Renter friendly
The Best Smart Locks for Renters (2027)
Renter-friendly smart locks for 2027: no permanent changes, keep your existing key, take it when you move.
The short answer
Renters should get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: zero exterior changes, keeps your existing key, and moves with you. If your lease allows a deadbolt swap, the Yale Assure Lock 2 adds a keypad.
Our top picks at a glance
- August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)Keep your key and deadbolt; add brains inside.Best for renters
- Yale Assure Lock 2The flexible keypad lock that fits every smart home.Best keypad for renters
- Kwikset Halo TouchFingerprint unlock with WiFi, at a mid-range price.Best fingerprint for renters
- SwitchBot Lock ProA retrofit lock that keeps your existing deadbolt and keys.Best for renters
- Aqara Smart Lock U200Retrofit Matter lock with Apple HomeKey support.Best Matter retrofit
- Yale Approach Smart LockA retrofit lock that keeps your deadbolt and keys, adding app control and auto-lock inside.Retrofit that keeps your existing keys
What owners report
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Keeping the existing exterior and key means move out reversal takes minutes, not a locksmith visit
- Rekeyable cylinders and per person codes make roommate changes simple without new hardware
Common complaints
- Retrofit units look bulkier inside the door than a clean built in deadbolt does
- Guests without the app still need a key copy or a separate keypad accessory
The picks, ranked
Every product in this lineup was picked for this use case, ranked with our strongest choices first. If a product from the wider category does not genuinely fit this scenario, it is not listed here.
| # | Product | Award | Design | Unlock methods | Connectivity | Door sensor | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) | Best for renters | Retrofit, interior mount | App, auto-unlock, key (existing) | Built-in WiFi, Bluetooth | DoorSense open/closed detection | 2x CR123A |
| 2 | Yale Assure Lock 2 | Best keypad for renters | - | Keypad, key, app | Bluetooth; WiFi via module | - | - |
| 3 | Kwikset Halo Touch | Best fingerprint for renters | - | Fingerprint, keypad, key, app | Built-in WiFi | - | - |
| 4 | SwitchBot Lock Pro | Best for renters | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | Aqara Smart Lock U200 | Best Matter retrofit | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | Yale Approach Smart Lock | Retrofit that keeps your existing keys | - | - | Bluetooth plus Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge (included) | - | - |
Best for renters
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Keep your key and deadbolt; add brains inside.
The August retrofit is the definitive renter lock: it mounts on the interior side, keeps the existing key and exterior deadbolt untouched, and removes cleanly when you move. Your landlord never sees a change from the hallway.
Strengths
- Retrofit design keeps your existing key, deadbolt, and exterior hardware
- Built-in WiFi with no bridge required for remote access
- DoorSense tells you if the door is open, closed, or ajar
- Auto-lock and auto-unlock based on phone proximity
Limitations
- No built-in keypad; the keypad is a separate accessory
- Interior-only unit means no exterior upgrade in looks or weather sealing
- Auto-unlock can trigger while you are still nearby but outside
| Design | Retrofit, interior mount |
|---|---|
| Unlock methods | App, auto-unlock, key (existing) |
| Connectivity | Built-in WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Door sensor | DoorSense open/closed detection |
| Battery | 2x CR123A |
Best for: Renters and anyone who cannot replace the exterior deadbolt.
Skip if: You want a keypad on the door itself.
Best keypad for renters
Yale Assure Lock 2
The flexible keypad lock that fits every smart home.
If your lease allows a deadbolt swap, the Assure Lock 2 installs with a screwdriver and restores to stock in minutes at move-out. Up to 250 codes mean roommates and dog walkers each get their own.
Strengths
- Modular radio design: WiFi, Z-Wave, or Zigbee modules for any hub
- Auto-lock with DoorSense confirms the door is actually closed
- Slim, modern keypad design that suits contemporary doors
- Yale Access app with temporary guest codes and entry history
Limitations
- WiFi module is a separate purchase on base models
- No biometric unlock option
- ANSI Grade 2, a step below Grade 1 deadbolts
| Security grade | ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 |
|---|---|
| Unlock methods | Keypad, key, app |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth; WiFi via module |
| Access codes | Up to 250 |
| Auto-lock | Yes, with DoorSense |
Best for: Households that want keypad entry with a choice of WiFi, Z-Wave, or Zigbee.
Skip if: You want fingerprint unlock or Apple HomeKey.
Best fingerprint for renters
Kwikset Halo Touch
Fingerprint unlock with WiFi, at a mid-range price.
Standard deadbolt footprint means easy install and easy reversal. SmartKey re-keying is a renter superpower: re-key the cylinder yourself between roommates with no locksmith visit.
Strengths
- Fingerprint reader stores up to 100 prints and unlocks in about a second
- Built-in WiFi for remote lock, unlock, and notifications
- SmartKey Security allows re-keying the cylinder yourself in seconds
- Contemporary touchscreen keypad as backup entry
Limitations
- ANSI Grade 2 rather than Grade 1
- No Apple HomeKey support
- Fingerprint can struggle with very wet fingers
| Security grade | ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 |
|---|---|
| Unlock methods | Fingerprint, keypad, key, app |
| Fingerprint capacity | Up to 100 prints |
| Connectivity | Built-in WiFi |
| Re-keying | SmartKey Security cylinder |
Best for: Families who want one-touch fingerprint entry without phone dependence.
Skip if: You need Apple HomeKey or the highest security grade.
Best for renters
SwitchBot Lock Pro
A retrofit lock that keeps your existing deadbolt and keys.
SwitchBot mounts over the existing deadbolt with no lock replacement at all, and its own positioning names renters. Remove it at move out and the original lock is exactly as the landlord left it.
Strengths
- Installs over the existing deadbolt, no lock replacement
- Landlord-friendly: remove it and the original lock is untouched
- Keypad and fingerprint accessories available
- Matter support via SwitchBot hub
Limitations
- Bulky add-on unit on the inside of the door
- Needs a SwitchBot hub for remote access and Matter
- Battery life shorter than built-in deadbolt replacements
| Install type | Retrofit over existing deadbolt |
|---|---|
| Entry methods | App, keypad add-on, fingerprint add-on, original key |
| Smart home | Matter (via hub), Alexa, Google |
| Power | Rechargeable battery |
| Auto-lock | Yes |
Best for: Renters who cannot replace the deadbolt.
Skip if: You want a clean built-in look; this mounts over your existing lock.
Best Matter retrofit
Aqara Smart Lock U200
Retrofit Matter lock with Apple HomeKey support.
The U200 is a retrofit that keeps the existing exterior cylinder, so a renter gains HomeKey and Matter control inside without changing anything the landlord owns on the outside of the door.
Strengths
- Apple HomeKey: unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch
- Matter-over-Thread for local smart home control
- Retrofit design keeps the existing exterior cylinder
- Keypad accessory for code entry
Limitations
- Needs a Thread border router for Matter features
- Adapter fit varies by deadbolt brand
- Aqara app setup has more steps than August
| Install type | Retrofit over existing deadbolt |
|---|---|
| Smart home | Matter-over-Thread, Apple Home |
| Entry methods | HomeKey, app, keypad add-on, original key |
| Power | Rechargeable battery |
| Auto-lock | Yes |
Best for: Apple households that need a retrofit lock with HomeKey.
Skip if: Your door uses a non-standard deadbolt the adapter cannot fit.
Retrofit that keeps your existing keys
Yale Approach Smart Lock
A retrofit lock that keeps your deadbolt and keys, adding app control and auto-lock inside.
The Approach changes only the inside of the door: it drives your current deadbolt, your keys still work, and nothing on the exterior changes for a landlord to object to, while the included bridge adds remote access and auto-lock.
Strengths
- Installs over the existing deadbolt on the inside only, so the exterior and your keys stay unchanged
- Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge is included for remote access out of the box
- DoorSense knows whether the door is actually closed, and auto-lock acts on it
- Unlimited virtual keys with schedules in the Yale Access app, plus Alexa, Google, and SmartThings support
Limitations
- No keypad or fingerprint reader on the lock itself; phone or key entry only
- Retrofit fit depends on your existing deadbolt's shape and throw
- Adds a plug-in bridge to your outlet count
| Model | YRR10-WF1-SLV (Silver) |
|---|---|
| Installation | Retrofit over existing deadbolt, interior only |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth plus Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge (included) |
| Features | Auto-lock, auto-unlock, DoorSense sensor |
| Access | Unlimited virtual keys via Yale Access app |
Sources: Desertcart product details, Supply Leader product data, Yale product documentation
Best for: Renters who want smart access without changing the door's exterior hardware or their keys.
Skip if: Your lease also forbids changing interior hardware, or your deadbolt is not a standard single-cylinder model.
Questions, answered
Will my landlord approve a smart lock?
Retrofit locks like August usually need no approval since nothing changes outside and the original key keeps working. Full deadbolt replacements need written permission in most leases; keep the original hardware to reinstall at move-out.
Can I take the lock when I move?
Yes. Retrofit models uninstall in minutes. Full replacements uninstall the same way they installed; store the original deadbolt and reinstall it before the final walkthrough.
What about roommates and guests?
Give each person their own code or fingerprint instead of sharing one. Per-person credentials let you revoke access without changing anything for everyone else, and entry logs show who came and went.
Do smart locks work on apartment doors?
Most apartment doors use standard deadbolt prep, which these locks fit. Check backset (2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inch) and door thickness against the lock specs before buying.