I bring good news for renters: You can still adopt plenty of useful smart technology in your home, even with the limitations that renting brings. Today’s smart devices are small, portable and don’t require replacements or screw-in installations that may be banned in rental homes.
In my years of testing smart home stuff, I’ve kept my eyes open for tech that’s especially friendly for renters, won’t break budgets and can move with you easily. So check your lease just to be sure, and then invest in a few of these picks to add well-deserved smarts to your rental home.
Read more: 11 Home Security Myths People Still Believe (But Shouldn’t)
A universal smart plug or two
Because smart plugs need only a standard home outlet, renters can use them around the home without worrying about causing any permanent damage. Smart plugs can lend their smarts to anything from lamps and battery chargers to fountains and night-lights.
Using their apps, you can set schedules, view energy consumption and create routines so devices turn on only in certain conditions. View our full list of the best smart plugs here. Some of our favorite brands include GE Cync, HBN, Kasa and Leviton.
A compatible smart speaker
Smart speakers from Amazon Echos to Apple HomePods come with voice assistant compatibility and ways to connect to favorite music services like Spotify so renters can listen to their favorite songs on demand — or just ask about the daily traffic.
Smart speakers can also connect to a variety of other smart home devices so they can be controlled with voice commands. And despite their small size, they’re pretty good at filling a room with sound when they need to. Some models even double as TV speaker bars. View our favorites here, from large to mini models.
You could also upgrade your gift to a smart display, which is similar but has a screen for video instructions, TV shows and so on.
Smart bulbs for key spots
Smart bulbs screw into standard bulb sockets and most models these days don’t need an extra hub to work. You can just screw them in, bring up the app to connect and control them however you want. These bulbs are great for dimming and brightening through the day, setting mood lighting at certain times or connecting to alarms and other smart home conditions. We’ve collected the best smart lights here, from brands like Govee, Philips Hue and Wiz, with choices at less than $20.
A standalone air quality monitor
Air quality is important for health, allergy alleviation and a good night’s sleep. But renters don’t usually know what the air quality is like in their apartment or rental house. You can help them out with a high-tech dehumifidier or, for a cheaper option, this portable little air quality and humidity monitor from SwitchBot.
Arlo all-in-one sensor security system
Small security systems can be an excellent fit for renters but not everyone has the time or energy to set them up and use them properly. For this we favor Arlo’s security system, which has 8-in-1 sensors that can do a little bit of everything no matter where you put them, from detecting doors opening to monitoring for leaks.
Just a couple of these Arlo sensors ($100 total) can fill a lot of different roles in a rental. If renters move to a more permanent home, they can add a compatible doorbell and Arlo fob, too. Just keep in mind that features like smart alerts and video storage do require a subscription.
Ikea’s extra-affordable security sensors
If rent is eating up most of your cash, you probably aren’t interested in spending much on home security technology. Ikea once again comes to the rescue with its new line of low-low-budget home security sensors. I’ve tried them all, they work very well and you can buy each sensor one at a time or together depending on what you need.
Ikea’s models include an access sensor, motion sensor, leak detector, temperature/humidity detector and carbon dioxide tracker/clock, an ideal little combo kit for an apartment or rental. Most sensors are available for around $10, or you can pick out a whole kit for around $65.
Best of all, Ikea’s sensors are fully Matter compatible, so they can work with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home. The catch is that you need a compatible hub, such as a Nest smart display, an Apple HomePod mini or new Apple TV, an Echo smart speaker, etc. Without those, you will need to purchase an extra Ikea hub for around $100 (but even then, it’s still the cheapest DIY security setup I’ve found).
A standalone camera
Although mounting a security camera may be out of the question for renters, they can still set up their own shelf or table cam to keep on eye on their most valuable possessions. You can view our full indoor cam list here but one of our favorites is this Tapo 2K pan/tilt cam ($35), which is inexpensive and doesn’t require a subscription to get the most out of it.
A multimode air fryer
Although it’s more smart home-adjacent than smart tech, a countertop air fryer serves all kinds of speedy-heating needs. It lets even beginners cook meals like hamburgers, fries, chicken wings, pizza and many other tasty, speedy meals in a way that’s much healthier than traditional frying. Most models also let you slow roast, bake, reheat and more, making them a nice centerpiece for a small kitchen.
Check out our full list of the best air fryers here, with popular brands like Ninja, Cosori and Gourmia.
A small smart safe
Renters probably aren’t allowed to bolt a home safe to the floor or wall but fortunately, they can still benefit from a smaller smart safe to store valuables, cash, documents and even weapons. One of our favorite models is this Lockly smart safe with fingerprint access, Bluetooth controls and a rotating number touchpad. We tried forcing our way into it and had no luck!
For more complete renter advice, take a look at security tips if you’re living with troublesome roommates, the best home security systems for renters and what to do if you rent or buy a home and find an unexpected security system.
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