Published 2026-10-02 · 11 min read

August vs Kwikset for Landlords (2026): Retrofit Smart Lock vs Keypad Deadbolt for Rentals

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General information only: this article is for educational purposes and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Prices change frequently — verify current pricing on each product's page before you buy. Check your state and local laws before changing locks or lock-access policies at a rental.

Every tenant turnover forces the same decision: rekey the locks or live with the risk of old keys floating around. A locksmith rekey runs $75–$150 per door each time, and across a portfolio of units that recurring bill gets painful. Smart locks end it: revoke a digital key or delete a tenant code when the lease ends, and the old access dies instantly — no service call, no scheduling, no wondering how many copies are out there.

Two brands dominate landlord conversations more than any others: August and Kwikset. They solve the same problem from opposite philosophies. August is a retrofit smart lock that bolts onto the inside of your existing deadbolt and never changes how the door looks. Kwikset is the classic keypad-deadbolt approach — the Kwikset Halo with a tenant-facing touchscreen, and the Kwikset SmartKey system that lets you rekey a cylinder yourself in about 30 seconds. Here's how they stack up for actual rental duty, with pricing verified as of fall 2026.

At a Glance: August vs Kwikset

August and Kwikset Halo both offer remote lock/unlock, activity history, and scheduled access. Neither requires a monthly subscription. The choice comes down to install philosophy, how your tenants actually get in the door, and whether you want full digital control or the simplicity of a keypad plus cheap physical rekeying.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: The Invisible Retrofit

August takes the path of least resistance: the lock installs on the inside of your door in about 10 minutes with a screwdriver, fitting over most standard single-cylinder deadbolts. Nothing about the door's exterior changes — the deadbolt, keyway, and curb appeal stay exactly as they are. Check current August pricing — the 4th Gen model lists at $229.99 but routinely sells in the $150–$185 range.

The killer feature for landlords is unlimited digital keys. Issue a tenant a permanent key for the lease term, a contractor a scheduled key valid only Tuesdays 9–5, and a cleaner a recurring weekend window. At move-out, revoke the tenant's key in the August app and the access dies instantly — no truck roll, no new hardware, no rekey appointment. Auto-unlock detects the tenant's phone on arrival and unlocks as they approach, which tenants love; auto-lock secures the door behind them.

Trade-offs: August is app-first. A tenant with no smartphone can still use the existing physical key (the deadbolt stays), but they can't get a digital key. If you want a keypad on the door, August sells a separate keypad accessory. And batteries are 2× CR123 — budget for a swap every 3–6 months per door, and keep a spare set in your maintenance kit. For portfolio owners, the retrofit advantage compounds: August installs on whatever deadbolts your units already have, so mixed hardware across properties is no problem.

Kwikset Halo: The Tenant-Friendly Keypad

The Kwikset Halo is built around the one thing August lacks out of the box: a touchscreen keypad on the door. Tenants punch in a 4–8 digit code — no app, no smartphone, no Bluetooth pairing dance. For tenant demographics that skew older or less tech-comfortable, the keypad is the difference between a smooth move-in and a support call at 10pm.

Halo Wi-Fi models (including the newer Halo Select) connect directly to your Wi-Fi with no hub. You get remote lock/unlock, real-time notifications, and up to 250 user codes managed from the Kwikset app. Set a tenant code for the lease term, a one-time contractor code, and delete codes at turnover in seconds. The cylinder is SmartKey, so the physical key can be rekeyed in about 30 seconds with the included tool — useful if you ever need to rotate the physical backup key.

Street pricing for Halo Wi-Fi keypad models typically lands in the $190–$260 range, with the Halo Select toward the top. Batteries are 4× AA — cheaper and easier to source than CR123s. The install is a full deadbolt replacement, so budget 30–45 minutes per door and a door-prep check (standard 2-1/8" bore works).

The main downside versus August: it's a visible hardware change, and if your units have mismatched or high-end exterior hardware you care about, the Halo replaces it. It also lacks August's deep guest-key scheduling flexibility — codes are codes, not time-boxed digital keys with the same granularity.

Kwikset SmartKey: The Budget Workhorse

Don't overlook the non-smart option. A standard Kwikset deadbolt with SmartKey technology lets you rekey the cylinder yourself in about 30 seconds with no locksmith — insert the current key, insert the SmartKey tool, insert the new key, done. The deadbolt itself costs ~$30–$60, and a SmartKey reset cradle (~$15) makes the process even smoother across a portfolio.

For landlords who self-manage nearby and don't want another battery-powered device per door, SmartKey solves the rekey cost problem at a fraction of the price of any smart lock. It doesn't solve remote access, code management, or lockout calls — but for a single nearby duplex, that's often a fine trade. Pair a SmartKey deadbolt with a lockbox for contractor access and you've spent under $100 per door all-in.

Pricing: What Each Option Actually Costs a Landlord

Payback math: at one turnover per year per door, any of these three pays for itself against locksmith rekeys within the first 12–24 months. August and Halo add remote management on top; SmartKey wins purely on upfront cost.

Turnover Workflow: How Each Handles Move-Out Day

August: Open the app, revoke the outgoing tenant's key, issue the incoming tenant a new one. If you want the physical key rotated too, your existing deadbolt is still there — rekey it on your own schedule, not the tenant's. Total time: under 5 minutes, from your couch.

Kwikset Halo: Delete the old tenant code, create the new one, text it to the incoming tenant. If you handed out physical keys, SmartKey-rekey the cylinder in 30 seconds. Total time: under 10 minutes, most of it at the door.

Kwikset SmartKey: Rekey every cylinder with the new tenant's key in about 30 seconds per lock. Collect old keys at the walkthrough. Total time: a few minutes per door, on-site.

The pattern: August wins on remote turnovers (out-of-state owners, scattered portfolios), Halo wins on keypad-first tenant bases, SmartKey wins on cost for nearby self-managers.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose August if: you own units remotely or across a wide area, you want turnovers handled entirely from your phone, your tenants are smartphone-comfortable, or you don't want to change the exterior look of your doors. See if August fits your rentals.

Choose Kwikset Halo if: your tenants need a physical keypad — no app required — and you want code-based access with a rekeyable physical backup. Budget a bit more per door and a slightly longer install.

Choose Kwikset SmartKey (non-smart) if: you self-manage nearby, want the lowest possible cost per door, and are comfortable handling turnovers in person. At ~$30–$60 per deadbolt, it's the cheapest way to kill the locksmith rekey bill forever.

Portfolio play: many landlords standardize on August for remote doors and Kwikset Halo or SmartKey for local ones. Consistency matters more than brand — pick one system per property so your turnover checklist is identical every time.

FAQs

Is August or Kwikset better for landlords?

For remote or portfolio landlords, August's retrofit install and unlimited digital keys make turnovers fully remote. For tenants who need keypad entry without a smartphone, Kwikset Halo's built-in touchscreen is the better fit. Both eliminate the $75–$150 locksmith rekey per turnover.

How much does the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock cost in 2026?

MSRP is $229.99, but it routinely sells for $150–$185 at major retailers. The optional keypad accessory runs about $60. Check current August pricing — street prices move with sales.

How much does the Kwikset Halo cost?

Halo Wi-Fi keypad models typically sell for $190–$260 depending on the model and finish, with the Halo Select at the top of that range. No monthly subscription is required for remote access.

Can tenants use August without a smartphone?

Yes — August is a retrofit, so the existing deadbolt and physical key keep working exactly as before. But digital guest keys do require the August app; for keypad-first tenants, Kwikset Halo or an August keypad accessory is the better answer.

What is Kwikset SmartKey and why do landlords like it?

SmartKey is Kwikset's user-rekeyable cylinder: with the included tool, you rekey the lock to a new key in about 30 seconds with no locksmith and no cylinder removal. For nearby self-managers, it kills the rekey bill at the lowest possible hardware cost.

Do either of these locks charge a monthly fee?

No. Neither August nor Kwikset Halo requires a subscription for remote locking, notifications, or code management.

How long do the batteries last?

August uses 2× CR123 batteries lasting roughly 3–6 months with typical use. Kwikset Halo uses 4× AA batteries. Both send low-battery alerts to the app — build battery swaps into your seasonal maintenance routine.

Can I install these myself on a rental property?

Yes. August takes about 10 minutes with a screwdriver; Kwikset Halo takes 30–45 minutes as a full deadbolt replacement. Both are standard DIY installs on doors with a normal 2-1/8" bore. Check local law — some jurisdictions require specific egress or keyed-entry rules for rentals.

For more on securing your rentals, see our best smart locks for rental property roundup, the rental property security guide, our August vs Schlage Encode showdown, the August vs Yale Assure Lock 2 comparison, and Vivint vs SimpliSafe for rental security.