TTLock vs Tuya — Two Global Smart Lock Platforms Explained
Posted by Jim Noort on 24th May 2026
Most smart locks sold globally run on one of these two platforms. Here is what separates them, and why it matters before you buy in Australia — including now that Terry’s stocks both, through FORGE.


Walk into any hardware wholesaler or browse any Chinese smart lock manufacturer’s catalogue and you will encounter two platform names more than any other: TTLock and Tuya. Together they power the overwhelming majority of smart locks manufactured in China — which means they power the overwhelming majority of smart locks sold globally.
Most Australian buyers have no idea which platform is running inside the lock they are considering. But the platform determines almost everything that matters after the lock is installed: how you manage access, where your data goes, how setup works, what happens when something goes wrong, and what professional support exists in Australia.
This guide covers:
- What TTLock is and what brands it powers in Australia
- What Tuya is — and why it is fundamentally different to TTLock
- How the two architectures work
- A full feature comparison across 15 dimensions
- The Australian installer experience with both platforms
- Security vulnerabilities and data sovereignty for both — in full
- The doorbell and camera lock category — and why it matters
- Why Terry’s still recommends TTLock first — and how the Australian brand FORGE brought Tuya into the range in October 2026
- A decision framework for buyers who have encountered both
For the deep-dive on TTLock specifically — all six passcode types, gateway selection, PMS integration — see the TTLock Platform Guide in our Smart Lock Buyer’s Guide. For the TTLock vs Igloohome comparison that Airbnb hosts most often need, see our side-by-side Airbnb platform comparison. For a full four-platform comparison including Igloohome and Carbine Connect, see Chapter 15 — Smart Lock App Platforms Guide.
Why Platform Matters More Than Brand
When you buy a smart lock, you are buying two things simultaneously: the physical hardware and the software platform the hardware runs on. The hardware determines the mechanical quality, the form factor, and the credential types (fingerprint, IC card, PIN). The platform determines everything else.
Hardware brands in the smart lock market rarely develop their own platforms. The economics don’t support it — building a cloud platform, maintaining mobile apps for iOS and Android, supporting API integrations, and managing firmware updates is expensive. Instead, most brands license an existing platform and focus their resources on hardware design and distribution.
TTLock and Tuya are the two platforms that most Chinese smart lock manufacturers have converged on. When you buy a McGrath, Lockton, or Austyle lock in Australia, you are committing to the TTLock platform. When you buy almost any smart lock from an Australian Amazon listing, a grey import supplier, or a smaller online retailer, you are almost certainly buying Tuya hardware. And since October 2026 there is a third case: a FORGE lock, which may run on either — FORGE sells TTLock models and Forge Smart (Tuya) models, and the Forge Smart app runs on Tuya, which is why we always write it “Forge Smart (Tuya)”.
The brand name on the box tells you who distributed the lock. The platform tells you who actually manages your access data, where it is stored, how reliably remote management works, and what happens when the app changes.
What Is TTLock?
TTLock is a cloud-based smart lock management platform developed and operated by Sciener, headquartered in Beijing, China. It is a purpose-built access control platform — designed specifically to manage smart locks, not generic IoT devices. Every feature in the app exists to manage who can access what, when, and how.
In Australia, the brands that run on TTLock include McGrath, Lockton, Austyle, the Vault range and the TTLock half of the FORGE range. The McGrath Locks app is an Australian-branded version of the TTLock app — same Sciener backend, same feature set, Australian-facing branding and support. Australian users can use either app interchangeably.
The platform’s standout capabilities: six distinct passcode types (more scheduling granularity than any competitor), a mature open API with broad PMS integration for Airbnb operators, built-in Attendance Management for commercial use, and a gateway ecosystem (G2/G3/G4/G5) for full remote management — or, on a few locks such as the FORGE A90 and the Vault Vision range, Wi-Fi built into the lock so no gateway is needed. FORGE’s manuals also list a G6 Matter gateway, which we have not yet seen offered in Australia. For the complete feature reference, see the TTLock Platform Guide.
TTLock data — event logs, remote commands — transits Sciener’s servers. Sciener is a Chinese company; since 2022 it has served accounts outside China through a separate endpoint, but it does not publish where that infrastructure is hosted. Local Bluetooth access and keypad entry operate without any cloud connection.
What Is Tuya?
Tuya Inc. is a Chinese IoT Platform-as-a-Service company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China. It is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (ticker: TUYA). Tuya provides the cloud infrastructure, hardware modules, and app framework that allows manufacturers to quickly build internet-connected products — anything from smart light bulbs and air conditioners to smart locks and security cameras.
This is the fundamental distinction: Tuya is a generic smart home platform that also supports locks. TTLock is a dedicated access control platform that only supports locks. When you open the Tuya Smart app, your lock appears in the same dashboard as your lights, sensors, and appliances. The app’s lock-specific features — PIN management, access scheduling, credential enrolment — live inside a device-level panel whose layout and functionality are determined by the individual lock’s manufacturer and firmware. Two different “Tuya smart locks” may have completely different app interfaces for the same task.
The scale is remarkable: Tuya claims over 100,000 product SKUs across 1,100+ product categories, 1.4 million registered developers, and distribution in 220+ countries and regions. As at 2024, it generated approximately US$298 million in annual revenue and reached GAAP profitability for the first time.
In Australia, Tuya-platform locks have mostly appeared on Amazon.com.au (grey import, no Australian warranty), through a small number of specialist IoT retailers, and via direct import from Alibaba. The exception since October 2026 is FORGE, whose Forge Smart (Tuya) locks — and a handful of Bluetooth-only Tuya models — are stocked and supported through Terry’s. The Forge Smart (Tuya) locks have Wi-Fi built in and need no gateway, as does the D5 video deadbolt, which runs on the Tuya app itself; the Bluetooth-only models need a Wi-Fi gateway for remote use, sold separately, and FORGE offers its Zigbee 3.0 and Bluetooth gateway with every one of them, the E15, the H2 glass handle lock, the handle lock with deadbolt and the door knob among them. On the Forge Smart (Tuya) locks, which have Wi-Fi built in, the same gateway is an optional Tuya hub.
Tuya is incorporated in China and subject to China’s Data Security Law, but it runs seven regional data centres and, by its own published country-to-data-centre table, places Australian accounts in its Central Europe data centre — not Singapore, as an earlier version of this page said. The region the Forge Smart app uses for Australian accounts is being confirmed.
Architecture — How Each Platform Actually Works
Understanding how each platform connects the lock to the app — and ultimately to the cloud — explains most of the practical differences in reliability, setup, and remote management.
| Layer | TTLock | Tuya |
|---|---|---|
| Lock to phone (local) | Bluetooth LE — all credential management and local unlock | Bluetooth LE (BLE-only models) or built-in WiFi (WiFi models) |
| Remote access hardware | Separate gateway (G2/G3/G4/G5) purchased and installed alongside the lock — except the few TTLock locks with Wi-Fi built in (FORGE A90, Vault Vision) | WiFi models connect directly to the router (every FORGE Forge Smart (Tuya) lock). Bluetooth and Zigbee models need a separate gateway (FORGE sells a Zigbee + Bluetooth one). |
| WiFi band | 2.4GHz only (G2, G4). G5 is dual-band and solves band-steering. | 2.4GHz only on all WiFi models — stated explicitly in the Tuya app manual. |
| Cloud path | Lock → Gateway (or built-in Wi-Fi) → Sciener cloud (Chinese company; out-of-China endpoint, location unpublished) → App | Lock → Router → Tuya cloud (Central Europe for Australian accounts, per Tuya’s table) → App |
| Local-only mode | Full local function without gateway — Bluetooth, PIN, card, fingerprint all work offline | Full local function on BLE models. WiFi models: keypad, fingerprint and card work offline; remote functions need the lock online. On FORGE’s Forge Smart (Tuya) locks remote unlock is request-based — the visitor presses a key at the lock, you approve in the app. |
| App consistency | Consistent UX across all TTLock-compatible hardware — same menus, same workflows | Device-panel UX varies by manufacturer and firmware — two Tuya locks from different brands may have completely different interfaces |
Both TTLock and Tuya WiFi devices connect only on 2.4GHz. Most modern Australian NBN-era routers use band-steering — broadcasting a single SSID across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz — which silently drops connections from 2.4GHz-only devices. This is the most common cause of gateway and WiFi lock dropouts on both platforms. For TTLock, the solution is the G5 dual-band gateway. For Tuya, the solution requires either splitting SSIDs or finding a dual-band Tuya gateway — which is less standardised. See our guide on why smart locks drop off WiFi and how band-steering causes dropouts for the full explanation.
One significant Tuya-specific gotcha: WiFi Tuya locks can only be remotely unlocked when the lock is “awake” — it enters a sleep/hibernate mode to conserve battery. A guest cannot be remotely let in unless someone has physically woken the lock by pressing the doorbell or wake button first. FORGE’s own documentation is clear on this for its Forge Smart (Tuya) locks: remote unlock is request-based by design (press 9# on the H100 keypad, approve in the app), and active off-site unlock, scheduled passage mode, voice assistants and API access are TTLock-with-gateway features. The same wake-before-unlock behaviour is also reported for some TTLock locks with built-in Wi-Fi, so it is a Wi-Fi-lock trait rather than a Tuya one.
Feature Comparison — The Full Picture
| Feature | TTLock | Tuya Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Platform focus | Access control specialist — only supports locks | Generic IoT platform — locks are one of 1,100+ product categories |
| Passcode scheduling types | Six: Permanent, Time-Limited, One-Time, Cyclic, Customised, Erase | Up to five types — but Periodic (recurring schedule) only on ZigBee pro / hotel lock category. Standard WiFi locks: fewer types, and no in-app passage-mode scheduling on FORGE’s Forge Smart (Tuya) locks. |
| Remote unlock | ✓ Via gateway (or built-in Wi-Fi), from anywhere, on demand | ✓ WiFi models only — request-based on FORGE’s Forge Smart (Tuya) locks (visitor asks, you approve); the lock must be awake. BLE models: no remote access without a gateway. |
| Airbnb Connect (Australia) | ✗ Not available in Australia | ✗ Not available in Australia |
| Offline algoPIN | ✗ | ✗ |
| PMS integration (Airbnb/short-stay) | Broad: Hostaway, Guesty, Lodgify, RemoteLock, Seam and others via open API | Some integrations exist (SmartThings, Home Assistant) but no mature dedicated short-stay PMS ecosystem comparable to TTLock |
| Attendance management | ✓ Built in at no cost — staff timesheets, holiday calendar, late/early-leave reporting | ✗ Not a platform feature |
| Smart home integration | Google Home, Alexa (via gateway; FORGE advises against voice unlock) | Tuya scenes and automations; Google Home, Alexa and Matter on some Tuya devices globally — but FORGE’s comparison lists no Alexa or Google on its Forge Smart (Tuya) locks |
| App experience across brands | Consistent — same menus and workflows across all TTLock-compatible hardware | Variable — lock-specific features in device panels that differ by manufacturer and firmware |
| Doorbell/camera integration | In Australian retail since 2026 — Vault Vision range; FORGE A90 (3D face, video doorbell, Wi-Fi built in) and DBV1 (3D face, video doorbell, optional G5 gateway for remote access) | Leading category: FORGE A60, A80, G4, RD6, S1 and the 2K-camera D5 are stocked and supported through Terry’s; many more exist as grey imports |
| Australian trade distribution | Yes — McGrath through LSC, FORGE direct; professional installer network | Yes, for FORGE (FORGE Electrical, Melbourne, since October 2026). Everything else is Amazon / grey import / direct only |
| Professional installer support (AU) | Yes — Terry’s and other trained installers; warranty management through distributor | Yes, for FORGE — Terry’s installs and supports it, two-year warranty. Grey imports: direct to an overseas manufacturer only |
| Data sovereignty | Sciener (Chinese company); out-of-China endpoint, hosting location unpublished | Central Europe data centre for Australian accounts, per Tuya’s own table (company incorporated in China) |
| Setup complexity (AU experience) | Manageable with training — consistent UX, documented gotchas (24h passcode rule, band-steering) | Grey imports: reported as “extremely difficult and confusing” by experienced Australian locksmiths; FORGE: Forge Smart app with FORGE and Terry’s support behind it, still 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi |
| Hardware price | Mid — through Australian trade pricing with warranty | Grey import: lower, no warranty infrastructure. FORGE: same price as the TTLock variant where a model is sold both ways; the saving is the gateway you don’t buy |
Setup and the Australian Installer Experience
The most practically significant difference between the two platforms for anyone who will have a lock professionally installed — or who will install one themselves — is what the setup experience actually looks like.
TTLock — the Australian professional installer experience
Terry’s Locksmiths has installed hundreds of TTLock-platform locks (McGrath, Lockton, Austyle) across residential, Airbnb, commercial, and NDIS properties on the Gold Coast. The platform has known quirks — the 24-hour passcode activation rule, clock calibration after battery changes, and band-steering on the G2 gateway — but these are documented, understood, and manageable. The UX is consistent across every McGrath, Lockton, and Austyle model. An installer who knows one TTLock lock knows all of them.
Tuya — why experienced Australian locksmiths found it difficult
Terry’s trialled Tuya-integrated smart locks and found the setup process and interface extremely difficult and confusing, even for experienced locksmiths with extensive smart lock knowledge. The research confirms this is consistent with broader installer sentiment. The reasons are structural:
- 2.4GHz WiFi is mandatory — and the error is silent. The Tuya app manual states explicitly “only 2.4GHz WiFi is supported.” On a band-steering router, the lock simply fails to pair with no clear diagnostic message. See the hardware fix for band-steering.
- Two apps, one backend, no reliable indicator of which to use. Tuya Smart and Smart Life are functionally identical apps. Some locks work only on one. There is no external sign of which applies to a specific product.
- Country/region is locked at registration and cannot be changed. If a customer registers in the wrong region, device sharing and some features break permanently. This is documented in the Tuya app manual.
- Lock-specific features vary by manufacturer. There is no standardised setup flow, no installer training programme, and no operator manual that covers lock-specific functions. The generic Tuya app manual does not mention smart locks at all.
- Remote unlock requires the lock to be awake. WiFi Tuya locks enter sleep mode to conserve battery. Remote unlocking — for Airbnb check-ins, for example — only works when the lock has been woken. This is not documented in the standard app manual.
Security Vulnerabilities and Data Sovereignty
TTLock — Published Vulnerabilities (CERT/CC Advisory VU#949046)
In March 2024, CERT/CC published a formal advisory documenting eight unpatched vulnerabilities in Sciener firmware, the TTLock app and the G2 gateway. Sciener was notified in November 2023 and had not responded; as at 1 November 2026 its vendor status on the note is still “Unknown”, no vendor statement has been received, and the note was last revised on 18 March 2024. The full advisory is available at kb.cert.org/vuls/id/949046.
| CVE Number | Vulnerability | Plain-English Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2023-7006 | Unlock key brute-forceable | No rate limiting on unlock challenge requests — a nearby attacker could in theory determine the unlock key through repeated trials with specialised equipment. |
| CVE-2023-7005 | Encryption downgrade to plaintext | An attacker can force the lock and phone to drop encryption and communicate in plaintext — making Bluetooth traffic readable within range. |
| CVE-2023-7003 | AES key reuse across wireless keypad locks | All TTLock locks with wireless keypads share the same AES encryption key. Compromising one theoretically affects others on the same platform. |
| CVE-2023-6960 | Deleted virtual keys persist on lock | Deleting an eKey in the app may not remove it from the lock hardware. An attacker who captured the key before deletion could still use it. This is the most practically relevant CVE for property operators. |
| CVE-2023-7004 | Lock spoofing via MAC address cloning | The app does not properly verify it is talking to the expected lock, so a device spoofing the lock’s MAC address can harvest the unlock key. Bluetooth proximity required. |
| CVE-2023-7007 | Gateway impersonation at the server | The one server-side flaw in the set. Sciener’s servers did not validate connection requests from a G2 gateway, so an attacker who knew a gateway’s MAC address could impersonate it to the server and receive its messages, including the unlock key. CERT/CC listed G2 firmware 6.0.0 as affected; whether the later G5 shares the weakness is not stated. |
| CVE-2023-7009 | Plaintext commands accepted over Bluetooth | Some locks process short unencrypted Bluetooth messages as if they were encrypted, letting a nearby attacker pass malicious commands. |
| CVE-2023-7017 | Unauthenticated firmware update over Bluetooth | Some locks accept a firmware image over Bluetooth without authenticating it, so an attacker within range could load arbitrary firmware. |
Seven of the CVEs above require the attacker to be physically present within roughly 10 metres of the lock, with specialised equipment; CERT/CC’s own impact statement describes the set that way. The exception is CVE-2023-7007, a server-side gateway-impersonation flaw that did not need proximity — it needed a gateway’s MAC address and a connection to Sciener’s servers. An earlier version of this page said every exploit needed proximity; that was wrong, and we have corrected it. For most residential and Airbnb applications in Australia the practical risk is still limited. Mitigations: keep firmware updated, use passcodes rather than eKeys for temporary access, and treat deleted eKeys as potentially still active on the lock. See our TTLock Platform Guide — Security section for the full mitigation list.
Tuya — Security Profile
No specific CVEs or published vulnerability disclosures for Tuya-platform smart locks were identified in research as of November 2026. Tuya claims AES-256 encryption for data in transit, mutual TLS for device authentication, and holds ioXt Alliance certification (a consumer IoT security framework). Each device has a unique AuthKey and device ID flashed during production. At platform level Tuya’s Trust Center lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification, SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3 reports, CSA STAR and a public bug-bounty programme, and in 2022 TÜV SÜD issued an ETSI EN 303 645 attestation for Tuya’s WBR3 Wi-Fi module and a NISTIR 8259A report for its CBU module. That is a considerably more documented posture than Sciener’s — though platform certification is a different thing from the product-level Australian statement of compliance, which sits with each lock’s brand.
One important gotcha with no published CVE: the app manual documents that the Tuya app “automatically scans for risks when logging in” and will alert or exit on rooted or jailbroken devices. On modified Android devices common in some commercial environments, the app may refuse to operate.
Data Sovereignty — Where Your Information Goes
| Factor | TTLock | Tuya |
|---|---|---|
| Company incorporation | China (Sciener, Beijing) | China (Tuya Inc., Hangzhou). NYSE and HKEX listed. |
| Australian user data server | Not published. Sciener split its service into China and out-of-China endpoints in 2022 (the latter named “euapi”); where the out-of-China servers sit is not stated | Central Europe data centre for Australian accounts, per Tuya’s own published table (no Australian data centre; Forge Smart app region to be confirmed by FORGE) |
| Subject to Chinese Data Security Law | Yes | Yes |
| What data transits the cloud | Event logs and remote commands (when gateway connected). Local access: no data leaves the property. | Event logs and remote commands (WiFi models). Local keypad and BLE access: no data leaves the property. |
| Country/region restriction | Not reported as a user-facing restriction | Region locked at account registration — cannot be changed. Users registering in the wrong region may lose device sharing and some features permanently. |
The Doorbell and Camera Lock Horizon
One of the most commercially interesting product categories to emerge from Chinese smart lock manufacturers in the past two years is the all-in-one video smart lock — a single device that combines a smart lock with a built-in camera, doorbell button, and two-way audio, all managed from the same app.
The appeal is obvious: someone at the front door presses the doorbell, the owner sees a live video feed on their phone, has a conversation with the visitor, and can remotely unlock the door if appropriate — all from a single app on a single device. There is genuine demand for this in Australia, particularly for residential properties, Airbnb hosts who want to greet guests remotely, and commercial buildings.
At the Canton Trade Fair in late 2024, the vast majority of exciting smart lock products with native doorbell, camera, and intercom integration ran on the Tuya platform. Not TTLock. This is not an accident — Tuya’s broader IoT architecture makes camera and intercom integration architecturally simpler on their platform, and manufacturers have invested accordingly.
What Tuya video lock products do — and which ones are now sold here
Tuya video locks combine a wide-angle camera, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio and full smart lock management in a single device. Since October 2026 several are stocked and supported through Terry’s under the FORGE brand: the A60 and A80 push-pull locks (face and palm vein recognition, video doorbell), the G4 frameless-glass video lock, the RD6 double-sided IP66 video rim lock, the S1 push-pull video lock and the D5 2K-camera video deadbolt (the OEM AL501 design an earlier version of this page described as import-only). The question has moved from “do they exist?” to “which one suits the door?”.
- No confirmed SAA/RCM electrical certification for any Tuya video lock for Australian market use
- No Australian locksmith distributor providing training, warranty management, or installer support
- Hardware dimensioned for Chinese door standards — compatibility with Australian door types, backsets, and stile widths not confirmed
- Tuya setup complexity (documented above) is amplified when camera and intercom systems are added
- If anything goes wrong after installation, the owner’s support path is directly to an overseas manufacturer
What TTLock Offers in This Category
Until recently, TTLock-based doorbell and camera locks existed only as overseas or import-only products. The TTLock ONIX Intercom (sold in Europe) is an interior-door lock with an integrated IP camera and intercom, designed for apartment buildings rather than front-entry residential doors; Alibaba listings show B2B TTLock locks with camera-intercom capability, but these require direct import and carry no local support. A separate TTLock Bluetooth intercom controller can add app control to an existing intercom panel over a wired connection, but it is not a video solution. That picture has now changed in Australia on two fronts: Vault Vision, and FORGE’s two TTLock video locks — the A90 push-pull lock and the DBV1 deadbolt — which carry 3D face recognition and a video doorbell. The A90 has Wi-Fi built in, so it needs no gateway; the DBV1 connects over Bluetooth at the door and takes the optional FORGE TTLock G5 gateway for remote access.
Vault Vision — the first TTLock-based video-intercom locks in the Australian market
Vault, an Australian smart-lock brand on the TTLock platform, has become the first to bring built-in video-intercom locks to Australian retail. It is early days — the range is not as broadly credentialed as the mature Tuya video products, and in our own experience it does not yet run as smoothly in practice — but it is a genuine local start, stocked and supported here rather than imported. All three models have built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so notifications, remote answering and video-to-phone work with no separate gateway:
- Vault Fortress Vision — push-pull platform; two-way video intercom plus a built-in indoor display screen.
- Vault Guardian Vision — lever platform; two-way video intercom plus a built-in indoor display screen.
- Vault Nexus Vision — deadbolt platform; built-in camera and two-way video intercom, app-based, with no indoor display screen.
A realistic expectation matters here. On the models that have one (Fortress Vision and Guardian Vision), the indoor screen is in practice not much more than a glorified digital peephole. The real value is that the video goes to your phone — through the Vault app you can see and speak to whoever is at the door from anywhere, and unlock if appropriate. The Nexus Vision does the same job phone-only, without the inside screen. You can browse the current range under intercom smart locks.
Where things stand in late 2026: Tuya still has the larger and more mature doorbell/camera ecosystem globally, and with FORGE it now has six video models in Australian retail with local support — the best-credentialed Tuya video locks this market has seen. TTLock’s video offering has grown too: the Vault Vision range plus FORGE’s A90 and DBV1, both locally stocked and supported. We expect both platforms to keep maturing in this category, and Terry’s will keep testing and stocking what genuinely works in Australian conditions.
The practical, proven solution today: a TTLock-platform smart lock (McGrath / Lockton / Austyle) paired with a separate, fully-supported video doorbell (Ring, Nest Hello, Reolink) still gives the most reliable result, with proper Australian support for each part — the two devices run in separate apps rather than one. If you would rather have the lock and the video intercom in a single device and a single app, the Vault Vision range, the FORGE A90 and DBV1 (TTLock), the FORGE A60, A80, G4, RD6 and S1 (Forge Smart (Tuya)) or the FORGE D5 (Tuya app) are now the local ways to do that.
Why Terry’s Recommends TTLock First, and How FORGE Changed the Tuya Answer
This is a commercial decision, and it is a fair question — especially since the answer changed in October 2026.
Until then we did not stock a Tuya-platform lock, and the single biggest reason was that Tuya was genuinely hard to use. Our own installers set up TTLock-platform locks every week and know the app inside out — and they still found grey-import Tuya locks frustrating, inconsistent and confusing to commission. Behind that sat three after-sale problems: no Australian installer support infrastructure, no consistent training path, and no warranty management, because the only Tuya locks on the market arrived through marketplaces and grey importers.
FORGE answers the after-sale objections, not the platform ones. FORGE is FORGE Electrical, an Australian brand based in Melbourne. Its 59-product range is supplied through Terry’s with a two-year warranty, FORGE’s own manuals and app support, and our installers behind it. It sells locks on both platforms — TTLock, and Forge Smart (Tuya) — and five models come as a TTLock variant or a Forge Smart (Tuya) variant of the same hardware at the same price. That gives us, for the first time, a Tuya-platform lock we can install, support and stand behind.
The distribution, training and warranty problems were about who stood behind the lock. FORGE now does.
Why TTLock is still our first recommendation. The things a gateway buys on TTLock are the things most of our customers ask for: active off-site unlock on demand, scheduled passage mode for trading hours, Alexa and Google, and the PMS and API integrations that make Airbnb automation work. FORGE’s own comparison of its two platforms is clear that those are TTLock-with-gateway features: on its Forge Smart (Tuya) locks remote unlock is request-based, passage mode is not scheduled in the app, and there is no voice control or API — in exchange for Wi-Fi built into the lock, Tuya smart-home scenes, and no gateway to buy. Battery life, in FORGE’s words, is “long” on TTLock and “medium” on the Wi-Fi locks.
For a broader profile of the brands in the TTLock ecosystem, see the TTLock platform card in our Buyer’s Guide; the scenario-by-scenario version of this decision, including a new gate-lock section, is in Which Smart Lock Platform Is Right for You?.
Which Platform Is Right for You?
Most Australian buyers do not start by choosing a platform — they encounter a product and then discover what platform it runs on. Here are the four most common scenarios.
Scenario 1: You want a professionally installed smart lock with Australian support
→ TTLock. McGrath, Lockton, Austyle or FORGE’s TTLock models through Gold Coast Smart Locks. Full installer support, warranty management through Australian distribution, and a platform our team knows thoroughly. If you are managing Airbnb properties, the PMS integrations available for TTLock in Australia cover the automation needs. See our Airbnb platform decision guide for the TTLock vs Igloohome comparison if offline reliability is a concern.
Scenario 2: You’ve found a cheap Tuya lock on Amazon and are wondering if it’s worth buying
→ Understand what you are accepting before you proceed. The hardware may be fine. But: setup on a modern band-steering router will require splitting SSIDs or troubleshooting WiFi configuration; there is no Australian warranty infrastructure; the support path for any problem leads to the overseas manufacturer; and the app experience is device-specific. If the lock does exactly what you need locally (keypad entry, nothing more), the risk is lower. If you need remote management, Airbnb automation, or reliable 24/7 access management, a supported TTLock product is a more reliable foundation. And if what attracted you was Tuya itself — Wi-Fi built in, smart-home scenes — FORGE’s Forge Smart (Tuya) range gives you that with an Australian warranty behind it.
Scenario 3: You specifically want a doorbell/camera integrated smart lock
→ There are now local options on both platforms. On the Tuya side, FORGE’s A60, A80, G4, RD6, S1 and D5 video locks are stocked and supported through Terry’s. On the TTLock side, FORGE’s A90 and DBV1 add 3D face recognition and a video doorbell (the A90 with Wi-Fi built in, the DBV1 with the optional G5 gateway for remote access), and Vault Vision — an Australian TTLock-platform range — brought the first built-in video-intercom locks to local retail: the Guardian Vision (lever), Fortress Vision (push-pull) and Nexus Vision (deadbolt), all with built-in Wi-Fi and video to your phone. These are still young products, so if you want the most proven result today the safest path remains a TTLock smart lock (professionally installed and supported) paired with a separate video doorbell. Either way, we can talk you through the trade-offs before you commit.
Scenario 4: You want Wi-Fi built into the lock and no gateway to buy
→ Either platform, via FORGE — the question is what you need remotely. Every Forge Smart (Tuya) lock has Wi-Fi built in; so does the TTLock A90. If request-based remote unlock, remote passcodes and entry records are enough, a Forge Smart (Tuya) lock such as the H100 gate lock saves the gateway. If you need to unlock on demand from anywhere, schedule passage mode or use Alexa or Google, pick the TTLock variant and add a G5 gateway — on the five FORGE models sold both ways (the H1 gate lock, H60, RD1T, S3 and G3) the hardware and price are the same, so only this question decides.
For a broader platform comparison that includes Igloohome’s offline algoPIN approach and Carbine Connect’s privacy-first Bluetooth architecture, see our platform comparison in Chapter 15 — Smart Lock App Platforms of the Buyer’s Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TTLock or Tuya the better platform for an Australian buyer?
For most Australians the practical answer is still TTLock — not because the hardware is always better, but because it is sold and supported through Australian locksmith channels, uses one consistent app across every brand, and gives you on-demand remote unlock, scheduled passage mode, voice assistants and PMS automation through a gateway. Tuya now suits more people than it did: FORGE’s Forge Smart (Tuya) locks are stocked and supported through Terry’s and have Wi-Fi built in, so if request-based remote unlock is enough for you they save the gateway. Grey-import Tuya locks remain a gamble on support.
Which brands run on TTLock in Australia?
McGrath, Lockton, Austyle, the Vault range and the TTLock models in the FORGE range all run on TTLock. The McGrath Locks app is simply an Australian-branded version of the TTLock app on the same Sciener backend. See the TTLock Platform Guide.
Can I use the McGrath Locks app instead of the TTLock app?
Yes. They are the same platform — same backend, same features. Use whichever you prefer; a lock set up in one shows up in the other.
For a Tuya lock, do I download “Tuya Smart” or “Smart Life”?
It depends on the individual lock, and there is no reliable way to tell from the outside. The two apps are near-identical and share one backend, but some locks are pre-configured for only one of them — downloading the wrong app is among the most common Tuya setup failures. FORGE locks have a third option, FORGE’s own Forge Smart app; we are confirming which one suits Australian customers.
Do TTLock and Tuya locks work without internet?
Yes, for local use. On both platforms, Bluetooth unlocking and keypad PIN entry happen on the lock itself and need no internet. The cloud only matters for remote features — a TTLock lock needs a gateway for that, and a Tuya Wi-Fi lock needs to be awake and online.
Where is my data stored — TTLock vs Tuya?
TTLock event logs and remote commands transit Sciener’s servers; Sciener is a Chinese company that serves accounts outside China through a separate endpoint whose location it does not publish. Tuya’s own table maps Australian accounts to its Central Europe data centre, though Tuya is a Chinese company subject to Chinese law. Neither hosts in Australia. If keeping data out of Chinese jurisdiction matters, non-Chinese options exist — see Where Your Smart Lock’s Data Lives.
Are the TTLock vulnerabilities (VU#949046) something I should worry about?
For a normal home or Airbnb, the practical risk is low. Seven of the eight disclosed TTLock vulnerabilities require an attacker within Bluetooth range (about 10 metres) using specialised equipment; the eighth was a server-side flaw in how Sciener validated G2 gateway connections, and Sciener has not publicly responded to the advisory. Keep firmware current, prefer passcodes over eKeys for temporary access, and treat a deleted eKey as potentially still active. The full CVE table is above.
Why won’t my Wi-Fi smart lock or gateway stay connected?
Almost always band-steering. Both TTLock and Tuya Wi-Fi devices are 2.4GHz-only, and most modern routers broadcast 2.4GHz and 5GHz under one name, silently dropping the lock. The fix is to split the bands or use a dual-band gateway such as the TTLock G5. See why smart locks drop off Wi-Fi.
Can I get a doorbell-camera smart lock that runs on TTLock in Australia?
Yes, now. The Vault Vision range is the first locally-stocked TTLock video-intercom option — the Guardian Vision, Fortress Vision and Nexus Vision. The most mature all-in-one video locks are still Tuya-based and import-only, so for the most proven result today many buyers pair a supported TTLock lock with a separate video doorbell.
Does Terry’s stock Tuya locks now?
Yes, since October 2026, through FORGE — an Australian brand whose Forge Smart app runs on Tuya, written “Forge Smart (Tuya)” on our site. We previously did not, because grey-import Tuya locks were difficult to commission and had no Australian distributor, warranty path or consistent app. FORGE Electrical (Melbourne) answers those objections with its own app and manuals, a two-year warranty and Terry’s support behind it. Grey-import Tuya locks are still not something we can set up or support.
Do I need a gateway for TTLock remote access?
Usually. Most TTLock locks talk to your phone over Bluetooth at the door; to lock, unlock or manage codes from away you add a gateway (G2/G3/G4/G5). The exceptions are TTLock locks with Wi-Fi built in — the FORGE A90 and the Vault Vision range — which need no gateway; FORGE’s other TTLock locks, the DBV1 video doorbell deadbolt included, take the FORGE TTLock G5 gateway. The G5 is dual-band and sidesteps the band-steering problem. Gateway selection is covered in the TTLock Platform Guide.
Related Guides in This Series
The complete deep-dive on the TTLock platform — all six passcode types, gateway selection, PMS integration, and the full security CVE disclosure.
Eleven things most McGrath, Lockton, and Austyle owners never discover — including the ones that prevent the most common support calls.
PMS integration, gateway selection, and how full Airbnb automation actually works with McGrath, Lockton, and Austyle locks.
The decision framework for TTLock’s connected approach vs Igloohome’s offline algoPIN — and why the answer depends on your property’s internet reliability.
The full Airbnb platform decision guide including TTLock vs Igloohome comparison table, PMS options, and the WiFi-drops scenario.
G2, G3, G4, and G5 gateway selection including the band-steering problem that affects both TTLock and Tuya WiFi devices.
Not Sure Which Platform Is Right for Your Property?
Whether you’re setting up a single residential lock or managing Airbnb properties across the Gold Coast, our team can advise on the right platform and hardware before you commit.
Ask an ExpertVisit Australia’s leading Smart Lock showroom and workshop:
Gold Coast Smart Locks
9/2 Prosper Crescent
Burleigh Heads, QLD
See working models, compare gateways, and get real advice before you commit.

Disclaimer: Platform features, app functionality, and product availability change over time. TTLock security vulnerability information reflects CERT/CC advisory VU#949046, published March 2024 — verify current status at kb.cert.org. FORGE platform-feature statements are taken from FORGE Electrical’s published TTLock vs Forge Smart comparison; we will update this page if that comparison changes. Third-party product and platform details are accurate as of November 2026.

