Yale Assure Lock SL vs Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (2026)

Quick answer: the sharpest difference between these two isn't security grade, it's whether you keep a physical key at all. The Yale Assure Lock SL goes fully keyless with a glass touchscreen; the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro stacks fingerprint, keypad, app, and a physical key so no single failure locks you out.

Bottom Line

Fully keyless, no cylinder to pick

Yale Assure Lock SL

A glass touchscreen replaces the keypad entirely, and there is no keyway anywhere on the lock. It carries a confirmed ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 security certification and works natively with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant. The tradeoff for going keyless: if the touchscreen or your phone fails, you have no physical backup.

See Yale Assure Lock SL →

Four backup entry methods, cheaper

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro

Fingerprint, backlit keypad, app, and physical key all work as independent, redundant entry paths. The WiFi bridge for remote access ships in the box at no extra cost, and the lock carries an IP65 waterproof rating. If you want a backup for your backup, this is the safer everyday pick.

See Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro →

Both locks share the same core design decision: Bluetooth handles local unlocking by default, and neither one demands a SmartThings, Zigbee, or Z-Wave hub to function day to day. Past that starting point, they solve almost every other problem differently.

Head-to-Head

Here's how the two locks actually compare once you get past the marketing copy and into what's confirmed for each specific listing.

Feature	Yale Assure Lock SL	Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro
Connectivity	Bluetooth by default; WiFi via a module sold separately	Bluetooth by default; WiFi bridge included in the box
Unlock methods	Touchscreen keypad, app, Bluetooth auto-unlock	Fingerprint, backlit keypad, app, physical key
Physical key backup	None (100% keyless design)	Yes, included
Security certification	ANSI/BHMA Grade 2	Check listing (IP65 waterproof rated)
Apple HomeKit	Yes	Check listing
Alexa / Google Assistant	Yes	Check listing
Price	$$$	$$

Price tiers are approximate. $ = under $50, $$ = $50 to 150, $$$ = $150 to 300, $$$$ = over $300. Tap any link for the current Amazon price.

Yale wins on documented security certification and native Apple HomeKit support. Ultraloq wins on redundancy and price, and it skips the extra WiFi-module purchase that the Yale requires for remote access. Neither one needs a dedicated smart-home hub, which is what separates both of these from the Z-Wave and Zigbee locks covered in our full smart lock roundup.

Two Different Ways of Measuring "Secure"

This is the detail spec sheets blur together. The Yale Assure Lock SL carries a confirmed ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 rating under the A156.36 standard, the residential deadbolt certification that measures forced-entry resistance and cycle life. Ultraloq does not publish an ANSI/BHMA grade for the U-Bolt Pro in its current listing. What it does confirm is an IP65 waterproof rating, which measures resistance to dust and water intrusion, a completely different axis than forced-entry strength.

That means the "which lock is more secure" question doesn't have a clean apples-to-apples answer here. If a documented ANSI/BHMA grade matters to you, Yale is the only one of the two that states one plainly. If your door faces direct weather, exposed rain, snowmelt, coastal salt air, Ultraloq's waterproof rating is the more relevant spec. Buyers who want the highest documented residential grade available should look past both of these at the Schlage Encode Plus, which carries a Grade 1 rating, the top of the ANSI/BHMA residential scale.

Going Keyless vs. Stacking Backups

The Yale Assure Lock SL's biggest selling point is also its biggest risk. There's no keyway anywhere on the lock, so nobody can pick, bump, or copy a key that doesn't exist. That's a genuine security upgrade over a traditional deadbolt. It also means your only fallback if the touchscreen glitches or your phone's Bluetooth won't pair is the lock's built-in backup power terminal, which needs a 9-volt battery to jump-start it long enough to enter your code and get inside.

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro takes the opposite bet: pile on enough independent unlock paths that no single point of failure strands you outside. Fingerprint scanning is the fast daily option. The backlit keypad covers a dead finger or thick winter gloves. The app handles remote guests. And the included physical key is the analog fallback that works even if every electronic system on the lock fails at once. If you've ever been locked out of a fully digital device at the worst possible moment, that fourth option is worth the tradeoff of keeping one more key on your ring.

Neither approach is objectively wrong. It comes down to whether you'd rather eliminate the keyway entirely or keep one as insurance. Renters juggling multiple keyed locks already, and who want to standardize on fingerprint access, should also look at our fingerprint smart lock comparison, which covers the U-Bolt Pro alongside two other biometric options.

WiFi Bridge: Included vs. Extra

Winner: Ultraloq, on value. Both locks run on Bluetooth out of the box, which gives you roughly 30 feet of range between the lock and your phone and sips far less battery than always-on WiFi. Bluetooth alone gets you local unlocking, but not remote access, app notifications when the door opens, or the ability to send a guest code from across town.

To unlock that remote functionality, Yale requires buying its WiFi module separately, an added cost on top of the lock itself. Ultraloq ships its WiFi bridge in the box with the U-Bolt Pro at no extra charge, so remote access and app alerts work from day one without a second purchase or a second shipment to wait on.

Which Lock Should You Buy?

Want the cleanest, most minimal lookYale Assure Lock SL. The glass touchscreen with no visible keyway is the closest thing to a keyless front door you can buy today.

Use an iPhone and want native HomeKitYale Assure Lock SL. It's the one of these two with confirmed native Apple HomeKit support out of the box.

Want a backup for your backupUltraloq U-Bolt Pro. Fingerprint, keypad, app, and physical key all work independently, so one failure never locks you out.

Don't want to buy a WiFi module separatelyUltraloq U-Bolt Pro. The bridge for remote access ships in the box at no extra cost.

Want the lower priceUltraloq U-Bolt Pro sits in the $$ tier, a full bracket below the Yale's $$$ price.

Want the highest documented security grade availableNeither lock here. Check our Schlage Encode vs Yale Assure comparison for the Grade 1 option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yale Assure Lock SL or the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro more secure?

On paper, the Yale Assure Lock SL carries a confirmed ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 residential security certification. Ultraloq does not publish an ANSI/BHMA grade for the U-Bolt Pro; check the current listing before assuming a specific rating. What Ultraloq does confirm is an IP65 waterproof rating, a different spec that measures weather resistance, not forced-entry resistance. The two locks are graded on different scales, so comparing them head to head on certification alone is not a fair fight.

Does the Yale Assure Lock SL have a physical key backup?

No. The Yale Assure Lock SL is a 100% keyless design: there is no keyway, no cylinder, and nothing to pick or copy. If the touchscreen fails and your phone is dead, you are relying on the lock's backup power terminal until you can recharge or replace batteries. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, by contrast, ships with a physical key as one of four independent unlock methods.

Do these locks need a WiFi bridge for remote access?

Both locks run on Bluetooth by default, which only works within roughly 30 feet of the door. The Yale Assure Lock SL needs a separate WiFi module, sold on its own, to unlock that remote access. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro ships with its WiFi bridge already in the box, so remote access and app notifications work without an extra purchase.

Does the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro have fingerprint unlock?

Yes. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro reads fingerprints alongside a backlit physical keypad, the companion app, and a physical key, so a single failed unlock method never locks you out. The Yale Assure Lock SL has no fingerprint sensor; its only unlock methods are the touchscreen keypad, the app, and Bluetooth auto-unlock when your phone is nearby.

Which lock is cheaper: Yale Assure Lock SL or Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro?

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is the cheaper lock of the two, landing a full price tier below the Yale. The Yale Assure Lock SL costs more, largely because you are paying for the keyless touchscreen design and Yale's build quality. Add the optional WiFi module to the Yale and the price gap widens further, since Ultraloq's bridge is already included.

Behind This Comparison

These two locks get lumped together as "Bluetooth smart locks" when their actual design philosophies point in opposite directions: one strips away every physical failsafe, the other stacks four of them. We cross-checked connectivity, certification, and unlock-method claims against each brand's own product pages and confirmed current Amazon pricing before assigning price tiers. Where a spec wasn't confirmed for the exact listing we link, we said so rather than guessing.

We do not take payment from Yale, Ultraloq, or any brand mentioned here. If you spot an error, please let us know.