The 6 Best Smart Door Locks for Renters in 2025

Living in an apartment or rented home presents a unique security dilemma. You crave the convenience and safety of a smart lock—no more fumbling for keys, the ability to grant temporary access to a dog walker, and peace of mind knowing your door is secure. But you’re held back by one terrifying thought: losing your security deposit.

Most smart locks require replacing the entire deadbolt, drilling new holes, or permanently altering the door—all things that are a violation of most lease agreements.

Our Promise: This is where retrofit and no-drill smart locks come in. These ingenious devices are designed specifically for renters. They install over your existing hardware, allowing you to keep the original lock and keys intact (to keep your landlord happy) while giving you all the smart features you want.

We spent weeks testing the most popular apartment friendly smart lock models on the market. In this 1800+ word review, we’ll analyze the 6 best smart door locks for renters, focusing on installation, security, and landlord-friendliness.

Quick Comparison: Top 3 Rent-Friendly Smart Locks

The Critical Difference: “Retrofit” vs. “Replacement”

Before we dive into reviews, you must understand this.

1. Full Replacement Locks (e.g., Schlage Encode, Wyze Lock Bolt): These require you to completely remove the entire deadbolt (both the inside and outside parts). This is almost always against a lease agreement without written permission.
2. Retrofit Smart Locks (e.g., August, SwitchBot): These are the renter’s best friend. You only remove the thumb-turn on the inside of your door. The outside keyhole remains unchanged. This means your original key still works, your landlord is happy, and installation takes 10 minutes. When you move out, you simply reinstall the original thumb-turn.

Expert Tip: Always check your lease agreement. When in doubt, send your landlord a polite email with a link to the product you want to install, highlighting that it’s a “no-drill retrofit lock.”

In-Depth Reviews: The 6 Best Smart Locks for Renters in 2025

Top Pick #1: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) – Best Overall Retrofit Lock

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is, without question, the king of renter-friendly locks. It’s compact, powerful, and built from the ground up for this exact purpose.

Renter-Specific Features:

• 10-Minute Installation: This is not an exaggeration. You just need a screwdriver. You remove the two screws on your interior thumb-turn, mount the August plate, and attach the lock. Done.
• Keeps Your Keys: The exterior lock is untouched. Your original key still works, and so does the August app.
• DoorSense™ Technology: This is its killer feature. A small sensor (included) tells the app if the door is not just locked, but physically closed. No more “did I leave the door open?” anxiety.
• Built-in Wi-Fi: Unlike older models, you don’t need a separate bridge. It connects directly to your home Wi-Fi for Alexa and Google Home voice commands.

The Wired Habitat Team’s Experience (Personal Insight):

“We tested the 4th-gen August on a standard apartment deadbolt. The entire installation truly took under 15 minutes. The ‘Auto-Unlock’ feature, which uses geofencing to unlock the door as you approach, felt like magic when carrying groceries. We also loved giving ‘temporary access’ to a friend, which expired in one hour. This is the definition of a smart lock landlord friendly device.”

Landlord Friendliness Score: 10/10

• No drilling, no new holes. Your landlord won’t even know it’s there from the outside. 100% reversible.

Pros & Cons:

✅ Pros: Easiest retrofit installation, keeps original keys, built-in Wi-Fi, DoorSense is a game-changer.

❌ Cons: Bulky on the inside of the door, battery life (with Wi-Fi) is average (around 3-6 months).

Click Here to Check the Latest Price on the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

Top Pick #2: Level Bolt – The “Invisible” Smart Lock

If your main concern is aesthetics, or you have a landlord who inspects often, the Level Bolt is your secret weapon. It’s an engineering marvel.

• Renter-Specific Features:
  • Completely Invisible: The Level Bolt is not a bulky box. It’s a retrofit smart lock that replaces the internal mechanism of your deadbolt, hiding all the smart technology inside your door.
  • Uses Your Hardware: You use your existing deadbolt’s interior and exterior hardware. From the inside and outside, it looks exactly like a normal, “dumb” lock.
  • Bluetooth/App Control: Works flawlessly via the app or Apple HomeKit.
• The Wired Habitat Team’s Experience (Personal Insight):“The Level Bolt was the most ‘wow’ installation we’ve ever done. Once it was in, it was gone. It’s the perfect ‘stealth’ smart lock. Our landlord would never know it’s there. The trade-off? There is no keypad. You must use your phone or a voice command. We missed the convenience of a keypad, but for pure invisibility, it’s unbeatable.”
• Landlord Friendliness Score: 10/10
  • Even more discreet than the August. It’s 100% invisible and reversible.
• Pros & Cons:
  • ✅ Pros: Completely invisible, high-quality build, excellent Apple HomeKit support, long battery life (CR2).
  • ❌ Cons: No keypad (must buy the separate Level Keypad), requires a hub (like Apple HomePod) for remote access.

Click Here to Get the “Invisible” Level Bolt Smart Lock

Top Pick #3: Wyze Lock Bolt – Best Budget Keypad (With Permission!)

Disclaimer: This is a Full Replacement lock. Do NOT install this without explicit written permission from your landlord, as you must remove the entire deadbolt.

Renter-Specific Features (If Allowed):

• Unbeatable Value: For under $80, you get a fingerprint sensor, a backlit keypad, and Bluetooth app control. The value is insane.
• 5-in-1 Access: App, Fingerprint, Keypad Code, or standard key (included).
• Auto-Lock: Set it to lock automatically after a set time.

The Wired Habitat Team’s Experience (Personal Insight):

“We installed this for testing on a door we could modify. The fingerprint sensor is shockingly fast and accurate for the price. We loved not needing our phone or keys—just a thumb. But again, this is not a retrofit lock. It’s only for renters whose landlord is very flexible and allows full lock replacement.”

Landlord Friendliness Score: 4/10

• Requires full removal of the old lock. You must store the old lock and reinstall it perfectly when you leave. High risk without permission.

Pros & Cons:

• ✅ Pros: Incredible price, fast fingerprint reader, keypad is great for guests.
• ❌ Cons: NOT renter-friendly by default, no Wi-Fi (requires Wyze Hub), plastic build.

Check Price on the Wyze Lock Bolt

Top Pick #4: SwitchBot Lock – Easiest “No-Tools” Installation

This one is for the renter who is truly terrified of a screwdriver. The SwitchBot Lock is the definition of a no-drill smart lock.

Renter-Specific Features:

• 3M Tape Installation: You read that right. This lock literally sticks onto your door over your existing thumb-turn using high-strength 3M tape. A small motor inside the SwitchBot physically turns your old lock for you.
• Zero Modification: You don’t even remove the thumb-turn screws.
• Multiple Adapters: It comes with adapters to fit almost any thumb-turn shape.

Pros & Cons:

• ✅ Pros: The easiest possible installation, 100% non-destructive, surprisingly strong.
• ❌ Cons: Bulky and not very attractive, requires the SwitchBot Hub Mini for remote access/voice commands.

Get the Easiest Install: Shop the SwitchBot Lock

Other Great Options (Yale Approach & Kwikset Convert)

Top Pick #5: Yale Approach with Wi-Fi

• A new competitor to August. This is a sleek, modern retrofit lock that installs over your interior deadbolt. It works seamlessly with the August app (as Yale and August are owned by the same company) and offers a slim, attractive profile. It’s a fantastic, premium alternative to the August.

Top Pick #6: Kwikset Convert (Smart Lock Conversion Kit)

• This is the “original” retrofit lock. It’s not as feature-rich as the August, but it’s a reliable, budget-friendly option. It uses Z-Wave or Zigbee, so you’ll need a compatible smart home hub (like Samsung SmartThings or an Echo with a built-in hub) to get the most out of it. A great choice if you already have a smart home ecosystem.

Renter’s Smart Lock Buyer’s Guide (What to Know Before You Buy)

Step 1: Check Your Deadbolt Compatibility

• Look at your interior deadbolt. Is the thumb-turn separate from the door handle? This is called a single-cylinder deadbolt, and it’s what 99% of retrofit locks require. If your lock and handle are one single piece, these locks won’t work.

Step 2: Keypad vs. App-Only

• Locks like the August and Level Bolt are “App-Only” by default. This is great, but if your phone dies, you’re locked out (unless you have your original key). Consider adding their optional keypads, like the August Keypad or Level Keypad, for true peace of mind.

Step 3: Getting Landlord Approval (The Smart Way)

• If you must have a replacement lock (like the Wyze), here’s how to ask:

1. Email your landlord. Don’t call. You want a written paper trail.
2. Frame it as a “security upgrade.”
3. Link to the exact product.
4. Crucially: Offer to pay for a locksmith to “re-key” the new lock to their master key, and promise to leave the lock as a free upgrade when you move out. (Often, a $100 incentive will get you a “yes”.)

Final Verdict: Which Smart Lock Should You, a Renter, Buy?

After all our testing, the recommendation is clear.

• For 90% of Renters: Get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen). It’s the perfect blend of features, ease of installation, and 100% landlord-friendliness. It’s the safest, most reliable bet.
• For the “Stealth” Renter: Get the Level Bolt. If you want smart features but need total invisibility, this is your only choice.
• For the Risk-Taker (With Permission): The Wyze Lock Bolt offers incredible value, but only if you have written approval from your landlord.

Being a renter no longer means you have to compromise on smart home security. With a retrofit smart lock like the August, you can have all the convenience and peace of mind of a fully automated home, without ever risking your security deposit.

Click Here to Secure Your Apartment with Our Top Pick, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock!