Nuki vs Tedee Smart Lock (2026) — The Hidden Cost of Cheap

Last verified: April 2026

Tedee markets itself as the sleekest smart lock in Europe, and at €199 for the GO model, it looks like a bargain next to Nuki's €269 Pro. But smart lock pricing is never as simple as the sticker price. After testing both the Tedee GO, Tedee PRO, and Nuki Smart Lock Pro (4th Gen) side by side for three months, the real value equation surprised me.

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Price Comparison

On paper, Tedee looks like the budget-friendly option. The Tedee GO starts at €199 and the Tedee PRO at €249, compared to Nuki's €269. Simple math says Tedee wins. But there's a catch.

The Tedee GO and PRO rely on Bluetooth only. Want remote access? Smart home integration? Auto-unlock when you're approaching? You need the Tedee Bridge at €79. That brings the Tedee GO to €278 and the Tedee PRO to €328. Suddenly the Nuki at €269 — with WiFi, Thread, and Matter all built in — is the cheapest option with full functionality.

There's also the cylinder question. Both locks require a compatible euro-profile cylinder with a knob on the inside. If you need a new cylinder, budget €30-80 depending on brand and security rating. This cost is identical for both locks.

Size & Design

Tedee wins the beauty contest, full stop. The Tedee PRO measures just 57mm in diameter — it's remarkably small for what it does. The Tedee GO is slightly larger but still more compact than most competitors. Both have a minimal, cylindrical design that barely looks like a smart lock.

The Nuki Pro is noticeably larger. It's not ugly, but it's clearly a device attached to your door. The design is functional rather than elegant, with a motorized thumb turn that works well but doesn't disappear into the background the way Tedee does.

If aesthetics are your top priority — especially on a modern interior door where the lock is visible — Tedee has a genuine edge. The Nuki is the kind of device guests notice and ask about. The Tedee is the kind of device guests don't notice at all.

Connectivity

This is Nuki's strongest advantage. The Nuki Smart Lock Pro includes WiFi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter — all built into the lock. You connect it once, and it works with everything. Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant — no extra hardware needed.

Tedee's Bluetooth-only approach means the lock itself is an island without the Bridge. You can lock and unlock via Bluetooth when you're within about 7-10 meters, but that's it. No remote access, no smart home automations, no notifications when you're away.

The Tedee PRO supports Thread, which helps if you pair it with a Thread border router, but for most users the Bridge is still the path of least resistance for remote access. And Thread without Matter (which Tedee doesn't support yet) limits its smart home utility.

Smart Home Support

Nuki works out of the box with Apple Home (via Matter/Thread), Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Home Assistant. The Matter certification means future smart home platforms will work too. No bridge, no subscription, no extra cost.

Tedee supports Apple Home via the HomeKit protocol (with bridge) and has Google Home integration. Amazon Alexa works through the Tedee cloud. The experience is fine once set up, but the bridge requirement adds a point of failure and an extra device drawing power from an outlet near your door.

For Home Assistant users, Nuki has a well-maintained official integration. Tedee has a community integration that works but requires the bridge and occasionally needs attention after firmware updates.

The Bridge Problem

Let's talk about why the bridge matters beyond price. The Tedee Bridge needs a power outlet within 2 meters of your door. In many European apartments, there isn't one. Running an extension cord to your front door is neither safe nor attractive.

The bridge also adds latency. Lock commands from outside your home go: phone → cloud → bridge → Bluetooth → lock. With Nuki, it's: phone → cloud → WiFi → lock. One fewer hop, and WiFi has longer range and higher bandwidth than Bluetooth.

I measured response times over a week: Nuki averaged 1.2 seconds from tap to confirmation. Tedee with bridge averaged 2.1 seconds. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable when you're standing at your door in the rain.

The bridge is also another device that can fail. In my testing period, the bridge lost connection twice and needed a power cycle. The Nuki had zero connectivity failures over the same period.

Verdict

Tedee is an excellent lock for people who prioritize design above everything else, don't need remote access, or already have a power outlet conveniently near their door. The Tedee GO at €199 (Bluetooth-only) is genuinely the cheapest way to get a quality smart lock on a euro-cylinder door.

But for most buyers who want the full smart lock experience — remote access, smart home integration, notifications — Nuki is the better value. Once you add the Tedee Bridge, Nuki is actually cheaper AND more capable. The built-in WiFi and Matter support future-proof the Nuki in a way that Tedee's bridge-dependent architecture doesn't.

My recommendation: if you'd be happy with Bluetooth-only, get the Tedee GO and save €70. If you want the full package, get the Nuki Pro and skip the bridge headache entirely.

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FAQ

The Tedee GO (€199) is cheaper than Nuki (€269) if you only need Bluetooth. But once you add the Tedee Bridge (€79) for remote access and smart home features, the total is €278 — making Nuki the cheaper full-featured option.

For Bluetooth-only use (locking/unlocking when you're near the door), no. For remote access, smart home integration, auto-unlock, and notifications, yes — you need the Tedee Bridge (€79), which requires a power outlet within 2 meters of your door.

Tedee is significantly smaller. The Tedee PRO is just 57mm in diameter — the most compact smart lock on the European market. The Nuki Pro is noticeably larger, with a more prominent thumb turn mechanism.

Not yet. Tedee supports Apple HomeKit (via bridge) and Google Home, but does not have Matter certification. Nuki supports Matter natively, which provides broader and more future-proof smart home compatibility.

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