What is the best smart lock for Airbnb? Smart locks allow your Airbnb guests to open the door in different ways. They may enter their personal codes on the keypad, use their fingerprints or a smartphone. While being more technologically sophisticated, biometric locks are not the best option for Airbnb rental. We recommend smart locks with an auto-unlock feature that can detect when your guest arrives and automatically unlock the door.

App-connected locks are of great convenience for an Airbnb host as you can control your door remotely, create codes for other individuals, and see who and when visits your apartment. You can set codes not only for your guests but also a cleaner, plumber, and others. An Alexa-compatible option will let your guests lock and unlock the door with a voice command while the Z-Wave locks offer full home automation.

Smart Locks for Airbnb Compared

1. Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Available in 4 sleek colors, this slim deadbolt comes with a touchscreen keypad and the Yale Access App. It unlocks the door automatically as you arrive at home with a smartphone. You can also use the keypad to enter your apartment.

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2. Yale Assure Lock with Z-Wave - Smart Touchscreen Deadbolt
To be able to unlock it from anywhere via the app, you need to add the lock to a Z-Wave smart home system like Wink. You can enter your Airbnb apartment by punching in your code on the keypad. Mounting hardware is included.

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Renting out your property not only brings you benefits but is also fraught with risks. When you provide your guests with a physical key for a limited time, there is always a risk of unauthorized access after they move out of the apartment. And this is where a modern smart lock can come to your rescue.

Comparison of Smart Locks for Airbnb: Keypad, Bluetooth, Z-Wave & WiFi Door Locks

Easy-to-use yet secure, such a device offers multiple benefits. You can operate it remotely and give your guests their personal temporary passcodes. Once your guests check out, you delete the code. Smart locks vary in their features but there are combined types as well.

Z-Wave Smart Locks

Z-Wave technology is a new wireless protocol providing faster and more secure access. This technology establishes a wireless mesh network, linking up devices that communicate with each other by sending signals on a dedicated frequency. The more Z-Wave devices you have installed in your Airbnb apartment, the stronger the network.

Z-wave smart locks are gaining popularity among customers because of their full home automation features, which often surpass those of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi locks. They offer more integrations with smart home products and an excellent range. The downside to Z-wave technology is that it does not allow for direct communication with your smartphone but rather requires an additional Z-Wave hub.

A great example is the Yale Assure Lock with Z-Wave, which requires a smart home hub and an app. You will need to add the lock to a Z-Wave smart home system, such as Wink, Ring Alarm, and Samsung SmartThings. To enter the apartment, your Airbnb guests will need to use their unique codes. You will not have to worry whether they have forgotten to lock the front door as it will automatically lock behind them. The lock has a touchscreen keypad that illuminates upon touch. The deadbolt is motorized, weather-resistant, and is good for all kinds of doors including misaligned ones.

You may also try the Schlage Deadbolt. Like the previous product, this one pairs with Z Wave systems like Ring Alarm and Samsung SmartThings. Alexa-compatible, it features a built-in alarm and a touchscreen keypad. You can set up to 30 codes for your guests as well as lock and unlock the door remotely via the app.

Bluetooth Smart Locks

Bluetooth smart locks come with the same set of features as WiFi devices. Their advantage lies in consuming less battery power and enhanced convenience. In addition to WiFi capabilities, Bluetooth smart locks can open the door automatically when your smartphone is within a range of several feet. This significantly reduces the risk of hacking because an intruder needs to be near the lock to be able to try to open it. Besides, this is a more flexible option as you can choose whether to give your Airbnb guests codes or Bluetooth e-keys.

One of the best smart locks for Airbnb is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. The device attaches over the existing deadbolt and is easily installed in just 10 minutes. It works with a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth and has an auto-unlock feature. Certified by Amazon, it works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and other smart hubs. The August app allows you to send e-keys to your guests, track people coming in and out with the Activity Feed, and receive alerts. The product includes a keypad allowing the Airbnb host to create unique codes for guests and other people.

With the Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi Smart Lock, you can use the Bluetooth auto-unlock feature. If necessary, you can disable the Bluetooth auto-unlock function while keeping the Bluetooth lock feature active, or disable both. You can set your Bluetooth smart lock to unlock the door automatically, use a touchscreen keypad or the Yale Access App. The device is made with a long-lasting Li-ion battery and sleek bronze finish.

 

Keypad Smart Locks

Almost all smart locks include a keypad as the main or one of the ways to open your front door. In addition to a master code, keypad smart locks allow for setting up a number of codes for different people. They are made either with buttons or a touchscreen, with the latter being a more durable option for Airbnb apartments.

Many smart locks are designed with two options for opening the door: with the keypad and app. With the Yale Lock, you can unlock the door using a touchscreen and create passcodes for your guests. Alternatively, you can use the app, where you will get notifications and set codes. With voice control through Google Assistant, you can check your door’s status and control it hands-free. Note that the product comes without a WiFi feature, so you will need to buy Nest Connect to make it work.

WiFi Smart Locks

You can pair WiFi compatible locks with Amazon Echo and other smart home hubs. These products come with downloadable apps, through which you can lock and unlock your front door, given there is a WiFi connection. This is a very convenient solution for Airbnb hosts as they get complete control over their property while giving enough freedom to their guests. You can see who and how often opened and closed the door as well as share codes with other individuals like a plumber. You will not have to make copies of the keys and remember who you gave them to.

For example, the Kwikset Smart Lock connects directly to your smartphone and Wi-Fi network, without the need for any hub or subscription. With the Kwikset App, you can create, disable, and delete up to 250 codes, set schedules, and view the lock’s activity. What we particularly like about this lock is that you can create different types of codes. For instance, there is a one-time user code that can be entered only once and is active within a day. The limited user code can be used within set times while the anytime code is for unlimited everyday use. Made with metal and powered from 4 AA batteries, the device works with Google Assistant and Alexa.

Another popular model is the Schlage Deadbolt. It features built-in Wi-Fi and pairs with the Schlage Home app. The lock quickly connects directly to your network without the need for a smart home hub. The system stores up to 100 access codes for different individuals, has an alarm, and a durable touchscreen. Powered by a Li-ion battery, the unit weighs 3 pounds and has a sleek matte black finish.

Biometric Smart Locks

This technology is more of a hassle and is suitable only for longer-term vacation rentals. Most biometric locks use fingerprint authentication to provide access to the apartment. Your guests need to provide samples of their fingerprints, which you will then enroll in a database. Typically, the system can store dozens of fingerprints of authorized users. The obvious advantage is stronger security provided by biometric locks as they are harder to hack. Also, your guests will neither forget nor lose their fingerprints.

What makes biometric smart locks a poor choice for Airbnb is that many of your guests may decline to provide their fingerprints, and understandably so. Another disadvantage is that such a device does not give you much flexibility as compared to app-enabled smart locks.

Best-Selling Smart Locks for Airbnb in the UK| Comparison Table

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