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Our picks
- 1 Check price
Best no-drilling landlord-friendly retrofit
SwitchBot Lock Pro + Hub Mini Matter
- 2 Check price on Amazon
Best polished keep-your-key Wi-Fi retrofit
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
- 3 Check price on Amazon
Strong Wi-Fi retrofit alternative
Yale Approach
- 4 Check price on Amazon
Invisible bolt swap that keeps exterior key
Level Bolt (Matter)
- 5 Check price on Amazon
Budget pick that needs landlord OK (full deadbolt swap)
Wyze Lock Bolt
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Associates pricing note: Figures are approximate street prices from our price checks (not Amazon Product Advertising API data). We do not display live Amazon prices. Always confirm the current price on the retailer page.
Quick answer
For most renters, buy a landlord-friendly retrofit that needs no drilling and keeps your existing key: SwitchBot Lock Pro (adhesive / interior mount, optional Matter hub) or August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (built-in Wi-Fi, DoorSense). Yale Approach is another Wi-Fi retrofit in the same category. Flag Wyze Lock Bolt only if your landlord OK’s a full deadbolt swap.
Comparison table
| Pick | Landlord-friendly? | Keep existing key | No drilling | Rough price (Oct 2026) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SwitchBot Lock Pro + Hub | Top pick | Yes | Yes (retrofit) | Check current price; Amazon hub kit currently unavailable | SwitchBot store |
| August Wi-Fi (4th gen) | Top pick | Yes | Yes (retrofit) | Check current price; currently sold by a third-party seller on Amazon, so check the seller before buying | Amazon · august.com |
| Yale Approach | Strong alt | Yes | Yes (retrofit) | Around $110 (Oct 16, 2026) | Amazon |
| Level Bolt (Matter) | Honorable mention | Yes (exterior) | No new exterior holes; bolt swap inside | Around $200 (as of Oct 17) | Amazon, sold by Level Home |
| Wyze Lock Bolt | Needs landlord OK | Replaces lock | Deadbolt replacement | Check current price; may be sold by third-party sellers | Amazon |
Prices are approximate street prices and may change. The SwitchBot hub kit was unavailable on Amazon as of Oct 17, 2026, so we link SwitchBot’s own store.
How we researched this
We prioritized what “smart locks for renters” searchers actually need: no drilling, keep your existing key, and landlord-friendly removeability. Sources include SwitchBot / August / Yale product pages and 2026 renter roundups. Research-based only — no hands-on testing claims.
Best no-drilling landlord-friendly pick: SwitchBot Lock Pro
SwitchBot markets Lock Pro as a retrofit that mounts over your existing interior thumb turn — no drilling or damage to the original lock, and physical keys still work. Fits most North American single-cylinder deadbolts (check thumb-turn shape and clearance). With the included Hub Mini Matter kit you get remote access, Alexa / Google / Apple Home via Matter, and auto-lock. Add Keypad Touch separately for fingerprints and codes.
Caveats: Not for jimmy-proof / mortise locks in the US/Canada per SwitchBot. The Amazon hub kit was unavailable as of Oct 17, 2026; SwitchBot sells the lock directly (check current price), and the Hub Mini Matter is sold separately there.
Sources: SwitchBot Lock Pro product page and compatibility notes.
Best polished keep-your-key option: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock installs on the inside over a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt. Existing keys still work. Built-in Wi-Fi (no Connect bridge), remote access, auto-lock / unlock, virtual keys, DoorSense door-ajar sensor. Check the current price on august.com. On Amazon it is currently sold only by third-party sellers, so check the seller before buying.
Buying note: The August is currently sold by a third-party seller on Amazon; check the seller before buying.
Sources: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Strong Wi-Fi retrofit alternative: Yale Approach
Yale Approach is a deadbolt retrofit with built-in Wi-Fi: fits over the existing lock, keeps the key, no drilling. Unlimited virtual keys and app remote control. Roughly $100–115 depending on finish; keypad versions cost more.
Correction for the team: this is not a full deadbolt replacement — it belongs with the landlord-friendly set.
Sources: Amazon listings for the Yale Approach; Yale/August comparison materials.
Invisible bolt swap (still keep your key): Level Bolt
Level Bolt replaces the bolt inside the door while keeping exterior hardware and key function — no new exterior drilling. Matter-capable models exist. More invasive than a thumb-turn retrofit, so ask the landlord if your lease is picky. Around $200 on Amazon as of Oct 17, 2026.
Needs landlord OK: Wyze Lock Bolt
Budget pick (check current price) with fingerprint + keypad, but it replaces the whole deadbolt. Store the original hardware for move-out and get written permission first. The newer Wi-Fi v2 sits in the same approval category.
Buying guide for renters
- Lease first — some buildings ban any lock changes.
- Prefer retrofit — SwitchBot, August, Yale Approach.
- Confirm deadbolt type — single-cylinder, thumb-turn shape, clearance.
- Hub vs built-in Wi-Fi — SwitchBot hub kit vs August/Yale built-in.
- Move-out plan — photograph the original setup; keep old parts.
Related guides
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- Smart home starter kit for a new move
FAQ
Schema-ready Q&A is in the front matter (landlord-friendly definition, permission, no-drill picks, Wyze caveat).
Frequently asked questions
What makes a smart lock landlord-friendly?
It installs without drilling new holes, leaves the exterior key cylinder working so the landlord’s key still works, and can be removed at move-out. Retrofit locks that mount over the interior thumb turn are the safest bet.
Do I need my landlord’s permission for a smart lock?
Ask first if your lease restricts door hardware. Retrofit locks that keep the existing key are usually lowest risk. Full deadbolt replacements like the Wyze Lock Bolt almost always need explicit OK because you remove the original lock.
Which smart lock needs no drilling and keeps your existing key?
SwitchBot Lock Pro, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, and Yale Approach are interior retrofits that keep the exterior key working. Level Bolt keeps the exterior hardware and key but replaces the bolt inside the door — still no new exterior drilling, but get permission if your lease is strict.
Is the Wyze Lock Bolt good for renters?
It is a strong budget pick with keypad and fingerprint, but it replaces the entire deadbolt. Treat it as landlord-approval required, not a top no-drill renter pick.