Smart Home Pick Pro

Best Smart Locks for Renters

By the Smart Home Pick Pro Editorial Team · How we test & rank

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Most smart lock advice assumes you're allowed to swap out your deadbolt. Renters usually aren't — a lease either bans changing the exterior lock outright or requires restoring the original hardware before move-out, which rules out full-replacement locks like a Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2 for a lot of apartments.

The picks below mount over your existing interior thumb-turn or deadbolt instead of replacing it, so the original keyway and exterior hardware never change. Take the smart lock off at the end of a lease and the door goes right back to looking (and working) exactly like it did when you moved in.

New to this category? Start with our smart lock buying guide before diving into the picks below.

How we picked: We only considered locks that attach to the inside of an existing deadbolt without drilling or replacing exterior hardware, keep the original physical key working as a fallback, and have a straightforward way to remove them without a trace. We also noted which picks need an extra hub accessory for remote access versus working standalone over Bluetooth.

At a glance

#PickWhy it stands outPrice
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)Top Pickbuilt-in remote access - Installs over your existing deadbolt in minutes, keeping your original keys as backupCheck Amazon
SwitchBot LockRunner-upa near-invisible install - Mounts over the interior thumb-turn with adhesive tape — no drilling, no tools requiredCheck Amazon
Wyze Lock BoltBest Valuebudget pick - One of the cheapest retrofit smart locks available, especially compared to full-replacement locksCheck Amazon
Level Lock+Also greatif you want it to look like a normal lock - Fits inside the deadbolt mechanism itself, so the door looks completely ordinary from outsideCheck Amazon

The picks in detail

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

Top Pick

9.6/10Editor’s score

Best for built-in remote access

  • Installs over your existing deadbolt in minutes, keeping your original keys as backup
  • Built-in Wi-Fi means remote lock/unlock works with no separate bridge accessory
  • Auto-lock and auto-unlock based on your phone's location
  • Comes off cleanly, restoring the deadbolt to its original look and function

Watch out Bulkier on the inside of the door than the other picks here, and doesn't add a keypad unless you also buy the optional August Keypad.

Check price on Amazon

SwitchBot Lock

Runner-up

9.3/10Editor’s score

Best for a near-invisible install

  • Mounts over the interior thumb-turn with adhesive tape — no drilling, no tools required
  • Low-profile design sits close to the door and barely changes how the deadbolt looks from inside
  • Works standalone over Bluetooth, with an optional Hub Mini or Hub 2 added later for remote access and Alexa/Google Assistant voice control
  • Keeps your original key working at all times, since it just turns the existing thumb-turn

Watch out Without the separate hub accessory, you only get Bluetooth range control, not true remote access from outside the house.

Check price on Amazon

Wyze Lock Bolt

Best Value

9.0/10Editor’s score

Best budget pick

  • One of the cheapest retrofit smart locks available, especially compared to full-replacement locks
  • Attaches over the existing deadbolt's thumb-turn with no drilling or permanent modification
  • Auto-lock and auto-unlock via Bluetooth proximity, with the optional Wyze Lock Bolt Bridge for remote app control
  • Simple setup through the Wyze app for anyone already using other Wyze devices

Watch out Remote access away from home requires buying the separate bridge accessory, and Wyze has had past app and security incidents worth knowing about.

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Level Lock+

Also great

8.7/10Editor’s score

Best if you want it to look like a normal lock

  • Fits inside the deadbolt mechanism itself, so the door looks completely ordinary from outside
  • Still works with a standard physical key alongside app and Bluetooth unlock
  • Supports Apple Home Key for tap-to-unlock with an iPhone or Apple Watch

Watch out Installation replaces the deadbolt's internal hardware rather than just clipping over a thumb-turn, so it's a bigger step than the other picks here — confirm your lease allows it, and keep the original deadbolt to reinstall at move-out.

Check price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a retrofit smart lock damage my door or deadbolt?
No, as long as you pick a true retrofit model — the August and similar locks clip over the existing thumb-turn with no drilling, and SwitchBot and Wyze Lock Bolt use adhesive mounts rather than screws into new holes. All three come off without leaving visible damage.
Do I need to tell my landlord before installing one?
Check your lease first. Most leases that restrict 'changing the locks' are written with full-replacement deadbolts in mind, but a retrofit lock still physically attaches to shared building hardware, so it's worth a quick confirmation with your landlord or property manager rather than assuming it's automatically fine.
What happens to my smart lock when I move out?
Retrofit locks like these unclip or peel off, restoring the deadbolt to manual operation with your original keys. Factory-reset the lock in its app before you leave so it disconnects from your account and any paired hub.
Do any of these work without an internet connection?
Yes — all four still lock and unlock locally over Bluetooth, or with your original physical key, if your Wi-Fi goes down. You'll only lose remote access (unlocking from outside the house) and app notifications until the connection is back.

Keep reading

Category

Smart Locks Buying Advice

Guide

Smart Lock Buying Guide