6 best smart locks for vacation rentals in 2024

A guest arrives at their vacation rental, opens the lock box that contains the key…only to find it inaccessible. They have to sit and wait after traveling all day, leading them to a bad first impression and a negative review. 

Or equally frustrating, a guest loses their only key to the property and you have to come late at night to give them a spare. If you’re still using traditional locks on your vacation rentals, you may have run into similar frustrations, which simply aren’t sustainable across a large STR portfolio. 

These scenarios don’t occur with smart locks. Both guests and vacation rental managers can enjoy a streamlined experience as you implement scalable processes with increased access control. 

In this article, we’ll explain:

• Why you should be using smart locks 
• What features to look out for
• A review of the following brands:
  
  • Igloohome
  • Nuki
  • August
  • Yale
  • Schlage
  • Kwikset

What is a short-term rental smart lock?

Smart locks are a type of smart home technology for vacation rentals that simplify the arrival process for guests and make it easy for property managers to run their units remotely. Vacation rental smart locks allow guests or staff to access your units via an access code or mobile key by connecting to Bluetooth or WiFi. 

Smart lock buying guide: Different kinds of keyless access

Just like every vacation rental unit caters for different holidaymakers, there are different smart locks for every vacation rental unit. Here’s an overview of the types of smart lock available.  

Keypad

Digital keypad locks operate by establishing a designated numerical code which is entered to unlock the door. They are commonly used in vacation rentals. Each guest is assigned a unique code which is adjusted after checkout. 

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Bluetooth

These are highly versatile smart locks, activated when they detect devices like smartphones nearby. They support multiple devices and can be customized with access permissions based on users and time parameters. 

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Wifi

These smart locks are usually included in security system kits that integrate with a smart hub in your vacation rental. They are typically controlled via the guest’s smartphone and are excellent for big groups, as they can easily monitor entries and exits.

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Z-wave

Unlike Wi-Fi, Z-Wave locks don’t connect directly to your phone. Instead, they need to connect to a Z-wave compatible hub. Once set up, you can remotely access, monitor, and control your smart locks from anywhere globally. You also get the added security of an additional layer of protection against hacking. 

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Biometric

Biometric smart locks work by scanning a part of a person’s body such as their fingerprint and verifying whether they are allowed entry or not. More advanced locks can use retinal or iris recognition.

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RFID

RFID locks use radio frequencies to identify cards or fobs that are authorized to pass through a door. If you’ve ever used a keycard to get into an office building, you’ve come across this technology before.

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What are the benefits of keyless entry at vacation rentals 

Smart locks aren’t just about convenience—they provide a smoother guest experience, help keep your properties safe, and automate manual tasks. Here are a few reasons why you should be using smart locks at your properties: 

• Better arrival experience: When guests get to your property, they want to access the unit ASAP. With smart locks, they don’t have to coordinate their arrival with one of your staff members or wait for someone to show up and give them a key, helping you get off on the right foot with your guests. 

• Enhanced guest experience: Modern guests expect an experience that aligns with their other consumer interactions. This means their stay should be tech-enabled, frictionless, and independent.
• Enhanced security: Whether it’s a guest unintentionally forgetting to lock the front door, or in the worst case, making a copy of your key to access your unit in the future, traditional locks aren’t 100% safe. Smart locks, on the other hand, give you complete control over who’s accessing your properties and when. 

• Smoother operations: Because you don’t have to deploy staff to give guests their key at every check-in, you can operate with a smaller team or free up your employees’ time to focus on more important tasks. Additionally, using smart locks helps you facilitate the turnover process, as you can remotely share access codes with cleaners and maintenance workers. 

But don’t just stop at switching your door locks out. If you want to get the most out of smart locks at your properties, you need to use complementary short-term rental software. For example, make sure your PMS connects to your smart locks so it assigns a code or mobile key to each guest. 

Additionally, look into a vacation rental protection and guest communication system that helps you monitor your properties remotely and automatically shares access codes and keys with guests. 

Pro tip: You can support a tech-enabled guest and host experience with Minut's solution to privacy-safe noise monitoring. This includes:

• Noise and occupancy monitoring with auto-alerts when there's a problem
• Cigarette smoke detection 
• Window-break detection
• Home alarm and motion detection
• Trigger-activated guest messaging
• Humidity and climate monitoring
• Mold-risk analysis
• Smart home and property management integrations, including multiple PMSs, smart locks and customer experience solutions
  

What to look for when choosing the perfect smart lock

Consider these features and characteristics when selecting your lock to ensure you choose the best solution for your units: 

• The installation process: You might be able to find smart locks that retrofit to your existing lock, so do your research on the type of locks you have currently. 
• Accessibility: Your guest needs a smart lock that is simple to use and won’t cause frustration. Keypads could be the best solution since they’re the simplest to understand. 

• Connectivity specs: Some devices may require your property to have a reliable WiFi connection to work, so keep that in mind if your unit is located in a remote, unconnected area. 

• Unique temporary access codes: You want your lock to create a unique code for each person who accesses the property, which is essential to keeping your units safe. 
• Remote access control: The option to revoke access to guests who have broken house rules such as your no-smoking policy is something to consider, particularly if your guests continuously refuse to follow the rules after your intervention. 

• Integrations: Choosing a smart lock that integrates with other smart technology and tech stack, such as your PMS, noise monitoring devices, cigarette smoke detection and smart thermostats ensure a more robust overview over the goings on in your vacation rental. 
• Guest messaging can also be integrated with smart locks, using activity as a trigger for a welcome message where you can also remind guests of the house rules. 

The 6 best smart locks for your vacation rental portfolio

Smart locks are a must-have vacation rental amenity for modern guests who expect the very best from the moment they arrive at your property. They also have a big impact on your ability to scale your business from a few properties to a few hundred by giving you more flexibility when it comes to check-ins and check-outs. 

Here are our top six picks for the best smart locks for short-term rentals to help you choose a solution that will give guests a more enjoyable stay and reduce your workload.

1. igloohome

igloohome has a range of smart locks equipped with keypads and compatible with Bluetooth keys. The locks don’t need WiFi to work, and you can revoke access or view who’s accessed your properties remotely via the mobile app. 

With igloohome locks, you can manually generate unique pin codes for different users. Or if you want to stay more hands-off, iglooconnect (which integrates with Minut, Airbnb, and other vacation rental software) automatically generates unique codes for each of your guests.

Which locks are available to you depends on where you operate, as availability varies by geographical region. Some of igloohome’s best vacation rental smart locks include: 

• Retrofit Lock (€179) that lets you transform your existing lock into a smart lock (not available in North America)
• Deadbolt 2S ($209.99/€249) for a super slim lock that works with PIN codes, Bluetooth keys, and physical keys and comes with an auto-lock feature ‍
• Mortise 2 (€379.99) which you can sync with your Airbnb account and comes with four modes of access (not available in North America)

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2. Nuki

Nuki gives you automated access management with smart locks designed to fit the needs of short-term rental managers and Airbnb hosts. Installation is incredibly quick and simple, taking just 15 minutes, and you can connect your locks to your PMS or Minut to automatically share access codes. 

The locks are fitted on the inside of your unit’s door and you can manage them remotely thanks to a built-in WiFi functionality. Nuki’s power pack battery holds charge for up to six months, and you can charge it by connecting it to a power source via a USB-C cable. 

‍Nuki offers a range of lock solutions, but the company recommends its Smart Lock 3.0 Pro (€289) for vacation rentals. With this lock, you can monitor access via the Nuki app, automatically share digital keys with guests, and remotely provide access with the Auto Unlock feature.

3. August 

August smart locks let you offer self check-in to your guests while protecting your properties. You can install them over your existing deadbolt in just minutes, letting you offer your guests access via a secure virtual key. 

August Home integrates with Airbnb and automatically generates a unique entry key for each booking, which gets sent to your guest before check-in. Guests use the August app to access their mobile key, or if you install a keypad, you can send them a unique PIN code. Plus, you can manually grant remote access to allow cleaners or maintenance staff to access your properties. 

August offers a few different types of smart locks, but for its vacation rental clients, the company recommends the Hands-Free Smart Home Bundle ($264.9) or New Home Housewarming Bundle ($344.99). 

4. Yale

Yale is one of the best-known smart lock producers on the market, and the company has a number of smart locks that work great for vacation rentals. That’s because Yale Assure locks connect to Airbnb, automating code generation and guest messaging all within the Airbnb platform. 

Like the other locks on this list, you can also remotely grant access to cleaning crews or maintenance staff and manually create recurring access codes. This all happens on the Yale Access App, where you can also view historical access activity. Best of all, installation takes just minutes, as you can easily replace your existing deadbolt with Yale’s locks. 

These are the lock options Yale recommends for short-term rental hosts and property managers: 

• Yale Assure Lock 2 Keypad with Wi-Fi ($239.99), a push button keypad with the option of a physical key
• Yale Assure Lock 2 Touchscreen with Wi-Fi ($259.99), a touchscreen keypad with the option of a physical key
• Yale Assure Lock 2 Key-Free Touchscreen with Wi-Fi ($259.99), a completely keyless option that lets you create unique passcodes

5. Schlage

Schlage is another trusted home automation company that creates reliable smart locks that you can control remotely. Schlage Encode™ locks connect with the Schlage Home app, which allows you to lock and unlock your door from anywhere, as well as set unique permanent, temporary, or recurring access codes. Alternatively, you can share virtual keys with your guests via the app. 

Schlage locks have built-in WiFi, connecting to your home’s network, and you can view lock status remotely so you can rest assured your unit is locked when vacant. Plus, Schlage Encode™ locks connect with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, meaning your Airbnb guests can enjoy the convenience of locking the doors from the sofa. 

‍Because these locks connect with the Schlage Home smartphone app, Schlage recommends any of its Encode™ devices for short-term rentals (prices vary depending on retailer). This includes the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt and the Schlage Encode Plus™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt, the latter of which even works with Apple home keys.

6. Kwikset

Kwikset is a well-known manufacturer of residential locks with a variety of products including remotely controlled smart locks that can be integrated into your vacation rental. You can control access to your property from anywhere using your smartphone, manage user access codes and receive automated notifications for lock activity. 

Cleaners and maintenance crews can be scheduled and assigned codes to grant them entry to the vacation rental and a log of each entry and exit is kept so you can always keep track of who is coming and going. 

‍Kwikset’s Halo Touch ($249.00 on Amazon) works with just your fingerprint and is Wifi enabled. It connects with the Kwikset App and does not require a smart home hub. Alternatively, the Aura Bluetooth Smart Door Lock ($131.36 on Amazon) connects to your mobile device using Bluetooth and works within a 100ft range.

Connect your locks to an all-in-one vacation rental security solution for smoother, safer operations

All the devices we’ve covered in this article are reliable locking systems that can give you greater peace of mind while providing more convenience for guests. To ensure you pick the lock that will best fit your needs, ask yourself the following questions when making your decision: 

• Can this lock be fitted over my existing lock?
• Does this lock need connection to a WiFi network to work or does it work offline?
• Can I manage and monitor access remotely?
• Does this lock integrate with my existing systems and software?

On top of investing in smart locks, we recommend using an all-in-one short-term rental protection device like the privacy-safe Minut sensor. Minut integrates with igloohome and Nuki smart locks, meaning it automatically sends guests their access information. 

The device also comes with other home protection features like noise and occupancy monitoring, cigarette smoke detection, temperature and humidity tracking, and a security alarm, so you can have real-time visibility across your portfolio and keep your guests and properties safe.