Pairing it with a camera doorbell that works with the same platform keeps alerts in one app; the video doorbell comparison covers subscription-free options.

Bottom line

The U.S. Nuki Smart Lock is a clean retrofit option for single-cylinder deadbolts, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Matter over Thread built in and a rechargeable battery. Its biggest drawback at launch, the Premium subscription, is gone. Buyers who need fingerprint entry in the box should look at the Yale August bundle, and those with Jimmy-proof or mortise hardware should look at the SwitchBot Lock Ultra with its accessory kit.