Published 2026-10-02 · 11 min read

August vs Ultraloq Smart Lock for Landlords (2026): Retrofit Convenience vs Fingerprint Power

Rekeying a lock between tenants costs $100–$200 a pop — or a Saturday of your life if you do it yourself. Multiply that by every turnover across your portfolio and "lock changes" quietly become a line item. A smart lock ends the cycle: revoke the old code, issue a new one, and the door is rekeyed in 30 seconds from your phone.

The two smart locks that come up most for rental property are August and Ultraloq. They take opposite approaches: August retrofits over your existing deadbolt so your master key keeps working, while Ultraloq replaces the whole deadbolt and packs in fingerprint, keypad, and commercial-grade hardware. Here's the full 2026 comparison for landlords.

General information only: This article is educational content for rental property owners, not legal, financial, or security advice. Pricing and product specs change — confirm details with the manufacturer before buying.

Affiliate disclosure: we're an August affiliate via Yazing — signing up through our links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full affiliate disclosure for how that works. Ultraloq is covered neutrally; we have no affiliate relationship with them.

The quick verdict

Choose August if you want the fastest turnover workflow on existing doors: it clamps over your current deadbolt, your landlord key still works from the outside, installation takes about 15 minutes, and Wi-Fi is built in. It's the "change nothing about the door" option.

Choose Ultraloq if you want maximum entry options and tougher hardware: the U-Bolt Pro combines fingerprint, keypad, app, and physical key in an ANSI Grade 1, IP65-weatherproofed body. It's the better pick for buildings where tenants, staff, and cleaners all need their own way in — and for exposed exterior doors.

Portfolio play: many landlords run August on interior-hallway doors and Ultraloq on street-facing or high-traffic entrances. Both end rekeying forever; the difference is how much hardware you want on the door.

At a glance: August vs Ultraloq for rental property

The landlord problems both locks solve

Problem 1: turnover rekeying. Rekeying costs $100–$200 per turnover and is one of the dumbest line items to keep paying. Both locks make it digital: revoke the outgoing tenant's code, add the incoming one, done — no locksmith, no trip to the property.

Problem 2: lockouts. Unlock the door from your phone in 10 seconds and go back to sleep. Tenants can also self-serve with their code (built into Ultraloq, an add-on for August).

Problem 3: contractor and staff access. Issue time-limited codes you revoke when the job ends — no wondering whether a contractor kept a copied key.

August: the retrofit lock that changes nothing about the door

August's defining feature is what it doesn't do: it doesn't replace your deadbolt. The 4th Gen unit mounts on the inside of the door over your existing deadbolt hardware, keeping the original exterior cylinder intact. That has three landlord-specific payoffs:

1. Your master key still works. Your key operates the same cylinder — if batteries die, you walk in like always.

2. Tenant-proof install. ~15 minutes, no exterior changes — ideal for HOAs and buildings with uniform door hardware.

3. Security inherits from your deadbolt. August doesn't add or subtract physical security; whatever deadbolt you have is whatever you keep.

The app handles the rental workflow: scheduled guest codes, auto-unlock on approach and auto-lock on departure, DoorSense open/closed detection, and an activity timeline showing who entered and when. The 4th Gen has Wi-Fi built in — no bridge to buy per unit. Check current August pricing.

Trade-offs: fewer entry methods than Ultraloq (app, auto-unlock, key; keypad is a separate accessory), CR123 batteries last a few months (keep spares in your turnover kit), and the invisible-from-the-hallway design means less visual deterrent.

Ultraloq: the hardware-first lock with a fingerprint reader

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is the opposite philosophy: a full deadbolt replacement engineered like commercial hardware. The headline is the fingerprint reader — up to 100 prints on the lock, so tenants and staff skip phones and codes entirely. The 7-in-1 entry covers fingerprint, keypad, app, physical key, auto-unlock, shake-to-open, and smartwatch.

For landlords, three things stand out:

1. Commercial-grade durability. ANSI Grade 1 rating plus IP65 weatherproofing — it shrugs off rain and dust on exposed exterior doors.

2. Anti-peep keypad. Tenants can add random digits around their real code so onlookers can't steal the PIN.

3. Battery life. Four AAs deliver roughly 8–12 months — about triple August's — so fewer battery changes per unit per year.

For remote management, buy the U-Bolt Pro WiFi model — the Bluetooth-only base version needs an add-on bridge for off-site locking and code changes, an easy mistake when ordering. Ultraloq's 2026 Bolt line adds Matter-certified, wallet-tap-to-unlock models (Bolt Pro $269.99, Latch 5 Pro $249.99 for lever doors, pitched at rentals) — worth watching, but the U-Bolt Pro remains the value pick today.

Trade-offs: your existing master key goes away — key management becomes digital-first (stash the physical backup key in a lockbox). Install takes longer than August's retrofit, and exterior hardware changes may need HOA approval.

Pricing: what each option costs per door

On cost alone, Ultraloq edges out August per door — the built-in keypad and cheaper batteries add up across a portfolio. But August's 15-minute, no-hardware-change install has real value on doors you don't own the right to modify.

The turnover playbook (either lock)

The procedure that makes smart locks pay: build a turnover access checklist you run the same way every time.

1. Move-out day: revoke the outgoing tenant's code/fingerprint when keys are returned. Set a temporary cleaner code (daylight hours, expires at job end).

2. Make-ready period: issue a separate temporary code to painters or contractors. The activity log shows exactly who entered and when.

3. Move-in day: add the new tenant's code (and fingerprint on Ultraloq) during the walkthrough; set auto-lock to 5 minutes or less.

4. Ongoing: keep one landlord-only code active as your digital master. August users keep their physical master key; Ultraloq users stash the backup key in a combination lockbox at the property.

This workflow is worth pairing with a maintenance request system so vendor access codes get issued against actual tickets, not texted ad hoc.

Tenant-facing considerations

Put smart-lock rules in the lease addendum: tenants get their own code/fingerprint, they don't share it, and disabling the lock (removing batteries, blocking the sensor) is a lease violation. State plainly that you can revoke access at lease end and that codes are property of the management — this matters if a tenant leaves the lock "theirs" in a divorce or roommate dispute.

Both apps log entries by person — tell tenants up front that entry events are logged. Transparency avoids conflict later.

Which should you choose?

Choose August if: you want the fastest, least invasive install — the 4th Gen retrofits over your existing deadbolt in about 15 minutes, your master key keeps working, and built-in Wi-Fi means no bridge hardware. Ideal for interior hallway doors, HOA-constrained buildings, and anywhere you want to keep the original exterior hardware. See current August deals.

Choose Ultraloq if: you want the most entry options and the toughest hardware — fingerprint plus keypad plus app in an ANSI Grade 1, IP65 body, with battery life measured in seasons, not months. The pick for street-facing doors, high-traffic buildings, and anywhere cleaners and contractors cycle through regularly.

Portfolio play: August where you can't or don't want to change the door; Ultraloq where hardware durability matters most. Either way, build the turnover checklist once and run it every time — the lock is the tool, but the process is the actual savings.

FAQs

Is August or Ultraloq better for landlords?

August wins on install speed and flexibility — it retrofits over your existing deadbolt in ~15 minutes and your master key keeps working. Ultraloq wins on hardware and entry options — fingerprint, keypad, ANSI Grade 1 rating, and IP65 weatherproofing. Pick August for minimal-change installs and Ultraloq for maximum durability and access methods.

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

The 4th Gen model lists at $229.99 but routinely sells in the $150–$185 range. Wi-Fi is built in, so there's no bridge to buy. A separate keypad accessory runs about $60 if you want hallway PIN entry. Check current August pricing.

How much does the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro cost?

The U-Bolt Pro lists around $199 and typically streets at $140–$170. Buy the U-Bolt Pro WiFi model if you want remote management without a separate bridge. Ultraloq's new 2026 Bolt line runs $249.99–$299.99 for wallet-based tap-to-unlock models.

Can I install August without replacing my deadbolt?

Yes — that's the whole point of the August design. It mounts on the interior side over your existing deadbolt; the exterior cylinder and your landlord key stay exactly as they are. No exterior hardware changes, no HOA issues, about 15 minutes with a screwdriver.

Do these locks need a hub or bridge for remote access?

August has Wi-Fi built in — no bridge needed. For Ultraloq, it depends on the model: the U-Bolt Pro WiFi connects directly; the Bluetooth-only base version needs an add-on bridge for off-site locking and code changes. When ordering Ultraloq, double-check you're getting the WiFi model if remote access matters.

Which lock is more secure — August or Ultraloq?

They're secure in different ways. Ultraloq's U-Bolt Pro carries an ANSI Grade 1 rating (the highest) with IP65 weatherproofing — it IS the physical security. August inherits whatever your existing deadbolt provides; it adds access control without changing the lock's physical strength. If your current deadbolt is solid, August is fine; if you want the toughest single piece of hardware, Ultraloq.

Can I give maintenance staff their own access?

Yes, and you should. Both systems issue unique codes (or fingerprints on Ultraloq) per person, with scheduling and one-time/temporary options. Issue a time-limited code for the job, then revoke it — the activity log confirms when they actually entered. Pair this with your contractor vetting process for full control.

Will these locks survive on exterior rental doors?

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is rated IP65 (dust-tight, water-jet resistant) and is built for exposed exteriors. August mounts on the interior side, so it's inherently sheltered — but it's not designed as exterior-rated hardware either. For doors fully exposed to driving rain, Ultraloq's rating is the safer spec; for sheltered entries, both are fine.

For the full lock landscape, see our best smart locks for rental property roundup and the rental property security guide. Also see August head-to-heads with Schlage and Kwikset, and pair smart locks with a proper maintenance request system.