Ensuring the safety and security of both their guests and their property should be of the utmost importance to all vacation rental owners. The best way to do so is by installing and maintaining a reliable, well-functioning smart lock. Smart locks facilitate remote check-ins and check-outs, significantly decreasing the amount of work associated with managing a short term rental.
This article ranks the 6 best smart locks for Airbnb hosts and their properties in the US based on features and integrations, level of security and protection, device durability and battery life, cost, and online reviews.
The 6 best smart locks for vacation rental property owners are:
- eufy Security Smart Lock C220: Best Overall Vacation Rental Smart Lock
- Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt: Best for Security and Durability
- Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: Best for Unlock Methods
- August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Best for Integrations
- Aqara Smart Lock U100: Best for Fingerprint Access
- TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock: Best for Simplicity and Affordability
How We Chose the Best Smart Locks for Airbnb Hosts
In our selection of the top smart Airbnb locks, we focused on:
- Basic and additional features: First and foremost, we looked for smart locks that provide easy access to multiple users that can be managed remotely. We gave priority to products that offer extra features, such as fingerprint unlock, open door sensors and alarms, and biometric verification
- Third-party integrations: We prioritized smart locks that integrate with different smart home systems
- Security level: All chosen locks meet - and often exceed - industry standards with regards to safety and security
- Installation process: All selected deadbolts can be installed by the owner and require zero drilling and hardwiring
- Reliability: We made sure that customers have not reported frequent operational bugs
- Ease of use: The ranked locks can be unlocked in multiple ways and are easy to lock and unlock
- Durability: The best smart locks for vacation rentals are made from durable materials and withstand harsh weather conditions
- Battery life: We focused on smart locks that have a minimum battery life of 3 months
- Pricing: We considered the cost of various smart locks and compared it to the available features
- Customer reviews: We ranked only smart Airbnb locks with 4+ star ratings
- Value for money: Finally, we selected the smart locks that offer the best value for money to Airbnb hosts
The table below summarizes the main features of the best Airbnb smart locks:
eufy Security Smart Lock C220: Best Overall Vacation Rental Smart Lock
eufy Security Smart Lock C220 is Amazon’s Choice in the Deadbolts category which is awarded to highly rated, well-priced products. This testifies to the status of this deadbolt as the best smart lock for Airbnb properties.
What distinguishes eufy Security Smart Lock C220 from other similar products is the optimal combination between available features and price. This is a biometric keypad deadbolt, which means that it can be unlocked in multiple ways, including fingerprints, the eufy app, passwords (using the keypad), an Apple Watch, voice commad, and physical keys. The lock can be remotely controlled via the eufy app. The ability to set up 100 passcodes makes this lock a particularly good fit for Airbnb properties with high occupancy, while hosts, property managers, and property management teams can use fingerprints for additional convenience.
eufy Security Smart Lock C220 integrates with Amazon Alexa, Google Voice Assistant, and eufy doorbell.
The product fits most standard deadbolts in the US and requires about 15 minutes to install by a non-professional. No drilling or hardwiring needed.
eufy Security Smart Lock C220 is made of durable aluminum able to sustain extreme weather, lasts for years, and looks sleek. It comes with an 18-month warranty from the manufacturer.
The batteries are supposed to last about 8 months with regular use (an average of 10 unlocks per day), and there is a low-battery indication.
Customers are generally satisfied with this product, resulting in an average rating of 4.3/5 stars on Amazon, based on 925 reviews. Homeowners and rental property owners highlight the wide compatibility, the strong performance, the good quality, and the high value. The main complaints include poor WiFi connectivity, software glitches, and shorter-than-expected battery life.
eufy Security Smart Lock C220 is available on Amazon for $149.99, which is comparable to the prices of other top smart locks.
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt: Best for Security and Durability
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is one of the most popular smart locks of all. Our research shows that it is a particularly good choice for Airbnb hosts who prioritize security and durability over other features. It is graded best in security, durability, and finish by industry experts. Otherwise, it’s a bit more limited than other options.
This Schlage smart lock constitutes a deadbolt with a keypad and does not offer fingerprint access. Guests, hosts, and property managers can unlock the property with passcodes entered via the keypad, the Schlage Home app, a smartphone, or physical keys. Owners have access to 100 passcodes, which makes this product a feasible solution for busy short term rentals.
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt offers integrations with the most widely used smart home systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, Ring, and Schlage Home App. This makes it easy for the lock to become a part of a smartly operated vacation rental.
The manufacturer does not specify any limitations on the door types and keyhole sizes on which this smart lock can work. Installation can be easily done by the property owner or the property manager and requires only a screwdriver.
The most important characteristic of Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is that it provides advanced security compared to other top smart locks for Airbnb properties. Namely, the product is certified with the highest AAA rating in residential Security, Durability and Finish by industry experts. As such, the lock comes with a built-in alarm that is able to detect forceful attempts to open the door. Moreover, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty. These features make this smart lock a popular choice among remote hosts.
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt requires 4 AA batteries that are included in the package and last for about 6 months.
Customer satisfaction is high as this product has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars on Amazon, based on 13,960 reviews, more than other top smart locks. Customers are mostly happy with the ease of installation, the ease of use, the smooth operations, and the good appearance. Some customers complain about problems with connectivity and the frequent need to change batteries (much more often than once every 6 months).
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt can be purchased from Amazon for $229. This makes it the most expensive option on our list of the best smart locks for different short term rental properties, but the better security specifications might be worth the extra cost.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi: Best for Unlock Methods
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is another biometric deadbolt featuring a keypad as well as fingerprint access. Indeed, this smart lock offers more unlock options than any other product on our list.
As an important characteristic of a modern smart lock, Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi works with a few smart home softwares, including Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT.
But what makes Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi truly one of the best smart locks is the ability to unlock it using 8 different methods. Namely, guests, owners, and others can enter a vacation rental using fingerprints, keypad and access code, smartphone, auto unlock functionality, web portal, eKey sharing, Apple Watch, or mechanical keys. The fingerprint technology is particularly advanced as the lock can be unlocked within 0.3 seconds with an accuracy of 99.8%. Thus, access can be granted easily to anyone who is supposed to be able to enter the property.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi can be installed on most standard doors and keyholes, with DIY installation that requires only a screwdriver.
This smart lock is certified Highest Grade 1 Commercial Level of Security and Durability and is up to 35x stronger than standard residential locks and has a 7x longer lifespan. Furthermore, the lock comes with an 18-month warranty on electronics and lifetime warranty on mechanics.
The batteries are supposed to last 3-6 months, but many customers share that they actually go for as little as 3-4 weeks, which is rather impractical.
This smart lock is generally liked by customers who have given it an average rating of 4.0/5 on Amazon, based on 2,193 reviews. Customers praise the intuitive installation, the quick setup, the good fit, and the helpful features. Meanwhile, some customers have experienced problems with fingerprint recognition, jamming, and bad internet connectivity.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is available on Amazon for $199, which is a good price considering the available features and the security level.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Best for Integrations
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is another popular choice among Airbnb owners and hosts. Importantly, this deadbolt integrates with more smart home systems than most competitors.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a biometric deadbolt with a keypad that can be unlocked using the auto unlock function, smartphone, or physical key. The lock can be unlocked with a code entered onto a keypad that needs to be purchased separately. As this is the most popular access method for short term rentals, interested hosts need to consider buying the compatible keypad as well.
To contribute to the furnishing of a smart home, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock integrates with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Unlike other alternatives, this smart lock offers optional two-factor authentication for additional safety and security. The DoorSense technology allows owners to know when the door is open, closed, locked, and unlocked and to automatically lock the door once it has been closed or after a certain amount of time.
As a result of the available features, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock has been voted CNET Editor’s Choice for 2020 and 2021, Best Smart Lock by Good Housekeeping for 2021, and Best Smart Lock by Tom’s Guide for 2021.
This top smart lock works on most single cylinder deadbolts, and the installation process takes an average of 10 minutes, with no professional experience or skills required.
The batteries should last about 3 months, but many homeowners report that they get drained after 2 weeks.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is made of durable metal materials and has a cleaner design than most other smart locks, mostly due to the lack of a keypad (which needs to be additionally installed for complete functionality). The manufacturer provides a 1-year warranty.
This August smart lock enjoys good customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.1/5 stars on Amazon, based on 10,544 reviews (more than many other smart locks). Property owners enjoy good functionality, remote control, up-to-date status reports, and convenience. Dissatisfied customers highlight poor operations, malfunctions, and unavailable customer support.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock can be purchased on Amazon for $133.96, which makes it one of the most affordable smart locks for Airbnb hosts.
Aqara Smart Lock U100: Best for Fingerprint Access
Aqara Smart Lock U100 comes with a fingerprint reader that works with a technology superior to the technologies used by other smart locks.
Aqara Smart Lock U100 is a biometric keypad deadbolt that can be opened in multiple ways including fingerprints, keypad codes, iPhone, Apple Watch, and mechanical keys. Owners can set up 50 different fingerprints as well as numerous remotely configurable passwords (via the Aqara Home app, which requires an Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub) and one-time local passwords for short term visitors. This makes the product a good fit for busy vacation rentals.
Aqara Smart Lock U100 integrations include Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and the Aqara Home app.
One of the most important features of this smart lock is the high-precision fingerprint reader that boasts a recognition time of less than 0.5 seconds and a recognition rate of more than 98.6%.
This smart lock fits 2-1/8" door holes on wooden doors of a certain thickness range, so hosts should check compatibility before purchasing the product. Meanwhile, DIY installation is possible and requires some basic tools, with no drilling for most doors.
Aqara Smart Lock U100 uses durable zinc (withstanding a wide range of temperatures), and the design is modern and sleek. The length and conditions of the warranty are not specified by the manufacturer.
The smart lock works with 4 AA batteries that are included in the package and that last up to 8 months, which is good compared to alternatives.
Aqara Smart Lock U100 is generally liked by customers, who have given it an average rating of 4.2/5 on Amazon, based on 1,133 reviews. The main pros of this smart lock according to property owners who use it are the smooth installation process, the quality of the fingerprint technology, the responsiveness, and the pleasant appearance. The major cons, on the other hand, include poor connection with the hub, problematic operations, frequent needs for resets, and inconsistency in performance.
Currently, Aqara Smart Lock U100 can be bought on Amazon for $189.99.
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock: Best for Simplicity and Affordability
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock is the simplest and cheapest among the best smart locks for Airbnb properties and hosts, yet it provides all features and functionalities that are expected from such a device. It is ranked as the #1 Best Seller in the Deadbolts category on Amazon.
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock is a standard keypad deadbolt without much technology. It can be unlocked in two ways: entering a passcode via the keypad or using a physical key. The device can store up to 20 access codes, which makes it a good choice for vacation rental properties whose owners value simplicity and ease of use.
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock doesn’t integrate with any smart home softwares, which might be a disadvantage for some short term rental investors. Operating the smart lock does not require WiFi or an app.
The smart lock is compatible with 2-1/8" door holes and requires only a few minutes to be installed, using a screwdriver.
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock is made of an aluminum alloy and is weather resistant and durable. The design is less sophisticated than other smart locks. The manufacturer provides a 1-year replacement free of charge.
The required batteries are not included in the package, and they last for about 12 months, which is more than the average smart lock. Moreover, customers do not generally report shorter battery life.
As the best-selling deadbolt on Amazon, TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock has an average rating of 4.5/5 based on as many as 13,190 customer reviews. Satisfied homeowners enjoy the easy assembly and use, the high quality, and the strong performance. Other customers report fake unlocking sounds, malfunctions, and unhelpful instructions.
TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock is available for $32.78 on Amazon, making it the most affordable option for hosts on a tight budget.
The Bottom Line
These are the 6 best smart locks for vacation rental properties and their owners, among hundreds of options available in the US market. eufy Security Smart Lock C220 is the absolute best Airbnb smart lock as it offers strong features, the latest technology, multiple integrations, and convenient unlock methods at a competitive price. Owners looking for superior security can check out Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, while hosts on a budget can consider TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock.
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