The Best Smart Locks for Airbnb & Rentals (2026)

The short version: the best smart lock for an Airbnb or short-term rental is the Schlage Encode. It has built-in Wi-Fi with no separate hub, stores up to 100 access codes, and — the feature that actually matters for hosting — lets you create, schedule and automatically expire a unique guest code from anywhere, so each guest gets their own code that dies at checkout. For multiple entry methods at a lower price, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is superb; and the August retrofit keeps your existing exterior key for cleaners and property managers. The non-negotiable for a rental is remote, per-guest code management — not a shared physical key you have to chase down.

A rental lock lives or dies on remote code control and reliability, so the picks below are chosen for how well they turn one guest over to the next. See the full field in our best smart lock roundup, installation in how to install a smart lock, and the smart home and security hub for the wider setup.

Top Picks at a Glance

Our #1 Pick: Schlage Encode

The Encode is the lock most experienced hosts settle on, because it removes the two biggest friction points of a short-term rental: hubs and key handovers. Wi-Fi is built into the lock itself, so there is no separate bridge to install or fail, and you manage everything from your phone wherever you are. It stores up to 100 access codes and lets you schedule each one — create a code for a guest, set it to start at check-in and expire at checkout, and never think about it again. When the physical door hardware is Grade 1, the highest residential security rating, you also get peace of mind that the lock is genuinely solid.

For hosts who want automation, the Encode is widely supported by integration platforms like Seam and RemoteLock, which generate and expire codes automatically from your booking calendar. For hosts with one or two properties, the free Schlage app is enough to manage codes by hand. Either way, at around $230 it is the most dependable turnkey rental lock.

Consensus Score  ████████░░  8.6 — built from an average of 4.3 stars across 16,479 verified owner ratings.

The honest weaknesses: it is a chunky lock that some find bulky, it runs on batteries you must stay ahead of on a busy property, and it has a keypad but no fingerprint reader — which for a rental is arguably the right call, since codes suit remote guests better than fingerprints. Keep spare batteries on hand.

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The Ranked Field

Quick Comparison

How We Rank

We do not buy, test or physically handle these locks. For rentals we weight remote code management (built-in Wi-Fi, scheduling and auto-expiry), integration with booking platforms, reliability and battery life on high-turnover doors, and a physical-key backup, plus aggregated owner ratings weighted by review volume and recurring complaints such as Wi-Fi drops, jamming and battery drain. Security-conscious hosts may also want to check a lock against NIST's recommended cybersecurity baseline for consumer IoT products. Prices were current at the time of writing. Full method on how we rank.

The Rental Smart Locks, Reviewed

1. Schlage Encode — Best Overall for Rentals

Covered above. What owners praise: built-in Wi-Fi with no hub, scheduled expiring codes, Grade 1 security, and broad integration support. What owners complain about: bulk and battery use on busy doors. The rental benchmark.

2. Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro — Best Keypad + Fingerprint Value

It stacks fingerprint, keypad code, app and key entry into one lock at a lower price, and adding the Wi-Fi Bridge unlocks remote code management. What owners praise: the many entry methods, weatherproofing, and value. What owners complain about: remote features need the separate Bridge, and the app has a learning curve. Great flexibility for the money.

3. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock — Best Retrofit

It mounts on the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the exterior keyhole is untouched — perfect when a manager or cleaner still needs a physical key. What owners praise: the keep-your-key retrofit, built-in Wi-Fi, and auto-lock with DoorSense. What owners complain about: no keypad on the lock itself, so guests use the app or you add a keypad accessory. Ideal for a hands-off retrofit.

4. eufy Smart Lock C220 — Best Fingerprint

A fast fingerprint reader for guests you can enroll, plus codes, app and key with built-in Wi-Fi and no monthly fee. What owners praise: the quick fingerprint, no-hub Wi-Fi, and value. What owners complain about: fingerprint is less useful for one-night remote guests than a code. Strong for longer stays and self-managed properties.

5. Schlage Encode Plus — Best HomeKit

It adds Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock and Thread to the proven Encode formula, a premium choice if your workflow lives in Apple Home. What owners praise: Home Key, Thread reliability, and Grade 1 security. What owners complain about: the price and that Home Key suits owners more than transient guests. The premium Apple-centric pick.

6. Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch — Best Design + Fingerprint

A slim, modern lock that manages fingerprint plus scheduled keypad codes with built-in Wi-Fi, suiting a curated, higher-end listing. What owners praise: the low-profile look, the fingerprint-and-code combo, and Wi-Fi turnovers. What owners complain about: the correct Wi-Fi module version must be included, and it is pricey. The style-forward rental lock.

What Owners Actually Complain About

Rental-specific complaints cluster around reliability and connectivity, because a lock failure locks out a paying guest. Wi-Fi drops are the top issue, since exterior doors sit at the edge of the network — a mesh node near the door is the standard fix, and locks with built-in Wi-Fi are more robust than hub-dependent ones. Battery drain hits high-turnover doors hardest; keep spares and enable low-battery alerts. Jamming or misalignment after seasonal door swelling causes failed auto-locks — a properly aligned strike plate prevents most of it. And guests fumbling entry is reduced by clear code instructions in your check-in message. Battery life expectations are covered in how long smart lock batteries last, and security worries in can smart locks be hacked.

Setting Up a Hands-Off Guest Workflow

The point of a rental lock is that you never meet the guest. Start by choosing whether to automate: with a handful of bookings, create and expire codes manually in the lock’s app; with a busy calendar, connect the lock to an integration platform like Seam or RemoteLock so each reservation generates a code that activates at check-in and dies at checkout. Either way, use a unique code per guest — never a shared standing code, the same principle behind avoiding shared default passwords on any connected device — and enable auto-lock so the door secures itself after a departure. Keep a physical key backup stored off-site for the rare connectivity failure, protect the host account itself with a unique password and two-factor authentication, put clear entry instructions in your automated check-in message, and stay ahead of the batteries. Done right, the lock turns each stay over without you lifting a finger.

The Verdict

For an Airbnb or short-term rental, the Schlage Encode is our pick, because built-in Wi-Fi and scheduled, expiring guest codes make hands-off turnovers effortless and dependable. Choose the multi-entry Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro to save money, or the August retrofit when a cleaner or manager needs to keep a physical key. Use a unique expiring code per guest, enable auto-lock, keep a key backup off-site, and you have a lock that runs the front door for you. Check price on Amazon →