Best Smart Lock for Apartments: 5 No-Drilling Picks for Renters (2026)

 

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Looking for the best smart lock for apartments? You want to stop fumbling for keys, but you rent. Your lease may limit changes to the door, your landlord may need access, and nobody wants to pay for a damaged door at move-out. 

Smart locks can work for renters, but “no drilling” doesn’t always mean “no changes.” Some locks sit on the inside of your existing deadbolt and leave the outside alone. Others replace your deadbolt hardware. That difference matters more than any feature on the box. 

I haven’t installed these locks myself. I compared manufacturer specs and Amazon listings with what owners report, paying special attention to the 3-star reviews, where the real problems show up. Prices and ratings are from October 2026 and change often. 

Quick Answer 

• Keep your outside lock and key untouched: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 
• Same idea, with fingerprint and keypad: SwitchBot Lock Ultra Touch Combo 
• Best-value fingerprint lock (swaps your deadbolt): eufy Smart Lock C220 
• Hands-free unlocking: Wyze Palm Lock 
• Lowest price (if you’re comfortable with Wi-Fi setup): Ultraloq Bolt SE 

What “No Drilling” Really Means 

All five install without drilling new holes in a standard door, but they fall into two groups: 

• Retrofit locks (August, SwitchBot) mount on the inside, over your existing deadbolt. The outside lock and your original key stay as they are, so your landlord can still get in. These are the easiest to undo when you move. 
• Replacement locks (eufy, Wyze, Ultraloq) replace your deadbolt in the existing holes. Nothing new is drilled, but you’re removing the landlord’s hardware. Check your lease and ask first. Keep the original deadbolt so you can put it back at move-out. 

Quick Comparison: Best Smart Locks for Apartments 

*Ratings on the Ultraloq listing may include earlier Ultraloq models. One owner says the SE ships in the original Bolt’s packaging. 

Detailed Reviews 

1. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen): Best for Keeping Your Door Unchanged 

The August replaces only the inside thumbturn on your existing deadbolt. Installation takes about 10 minutes, built-in Wi-Fi means no hub, and your outside lock and key stay as they are. It supports auto-lock and auto-unlock and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and SmartThings. The listing also describes a door sensor (DoorSense), so auto-lock can wait until the door is actually closed. 

Pros 

• Leaves the outside of your door and your landlord’s key access unchanged. A 2025 owner calls it a great choice for renters for this reason. 
• No hub required 
• Easy install with guided steps in the app, according to several owners 
• Door sensor included, according to the listing and a 2025 owner 

Cons 

• Battery life is the most common complaint. Reviews from 2022 report replacing the lithium batteries about every 90 days, and another owner reports about every 5 weeks. A May 2025 owner had gone three months without needing a change. Batteries are CR123A, and one owner suggests rechargeable ones. 
• No outside keypad unless you buy one separately, so you need your phone or key 
• Some owners had trouble keeping a stable connection. One fixed it only after swapping to a different adapter and lining it up correctly, so follow the setup guide carefully. 
• Not the cheapest for a lock with no keypad 

Best for: renters who want smart features without changing anything the landlord sees. 

2. SwitchBot Lock Ultra Touch Combo: Best Retrofit With Keypad and Fingerprint 

The Combo includes the lock, an outside fingerprint keypad and the SwitchBot Hub Mini. The lock is self-adhesive and sits over your existing deadbolt, so there’s no drilling and no deadbolt swap. Fingerprint, keypad and NFC unlocking, plus local Bluetooth control, work without the hub. The hub adds remote control and Alexa, Google and Apple Home through Matter. SwitchBot claims about 12 months of battery. 

Pros 

• Keypad and fingerprint without replacing your deadbolt 
• The hub is included, so remote access works out of the box 
• A Canadian renter says they installed it in about 10 minutes and kept their original key and outside hardware 
• A New York renter whose building doesn’t allow replacing the lock calls it a “game-changer” for an old mortise lock (mortise locks need a separate accessory) 

Cons 

• The most expensive of the five at $209.99, and only 158 ratings, so there is less evidence than for the others 
• Check your lock type. Jimmy-proof and mortise locks need a separate accessory kit, and it isn’t directly compatible with European double-cylinder locks. Two owners say parts were missing, and one needed screws that aren’t included. 
• It’s held on with adhesive. The listing doesn’t say how cleanly it removes, so check the manual or ask SwitchBot before you stick it down. 
• One owner says the door sensor isn’t always reliable, so a nearly-closed door can trigger auto-lock with the bolt out. Another reports random locking. 
• The app doesn’t show a battery percentage or who unlocked the door, according to owners. One removed it from their main door. 
• No Apple HomeKey support, according to an owner 

Best for: renters who want a keypad or fingerprint and can afford the price. 

3. eufy Smart Lock C220: Best Value Fingerprint Lock 

This replaces your deadbolt with a fingerprint, keypad, app and key lock. It stores up to 50 fingerprints and 100 passcodes, includes two keys and 8 AA batteries, and works over Wi-Fi without a bridge. eufy claims about 8 months of battery life. It isn’t compatible with Apple HomeKit, Matter or IFTTT. 

Pros 

• Strong features for about $120 
• Easy install and an easy-to-use app, according to several owners 
• Scheduled or temporary codes for guests, cleaners or pet sitters 
• Emergency power through a port on the bottom of the outside unit if the battery dies 

Cons 

• Battery complaints are common. One owner replaced the batteries five times in under a year, even after eufy sent a replacement. Another says it ate two sets of AA batteries in under two months. 
• If the bolt binds even slightly, the app can show an error until you operate the lock by hand 
• Fit can be a problem on older doors. One buyer returned two because the reader sat crooked. 
• Check measurements first: bore diameter 1-1/2 or 2-1/8 inches, backset 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches, door thickness 1-3/8 to 2-1/8 inches 

Best for: renters whose landlord allows a deadbolt swap and who want fingerprint entry without paying $200. 

4. Wyze Palm Lock: Best for Hands-Free Entry 

You unlock it by holding your palm near the reader, with no touch needed. It also has a keypad (up to 50 codes), a key, auto-lock using a gyroscope, a 6-month main battery with a 2-week backup, and an emergency USB-C charging port. It has the highest rating of the five at 4.6 stars. 

Pros 

• Fast palm recognition, according to owners 
• One owner set up three kids under 6, all of whom could unlock the door 
• Auto-lock senses whether the door is closed, instead of using only a timer 
• Installation needs only a screwdriver, according to several owners 

Cons 

• One owner says it ignores dirty hands and does nothing 
• Battery. One owner’s battery drained overnight twice, and charging takes about 5 hours. Another reported about 75% after a month on two doors, so experiences vary. 
• A 2026 buyer says newer units shipped with a shorter deadbolt, and a longer part costs extra 
• Removing the battery is hard for someone with arthritis 
• It takes a few tries to learn the right palm distance 

Best for: renters who can swap the deadbolt and want keyless entry without fingerprints or codes. 

5. Ultraloq Bolt SE: Best Budget Pick, With a Catch 

At about $84, this is the cheapest lock here. It replaces your deadbolt and offers fingerprint (up to 50), passcodes (up to 50), an app, voice control and two keys. It uses 4 AA batteries (not included), with a claimed battery life of up to 18 months. Wi-Fi is built in and supports 2.4 GHz networks only. Matter over Thread needs a compatible Thread border router. 

Pros 

• The lowest price, with fingerprint and keypad entry included 
• Easy physical install, according to several owners 
• Responsive customer support, according to owners who contacted the company 

Cons 

• Wi-Fi setup is the main problem. Several 2026 owners had trouble connecting. One needed 6 tries and had to switch off the 5 GHz band temporarily, and another nearly returned it. Others eventually connected after a firmware update. 
• Fingerprint reliability. One owner says it works about 75% of the time, and another says 9 times out of 10. 
• No door sensor. One owner says there’s no way to add one, so auto-lock can push the bolt out while the door is open and make it hit the frame. 
• One owner of four locks reports the app sometimes shows “locked” when the door isn’t, and that batteries last only a couple of weeks on a busy door 
• The listing’s rating may include earlier models, so check recent reviews 

Best for: tight budgets, if you’re comfortable troubleshooting Wi-Fi and your landlord allows a deadbolt swap. 

Our Pick for Most Renters: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 

The best smart lock for apartments depends on your lease, but for most renters I’d choose the August. For most renters, I’d choose the August. It’s the proven option that leaves your outside lock and key alone, includes a door sensor, and has more than 10,000 ratings behind it. The trade-off is the battery, so plan to check it every month or two, and consider rechargeable CR123As. 

If you want a keypad or fingerprint without swapping your deadbolt, the SwitchBot is the better feature set, though it costs more and has far fewer reviews. If your landlord allows a deadbolt swap, the eufy (value) and Wyze (hands-free) are the stronger replacement choices. I’d think twice about the Ultraloq unless the price matters most. 

What to Check Before You Buy

Before you pick the best smart lock for apartments, check these seven things.  

1. Your lease and landlord. Ask before changing any lock hardware. 
2. Your deadbolt type. Most of these fit a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Mortise and European locks need special parts. 
3. Door measurements for replacement locks. 
4. Your Wi-Fi. Some locks work on 2.4 GHz only, and a router far from the door can drain batteries. 
5. The battery plan. Keep spares, and know how to power the lock if it dies. 
6. A backup way in. Keep a physical key. 
7. Move-out. Save your original deadbolt or thumbturn and any parts. 

Two of these locks, the eufy and the Wyze, advertise BHMA Grade 3 certification. That is the lowest of the three lock grades, but it is generally considered suitable for a residential entry door, according to This Old House’s guide to lock grades.

If you’re also thinking about saving on your commute, see my guide to the best e-bikes under $1,000.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I install a smart lock in my apartment without my landlord’s permission? 
It depends on your lease. Retrofit locks leave the outside hardware alone, but your lease may still limit changes. Ask first. 

Will my landlord still have a key? 
With the August and SwitchBot, your original key still works. With replacement locks, you’d give your landlord one of the keys that came with the lock, or reinstall the original. 

Do smart locks work without Wi-Fi? 
Fingerprint, keypad and palm unlocking run on the lock’s batteries. Wi-Fi (or the SwitchBot hub) is needed for remote control and notifications. 

What happens if the battery dies? 
The eufy has an emergency power port, and the Wyze has a backup battery and USB-C charging. With the August and SwitchBot, your original key still works. 

How long do the batteries last? 
Claims run from 6 to 18 months, but owners report less for several locks, notably the August, eufy and Ultraloq. Check them regularly. 

Do I need a hub? 
The August, eufy, Wyze and Ultraloq (Wi-Fi mode) don’t. The SwitchBot Combo includes a hub for remote access, Alexa, Google and Apple Home. Ultraloq’s Matter over Thread mode needs a Thread border router. 

Will it fit my door? 
Measure first. The eufy lists its requirements, and the SwitchBot may need an accessory kit for certain lock types. 

Can I take it with me when I move? 
Yes. Remove a retrofit lock, or reinstall your original deadbolt first and then take a replacement lock with you. 

Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026 and may have changed. Last updated: October 2026.