Locksure

Locksure and the retrofit door lock monitor

Locksure is a UK-based maker of a retrofit door lock monitor sold under the same name. The device is fitted beside the thumb turn or key turn of an existing lock and reports to a phone whether the door is locked. The company states that the product requires no drilling, no new lock and no subscription, and that the existing lock and keys stay in place.

The company presents the monitor as a status-only device: it reads the lock position but has no motor, so it cannot lock or unlock a door remotely. Locksure frames this as a deliberate difference from smart locks, which it says replace the lock and carry electronic tampering risk.

How the monitor is installed and used

Installation is described in three steps. The monitor is stuck beside the thumb turn or key turn with the supplied adhesive. A display hub is plugged in near the doors and connected to Wi-Fi through the Locksure app. Lock state is then visible on the hub, in the app or by asking Alexa, with a history of when the state changed.

The monitor flashes cyan when locked and amber when unlocked; the lights do not stay on continuously. The display hub has a round screen that shows up to four nearby doors by name with their lock state, and one hub covers up to four doors. For doors in different parts of a house, the company advises adding another hub and placing each one centrally between the doors it monitors.

Kits, prices and what is included

The catalogue lists two starter packs, each including the Locksure display hub and app:

• Thumb Turn Starter Pack: display hub plus one monitor for one door, £89.99, for a thumb turn on the inside of the door.
• Key Turn Starter Pack: display hub plus two monitors for one door, £99.99, for a key-operated cylinder on both sides; the pack has a monitor for each side of a key-both-sides door.

Additional monitor packs are sold for households that already own a hub: a Thumb Turn Additional Monitor Pack at £49.99 and a Key Turn Additional Monitor Pack at £69.99, the latter with inside and outside monitors for another door. Both add-ons are offered at 10% off with a starter pack. The site states free UK delivery on orders of £85 or more, 30-day returns and a one-year warranty. Handles and locks are not included in the packs.

Matter range for smart home platforms

A separate Matter range is aimed at users of Apple Home, Google Home or Home Assistant. These monitors report directly into a smart home without a Locksure hub, but require a smart home hub such as a HomePod mini, Nest Hub (2nd gen) or Echo (4th gen). The company notes that customers may already own a compatible hub.

Compatibility checks before ordering

Locksure is designed for suitable euro-cylinder installations and states that thumb-turn or Euro cylinder key-turn doors are compatible. The company asks customers to check for a flat mounting surface and at least 34 mm of flat space below the cylinder, and notes that the cylinder must protrude at least 1 mm; if a coin laid across it sits flush, the monitor will not fit. Customers unsure of their lock can send a photo of the lock, handle, cylinder and the space below it for checking before ordering. Renters are advised to confirm they have permission to attach the monitor.

Battery, pricing comparison and intended users

The monitor uses a replaceable CR2032 coin cell, which the company says typically lasts about 18 months depending on use. In its comparison with smart locks, Locksure cites a typical smart lock price range of £200 to £500 including hub and fitting, against £89.99 for its hub-included monitor, and a typical smart lock battery life of three to four months; the company labels the smart lock figures as typical ranges rather than a specific product.

The company positions the product for households that want to confirm a door is locked without returning home, including people supporting elderly parents, working parents checking the door after the school run, and renters who cannot change the lock. It also cites a figure attributed to the Office for National Statistics that 25% of burglaries happen through unlocked doors.

Reviews and stated development

The site reproduces customer comments from users in Stevenage, Hartford, Croydon and Slough, and one review described as an Amazon review, praising the LED flash, the history feature, ease of installation and after-sales support. Locksure lists Alexa voice control, smart home dashboards and automations via Matter as already available, and says more voice assistants are coming.