Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Lorex vs Welock
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lorex | Welock ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | €119 |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | €0 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbellCovers more | Smart lock |
| Free features | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan | Free app with Bluetooth unlock and access sharing |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $5.99 | Not confirmed |
| Top resolution | 4k | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 60 days | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Money-back period (30 days), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Lorex scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Products: only Lorex offers Camera, Video doorbell.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Chat, Phone.
- Founded is lower at Lorex: 1991 vs 2013.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Wired, Solar, Poe.
- Ecosystems: only Lorex offers Google, Homekit, Matter.
Our verdict on each
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.
Welock
Welock suits homeowners who want a self-installed cylinder lock with nothing to pay each month after the purchase. The fingerprint cylinder costs €119 with monitoring at €0 and a contract of 0 months, and professional monitoring is off, so there is no renewal to budget for.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherNo contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. | 9.0Entry price €119 with monitoring of €0 and a contract of 0 months. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. | 8.6Bluetooth unlock and access sharing ship in the free app, and the range covers smart lock. |
| Trust | 9.3HigherTrading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. | 8.9Support runs on email and help centre, and the company has been going since 2013. |
What each covers
| Products | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | No |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada | China |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Lorex: 4. Additional countries for Welock: 4.
Where these facts come from
Lorex
- lorex.com: 19 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Welock
- welock.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Smart locks | 10 of 42 | 3 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more | Battery |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, MatterCovers more | Alexa |
| Legal entity | Lorex Technology Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Canada | China |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lorex | Welock | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $5.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 60 daysabove the median | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
Welock
Pros
- No subscription attached: monitoring runs at €0 and the contract is 0 months, so there is nothing to renew.
- The app is free and includes Bluetooth unlock with access sharing, so a spare key or code can be issued to someone from a phone.
- Entry price of €119 sits below the smart lock category median of €87.69, so a fitted cylinder costs less than a typical one.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is off, so the lock secures the door and shares access but does not alert anyone during an intrusion.
- The range covers smart lock only, so cameras, sensors or an alarm panel have to come from another maker.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for a lock that has to be fitted to a door.
Who each suits
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.
Welock
Who it suits
- Homeowners or renters swapping an existing cylinder who want no monthly fee after the purchase
- People already using the voice assistant listed in alexa elsewhere in the house
- Buyers who want a battery lock that runs on its own, with the model listed as diy
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional monitoring, because that option is off and no response desk is offered
- Households wanting cameras or alarms in the same basket, since the range is smart lock only
- Smart home setups built on other ecosystems, as voice support covers alexa alone
Country by country
| Country | Lorex | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Mexico | Yes | No |
| Spain | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
Welock
How much does a Welock smart lock cost?+
The entry price is €119 for the lock, with no subscription layered on top. The smart lock category median on this site is €87.69, and Welock sits below it. Returns run for 30 days if the cylinder does not suit your door.
Is there a monthly fee for a Welock lock?+
No. Monitoring runs at €0, so there is nothing to pay each month. The contract is also 0 months, meaning there is no minimum term to serve and nothing to renew. You buy the hardware and that is the cost.