Smart Locks
Sifely
Smart locks with auto-generated guest access codes for STR operators
Solid Option
Budget-friendly guest access automation with hardware reliability trade-offs
From $79.99 • No free trial
Comparison
Sifely vs Level Home
Pricing, pros and cons, and buyer-fit side-by-side. Pick the one that matches your operation — or see why neither should.
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 $199 • No free trial
✓Editorial verdict
Which Should You Pick: Sifely or Level Home?
Pick Sifely if you want the lowest hardware cost per door with native Auto Booking Code automation for Airbnb, Guesty, and Hostaway plus five unlock methods. Pick Level Home if you run 1-10 design-focused boutique listings where an invisible deadbolt and Apple Home Key support meaningfully lift perceived quality.
Editorial perspective from the Sifely side; factual claims about Level Home are drawn from its review.
Pricing Side-by-Side
Sifely
Full pricing →From $79.99 • No free trial
Custom
Hardware-only pricing confirmed; individual lock prices range from approximately eighty dollars to two hundred dollars depending on model and finish. No subscription fees publicly disclosed. Auto Booking Code feature pricing not published — contact vendor for current terms.
Try SifelyLevel Home
Full pricing →From $199 • No free trial
Level Bolt
$199 one-time
- Retrofit smart-lock hardware
Level Lock
$249 one-time
- Smart-lock hardware
Level Lock Pro
$349 one-time
- Smart-lock hardware with Apple home keys and door status detection
What each tool does well — and where it falls short
What Sifely does well
Auto Booking Code pulls reservation data and generates time-limited passcodes automatically
The feature integrates with Airbnb, Guesty, Hostaway, and other platforms to create guest codes without manual entry — a meaningful time-saver at 5+ properties.
Five unlock methods give guests multiple fallback options
Fingerprint, code, fob, smartphone, and physical key mean a single failure mode rarely locks a guest out entirely. The reversible handle simplifies installation on any door.
Configurable auto-lock prevents the common STR problem of unsecured doors
The lock re-engages after a set delay, removing reliance on guests remembering to lock up — a frequent pain point flagged in STR operator forums.
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.
Where Sifely falls short
Touchpad responsiveness is inconsistent, working roughly 90% of the time
User reviews report intermittent touchpad failures. For high-turnover STRs where every check-in matters, a 10% failure rate creates real guest friction and support burden.
Remote management requires purchasing a separate WiFi gateway
The base lock is Bluetooth-only. Remote code management — the core value for multi-property hosts — is locked behind an additional hardware purchase at undisclosed pricing.
Fingerprint scanner reliability is a recurring user complaint
Reports describe the scanner reading correctly (green light) but failing to unlock. For hosts relying on biometric access as the primary unlock method, this undermines the convenience promise.
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
The current catalog lists Level Bolt at $199, Level Lock at $249 and Level Lock Pro at $349, each as a one-time hardware purchase.
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.
Which Should You Pick
Pick Sifely if
STR hosts managing multiple properties who need automated passcode generation tied to booking platforms like Airbnb, Guesty, or Hostaway — and want to avoid monthly lock software fees.
Skip Sifely if
You need guaranteed 24/7 hardware reliability for high-turnover properties, require integrations with PMS platforms beyond the currently supported list, or need enterprise-grade remote fleet management.
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.
Where Sifely and Level Home actually differ
- Level’s current hardware catalog lists Level Bolt at $199, Level Lock at $249 and Level Lock Pro at $349, each a one-time purchase. Accessories and installation are separate.
- Sifely's Auto Booking Code integrates natively with Airbnb, Guesty, and Hostaway for auto-generated per-reservation passcodes; Level has no documented native PMS or Airbnb reservation integration and requires manual PIN issuance via the Level app or optional Keypad.
- Sifely offers five unlock methods (fingerprint, code, fob, smartphone, physical key); Level is primarily app/Apple Wallet driven with PINs delivered via the optional Keypad accessory — no fingerprint or fob support documented.
- Level hides motor and electronics inside the door for an invisible exterior and supports Apple Home Key, Matter-over-Thread, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings; Sifely is a visible keypad lock with no documented smart-home ecosystem integration beyond its own app.
- Sifely's touchpad has a reported ~10% failure rate and documented fingerprint read-but-fail issues; Level's auto-lock and door-state detection are reportedly less robust than DoorSense-equipped competitors — different failure profiles, both real.
Common objections
- Level has Apple Home Key, Matter, and an invisible form factor — doesn't that justify the higher price?
- For boutique or luxury listings where lock aesthetics materially affect perceived quality and your guests are deep in the Apple ecosystem, yes — Level's invisible deadbolt and Apple Home Key support are genuine differentiators Sifely cannot match. But most STR guests don't notice the lock, and Level's premium does not buy automated per-reservation codes. If your priority is operational automation rather than design, Sifely delivers more STR-relevant functionality at roughly a third of the hardware cost.
- Which billing limits and extra charges should I check for Level?
- Level’s current hardware catalog lists Level Bolt at $199, Level Lock at $249 and Level Lock Pro at $349, each a one-time purchase. Accessories and installation are separate.
- Sifely's touchpad and fingerprint reliability are flagged issues — is Level's hardware simply more dependable?
- Level avoids Sifely's specific touchpad and fingerprint complaints, and Assa Abloy's backing provides pedigree reassurance. But Level has its own trade-off: auto-lock and door-state detection reportedly underperform DoorSense-equipped competitors, which matters in STR contexts where guests prop doors. Sifely's failure mode is intermittent keypad response with four unlock fallbacks; Level's is less reliable securing of the door after the guest leaves.
Keep Digging
Sifely
Budget-friendly guest access automation with hardware reliability trade-offs
Level Home
Premium aesthetics, but a poor fit when you need PMS-driven access automation