Best Smart Locks for Renters: Keyless Entry Without Replacing Your Deadbolt

Renters usually shouldn’t replace the deadbolt their landlord installed. These retrofit smart locks add app control, remote access and optional keyless entry while keeping the existing exterior lock and original key.

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If you rent, replacing the entire deadbolt usually isn’t the smartest place to start.

A better option is a retrofit smart lock. It installs on the inside of a compatible deadbolt while leaving the exterior hardware in place. Your original key still works, and the lock can usually be removed when you move.

For most renters with a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, we’d start with the Yale Approach. The current package gives you remote access, DoorSense and optional keypad or fingerprint entry without changing the outside of the door. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the better fit if you want Wi-Fi built into the lock or use Apple HomeKit and Siri. The SwitchBot Lock Pro is the most interesting option when your existing hardware doesn’t fit the usual August or Yale requirements.

Before choosing any of them, look at the lock that’s already on your door.

That matters more than the feature list.

Best Smart Locks for Renters at a Glance

Smart Lock	Best For	Keeps Existing Exterior Lock?	Remote Access
Yale Approach	Best overall	Yes	Yale Connect bridge
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock	Built-in Wi-Fi / Apple users	Yes	Built-in Wi-Fi
SwitchBot Lock Pro	Unusual lock hardware	Yes, on compatible installs	Compatible SwitchBot Hub required

1. Yale Approach: Best Overall for Most Renters

The Yale Approach takes the basic idea renters need and packages it well.

It installs on the inside of a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt and leaves the exterior lock and original key in place. That means the hallway side of the door can stay exactly as the landlord installed it.

Remote access comes through the included Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge rather than Wi-Fi built directly into the lock. The extra bridge is one more device to plug in, but Yale’s package has two practical advantages: it uses standard AA batteries and offers a much longer published battery-life estimate than the current August Wi-Fi model.

Add the Yale Keypad or Keypad Touch and you can use PINs or fingerprints without replacing the exterior deadbolt.

DoorSense is another useful feature. It can tell you whether the door itself is open or closed instead of only reporting whether the deadbolt moved.

For most renters who want a complete setup and don’t need Apple HomeKit, this is where we’d start.

If you’re deciding specifically between our first two picks, our August Wi-Fi Smart Lock vs. Yale Approach comparison breaks down the Wi-Fi, battery and smart-home differences in more detail.

2. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Best for Built-In Wi-Fi and Apple Users

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is still one of the easiest retrofit locks to recommend. It just isn’t our default pick for every renter anymore.

Like Yale Approach, August replaces the interior thumbturn while leaving the keyed portion of the deadbolt untouched. The landlord’s original key still works, and the original interior hardware can be reinstalled when you move.

August’s main advantage is connectivity. Wi-Fi is built directly into the lock, so remote access doesn’t require a separate bridge. It also supports Apple HomeKit and Siri, which the Yale Approach does not currently offer.

From the August app, you can lock or unlock the door, check status, grant virtual access and use features such as Auto-Lock, Auto-Unlock and DoorSense.

The tradeoff is battery maintenance. August uses two CR123 batteries and currently publishes a much shorter battery-life estimate than Yale Approach.

If you use Apple Home or strongly prefer built-in Wi-Fi, we’d choose August. Otherwise, Yale gives most renters the stronger overall package.

3. SwitchBot Lock Pro: Best for Unusual Lock Hardware

The SwitchBot Lock Pro takes a different approach to retrofitting.

Instead of being designed around only the most common single-cylinder deadbolt setup, it can work with a wider range of existing lock hardware. Some installations require adapters, so compatibility still needs to be checked before buying.

The exterior lock stays usable, and the physical key remains available on compatible installations.

On its own, Lock Pro uses Bluetooth for nearby control. If you want to lock or unlock the door remotely over the internet, you’ll need a compatible SwitchBot Hub. Keypad and fingerprint accessories are also separate unless you buy a bundle that includes them.

That makes SwitchBot less straightforward than Yale or August for a normal apartment deadbolt, but more interesting when the door hardware is the problem you’re trying to solve.

What Makes a Smart Lock Renter-Friendly?

Forget fingerprint readers, voice assistants and the number of integrations for a minute.

For renters, three things matter first.

The exterior lock stays put

A good retrofit lock leaves the keyed side of the deadbolt alone. You’re adding smart control without replacing the lock the property owner installed.

The original key still works

The locks we’ve recommended here preserve the existing exterior key on compatible installations. That matters because you’re adding another way to enter without removing the original one.

You can undo the installation

Keep every screw, plate and piece of hardware you remove. Put it all in a labeled bag and store it somewhere you’ll remember.

When you move out, you want to return the door to the condition you found it in without reconstructing the original lock from a junk drawer.

Check Your Lease Before Installing Anything

A lock can be renter-friendly without being permitted by your lease.

Those are two separate questions.

Some leases specifically address locks, door hardware or alterations. Apartment buildings may also have their own rules, particularly when the door is part of a larger access-control system.

If your lease clearly says you can’t alter the lock hardware, don’t install one. If the language is unclear, ask the landlord or property manager before making changes.

Be specific about what you’re proposing. An interior retrofit that leaves the exterior deadbolt and original key intact is very different from removing the lock and replacing it with your own.

Can the Landlord’s Key Still Work?

With the retrofit locks covered here, yes, assuming the lock is installed on compatible hardware.

The original exterior cylinder stays in place, so the existing key continues to operate the deadbolt.

That doesn’t change the rules governing when a landlord may enter the property. Those rights come from your lease and local law, not the smart lock.

From a hardware standpoint, though, you aren’t removing the key the property owner already has.

Do You Have to Drill?

Usually not for the lock itself.

August, Yale Approach and SwitchBot are designed to work with existing hardware rather than requiring a new hole through a standard compatible door.

External keypads are different.

Some can be mounted with adhesive instead of screws, but adhesive can still damage paint or leave residue. If the wall, trim or door frame outside your apartment isn’t yours, check before attaching anything.

What If Your Apartment Has a Mortise Lock?

This is where a lot of renters get tripped up.

Many apartment buildings use mortise or commercial-style locks rather than the standard single-cylinder deadbolts found on houses.

August and Yale Approach are designed around compatible single-cylinder deadbolts and generally aren’t the answer for those setups.

SwitchBot Lock Pro supports a wider range of hardware, but that still doesn’t mean it fits every mortise or commercial lock. Confirm the exact configuration before buying.

If you’re not sure what you have, take clear photos of both sides of the door and compare them with the manufacturer’s compatibility guide before ordering.

When We Wouldn’t Install a Smart Lock

We’d skip it if:

• Your lease prohibits changes to lock hardware
• Your building won’t approve it
• The existing lock isn’t compatible
• The door is tied into a building-wide access system
• Installation requires permanent changes
• You can’t restore the original hardware later

A smart lock should make renting more convenient. It shouldn’t become a move-out expense.

Which Smart Lock Should a Renter Buy?

For most renters with a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, we’d choose the Yale Approach.

It preserves the exterior lock and original key, gives you a strong upgrade path for keypad or fingerprint entry and uses a separate Wi-Fi bridge instead of putting the Wi-Fi radio inside the lock.

Choose the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock if you use Apple HomeKit or want Wi-Fi built directly into the lock.

Choose the SwitchBot Lock Pro if compatibility with unusual hardware is the bigger concern and you’re comfortable adding a hub later for remote access.

The first step isn’t choosing a smart lock.

It’s figuring out exactly what kind of lock you already have.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best smart lock for renters?

For most renters with a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt, we’d choose the Yale Approach. It preserves the existing exterior lock and original key while offering remote access, DoorSense and optional keypad or fingerprint entry.

Can a renter install a smart lock?

Possibly. Retrofit locks make fewer permanent changes than full replacement locks, but your lease or building rules may still restrict modifications to the door or lock hardware.

Which smart locks keep the original key working?

Yale Approach, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and SwitchBot Lock Pro can preserve the existing exterior key on compatible installations.

Does the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock need a bridge?

No. Wi-Fi is built into the current August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.

Does Yale Approach need a bridge?

Yes for remote internet access. Yale Approach uses the Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge.

Does SwitchBot Lock Pro require a hub?

Not for nearby Bluetooth control. A compatible SwitchBot Hub is needed for remote internet access.

Can a retrofit smart lock work with a mortise lock?

August and Yale Approach are designed for compatible single-cylinder deadbolts. SwitchBot Lock Pro works with a broader range of hardware, but compatibility still depends on the exact lock and installation.