Schlage vs August: Which Smart Lock Should You Buy in 2026?
By Ethan Halfhide · Updated
Schlage vs August is not a spec fight, it is a question about your door. The Schlage Encode Plus replaces the whole deadbolt and gives you Apple Home Key, Matter and built-in Wi-Fi with no bridge. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen mounts entirely on the inside, leaves your exterior hardware and existing keys untouched, and installs in fifteen minutes. If you rent, the decision is already made. If you own, here is what you gain and give up either way.
Schlage vs August: Which Smart Lock Should You Buy in 2026?
Schlage
August Smart LockSchlage vs August at a glance
Schlage Encode Plus: pros and cons
- Apple Home Key lets you unlock with an iPhone or Apple Watch tap
- Matter certified for Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa at once
- Built-in Wi-Fi with no bridge or hub
- Integrated keypad for guests and codes
- Higher user rating and more solid hardware feel
- Requires replacing the whole deadbolt
- Your existing keys stop working
- Landlord or HOA approval may be needed
- No local control despite Matter support
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: pros
- Installs on the interior only, exterior hardware untouched
- Your existing keys keep working, useful for shared households
- Fastest install in the category at around 15 minutes
- Auto-unlock on approach works reliably
- The default answer for renters
Both sit within our wider smart door locks directory, and if entry method matters more than form factor, see the best keypad door lock and the best fingerprint door lock.
Verdict
If you rent, or share the door with people who already carry keys, buy the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen. It is the only one of the two that does not change your door, and reversing it takes a screwdriver and five minutes. If you own the home and want the fullest smart lock experience, buy the Schlage Encode Plus. Apple Home Key alone is worth the difference if you carry an iPhone or Apple Watch, since tapping your wrist to the lock is meaningfully better than opening an app, and Matter support means the lock is not tied to one ecosystem long-term. At a 20 dollar price gap, the decision genuinely is about your door rather than your budget.
The two locks compared
Schlage
Schlage Encode Plus Smart LockWi-Fi smart deadbolt with Apple Home Key and a AAA-rated deadbolt
- +Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock on iPhone and Apple Watch
- +Built-in Wi-Fi with no hub marked as required
- −No Matter or Thread support listed by Schlage
- −No Apple hands-free unlock (Schlage lists that for the Sense Pro)
August Smart Lock
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)Retrofit smart lock, installs in 10 minutes, keeps your existing keys.
- +Mounts over existing deadbolt interior, no exterior changes, fully renter-safe
- +Built-in Wi-Fi, no August Connect bridge required
- −Battery life of 3 to 6 months on 4 AAs requires periodic replacement
- −No Matter support, relies on August cloud for all remote access
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Frequently asked questions
Does the August smart lock work with Apple Home Key?
No. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen supports HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home, but not Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock. For Home Key on a retrofit-style installation you would need to look at a full replacement lock such as the Schlage Encode Plus or the Aqara U100.
Can renters install the Schlage Encode Plus?
Technically yes, since you can keep the original deadbolt and reinstall it when you leave, but it means swapping the exterior hardware, which many leases prohibit. The August lock is the safer choice for renters because nothing on the outside of the door changes.
Which lock is more secure?
Both use a standard deadbolt as the physical security element, so the mechanical protection is comparable. The Schlage Encode Plus edges ahead on the digital side with Matter support and Home Key, while August depends on your existing deadbolt quality, meaning a cheap deadbolt stays a cheap deadbolt after the retrofit.