Best Smart Locks in 2026: August vs. Schlage vs. Yale

Modern front door with a keyless smart deadbolt lock installed

TL;DR / Quick Verdict

Best overall: Yale Assure Lock 2 — a modular interior lets you swap the connectivity module (Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, Matter) instead of replacing the whole lock, and it is Tom’s Guide’s overall top pick, with Wirecutter naming it a runner-up pick.
Most secure: Schlage Encode Plus — the only lock in this comparison certified to ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, with a built-in tamper/forced-entry alarm and Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock.
Best for renters or no-drilling installs: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) — retrofits over an existing deadbolt in minutes, so the original hardware goes back on when you move out.

Methodology

This analysis synthesizes (a) aggregated Amazon US customer reviews for the current-generation August, Schlage, and Yale smart lock lines, (b) independent test coverage from Tom’s Guide, Reviewed (USA Today), and Wirecutter (NYT), and (c) manufacturer-published specifications for ANSI/BHMA security grade, battery life, and connectivity. We did not personally test the products covered here. Amazon does not expose a precise, publicly verifiable review count per product listing, so we do not report an exact aggregate sample size; where we cite a security-grade or battery claim, it traces back to a manufacturer spec sheet or a named third-party review, not to our own use.

Technical Approach: Three Different Bets on Smart-Lock Design

Smart locks solve the same problem — keyless entry with remote management — but the three leading US brands have converged on different hardware philosophies:

Yale (modular connectivity, no forced ecosystem lock-in): Yale’s Assure Lock 2 line ships with a physical bay behind the interior faceplate that accepts a swappable module for Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, or Matter/Thread. Buyers pick a starting protocol and can later upgrade for roughly $40–$80 instead of replacing the entire deadbolt. Tom’s Guide named the Assure Lock 2 its overall best smart lock, citing broad platform support across Google, Alexa, Apple Home, and SmartThings.
Schlage (certified hardware security first): Schlage’s Encode and Encode Plus deadbolts are built around ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification — the same commercial-grade rating used in some business applications — meaning the hardware is tested to withstand at least six forced-entry attempts and 800 pounds of force. The Encode Plus adds a built-in siren alarm that triggers on tamper or forced-entry attempts and supports Apple Home Key for iPhone/Apple Watch tap-to-unlock.
August (retrofit over your existing deadbolt): August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock mounts over the interior side of an existing deadbolt cylinder rather than replacing the whole lock, keeping the original exterior keyway intact. That makes it the fastest install of the three (commonly cited at under 10 minutes with no drilling) and the easiest to remove and revert when moving out of a rental — a distinction reviewers on Reddit and Reviewed consistently cite as the top reason renters choose it.

Infographic comparing Yale's modular connectivity, Schlage's ANSI Grade 1 hardware security, and August's deadbolt-retrofit approach to smart locks

Manufacturer Deep Dive

Yale

Yale’s current US lineup is built around the Assure Lock 2 platform, sold in keypad and fingerprint-touch variants, both available with a Wi-Fi module already installed or as a Bluetooth-only base model that takes a module later. The Wi-Fi keypad version supports roughly 250 user codes and remote lock/unlock through the Yale Home app. The fingerprint variant, Assure Lock 2 Touch, adds biometric unlock that TechHive’s testing clocked at around 0.4 seconds — faster than entering a keypad code (roughly 3–5 seconds) or an Apple Home Key tap (near 1 second). Yale’s main tradeoff versus Schlage is a lower ANSI security grade (Grade 2 versus Schlage’s Grade 1), though reviewers note Grade 2 still exceeds typical residential deadbolt hardware.

Schlage

Schlage sells two relevant tiers: the Encode (Wi-Fi built in, touchscreen keypad, no Apple Home Key) and the Encode Plus (adds Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock and a louder tamper/forced-entry siren). Both are ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified, and Reviewed named the Encode Plus the best smart lock for Apple HomeKit households specifically because of the Home Key integration. Schlage’s app also supports Airbnb and Google/Alexa/SmartThings integrations. Schlage’s manufacturer spec cites roughly eight months of battery life on four AA batteries under moderate use — longer than Yale’s published estimate for its Wi-Fi variant — a figure commonly echoed in Amazon customer reviews as a reason to prefer it for a primary entry door that gets checked less often.

August

August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is a retrofit unit: it clips onto the interior thumb-turn of most existing deadbolts, so the exterior keyway, keys, and locksmith-cut cylinder don’t change. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home (via HomeKit), and SmartThings, and supports auto-lock/auto-unlock based on phone geofencing. August also still sells the older Smart Lock Pro + Connect Hub bundle, which pairs the same retrofit mechanism with a plug-in Wi-Fi bridge for households that want a dedicated hub rather than relying on the lock’s own Wi-Fi radio. August’s security rating is a function of the existing deadbolt it’s retrofitted onto rather than a standalone ANSI grade — a meaningful limitation compared to Yale and Schlage’s fully certified hardware.

How to Choose: Retrofit vs. Full Replacement, and How Much Security Grade Matters

Diagram showing how to choose between a retrofit smart lock and a full-deadbolt replacement based on renting status and existing hardware

Renting, or want to preserve the original lock for move-out: August’s retrofit design is the only one of the three that doesn’t replace the exterior keyway — reinstall the stock deadbolt in minutes when the lease ends.
Own your home and want certified forced-entry resistance: Schlage’s Grade 1 hardware (Encode or Encode Plus) is the only ANSI Grade 1 option in this comparison; Yale and August’s retrofit approach sit at Grade 2 or below.
Deep in the Apple ecosystem: Schlage Encode Plus and Yale Assure Lock 2 both support Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch; base-tier Encode and August’s retrofit lock do not.
Want to switch smart-home protocols later without buying a new lock: Yale’s swappable module bay is the only design built for that — Schlage and August require replacing the whole unit to change connectivity.
Frequent guests or a rental property (Airbnb-style code sharing): all three brands support scheduled, revocable guest codes through their respective apps; Schlage’s app has the deepest Airbnb-specific integration per manufacturer documentation.

Comparison Table

Prices as of 2026-09-23 — Amazon frequently runs short-term discounts on all three brands; check the live listing before buying.

Product	Install Type	ANSI Grade	Connectivity	Price
Yale Assure Lock 2 (Wi-Fi Keypad)	Full deadbolt replacement	Grade 2	Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google, Apple Home, SmartThings	~$198.94
Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch (Wi-Fi, fingerprint)	Full deadbolt replacement	Grade 2	Wi-Fi + fingerprint, same platform support	~$279.99
Schlage Encode (Wi-Fi Keypad)	Full deadbolt replacement	Grade 1	Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google, SmartThings	~$229.99
Schlage Encode Plus (Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key)	Full deadbolt replacement	Grade 1	Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google	~$289.36
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)	Retrofit over existing deadbolt	Depends on existing hardware	Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google, Apple Home, SmartThings	~$219.99
August Smart Lock Pro + Connect Hub	Retrofit + separate Wi-Fi bridge	Depends on existing hardware	Bluetooth + hub-based Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google	~$229.99

Decision Flowchart: Price vs. Purpose

For a quick path through the six models above: first decide whether you’re renting or otherwise need to preserve the original deadbolt — that alone points to August’s retrofit design. If you own the home, decide how much you value certified forced-entry resistance versus future connectivity flexibility: Schlage’s Grade 1 hardware wins on certified security, while Yale’s modular bay wins on being able to change Wi-Fi/Z-Wave/Matter protocols later without buying new hardware. See the flowchart figure below for the full branching logic, including the Apple Home Key branch that favors Schlage Encode Plus or Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch.

Decision flowchart for choosing between Yale Assure Lock 2, Schlage Encode Plus, and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock based on renting status and security priorities

Warranty and Support

All three brands offer a standard limited hardware warranty in the US — Yale and Schlage both publish a 3-year limited warranty on current smart-lock hardware, while August’s published warranty is 1 year. None of the three warranties cover battery degradation from normal use, physical damage from weather exposure beyond the unit’s rated conditions, or damage from forced-entry attempts on the door itself rather than the lock hardware. Battery-life figures (Schlage’s roughly eight months, for example) are manufacturer specifications based on a defined usage profile, not an independently verified real-world average — actual battery life varies with lock/unlock frequency, temperature, and how often the Wi-Fi radio is active.

Editorial Recommendation

Best for most people: Yale Assure Lock 2 — the modular connectivity design and broad platform support that Tom’s Guide ranks first for most households, with Wirecutter naming it a runner-up pick.
Best for maximum certified security: Schlage Encode Plus — the only ANSI Grade 1 lock here with a built-in tamper alarm and Apple Home Key support, for buyers who prioritize forced-entry resistance over future upgrade flexibility.
Best for renters: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) — the only retrofit design that leaves the original exterior keyway untouched, so the lease-end reinstall is simple.
Best budget entry point: Schlage Encode (base) — Grade 1 hardware without the Apple Home Key premium of the Encode Plus, for buyers who want certified security without paying for a feature they won’t use.

Limitations

This analysis relies on publicly available reviews, manufacturer specifications, and third-party test coverage from Tom’s Guide, Reviewed, and Wirecutter; we did not independently test forced-entry resistance, Wi-Fi range, or battery life under controlled conditions. Manufacturer-published figures (battery life, ANSI grade for retrofit-based hardware, unlock speed) are cited as manufacturer claims, not independently verified facts, unless a cited third-party test explicitly confirmed them. Independent security research has documented Bluetooth-based vulnerabilities in some consumer smart locks industry-wide; we cite this as a category-level consideration, not a claim about any specific product tested here, and recommend keeping lock firmware updated regardless of brand. Individual experience may vary based on door frame condition, existing deadbolt hardware (for retrofit models), Wi-Fi signal strength at the mounting location, and climate. Prices listed reflect Amazon US at the time of writing and change frequently, including short-term promotional discounts not reflected in the table above.

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