Stick & Signal.

Smart Locks

The August Smart Lock for Renters

Why the August retrofit is the renter default — how it installs, what it needs, and when the Yale or SwitchBot is the smarter pick.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

Ask around for a renter-friendly smart lock and the answer comes back “the August” more than any other, and for once the popular pick is the right one. It solves the renter’s core problem cleanly: it retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key never change, and it unscrews back to stock in about ten minutes. This is a review-first look at why it works, plus the two alternatives worth knowing.

We haven’t bolted one to a rig — we don’t own a lab and won’t pretend to. What follows is read from August’s published design and thought through for how renters actually live: the compatibility check to run, what the Wi-Fi does and doesn’t need, and the moments when the Yale (for a keypad) or the SwitchBot (for a pure adhesive mount) is the better call. Prices are pulled live and dated.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked on renter fit, no-fee recording and how cleanly each one comes off the wall. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forLease-SafePrice
1
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

The renter lock. It retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key don't change at all — your landlord never knows, and it comes off in ten minutes at move-out. Wi-Fi is built in, and there's no subscription.

Our pickLease-Safe: Excellent
$109.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

August's sibling under the Yale name, bundled with a keypad. Same renter-friendly retrofit — keeps your exterior and key — with the addition of a peel-and-stick keypad outside so guests can use a code instead of a spare key.

If you want a keypadLease-Safe: Excellent
$109.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro (Retrofit)

SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro (Retrofit)

The premium no-drill option. SwitchBot's lock sticks onto the inside of your existing deadbolt and turns the thumbturn for you — genuinely adhesive-mounted, no screws in the door. Expensive, but the most feature-rich retrofit here.

If you want adhesive-onlyLease-Safe: Excellent
$229.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Our pickLease-Safe: Excellent

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

The renter lock. It retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key don't change at all — your landlord never knows, and it comes off in ten minutes at move-out. Wi-Fi is built in, and there's no subscription.

What we like

  • Fits over your existing deadbolt — exterior and key unchanged
  • No drilling, fully reversible in minutes
  • Wi-Fi built in; no subscription for remote access

Trade-offs

  • Needs a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt (most, but check yours)
  • A keypad for code entry is a separate accessory
Installs byRetrofits over the interior of an existing single-cylinder deadbolt
PowerAA batteries
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth + 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (built in)
InstallRetrofit (interior only)
Keeps your keyYes

Lease-Safe: Excellent. It replaces only the interior thumbturn of the deadbolt you already have — no new holes, the exterior and your key stay exactly as they were, and it unscrews back to stock in minutes. This is the gold standard for a rental.

Spec note. August publishes a retrofit design that mounts on the interior of an existing deadbolt and keeps the original exterior hardware and keyway. Confirm your deadbolt is on the compatibility list before buying.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2If you want a keypadLease-Safe: Excellent

Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

August's sibling under the Yale name, bundled with a keypad. Same renter-friendly retrofit — keeps your exterior and key — with the addition of a peel-and-stick keypad outside so guests can use a code instead of a spare key.

What we like

  • Retrofit install keeps your existing exterior and key
  • Includes an outdoor keypad for code entry
  • No drilling; reversible at move-out

Trade-offs

  • Full remote access via the app wants the Yale/August Wi-Fi bridge
  • Slightly bulkier interior unit than the plain August
Installs byRetrofits over an existing single-cylinder deadbolt; adhesive keypad
PowerAA batteries
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth (Wi-Fi via bridge)
InstallRetrofit + adhesive keypad
KeypadIncluded

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Interior-only retrofit plus a peel-and-stick keypad — no holes on either side of the door, and everything comes off clean. The keypad mounts with adhesive, not screws.

Spec note. Yale publishes a retrofit deadbolt design with an included keypad. The exterior keypad is adhesive-mounted; the lock body reuses your existing deadbolt.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3If you want adhesive-onlyLease-Safe: Excellent

SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro (Retrofit)

The premium no-drill option. SwitchBot's lock sticks onto the inside of your existing deadbolt and turns the thumbturn for you — genuinely adhesive-mounted, no screws in the door. Expensive, but the most feature-rich retrofit here.

What we like

  • Adhesive-mounts over the existing thumbturn — no drilling
  • Keeps your exterior hardware and key
  • Rich ecosystem: keypads, sensors, app automations

Trade-offs

  • The priciest lock here by a wide margin
  • Remote control and some features want the SwitchBot Hub
Installs byAdhesive-mounts on the interior over an existing deadbolt thumbturn
PowerRechargeable battery / AA (per model)
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth (Wi-Fi via SwitchBot Hub)
InstallAdhesive (interior)
Keeps your keyYes

Lease-Safe: Excellent. It sticks to the inside of the door over your existing thumbturn — no screws, no exterior change, nothing your landlord would see. The adhesive base removes cleanly at move-out.

Spec note. SwitchBot publishes an adhesive interior-mount design that actuates the existing thumbturn. Confirm door thickness and thumbturn clearance against the listing.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

Why the August fits a rental so well

Three things. First, it’s a true retrofit: it mounts on the interior thumbturn of the deadbolt you already have, leaving the keyway, the exterior hardware and your landlord’s key untouched. Second, Wi-Fi is built in, so remote lock, unlock and auto-lock work from your phone with no separate bridge and no subscription — a real difference from locks that make you buy a hub to do anything from outside Bluetooth range. Third, it’s genuinely reversible: a couple of screws on the interior baseplate, no new holes, and it’s off the door in minutes. For the mechanics of how retrofit locks work, our deadbolt guide is the companion read.

The catch, and when to pick a sibling

The one thing to do before you buy is check compatibility— the August fits standard single-cylinder deadbolts, which is most of them, but not every older or unusual thumbturn. Take two minutes with August’s compatibility list first. As for entry, the plain August unlocks by phone and auto-unlock; a physical keypad is a separate accessory. If you know you want guests punching in a code, the Yale Approach is the same retrofit design with a peel-and-stick keypad in the box. And if your deadbolt or your preferences push you toward zero screws, the SwitchBot adhesive-mounts over the thumbturn instead. All three keep your key and your deposit intact; see the full field in best smart locks for renters.

Frequently asked questions

Is the August Smart Lock good for renters?

Yes — it's the pick we land on most. It retrofits over your existing deadbolt, so your key and the outside of the door don't change, Wi-Fi is built in with no subscription, and it comes off in about ten minutes at move-out. The main thing to confirm is that your deadbolt is on August's compatibility list before you buy.

Does the August lock replace my deadbolt or my key?

Neither. It mounts on the inside over your existing deadbolt's thumbturn and turns it for you, so your deadbolt, keyway and physical key all stay exactly as they are. Your landlord's key keeps working too, which matters if your lease requires it.

Does the August need a hub or a subscription?

No subscription, and no separate hub for the core features — Wi-Fi is built into this generation, so remote lock/unlock and auto-lock work from your phone out of the box. Bluetooth handles you at the door; the built-in Wi-Fi handles you from anywhere. There's no monthly fee to use your own lock.

Should I get the August, the Yale Approach, or the SwitchBot?

Get the plain August if you mainly unlock by phone and auto-unlock. Choose the Yale Approach if you want a keypad included for guest codes — it's the same retrofit design. Choose the SwitchBot if you want an adhesive install with no screws at all and don't mind paying more for the most feature-rich option.

Sources

Keep reading