Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Lockin vs Lorex
What sets them apart
| Compare | Lockin ReviewVisitVisit |  Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $29.99Lower |
| Products | Smart lock, Video doorbell | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbellCovers more |
| Cloud plan per month | $0Lower | $5.99 |
| Free features | AI detection, video, remote access and app control with no fee | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 60 days |
Same on both: Monitoring per month ($0), Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Lorex scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Price is lower at Lorex: $29.99 vs $129.99.
- Products: only Lorex offers Camera.
- Cloud plan per month is lower at Lockin: $0 vs $5.99.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Lorex: 1991 vs 2014.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Wired, Poe.
- Ecosystems: only Lockin offers Smartthings.
Our verdict on each
Lockin
Lockin suits people who want a lock and a video doorbell with no running fees. The range starts at $129.99, with cloud and monitoring both at $0. Expect US only, a 0 months commitment, and no one watching your alarms.
Lorex
Lorex suits households that want cameras, video doorbells and smart locks from the same brand, with local recording, live view, playback and alerts working before any plan is bought. Entry hardware starts at $29.99, and the Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month on top of that.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lockin | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherEntry price of $129.99 with cloud plan of $0 and monitoring of $0 keep running cost at nil. | 9.1No contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. |
| Offer | 9.0Range covers smart lock and video doorbell on a diy model, with video kept on the device and detection. | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. |
| Trust | 8.8Founded 2014, Matter certified, US market, warranty of 1 year and 30 day returns. | 9.3HigherTrading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lockin | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Video doorbells | 7 of 54 | 16 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 6 of 42 | 10 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lockin | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Solar | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Lorex Technology Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
| Founded | 2014 | 1991Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Lockin | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $129.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | No | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| Markets | US | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lockin | Lorex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99highest quarter | $29.99below the median | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0below the median | $5.99highest quarter | $3 |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 60 daysabove the median | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Lockin
Pros
- No contract: 0 months means nothing locks you in
- Cloud plan and monitoring both sit at $0, so the buy is the whole cost
- Detection, video, remote access and app control are bundled at no extra charge
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms are not watched
- US is the only listed market, so buyers elsewhere face a shipping question
- Warranty runs 1 year, shorter than the life of a front door lock
Lorex
Pros
- Local recording, live view, playback and alerts all work with no plan, and local storage is supported, so footage can stay on a drive the buyer owns.
- Cameras, video doorbells and smart locks come from the same brand, and installation is not required, so a homeowner can cover a front door and garden without hiring an installer.
- Cameras reach 4k and run on battery, wired and solar options, covering outdoor and off-grid spots.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so an alarm travels no further than the owner's own devices and the DIY approach is the only route.
- Cloud video is kept for 60 days, so anything that must stay retrievable longer has to sit on local storage.
- Entry hardware at $29.99 is above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95 and Annke at $19.99, so the ticket at the till is the weak spot.
Who each suits
Lockin
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners replacing a front door lock who refuse subscriptions
- Matter-minded buyers already running Alexa, Google, HomeKit or SmartThings
- People who want video history on their own device rather than in the cloud
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a watched alarm service, since professional monitoring is not part of the Lockin offer and Annke or Aqara suit camera-led setups
- Shoppers outside the US, because US is the only listed market
- Anyone after a wired camera or full alarm kit, since smart lock and video doorbell stops at locks and doorbells
Lorex
Who it suits
- Households that want footage kept on their own drive rather than rented cloud space.
- Renters and owners fitting cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock without tradesmen.
- Buyers who read the running cost before the ticket, since Lorex carries no contract term.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households after a professionally monitored alarm, since Lorex does not offer professional monitoring and a monitored brand fits that need better.
- Shoppers on the smallest budget, because entry hardware at $29.99 sits above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95.
- Buyers who want cloud features folded into the hardware price, because the Lorex Connect plan is $5.99 a month on top.
Country by country
| Country | Lockin | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Mexico | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Lockin
Is there a monthly fee for Lockin smart locks and video doorbells?+
No. The cloud plan is $0 and monthly monitoring is $0, so the hardware price is the only outlay. Detection, video, remote access and app control are all included at no fee, which keeps the running cost at nil for as long as you own the device.
Does Lockin require a contract or subscription?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is nothing to cancel and no minimum term to serve. That is part of why Lockin places 1 of 60 brands on contract length, the same top spot it takes on monitoring at $0.
Lorex
What does Lorex cost to get started?+
Entry hardware starts at $29.99 for a camera, and the range also covers video doorbells and smart locks, so the same brand can cover a whole front door. Nothing recurring is due at the point of sale, and the purchase carries no contract, so the hardware price is the whole commitment at checkout.
Is there a monthly subscription?+
The Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month and is the only recurring charge. The monthly monitoring cost is $0, so hardware already paid for adds no monitoring bill, and the cloud plan stays optional rather than required for core use.