What Smart Lock Makers Should Include in a Referral Submission
Keyless entry brands are welcome to share their programs with our editors.
An editorial invitation for companies to submit referral programs. Not sponsored, and not an offer from any company.
A smart lock referral program asks customers to recommend the device that guards their front door. That raises the bar for what a submission to TechAmerica.ai should contain. This article sets out the checklist our editors use when a keyless entry brand sends us a referral, affiliate or installer program, and explains why each item matters in this particular category.
First, a clarification. TechAmerica.ai has no affiliate relationships, sponsorships, partnerships or discount codes with any smart lock maker. Our coverage of a program is independent reporting based on the company's official pages, and sending a submission does not commit us to publish anything.
The short version of the checklist
Before the detail, here is the list. A complete smart lock submission includes:
- A public program page and full terms on the company's own domain
- The program type and who it is for
- Rewards for each side, described exactly as the terms describe them
- Eligible products, channels and countries
- The event that confirms a reward, plus timing, caps and expiry
- Rules on stacking, self-referral and commercial use
- What personal data the referral process collects and who processes it
- A link to the company's security information and update policy
- Disclosure guidance given to referrers, creators and installers
- A contact who can answer follow-up questions
Send it through our contact page with "Smart lock referral program" and your brand name in the subject.
Item by item: what to include and why
1. Public program page and full terms
Editors cite only what we can verify on official pages. If terms are visible only after logging in, give us a public summary and explain how we can see the full document. When a FAQ and the legal terms differ, tell us which governs.
2. Program type and audience
Smart lock companies run several kinds of programs, and readers confuse them:
- Customer referral, where owners invite friends and both may get a reward
- Affiliate, where publishers earn commission on tracked sales after applying
- Creator or ambassador, offering free products, fees or early access for content
- Installer and locksmith programs, with trade pricing, training, directory listings or rewards
- Property and hospitality programs aimed at landlords, property managers and short-term rental hosts
Name the type at the top of your submission. If you run several, send each separately.
3. Rewards on both sides
Describe the referrer's reward and the new customer's benefit in the words your terms use: percentage discount, fixed credit, gift card, accessory, extended service or cash. We publish reward amounts only when we see them on your official page on the day we check.
4. Eligible products, channels and countries
Smart lock lineups include retrofit units that fit over an existing deadbolt, full replacement deadbolts, keypad and fingerprint models, video doorbell and lock combinations, bridges for remote access and keypads sold separately. Tell us which count. Say whether purchases at retailers qualify or only orders on your store, and list the countries covered.
5. Confirmation event, timing, caps and expiry
Locks are returnable, and some programs confirm a referral only after the friend installs and activates the lock in the app. Name the event, give the holding period in days, and state any annual cap and expiry for credits.
6. Stacking, self-referral and commercial use
State whether referral discounts combine with sales, bundles or loyalty points. Explain rules against self-referral and multiple accounts. Because landlords and rental hosts buy many locks, say whether a consumer program can be used for commercial purchases.
7. Referral data
Explain what the referral process collects (names, emails, order and payout details), whether a third-party referral platform operates it, how long invitee details are kept and whether they are used for marketing. Referral systems should not need access logs, entry codes or lock status.
8. Security information and update policy
This is the item that most distinguishes smart locks from other categories, and the next section explains why.
9. Disclosure guidance
Share the instructions you give participants about disclosing rewards, free products or commissions.
10. A responsive contact
Editors often have follow-up questions about security, installers or terms. A named person who replies speeds up review.
Why security information belongs in a referral submission
A friend who recommends a smart lock is vouching for something that controls physical access to a home. If the product or account system is weak, the consequences are serious. That is why we ask for a link to security information even though the referral program itself is a marketing scheme.
The Federal Trade Commission's guidance for internet-connected device makers recommends avoiding default passwords, requiring unique credentials, offering multi-factor authentication, limiting failed login attempts, encrypting sensitive data, monitoring for vulnerabilities, providing a way for researchers to report flaws and telling buyers before purchase how long security updates will be provided.
Account takeover is a real risk across smart home devices. Trade press coverage of the FTC's 2023 complaint against Ring, a camera and doorbell company, described allegations that weak account protections let attackers access customer devices, and a proposed order that required multi-factor authentication and a privacy and security program. Smart lock makers recruiting customers through referrals should be able to explain their own account protections clearly.
What we look for on a security page
- Multi-factor authentication for owner accounts
- How guest codes and shared access are created, limited and revoked
- What happens when Wi-Fi or the cloud service is down, and how backup entry works (keys, keypad, battery backup)
- Battery warnings and what happens if batteries run out
- The period during which the company will provide security updates
- A vulnerability disclosure process
- Any physical security grading the company claims, with the standard named
We do not audit products, and we do not test locks as part of referral review. We do read what companies publish, and gaps can affect whether we consider a program suitable to describe to readers.
Privacy issues specific to keyless entry
Smart locks generate access logs that show when doors open, which code or phone was used and who came and went. Those logs are useful for families and landlords but sensitive in the wrong hands. Fingerprint models store biometric templates, usually on the device, and some states regulate biometric data separately, with Illinois among the best known.
Renters and guests raise particular questions. A landlord-installed lock may record a tenant's comings and goings. A short-term rental lock creates codes for strangers. Referral programs aimed at landlords and hosts should link to guidance on what tenants and guests are told and how long logs are kept.
For referral programs, the rule is the same as for any connected device: the program should use only account, order and payout data, and the page should say so.
Disclosure for owners, creators and installers
Smart lock recommendations come from many directions: friends, home improvement creators, locksmiths and installers. The FTC's Endorsement Guides say material connections, including rewards, commissions and free products, should be disclosed clearly and conspicuously. FTC staff guidance says disclosures belong near the recommendation, and in video they should appear in the video itself.
A locksmith who receives incentives from a lock brand and recommends it to a customer has a financial interest that the customer may want to know. Installer programs should include guidance on disclosure.
Reviews
Lock makers should keep referral and loyalty rewards apart from any request for ratings. Since October 2024, a federal rule on consumer reviews has barred businesses from offering incentives that depend on a review being positive or negative, and the FTC can seek civil penalties for knowing violations.
How the smart lock market shapes referral programs
Smart locks are sold through brand web stores, home improvement chains, electronics retailers, security system providers, builders and property technology companies. Prices range from simple retrofit units to premium models with fingerprint readers and built-in Wi-Fi. Some brands also offer optional subscriptions for features such as extended access history or integration with monitoring services.
Because so many locks are sold through retail and bundles, customer referral programs are often limited to the brand's own store. Affiliate programs, creator relationships and installer networks carry much of the marketing weight. Recent launches such as a Ring smart lock with a hand-powered battery backup and Apple's home collection show how large platform companies are entering the category, which tends to intensify promotion.
Security system providers sometimes bundle locks into monitored packages with their own referral schemes. As of October 2026, SimpliSafe's support page described a customer referral program for new systems in which the referred friend receives a discount and the referrer receives a gift card after a waiting period. When a lock is sold inside a bundle like that, the bundle provider's terms usually govern, not the lock maker's.
Platform and ecosystem compatibility
Many smart locks work with one or more voice assistants and home platforms, and some features only appear when a lock is paired with a specific hub or phone. A friend's recommendation may assume an ecosystem the new buyer does not use. Programs should point referred buyers to compatibility information so they know which features they will actually get, such as auto-unlock, remote access or integration with a video doorbell.
Builders and property technology companies
A growing share of smart locks reaches homes through builders, apartment operators and property technology platforms rather than individual purchases. Those channels rarely involve a refer-a-friend link, but they can involve partner incentives between lock makers and the companies that install them. If your company runs programs like that, a short description helps editors explain to readers why the lock on a new apartment door may come with a particular app and account terms they did not choose.
Questions editors often send back to lock makers
Even complete submissions usually prompt a few follow-up questions. Answering them in your public terms, rather than only by email, makes coverage faster and helps readers who never see our article.
Who installs the lock?
If the referred buyer hires an installer or locksmith, is the referral still valid, and does the installer earn anything? If installation is included in a bundle, who provides it?
What if the door does not fit?
Door thickness, deadbolt type and strike plate alignment can prevent installation. Does a return for fit reasons cancel the referral, and is there a compatibility tool buyers should use first?
Can the reward be used on accessories?
Keypads, bridges, door sensors and spare batteries are common add-ons. Owners often want to spend credit on them, so say whether they can.
How are shared accounts handled?
Households share locks among several people. Can a family member who is a guest user on the lock refer friends, or only the account owner?
Are business and multifamily buyers excluded?
Clarify whether property managers, rental hosts and small businesses fall under the consumer program, a separate program or neither.
Does a lock bought from a builder count?
New homes increasingly come with smart locks installed. If the buyer registers the lock later, does that create an eligible account for referring others?
Red flags readers should watch for
- Referral messages that promise a lock is "unhackable" or cannot be bypassed
- Programs with no public security information or update policy
- Rewards that require installing a lock for a tenant without the tenant's knowledge
- Commercial bulk buyers using a consumer referral program the terms do not allow
- Creator or installer recommendations without any disclosure
- Terms that let the company cancel rewards for unstated reasons
How review works, and keeping it current
An editor compares your program page and terms with your submission, then reads your security, privacy, return and support pages. We report facts only after confirming them on official pages and note the date we checked. We may cover your program in its own article, include it in a broader guide, ask questions or decline. There is no fee, and companies do not approve copy before publication. If we find that a referral page makes security claims your own technical documentation does not support, we will ask about the difference before going further, and we may describe the program without repeating the claim. Companies that publish plain, specific security pages tend to move through review with fewer questions.
Please send updates when rewards, eligible products, regions or terms change, when your security update policy changes, or when a program ends. Include an effective date and a link. We may also recheck official pages on our own schedule. Wider reporting on device and account security appears in our security coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a smart lock maker include in a referral submission to TechAmerica.ai?
Include a public program page and full terms, the program type, rewards for each side, eligible products, channels and countries, the confirmation event, timing, caps and expiry, stacking and self-referral rules, referral data practices, security information, disclosure guidance and a responsive contact.
Why does TechAmerica.ai ask smart lock makers for security information?
A smart lock controls physical access to a home, so a referral is a recommendation to trust that product with a front door. Editors read what companies publish about account protection, guest access, backup entry and update support, because gaps can affect whether a program is suitable to describe.
Does TechAmerica.ai test smart locks before covering a referral program?
No. Referral coverage explains a program based on official pages and does not involve product testing. Editors read a company's published security and privacy information. Hardware reviews, if any, follow a separate editorial process and are not tied to referral submissions.
Do retrofit smart locks and full replacement deadbolts both qualify for referral rewards?
It depends on the program. Some count every lock and accessory a brand sells, while others limit rewards to certain models or exclude keypads, bridges and refurbished units. Submissions should list eligible products, and readers should check before sharing a link.
When is a smart lock referral reward usually confirmed?
Many programs confirm after the return period ends, and some require the referred lock to be installed and activated in the app. The holding period should be stated in days. Readers should not expect a reward immediately after a friend orders.
Can landlords use a consumer smart lock referral program for multiple units?
Often not. Consumer programs commonly prohibit commercial use or cap rewards. Many lock makers run separate programs for property managers and short-term rental hosts with different terms. Landlords should look for a business program and confirm what tenants are told about access logs.
What access log data do smart locks collect?
Smart locks may record when a door is locked or unlocked, which user, code or phone was used, and the time of each event. Some also log failed attempts and battery status. A referral program should not use this data, and the privacy notice should explain how logs are stored.
Are fingerprint smart locks subject to special privacy rules?
Fingerprint templates are biometric data, and some states regulate biometric information separately, with Illinois among the best known. Many locks store templates on the device rather than in the cloud. Companies should explain where biometric data is stored and how it is deleted.
What happens if a smart lock's batteries die?
Designs vary. Many locks warn owners in advance, and some offer a physical key, external battery terminals or other backup methods. Recent products have introduced new backup approaches. Companies recruiting customers through referrals should explain backup entry plainly on their support pages.
Should a smart lock referral claim that the lock cannot be hacked?
No. Claims that a lock is unhackable or impossible to bypass are red flags. No connected device is immune to all risks. Referral materials should point to the company's security information rather than make absolute promises, and editors watch for overstated claims.
Do locksmiths and installers need to disclose smart lock brand incentives?
FTC Endorsement Guides focus on material connections that could affect how people weigh a recommendation. An installer who earns rewards from a lock brand and recommends it to customers is in a similar position. Clear disclosure helps customers trust the advice.
Can a smart lock brand give rewards for positive reviews?
No. The FTC's Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule prohibits incentives conditioned on a review expressing a particular sentiment. Brands can invite honest reviews, but referral or loyalty rewards should not depend on positive ratings.
Do smart lock referral rewards work when the lock is part of a security system bundle?
When a lock is sold inside a security system bundle, the bundle provider's referral terms usually apply rather than the lock maker's. Readers should check which company runs the program and whose terms govern the reward before assuming it applies.
What account security features should a smart lock app offer?
FTC guidance for connected device makers recommends unique credentials, multi-factor authentication, limits on failed logins and encryption of sensitive data. For locks, readers should also look for controls on guest codes, the ability to revoke access quickly and alerts for unusual activity.
How long should smart lock makers provide security updates?
There is no single required period, but FTC guidance encourages device makers to tell buyers before purchase how long updates will be provided. For a lock, a clear support period matters because outdated software on a door lock is a meaningful risk.
Are smart lock referral programs available outside the United States?
Some brands run programs in several countries, while others limit them to one market. Lock standards, door hardware and retail channels differ by country, so a referral to someone abroad may not qualify. Submissions should list eligible countries.
Does TechAmerica.ai earn anything from smart lock purchases?
No. TechAmerica.ai has no affiliate, sponsorship or partnership arrangements with smart lock makers and receives nothing from readers' purchases. Coverage reports what a company's official pages said on the date editors reviewed them.
Can short-term rental hosts join smart lock referral programs?
Hosts may join consumer programs if the terms allow, but many lock makers run separate hospitality programs. Hosts should also tell guests how codes work and follow platform and local rules on recording entry data. Program pages aimed at hosts should link to that guidance.
How do TechAmerica.ai editors verify a smart lock program?
Editors compare the program page and terms with the submission, then read security, privacy, return and support pages on the company's domain. Facts are published only when confirmed on official pages, with the review date noted. Editors ask questions when information conflicts.
Why might TechAmerica.ai decline a smart lock referral program?
Editors may decline programs with no public terms, conflicting documents, overstated security claims, no published security or update information, or rewards tied to positive reviews. Declining is an editorial judgment rather than a product rating.
Should renters install a smart lock bought through a referral?
Renters should get landlord permission first, since locks are part of the property and landlords may need access. Retrofit models that keep the existing exterior hardware can be easier to reverse. Lease terms and local rules on lock changes apply regardless of how the lock was bought.
What disclosure guidance should smart lock brands give creators?
Brands should tell creators to disclose free products, fees and commissions clearly and near the recommendation. FTC guidance says video disclosures should appear in the video itself. Brands are also expected to monitor what participants publish and correct problems.
Can a smart lock company review TechAmerica.ai's article before publication?
No. Editors may contact the company to confirm facts, but articles are not shared for approval. If an error appears after publication, the company can request a correction, and editors will fix it after confirming against official sources.
How should a smart lock company report changes to its program or update policy?
Email through the contact page with the program name, links to updated terms or security pages and the effective date. Editors will recheck official pages and update, annotate or remove coverage. Changes to security update policies are as important to report as reward changes.
Do video doorbell and smart lock combination products fit this section?
Yes. Products that combine a lock with a camera or doorbell are within scope, and editors will consider both access and video privacy. Programs focused mainly on cameras may also be covered in TechAmerica.ai's home security camera section.