Smart Locks
Level Home
Invisible smart deadbolts for design-focused short-term rentals
Solid Option
Premium aesthetics, but a poor fit when you need PMS-driven access automation
From $249 • No free trial
Comparison
Level Home vs RemoteLock
Pricing, pros and cons, and buyer-fit side-by-side. Pick the one that matches your operation — or see why neither should.
Smart Locks
RemoteLock
Cloud-based smart lock access control for vacation rentals
Solid Option
Solid access control platform held back by hardware reliability and support concerns
From $6/listing • No free trial
✓Editorial verdict
Which Should You Pick: Level Home or RemoteLock?
Pick Level Home if you run 1-10 design-focused listings and want an invisible deadbolt with Apple Home Key in the Apple Home / Matter ecosystem. Pick RemoteLock if you manage 5+ properties across multiple channels and need centralized PMS-driven code automation across Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, or August hardware.
Editorial perspective from the Level Home side; factual claims about RemoteLock are drawn from its review.
Pricing Side-by-Side
Level Home
Full pricing →From $249 • No free trial
Level Lock+ (Matter)
$249.99 one-time
- Matter and Bluetooth keyless entry
- Invisible smart-lock design (fits inside existing deadbolt)
- Apple Home Key support
- App-based access management
Level Lock Pro
$349 one-time (starting price)
- All Level Lock+ features
- Premium finishes and materials
- Auto-lock with adjustable timer
- Optional professional install via OnTech ($99 extra)
RemoteLock
Full pricing →From $6/listing • No free trial
Premium
$6/lock/mo
Billed annually; hardware extra (~$279+ per lock)
All portfolio sizes
- Centralized cloud access control across all locks
- PMS integrations for automated guest code delivery
- Scheduled access (check-in/check-out windows)
- Mobile app + web dashboard
- Audit log of all lock events
Enterprise
$12/lock/mo
Hardware extra; volume discounts on hardware available
Larger portfolios needing advanced features
- Everything in Premium
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Priority customer support
- Custom integrations and API workflows
- SSO and team-management features
What each tool does well — and where it falls short
What Level Home does well
Hidden, design-first form factor that does not look like a smart lock
The motor and electronics fit inside the door so the exterior looks like a traditional deadbolt. Level's homepage describes the products as 'Invisible Smart Locks' — a meaningful fit for boutique and luxury STR aesthetics.
Broad smart-home platform support including Apple Home Key and Matter-over-Thread
The Level Lock+ (Matter) page lists keyless and remote access via Apple, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. Hosts can issue digital keys through Apple Wallet for tech-forward guests.
Optional Level Keypad lets hosts share PIN codes without requiring guests to install the app
The vendor bundle page says the keypad lets users create and share key codes for short-term visitors with no app required — the relevant flow for STR check-in.
What RemoteLock does well
Seamless PMS integration automates guest code workflows
Connects with Hostfully, Guesty, Track, and other PMSs to automatically generate and deliver access codes tied to reservations. Reduces manual key handoff entirely.
One dashboard to monitor and control all locks remotely
Cloud-based centralized console shows real-time access logs, sends alerts, and lets managers control devices across all properties from anywhere.
Broad hardware compatibility across major lock brands
Supports Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, and August locks, so operators can choose hardware that fits their property type and budget rather than being locked into one manufacturer.
Where Level Home falls short
No documented native PMS integrations for vacation rental software
A search of Level's site, Capterra, and G2 surfaced no direct integrations with Hostaway, Guesty, OwnerRez, or Hospitable. Hosts wanting auto-generated per-reservation codes typically must route through middleware like SmartThings, RemoteLock, or a Matter controller.
Higher hardware MSRP than mainstream STR-targeted locks
Level Lock Pro lists at $349 per the launch press release; competing keypad-equipped STR locks frequently start well below this price point.
Auto-lock and door-state detection less robust than DoorSense-equipped competitors
A Level vs Yale comparison notes the Yale lock does better with auto-locking thanks to its DoorSense magnetic door-frame sensor — meaningful in STR contexts where guests prop doors and reliable auto-lock matters.
Where RemoteLock falls short
Lock hardware failures reported well before expected lifespan
Capterra reviewers report that despite significant investment, nearly every lock has required replacement, with many failing in under two years from moisture damage and sudden failures.
Customer support is hard to reach and slow to resolve issues
Users report difficulty contacting anyone, resolution processes stretching weeks or months, and no emergency services — a significant gap for a product that controls property access.
Monthly per-lock fees add up on top of upfront hardware costs
At $6/lock/month plus ~$279+ per lock in hardware, the total cost of ownership can be substantial for larger portfolios compared to simpler one-time-purchase solutions.
Which Should You Pick
Pick Level Home if
Design-focused boutique short-term rental hosts who want a near-invisible deadbolt retrofit and value Apple Home Key support and scheduled guest codes via the Level Keypad.
Skip Level Home if
You operate at scale and need a direct PMS-to-lock automation that issues per-reservation codes — Level lacks named first-party vacation rental PMS integrations.
Pick RemoteLock if
Property managers with 5+ units who need centralized access control and automated code delivery through PMS integration.
Skip RemoteLock if
You're a single-property host on a tight budget — the required subscription on top of hardware costs may not justify the investment.
Where Level Home and RemoteLock actually differ
- RemoteLock integrates with dozens of PMS platforms including Hostfully, Guesty, and Track for automated per-reservation code delivery; Level has no documented native PMS integration and routes third-party automation through smart-home standards (Matter, SmartThings) rather than a vendor API.
- RemoteLock charges $6/lock/month (Premium) or $12/lock/month (Enterprise) as an ongoing subscription on top of hardware; Level is a one-time hardware purchase (Lock+ $249.99, Pro $349) with no subscription fee.
- RemoteLock supports four major lock brands through one centralized dashboard with real-time access logs across all properties; Level is a single-brand product line with no multi-property fleet dashboard documented.
- Level hides all hardware inside the door for an invisible exterior and supports Apple Home Key via Apple Wallet; RemoteLock-compatible locks are visible keypad or smart deadbolts with no Apple Home Key support documented across its supported hardware.
- Level supports Matter-over-Thread (Lock+), Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings at the lock level; RemoteLock is scoped to cloud access control with no equivalent consumer smart-home ecosystem coverage.
Common objections
- RemoteLock's PMS integrations and centralized dashboard are purpose-built for STR — why would Level even be a consideration?
- For operators whose primary requirement is automated per-reservation codes and multi-property visibility, RemoteLock is genuinely the stronger fit and Level is a poor match. Level's relevance is narrower: boutique hosts with 1-10 units where lock aesthetics affect listing quality and guest perception, and where the operator is comfortable issuing PINs manually via the Level app or Keypad. That's a real but smaller segment of the market.
- Level has no monthly fee — isn't that a big long-term savings versus RemoteLock's $6/lock/month?
- At 5 locks, RemoteLock costs $360/year in platform fees indefinitely; Level avoids that line item entirely. But RemoteLock's subscription buys automated code generation, centralized logs, and PMS integration that Level doesn't replicate at any price. The cost comparison only favors Level if you don't need what RemoteLock's fee actually delivers.
- RemoteLock users report hardware failures within two years — is Level's hardware more reliable?
- RemoteLock's reliability complaints relate to third-party lock hardware (Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, August), not the platform itself — and you can swap lock brands without changing management software. Level controls its hardware end-to-end under Assa Abloy, but auto-lock and door-state detection are reportedly less robust than DoorSense-equipped competitors. Different failure profiles — RemoteLock's is platform-agnostic and brand-swappable; Level's is inherent to the product line.
Keep Digging
Level Home
Premium aesthetics, but a poor fit when you need PMS-driven access automation
RemoteLock
Solid access control platform held back by hardware reliability and support concerns