The Best Smart Locks for Renters (2026)
Keep your landlord's keys working and take the lock with you when you move.
Our picks
The retrofit replaces only the inside half of your deadbolt, so your outside hardware and keys stay the same.
The best-known retrofit lock, small and well-made, with auto-unlock as you walk up.
Same retrofit lock, plus an outdoor keypad with a fingerprint reader.
A fingerprint deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi at a budget price.
Renters should get a retrofit lock. It replaces only the inside half of the deadbolt, so the outside key still works and nothing visible changes. The Philips 3000 Retrofit and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock both work this way.
For this list we started from our main guide. We compared six popular Wi-Fi smart locks from Philips, August, Schlage, Yale and eufy on price, unlock methods and installation, and picked the right lock for each kind of door.
Philips 3000 Series Wi-Fi Retrofit Lock
The retrofit replaces only the inside half of your deadbolt, so your outside hardware and keys stay the same. That makes it the easiest install here and a good fit for renters. You get remote lock and unlock, shareable access and activity logs in the Philips Home Access app.
Why we like it
- Keeps your existing keys
- Easiest install
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Half off list
Watch out for
- No keypad unless you get the keypad bundle
- Fits
- over your existing deadbolt (inside only)
- Unlock
- app, existing key
- Wi-Fi
- built in, no bridge
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
The best-known retrofit lock, small and well-made, with auto-unlock as you walk up. It does the same job as the Philips 3000 Retrofit, usually for a lot more money.
Why we like it
- Compact design
- Auto-unlock
- Works with Apple Home
Watch out for
- Usually costs more than the Philips retrofit
- Keypad sold separately
- Fits
- over your existing deadbolt (inside only)
- Unlock
- app, auto-unlock, key
- Wi-Fi
- built in
- Works with
- Alexa, Google, Apple Home
Philips 3000 Series Wi-Fi Retrofit Lock with Keypad
Same retrofit lock, plus an outdoor keypad with a fingerprint reader. Guests and kids can use a code, and you can add or remove codes remotely.
Why we like it
- Fingerprint and PIN
- Remote passcode management
- Retrofit install
Watch out for
- $40 more than the lock alone
- Unlock
- fingerprint, PIN, key, app
- Install
- retrofit
- Remote
- passcodes, logs, alerts
eufy Security Smart Lock C220
A fingerprint deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi at a budget price. eufy rates the battery at about 8 months.
Why we like it
- Fingerprint at a low price
- Wi-Fi built in
- 8-month battery
Watch out for
- Full deadbolt install
- Unlock
- fingerprint, keypad, app, key
- Wi-Fi
- built in
- Battery
- up to 8 months (eufy's figure)
- Weather
- IP53
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch with Wi-Fi
Yale's Assure Lock 2 Touch adds a fingerprint reader to a keypad deadbolt with Wi-Fi built in. A strong pick if you want everything in one unit on the outside of the door.
Why we like it
- Fingerprint + keypad
- Wi-Fi built in
- Trusted lock brand
Watch out for
- Full deadbolt install
- Usually costs more than the Philips keypad bundle
- Unlock
- fingerprint, keypad, app, key
- Wi-Fi
- built in
- Type
- full deadbolt
Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt
Tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, like a transit card. Schlage's build quality is excellent, but it's a full deadbolt replacement and one of the priciest locks here.
Why we like it
- Apple Home Key tap to unlock
- Touchscreen keypad
- Schlage build quality
Watch out for
- Expensive
- Full deadbolt install
- Unlock
- Apple Home Key tap, keypad, app, key
- Wi-Fi
- built in
- Type
- full deadbolt
Compare them side by side
| Lock | Price | Unlock methods | Install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips 3000 + Keypad | $149.99 | Fingerprint, PIN, key, app | Inside + keypad |
| Philips 3000 Retrofit | $109.99 | App, key | Inside only |
| August Wi-Fi (4th Gen) | See Amazon | App, auto-unlock, key | Inside only |
| Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch | See Amazon | Fingerprint, keypad, app, key | Replace deadbolt |
| eufy C220 | See Amazon | Fingerprint, keypad, app, key | Replace deadbolt |
| Schlage Encode Plus | See Amazon | Phone tap, keypad, app, key | Replace deadbolt |
How to choose
Renting? A retrofit lock keeps your landlord's keys working and comes off cleanly when you move.
Who needs in? If kids, dog walkers or cleaners need access, get a keypad or fingerprint so they don't need the app.
Check your door. Measure your deadbolt and door thickness before buying a full replacement lock.
The bottom line
For most doors, the Philips 3000 Retrofit with Keypad at $149.99 is the one to get: fingerprint, PIN and app entry without changing your deadbolt. On a tight budget, the lock alone is $109.99. Want a fingerprint deadbolt instead? The eufy C220 is the budget pick and the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch the premium one.
Get $110 off at PhilipsMore guides like this
How we pick
We compare the products people actually shop for on what matters in this category: value, unlock options, ease of install, features, design. Specs and prices come from each brand's own listing and can change, so check the seller's page before you buy. We haven't lab-tested these unless we say so. Brands can't pay to be on this list.