Best Z-Wave locks with Bluetooth control

If you want a smart lock that integrates deeply with a local-first Home Assistant setup, Z-Wave is still the protocol to beat. Z-Wave locks expose lock/unlock control, status, and full PIN-code management directly to Home Assistant over Z-Wave JS — no cloud, no vendor account, and they keep working when your internet is down. The bonus on several models is a built-in Bluetooth radio, which the manufacturer’s app uses for close-range features like auto-unlock as you walk up and for an “offline key” so the phone app still works if the hub is unreachable.

Let’s set expectations honestly, because the marketing around this is muddy. Bluetooth on a lock is short-range and local. It is not a way to unlock your door from across town — that always requires a hub or cloud bridge. So the realistic value of Bluetooth here is convenience at the door (proximity/auto-unlock) and a fallback when your Z-Wave hub is temporarily down. The serious integration — automations, occupancy-based locking, per-user codes — runs over Z-Wave into Home Assistant.

Also worth stating plainly: several locks people think are Z-Wave are not. The Schlage Encode Plus is Wi-Fi/Thread with Apple Home Key — no Z-Wave radio. The Kwikset Halo Touch is Wi-Fi. Nuki locks are Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/Matter, not Z-Wave. None of those belong in a Z-Wave roundup, so they’re not below.

Why Z-Wave (plus Bluetooth) for a local-first home

• Z-Wave = the real local integration. Lock state, remote (in-home) lock/unlock, and PIN-code slots all map into Home Assistant via Z-Wave JS, entirely on your LAN.
• Bluetooth = door-side convenience. Auto-unlock on approach, hands-free entry, and an offline phone key that doesn’t need the hub.
• Resilience. With everything local, your access control survives an internet outage. Just keep the lock’s batteries fresh and your Z-Wave mesh healthy.

Top Z-Wave locks with built-in Bluetooth

1. Yale Assure Lock 2 (Z-Wave)

The best pick for Home Assistant. The Assure Lock 2 ships in several variants; the Z-Wave Plus module version is the one to buy for local control. It pairs over Z-Wave JS with S2 security, exposes full PIN-code management in Home Assistant, and the Yale Access app uses Bluetooth for auto-unlock and offline operation. In practice you run both at once: Z-Wave for automations and codes, Bluetooth for walk-up convenience. Touchscreen and keypad variants exist, and there’s a fingerprint model. This is the lock most HA users recommend in 2026.

2. Kwikset SmartCode 914/916 (Z-Wave)

A dependable, budget-friendly Z-Wave deadbolt (the 914/916 family). It’s a pure Z-Wave lock — no built-in Bluetooth app on these models — but it integrates cleanly with Home Assistant over Z-Wave JS, including code management, and Kwikset’s SmartKey re-keying is handy for renters and quick lock swaps. If you don’t care about phone-Bluetooth auto-unlock and just want rock-solid local Z-Wave at a low price, this is it. (If walk-up Bluetooth matters to you, choose the Yale or Ultraloq instead.)

3. Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (Z-Wave)

A feature-packed option that combines Z-Wave with Bluetooth and adds a fingerprint reader and keypad. The Z-Wave version integrates with Home Assistant for lock control and codes, while the U-home app uses Bluetooth for fingerprint/auto-unlock at the door. Good for households that want biometric entry plus genuine local Z-Wave integration in one unit. Make sure you buy the Z-Wave SKU specifically — Ultraloq also sells Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-only versions that won’t give you native Z-Wave in Home Assistant.

Tradeoffs and considerations

• Buy the right SKU. Many of these brands sell Wi-Fi, Bluetooth-only, and Z-Wave variants of similar-looking locks. Only the explicitly Z-Wave models give you native, cloud-free Home Assistant integration. Check the model number before ordering.
• Bluetooth ≠ remote unlock. It’s a door-side and offline-fallback feature, not internet access. Remote control still goes through your Z-Wave hub (and Home Assistant remote access).
• Mesh and power. Locks are battery-powered Z-Wave devices; for reliable response keep a mains-powered Z-Wave node within range to relay, and watch battery levels in Home Assistant.
• Security. Pair with S2 (using the lock’s QR/PIN) so the Z-Wave link is encrypted. Use strong, unique PIN codes and rotate guest codes via Home Assistant automations.

Quick verdict

For a local-first Home Assistant setup, the Yale Assure Lock 2 in its Z-Wave Plus form is the best balance of solid Z-Wave integration and Bluetooth convenience. Want biometrics? The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Z-Wave adds a fingerprint reader. On a budget, the Kwikset SmartCode 914/916 in its Z-Wave form is a no-nonsense, fully local choice. Whatever you pick, confirm it’s the Z-Wave model, pair it with S2, and let Z-Wave — not Bluetooth — carry your automations.