Best Smart Lock for Airbnb & Vacation Rentals in 2024

After investing in an Airbnb or vacation rental, your next concern is how to keep it safe, both when the unit is rented and when it’s empty. With people coming and going constantly, you’ll also need a quick and convenient way to distribute keys to renters or cleaning staff, or to help a forgetful tenant out in the middle of the night should they happen to lock themselves out — all without getting out of bed! 

From small studio apartments to entire houses, the best smart lock for a vacation rental does all of the above. In the article we’ll get you up to speed in the world of smart locks, while introducing the very best smart locks for your vacation property. From the best smart lock system to the best smart lock for an apartment and the best smart lock on a budget, this article has your answers. 

Our Top Picks

A Closer Look: Best Smart Locks for Airbnb & Vacation Rentals

After locking down a well-earned retreat, the last thing you want to worry about is security. We’ve done all the legwork for the best of the best. Here’s what we found:

Offering the best mix of price, compatibility, and remote-operation, the Yale Assure lock SL is the best smart lock for a rental property in our ranking. Enabled for both Apple HomeKit and Zigbee, a high-level communication protocol for personal area networks, the Assure lock can even be operated from a 4th-gen Apple TV, meaning you can unlock your unit’s door for a forgetful guest without ever leaving your home! It’s also sized to fit most standard doors, which is convenient.

With Yale, you can schedule your door to be locked or unlocked at a specific time each day, and multiple pin codes can be created for different tenants, or just for friends and family. We like the adjustable latch and backlit touchscreen keypad. Those who’ve used the lock call it well-made and attractive. It’s the best Apple HomeKit-compatible smart lock available, according to one report. You can’t set a temporary passcode, though, which is a drawback for some.

By definition, a vacation rental is for long-term use as opposed to short-term tenants like Airbnb. For the best vacation rental smart lock, choose the Schlage touchscreen deadbolt with a built-in alarm. There’s a backup key option in case your tenants forget the combo, or there’s a technical malfunction. The lock is also smart-device compatible and able to be accessed remotely. The Wink Hub is sold separately, however.

Otherwise, Schlage offers a touchscreen and a built-in alarm, with an anti-pick shield deterring prowlers when the unit is empty. The lock operates via Z-Wave, and an alarm can be set to go off should any funny business occur. With Schlage, the smart-device compatibility is reliable enough to unlock the front door from anywhere, even in the middle of the night. Those experienced with the lock say the passcodes are easy to establish, and the lock integrates easily with the Ring Alarm Security System.

If the comfort of a backup key is a priority for you, choose the Lockly Smart Lock. Smart-device compatible and able to be accessed remotely, there are two extra keys included with purchase. The lock is also Bluetooth enabled, and shareable e-Keys are also an option. Compatible with iOS and Android, the lock also tracks user history, meaning you can get notifications sent directly to your device whenever the door is locked or unlocked.

Other Lockly features worth noting include universal fit for most standard doors and a 3-D fingerprint scanner, meaning you can unlock your door by simply touching the lock. Pretty cool! 

The lock is easy to install, according to feedback, but a little tricky to program, and some say it ended up not fitting their door, despite claiming to be universal-fit. Otherwise, consumer feedback is positive, but particularly the convenience of programming multiple fingerprints and access codes.

An Airbnb or vacation rental is a significant enough investment on its own. It is possible to secure your investment with a quality smart lock at a price you can afford. The Best budget smart lock is the Assure lock. Features of the Assure lock we liked, in particular, include the auto relock, providing peace of mind that your property will never be left unlocked by accident. But this feature can also be disabled so that absent-minded tenants don’t lock themselves out by mistake.

Otherwise, two physical keys are included with purchase just in case, and it’s smart-device compatible and able to be accessed remotely. The keypad is backlit and easy to see at night, and there’s an optional privacy mode. Reviewers call the lock sleek, expandable, highly customizable, and easy to install, matching the finish on doors of different styles. However, when installing the lock, one user says to skip the app and head straight for the Youtube tutorials.

Not all Airbnb and vacation rentals are free-standing buildings. Many are apartments, either walk-up or in an otherwise secure building. If you’re looking to secure an apartment, head straight for the August smart lock. Among the many things we liked about the August smart lock for an apartment was the easy installation. With nothing more than a screwdriver, it attaches over an existing deadbolt. This is particularly important in an apartment building because some may not allow anything more extensive than that.

Otherwise, the lock is smart-device compatible, and with the purchase of the August Wi-Fi Connect Bridge, able to be accessed remotely. There is no key option, unfortunately, but you are able to allow access for specific periods of time, perfect for a short-term rental. We also like the Door Sense, alerting you if the door should happen to be left unlocked or left open. With the ability to let people in remotely, this lock is an excellent solution for an apartment, according to one report.

To put that front door of your rental property on absolute lockdown, choose the deadbolt door lock with keypad from SMONET. This smart-device compatible lock has everything you need to feel confident your property is secure, including a key option and remote access. The Wi-Fi gateway is sold separately, however, but otherwise, the app and software features are comprehensive and easy to use; according to reports. It also looks very sleek and sturdy.

Users love the fact SMONET offers five ways to unlock the door, including APP, keypad, fingerprint, IC card, and mechanical keys. Rental property landlords and property managers especially like the freedom to check how often the door is locked or unlocked, and how many times an incorrect password has been attempted. The SMONET can also generate timed, permanent, one-time, or customized passcodes for guests, housekeepers, the cleaning and maintenance team, or employees. It’s also Alexa compatible.

Key Option: Yes Smart-Device Compatible: Yes Remote Access: Yes Price: 💰💰💰

By their very definition, your Airbnb is a short-term rental, meaning new people will be coming and going all the time. For that reason, the best Airbnb smart lock needs not only to be reliable, but should also be versatile and adaptable enough for high traffic. That lock is the 4th Generation Smart Lock from August. We like the ability to lock and unlock from anywhere, and that no additional bridge is required to connect to Wi-Fi.

August also offers several secure keys that can quickly and conveniently be sent to tenants or cleaning staff. There’s also biometric verification, both fingerprint and facial, with extra security verification required before the lock can be operated remotely. The lock is also compatible with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, making it a great choice for a summer home or AirBnB, according to reports. Some do recommend posting clear instructions for your tenants, however.

Our Process

For this guide on the best smart locks for Airbnb and vacation rentals, our team spent 5 hours researching the most popular options from over 35 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about thirty-five user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each smart lock. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top # [blank] on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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