TTLock vs Tuya: Which Smart Lock App Should You Choose
Every smart lock in our range works fine without you ever opening its app — fingerprint, code and card entry all happen on the lock itself. The app matters for what happens when you're not standing in front of the door: sharing access with a guest, checking who came and went, or unlocking from your desk because you forgot to let the dog walker in. That's where TTLock and Tuya genuinely differ, and which one your lock runs on is worth knowing before you buy, not after.
⭐ Key Takeaways
- TTLock is a dedicated lock-only app — it doesn't control anything else, and doesn't need to.
- Tuya is a broader smart-home platform; on our range it's used specifically on models with a camera, face recognition, or built-in Wi-Fi.
- Our TTLock locks (the lever and push/pull range) need an optional G2 gateway for remote access away from home — Bluetooth alone only works at the door.
- Our Tuya locks with a camera or intercom (SL-C1, SL-F1, SL-G1) have Wi-Fi built in, so remote access works out of the box, no gateway to buy.
- Both apps handle the basics the same way: temporary codes, an access log, and sending a digital key to someone else's phone.
- Neither platform supports Apple Home or Matter on any lock in our current range — worth knowing if that matters to your setup.
What TTLock Actually Is
TTLock is a dedicated access-control app — it only talks to TTLock-compatible locks, and that focus is the point. There's no smart bulb integration, no thermostat, no wider ecosystem to configure. You enrol the lock once, and the app becomes a remote control for exactly that one job: fingerprints, codes, cards, an activity log showing who unlocked the door and when, and the ability to send someone a digital key that works for a set window of time.
In our range, TTLock runs the Fingerprint & Code lever lock and the entire push/pull range — the models most people buy for a standard front or side door. At the door, TTLock talks to your phone over Bluetooth, which is enough for day-to-day use standing right there. For anything remote — checking the lock from work, letting a guest in while you're out — you need the optional G2 gateway, a small plug-in device that bridges the lock to your home Wi-Fi and, from there, to the internet.
What Tuya Actually Is
Tuya is a considerably bigger platform — it's the backend behind a huge range of smart-home devices from many different brands, not just locks. On our range specifically, Tuya is used for the models that need more than a simple lock-and-app relationship: the built-in camera lock, the 3D face recognition lock, and the outdoor gate lock. All three of these have Wi-Fi built directly into the lock itself — no separate gateway required, because the video feed, the intercom and the remote unlock all need an internet connection anyway, so it's built in from the start.
The trade-off for that broader platform is exactly what you'd expect: more moving parts in the app, a bigger menu of settings, and the ability (if you use other Tuya-compatible devices) to link a lock event to something else — a light turning on when the door unlocks after dark, for instance. If you only want a lock and nothing more, that flexibility is unused rather than harmful, but it's a genuinely different app experience to TTLock's single-purpose simplicity.
| Criteria | TTLock | Tuya |
|---|---|---|
| What it controls | Locks only | A wide range of smart-home device types |
| Remote access | Needs the optional G2 gateway | Built in via the lock's own Wi-Fi |
| Camera / video support | Not applicable to our TTLock models | Yes — camera feed and intercom video |
| Temporary/one-time codes | Yes | Yes |
| Access log | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Home / Matter | Not supported on our current range | Not supported on our current range |
💡 Did You Know?
The reason our camera and face-recognition locks run on Tuya rather than TTLock isn't arbitrary — it comes down to what each platform was built for. TTLock's entire product is access control, so it never needed to support live video. Tuya's platform already handles cameras, sensors and a long list of other device types across many brands, so when a lock needs a video feed or an intercom screen, Tuya is the platform built to carry that data. The app choice on each model follows directly from what the hardware actually does.
✓ Runs on TTLock
Smart Door Lock — Fingerprint & Code
A dedicated lock app, Bluetooth at the door, remote access via the optional G2 gateway. Five ways in, plus a built-in doorbell.
$349.99 AUD
View Product →Which Flashmarques Locks Use Which App
Rather than guessing, here's the real breakdown across our current range, verified against each product's own specification:
| Lock | App | Remote access |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint & Code (lever) | TTLock | Needs G2 gateway |
| Adjustable Latch (lever) | Tuya or TTLock — confirm at order | Depends on version ordered |
| Long Handle Push/Pull (silver & black) | TTLock | Needs G2 gateway |
| Short Handle Push/Pull (silver & black) | TTLock | Needs G2 gateway |
| Built-in Camera | Tuya | Built-in Wi-Fi |
| 3D Face Recognition | Tuya | Built-in Wi-Fi |
| Outdoor Gate, Fingerprint Both Sides | Tuya | Built-in Wi-Fi |
If you already know which app you'd rather use — say, because you have other Tuya devices at home, or you specifically want a lock-only app with nothing else in it — this table tells you which models to look at first, before you even get to comparing handle styles or backsets.
Remote Access: the One Thing That Actually Differs Day to Day
For everyday use at the door — fingerprint, code, card — TTLock and Tuya feel almost identical, because none of that touches the app at all. The difference shows up specifically when you're not home. On our TTLock models, Bluetooth alone gets you app control only within range of the lock; checking or unlocking from anywhere else needs the G2 gateway plugged in near the lock and connected to your home Wi-Fi. It's a genuine extra step and a separate purchase, not something bundled in.
On the Tuya models with a camera or intercom, that problem doesn't come up — Wi-Fi is already built into the lock because the video feed needs it regardless, so remote access simply works from the first setup. If checking who's at the door from your phone while you're at work is the main reason you want a smart lock, that's a real point in favour of the camera or gate models over the plain lever range, independent of which one otherwise suits your door.
✓ Runs on Tuya
Smart Door Lock with Built-in Camera
Built-in Wi-Fi, no gateway to buy — see who's at the door and unlock remotely from the first day. Fits narrow 22mm-backset aluminium doors only.
$539.99 AUD
View Product →Discover Our Full Smart Door Lock Range
Smart Door Locks
Lever, push/pull, camera, face recognition and outdoor gate locks — TTLock and Tuya models across the range, all compared side by side.
Shop the Collection →If you're still weighing up entry methods rather than apps, our guide on fingerprint vs keypad code covers that decision in detail, and the complete buying guide compares every model in the range on fit, price and features together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to choose between TTLock and Tuya, or does it come with the lock?
It comes with the lock — each model in our range is built for a specific app, listed in the table above. The one exception is the adjustable-latch lever lock, which ships in either version; tell us which you need before ordering.
Can TTLock and Tuya locks work together in the same house?
Yes. There's no conflict running both — you'd simply have two apps open on your phone instead of one, each controlling its own lock.
Why do some locks need a separate gateway for remote access?
Our TTLock lever and push/pull locks communicate over Bluetooth at the door only. The optional G2 gateway bridges that Bluetooth signal to your home Wi-Fi, which is what makes remote access from anywhere possible.
Do the camera and face-recognition locks need the G2 gateway too?
No — the Built-in Camera, 3D Face Recognition and Outdoor Gate locks have Wi-Fi built directly into the lock, so remote access works without buying anything extra.
Does either app support Apple Home or Matter?
Not on any lock in our current range. If Apple Home integration is essential for your setup, that's worth confirming before you order, regardless of which model you're considering.
Can I share access with a guest without giving them the app?
Yes — both TTLock and Tuya let you set a temporary keypad code that works for a limited time, which is often simpler for a one-off visitor than asking them to install an app at all.
Key Takeaways
- TTLock is a dedicated, lock-only app running our lever and push/pull range — simple, but remote access needs the optional G2 gateway.
- Tuya runs our camera, face-recognition and outdoor gate models, with Wi-Fi built in and remote access working from day one.
- Check which app each model uses before choosing a lock, not after — the breakdown table above covers the full range.
- Neither app currently supports Apple Home or Matter.
- Still deciding on entry method rather than app? Read fingerprint vs keypad code.
- Browse the full range in Smart Door Locks, or compare every model in the complete buying guide.