12 Best Smart Home Devices for Renters

Renters face a unique challenge with smart home tech: you cannot rewire switches, drill into exterior walls for cameras, or replace your landlord's thermostat. But plenty of smart devices install with adhesive, sit on surfaces, or plug into outlets — and come with you when you move. Here are the 12 best options.

Smart Speakers and Displays

1. Amazon Echo Pop ($40). The cheapest way to get Alexa in a room. It handles voice commands, plays music, controls smart devices, and serves as a Bluetooth speaker. No installation required — plug it in and set it up through the app.

2. Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) ($100). A 7-inch smart display that serves as a kitchen timer, recipe viewer, photo frame, and sleep tracker (using radar-based sleep sensing). It also doubles as a Thread border router, future-proofing your smart home. Place it on your nightstand or kitchen counter.

Lighting

3. Philips Hue Starter Kit ($130). Four color-capable smart bulbs plus the Hue Bridge. Screw the bulbs into existing lamp sockets — zero modification required. The Hue ecosystem offers the broadest color range and the most reliable app in the smart lighting category. Take everything with you when you move.

4. Govee LED Strip Lights ($25). Adhesive-backed LED strips that stick to the back of your TV, under your desk, or along bookshelves. They peel off cleanly and add ambient lighting that transforms any room. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Smart Plugs and Power

5. Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP10 (2-pack, $16). Plug any dumb device into a smart plug and suddenly it responds to voice commands, schedules, and automations. The EP10 is compact enough to use both outlets. Start with two and add more as needed.

6. Smart Power Strip ($30). A power strip with individually controllable outlets. Plug your entertainment center into one and turn off the TV, soundbar, and game console together with a single command. Great for eliminating standby power draw.

Security (No Drilling Required)

7. Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) ($60). A compact indoor security camera that sits on any flat surface. 1080p video, two-way audio, and motion detection. It has a physical privacy shutter so you can disable the camera when you are home. Perfect for keeping an eye on your apartment when you are away.

8. Wyze Cam Pan v3 ($34). A pan-and-tilt camera that covers 360 degrees horizontally. Place it on a shelf in a central room and it can cover the entire space. It includes free 12-second cloud clip storage and supports microSD cards for continuous recording.

9. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery ($100). An outdoor-rated wireless camera you can mount with adhesive or place on any flat surface — windowsill, railing, or shelf. No drilling into your landlord's siding. Battery-powered and weather-resistant.

Climate Control

10. Sensibo Air ($120). If your apartment has a mini-split or window AC unit with an IR remote, Sensibo makes it smart. The small device learns your remote's signals and lets you control temperature via app, voice, or schedule. It even adds geofencing to turn the AC off when you leave and on before you arrive.

11. Smart Portable Fan with WiFi ($60-80). A stand fan with built-in WiFi that connects to Alexa or Google Home. Schedule it, control speed by voice, and set it to turn on automatically when room temperature exceeds a threshold (using a separate temperature sensor).

The Renter's Essential

12. Command Strips and 3M VHB Tape. Not a smart device, but the enabler that makes everything else work. Command strips hold lightweight cameras and sensors without damaging walls. 3M VHB tape secures heavier devices to smooth surfaces. Keep a stock of both — they are the renter's equivalent of a drill.

Renter Smart Home Tips

When you move, document your smart home setup: take photos of device placement, export your automation configurations, and label your devices. This makes re-installation at your next apartment much faster.

Avoid any device that requires hardwiring, replacing existing fixtures, or making permanent modifications. If you cannot take it with you in a box and reinstall it in 30 minutes at your new place, it is not renter-friendly.

Keep all original packaging and hardware until you move out. If you do install anything semi-permanent (like a smart lock that replaces the deadbolt), keep the original hardware so you can swap it back before your lease ends.

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