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Smart Locks

Best Smart Locks of 2026 for Renters

Every smart lock worth buying without losing your deposit — retrofit, adhesive and keypad models that keep your key and come off clean at move-out.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

The best smart lock for a renter is not the same as the best smart lock, full stop. A homeowner can rip out the whole deadbolt and bolt in a keypad; a renter usually can’t — the exterior hardware has to stay, the landlord’s key has to keep working, and whatever you install has to come off clean when you leave. That one constraint reshuffles the entire ranking, and it’s why every top pick here is a retrofit or adhesive design rather than a full-replacement lock.

Below are the locks that actually clear that bar, ranked on how reversible they are (our Lease-Safe rating), whether they keep your existing key, what they need to work remotely, and price. The August is the default for most renters; a keypad, an adhesive-only mount, or a tight budget each point to a different pick. Prices are pulled live and dated. For the mechanics of why retrofit locks work, read our deadbolt guide; for the no-drill angle specifically, the no-drill locks roundup.

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)

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.

Best overallLease-Safe: Excellent
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.

Best with a keypadLease-Safe: Excellent
$109.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 8, 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.

Best adhesive / most featuresLease-Safe: Excellent
$169.99 · View on Amazon

$229.9926% off

Price as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 (Fingerprint Deadbolt)

Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 (Fingerprint Deadbolt)

A cheap fingerprint deadbolt — but note it replaces your whole deadbolt rather than retrofitting over it. Keep your original deadbolt in a drawer to reinstall on move-out. Great value if you're comfortable swapping the lock cylinder.

Best budget (fingerprint)Lease-Safe: Good
$79.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overallLease-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.

#2Best with 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.

#3Best adhesive / most featuresLease-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.

#4Best budget (fingerprint)Lease-Safe: Good

Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 (Fingerprint Deadbolt)

A cheap fingerprint deadbolt — but note it replaces your whole deadbolt rather than retrofitting over it. Keep your original deadbolt in a drawer to reinstall on move-out. Great value if you're comfortable swapping the lock cylinder.

What we like

  • Fingerprint unlock, no app or key needed at the door
  • Very inexpensive for a keyless deadbolt
  • No wiring; battery powered

Trade-offs

  • Replaces the whole deadbolt — not a retrofit-over-existing design
  • You must keep and reinstall the original deadbolt at move-out
Installs byReplaces the existing deadbolt (standard door prep)
PowerAA batteries
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth
InstallDeadbolt replacement
EntryFingerprint + keypad

Lease-Safe: Good. It fits a standard pre-drilled deadbolt bore, so no NEW holes are needed — but because it swaps the whole deadbolt, you must save the original and put it back at move-out. Reversible, just more involved than a retrofit.

Spec note. Wyze lists a full-deadbolt replacement with fingerprint entry that fits standard door prep. It is not a retrofit-over-existing design — plan to store and reinstall your original deadbolt.

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

How we ranked them

The first filter is reversibility. A true retrofit — a lock that mounts on the interior thumbturn of the deadbolt you already have — is the gold standard, because the outside of the door and your physical key never change and it unscrews back to stock in minutes. An adhesive mount over the thumbturn is just as reversible with zero screws. A full-deadbolt replacement is a rung down for a renter, because even though it fits the existing bore, you have to save the original and reinstall it at move-out.

The second filter is what it takes to use the lock the way you want. Do you need remote lock/unlock from anywhere (built-in Wi-Fi vs. a separate bridge)? Do you want guests to enter a code (a keypad, included or added)? Is there a subscriptionfor anything core (there shouldn’t be, and none of these charge one)? Price is the last tiebreaker, not the first — a cheap lock that damages the door costs more than it saves.

Which pick is for you

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock wins overall: a clean interior retrofit, Wi-Fi built in (no bridge, no fee), and reversible in about ten minutes. Choose the Yale Approach if you want a keypad for guest codesincluded — it’s the same retrofit design with a peel-and-stick keypad in the box. Choose the SwitchBotif you want a pure adhesive install with no screws at all and the richest feature set, and don’t mind paying the most for it. Choose the Wyze Lock Boltif you want fingerprint entry on a budget and you’re comfortable swapping the whole deadbolt (and saving the original). For a deeper look at the top pick, see the August for renters, or the head-to-head August vs Yale.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best smart lock for renters?

For most renters, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. It retrofits onto the interior of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key don't change, Wi-Fi is built in with no subscription, and it comes off in about ten minutes at move-out. If you want a keypad included, the Yale Approach is the same design with one in the box.

Can I put a smart lock on an apartment door without drilling?

Yes. Retrofit locks like the August and Yale Approach mount on the interior of your existing deadbolt with a couple of screws on the inside baseplate — no new holes, no change to the exterior. The SwitchBot adhesive-mounts over the thumbturn with no screws at all. All three keep your key and are fully reversible.

Do smart locks need a subscription?

None of our picks charge a subscription for core lock/unlock. The August has Wi-Fi built in for remote access at no cost; the Yale and SwitchBot use an optional bridge or hub for full remote control, but local codes and auto-lock work without it. There's no monthly fee to use your own lock.

Will my landlord's key still work with a retrofit smart lock?

Yes. A retrofit lock (August, Yale Approach, SwitchBot) leaves the exterior keyway and hardware exactly as they are and only automates the interior thumbturn, so your landlord's key keeps working — which matters if your lease requires it. A full-replacement lock like the Wyze Lock Bolt changes the cylinder, so save and reinstall the original at move-out.

Sources

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