Which keypad or smart lock is best for a short-term rental?

The basics

The best lock for a rental is the one that gives every stay its own code without a trip to the door, fits your door and is supported by whatever sends your codes. That might be Airbnb itself, your property management software or a lock platform. Support narrows the field more than any feature list does.

We compared six widely sold locks using what their makers and the software vendors publish. We did not install or test them. If you have strong Wi-Fi at the door, the Schlage Encode and Encode Plus are the safest bet on paper, because Airbnb, Hospitable, OwnerRez and RemoteLock all list them. If the home has no Wi-Fi, a non-connected keypad deadbolt with a key backup is simpler and has less to fail.

The locks compared

"Not stated" means the official page we read did not say. List prices are from each maker's page on Oct 30, 2026 and change often.

What stands out for hosts

• Scheduled codes. Kwikset's Halo page is the most specific. It describes date-range codes for vacationers, one-time codes that work once within 24 hours and recurring weekday and time windows for cleaners. Ultraloq says you can share "permanent, scheduled or temporary access." The other pages we read do not spell this out, though a connected platform can still create and remove codes for each stay.
• Battery life. August's page gives the lock up to 3 months on two CR123 batteries, the shortest figure here. Schlage gives the Encode up to six months on 4 AA batteries. Plan battery changes on a schedule, not when the lock warns you.
• Key-free models. Yale sells key-free versions of the Assure Lock 2, with no keyway at all. If the batteries die, the page says you can jump-start it with a 9V battery. With no key, your backup has to be another door or a lockbox code you can share.
• Yale model numbers. Yale's page says Wi-Fi models need a 2.4GHz network, but a footnote says a Wi-Fi module upgrade is needed for remote access on some Assure Lock 2 products. Hospitable lists the Wi-Fi models ending in -WF1 and says Bluetooth versions need a bridge, so check the model number before you buy.
• Retrofit. The August lock attaches inside the door over your current deadbolt, so the outside looks the same and your keys keep working. That can matter where a building or HOA controls exterior hardware.

Schlage Encode Plus

The Encode Plus (opens in a new tab) is the Encode with built-in Wi-Fi plus Thread and Apple Home Keys support, listed from $329. Schlage's support site says Encode locks, including model BE499 (the Encode Plus), store up to 100 codes (opens in a new tab). The product page we read did not list battery or door measurements, so check the installation guide before you buy.

Which platforms and software support each lock

This is the table to check before you buy. A lock your software cannot talk to means typing codes by hand. Each column comes from the vendor's own list, read on Oct 30, 2026.

What each source says:

• Airbnb. Airbnb's smart lock article (opens in a new tab) lists certain Schlage, August and Yale models and says integrations for other models are not supported. The feature is only for listings in the US and Canada. The lock must be on Wi-Fi, only one lock can be connected per listing and you must add a backup entry method. Guests get a unique code that works only during their stay. Codes you add in the lock's own app, such as your cleaner's, stay under your control.
• Hospitable. Hospitable's supported lock list (opens in a new tab) says the lock must support Wi-Fi, and some brands need a hub. August and some Yale models must have a keypad, and Bluetooth versions of the Yale Assure Lock 2 must connect to a bridge for Wi-Fi. It also lists Schlage Connect Z-Wave models through SmartThings with a hub. It says Schlage Arrive locks are not supported. It also says it cannot connect new RemoteLock accounts or devices right now.
• OwnerRez. OwnerRez has a Schlage integration (opens in a new tab) that covers connecting a Schlage lock for guest access automation. Confirm which models are supported and any per-lock fee in OwnerRez's costs and fees (opens in a new tab) before you buy. It also has a RemoteLock integration (opens in a new tab) that sets a code automatically each time a booking is created.
• RemoteLock. RemoteLock's device list (opens in a new tab) includes the Schlage Encode, Encode Plus and Schlage Connect, several Kwikset and Yale models, an August model and many Igloohome models. It does not list Ultraloq.

How to choose

There is no Wi-Fi at the home

A Wi-Fi lock without Wi-Fi is just a keypad lock that cost more. Choose a non-connected keypad deadbolt such as the Kwikset 260 SmartCode, which holds 50 codes and has a key cylinder. Codes are set at the lock itself. On Kwikset's Powerbolt 2, for example, you add and delete codes (opens in a new tab) by entering a master code on the keypad, and it holds 6 user codes plus one temporary one-time code. That means a code change at each turnover, usually by your cleaner.

You need a new code for every stay without visiting

You need a connected lock and something to send codes. If you only host on Airbnb in the US, a model on Airbnb's list can issue a code per stay with no extra software. If you use property management software, buy from that software's list first and decide which system sends codes so guests do not get two.

HOA, building and local rules

Condos, apartments and some HOAs control what goes on the exterior of a door. Ask in writing before you change a lock. A retrofit lock like the August keeps the outside hardware as it is. Some cities also have short-term rental rules about emergency access, so check your local rules.

Your door

Measure door thickness and backset before you buy, and compare them with the ranges in the table. Thick doors may need a kit. Most of these locks are deadbolts for a standard single-bore door. Check the maker's installation guide if your door has an unusual bore or a mortise lock.

Weak or distant Wi-Fi

Test the signal at the door, not in the living room. Several of these locks need a 2.4GHz network. If the lock goes offline, a platform may not be able to send a working code in time.

Keep a lockbox as backup

Every lock fails eventually. Batteries die, Wi-Fi drops and keypads break. Airbnb requires a backup entry method when you connect a lock, and it is good practice everywhere. A simple combination lockbox with a spare key, mounted out of sight, needs no power. Our smart lock or lockbox answer compares the two, and the safety and entry picks include lockboxes checked against retailer pages. The self check-in guide covers arrival instructions and code rotation.