Lock, Key & Security Guides
Buying guides, reviews, comparisons, and how-tos for smart locks, safes, auto security, and home security hardware — written to tell you what to buy and what to do next, without the upsell.
Smart Locks
5 guides Buying guide The Best Z-Wave Door Locks The best Z-Wave door locks for 2026, picked for Ring Alarm, SmartThings, and Hubitat households. Prices and stock verified August 2026. Buying guide The Best Fingerprint Door Locks of 2026 The best fingerprint door locks of 2026 — best overall, value, Apple homes, and premium — with current prices, real specs, and how to choose. Buying guide The Best Smart Locks of 2026 Our picks for the best smart locks of 2026 — best overall, best value, best for renters, and best for Apple homes — with current prices and how to choose. Comparison Schlage Encode Plus vs Yale Assure Lock 2 Schlage Encode Plus or Yale Assure Lock 2? We compare price, Apple Home Key, security, and configurations to help you pick the right keypad smart lock. Review Yale Approach Smart Lock Review Hands-on take on the Yale Approach — the retrofit smart lock that keeps your existing key. Who it's for, where it shines, and what to know before you buy.
Auto Security
6 guides Buying guide The Best Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Devices of 2026 The best catalytic converter anti-theft devices of 2026 — picks for every budget: a universal cable lock, a hardened steel strap, and a vehicle-specific shield. Buying guide The Best Faraday Bags for Key Fobs The best faraday bags for car key fobs in 2026: a cheap two-pack that covers your spare fob too, and a roomier premium pouch. Picks updated September 2026. How-to What Is a Passive Disabling Device? A passive disabling device is an anti-theft system that arms itself automatically. Here's what it is, why insurers ask, and how to check if your car has one. Buying guide The Best OBD Port Locks of 2026 The best OBD port locks of 2026 to stop key-cloning theft: a $20 carbon-fiber pick, a keyed mid-tier lock, and a billet-aluminum lock for high-value cars. Buying guide The Best Steering Wheel Locks of 2026 Three steering wheel locks that still stop a keyless car from being driven off after a relay attack, with drill-test times for each. How-to Faraday Pouches and Relay Theft: Protect Your Key Fob How keyless relay theft works and how a Faraday pouch stops it. A plain-English guide to blocking your key fob's signal and keeping your car where you left it.
Safes
3 guides Buying guide The Best Floor Safes of 2026 4 in-floor safes set in concrete, from a small cash safe to a file-sized vault, plus the maker's install steps and what these safes don't protect against. Buying guide The Best Gun Safes of 2026 4 gun safes for 2026, from a 24-gun keypad safe to a one-pistol quick-access vault - plus what fire and burglary ratings on gun safes actually prove. Buying guide The Best Fireproof Safes of 2026 3 UL-Classified fireproof safes for 2026, from $44.99 to $224.99 - plus what "fireproof" actually means and what these safes won't protect against.
Door & Residential Hardware
5 guides Comparison Single Cylinder vs. Double Cylinder Deadbolt Single cylinder is the right deadbolt for almost every home. What codes say about double cylinder locks, and safer fixes for a door next to glass. Buying guide The Best Combination Door Locks of 2026 Best combination door locks of 2026: a battery keypad deadbolt, a fully mechanical push-button lock, and a smart keypad. Prices verified August 2026. Buying guide The Best Door Security Bars of 2026 Best door security bars of 2026: a folding travel bar, a stud-mounted heavy-duty bar, and a budget pick - for real protection. Prices verified Aug 2026. Buying guide The Best Door Reinforcement Kits & Plates of 2026 Best door reinforcement kits of 2026: stop kick-in break-ins by reinforcing the jamb, hinges, and lock bore - not just the lock. Prices verified Aug 2026. Buying guide The Best Front Door Locks of 2026 Best front door locks of 2026, picked by need: value, high-security, smart, fingerprint, and keep-your-key options, with prices verified July 2026.
Locksmith Costs
2 guides How-to Locksmith & Car Key Price Statistics 2026 statistics on locksmith and car key prices, plus key fob data from a 3,700-vehicle database: battery types, frequencies, and smart-key adoption. How-to How to Find a Trustworthy Locksmith How to spot a locksmith scam before it costs you: real price ranges, 10 red flags, a phone script, and state license lookups.
Commercial Hardware
1 guideKeys & Fobs
3 guides How-to How to Change a Key Fob Battery Most key fobs take a CR2032 — but one in four vehicle-years in our database doesn't. Check your size by make, model and year, then open the fob safely. How-to Smart Key Battery Dead? How to Get In and Start Your Car Dead smart key battery? Find the hidden mechanical key blade, the capped keyhole, and the documented backup way to start your push-button car. How-to What Does This Button on My Key Fob Do? Every key fob button, identified by its icon — from lock and panic to sliding doors, air suspension and charge port. Based on the layouts of 2,942 real remotes.