August WiFi Smart Lock vs Schlage Encode Plus
Compare features and trade-offs. Catalog scores are editorial assessments, not customer review averages or proof of hands-on testing.
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Facts and prices checked
August for keeping your deadbolt, Schlage for keypad and Home Key
The deciding factor is whether you want to keep your current deadbolt. The August WiFi Smart Lock mounts over the interior side of an existing single-cylinder deadbolt, so your outside hardware and keys stay the same, which suits renters and anyone who likes their current lock. It also costs less, listing at $229.99 and often selling for well under $200. The Schlage Encode Plus replaces the whole deadbolt with a touchscreen keypad that holds up to 100 codes, built-in Wi-Fi and Thread, and Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock. Schlage lists it from $329. Choose the August if you want the simplest, cheapest upgrade with no exterior change. Choose the Schlage if guests need codes or your household runs on iPhones.
Key differences
| August WiFi Smart Lock | Schlage Encode Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Retrofits the interior side of an existing single-cylinder deadbolt; exterior hardware and keys stay | Replaces the full deadbolt, interior and exterior |
| Keypad entry | No built-in keypad; August sells one separately | Built-in touchscreen keypad with up to 100 access codes |
| Apple Home Key | Not supported; works with Apple HomeKit and Siri | Supported on iPhone XS or later with iOS 15+ and Apple Watch Series 4 or later |
| Connectivity | Built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz), no bridge needed | Built-in Wi-Fi plus Thread, no bridge needed |
| Smart home platforms | Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit | Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home |
| Batteries | Two CR123 cells, rated up to 3 months | Four AA cells; reviewers and owners report about 3 to 6 months |
| Door sensing | DoorSense sensor included to show whether the door is closed and locked | Lock status and activity log in the Schlage app |
| Price | $229.99 list, often $149 to $199 | From $329 at Schlage, occasional deals near $200 |
Choose August WiFi Smart Lock if…
- you rent or want to keep your existing deadbolt, exterior hardware, and keys.
- you want auto-unlock and door-position sensing for the lowest price.
- everyone in the home already unlocks with a phone and does not need a keypad.
Choose Schlage Encode Plus if…
- you want Apple Home Key so an iPhone or Apple Watch unlocks the door with a tap.
- guests, cleaners, or kids need their own keypad codes without using an app.
- you already have an Apple TV or HomePod and want the lock to run over Thread.