August vs Yale Assure Lock 2: Retrofit vs Full Deadbolt 2026
One keeps your existing deadbolt and your keys; the other swaps the whole lock for a keypad and Matter. The decision turns on one question — do you own the door, or rent it?
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Featured in this Guide
Yale
Assure Lock 2
- •For the owner who wants a keypad
- •every major ecosystem
- •and a Matter upgrade path without buying a new lock later.
August
Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen
- •For the renter or no-modification buyer: mounts over your deadbolt
- •keeps your keys
- •leaves the exterior untouched.
Schlage
Encode Plus
- •For the deep-Apple buyer who wants tap-to-unlock with Home Key on a Grade 1 deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi.
The Short Answer
For most homeowners, the Yale Assure Lock 2 earns our recommendation, leading the SHE Smart Lock Fit Score by interoperating natively across HomeKit, Alexa, and Google, with SmartThings and Matter via a module, while the reversible August retrofit suits renters and the Schlage Encode Plus rewards Apple households.
Picture the two installations side by side. With the retrofit August, you clip the mechanism over your existing deadbolt in roughly 5 mins, which TechHive frames as the reversible, landlord-friendly approach because your keys still operate. The full-deadbolt Yale and Schlage instead demand that you extract the old deadbolt and bolt in a keypad replacement, a procedure Reviewed clocked at about 10 mins and The Verge measured nearer 20 mins to 30 mins. That contrast delivers the decision: own the door and want a keypad, or keep the exterior untouched.
This guide resolves that tradeoff through our weighted SHE Smart Lock Fit Score, a composite of manufacturer specifications and testing by The Verge, CNET, PCMag, TechHive, and Reviewed. Compared to the keypad alternatives, the retrofit August enables a reversible install, yet the Yale Assure Lock 2 outperforms it on ecosystem reach while the Schlage Encode Plus achieves the strongest security.
Retrofit vs Full Deadbolt, Head to Head
Security
Chart
Smarthomeexplorer.comBest Overall for Homeowners: Yale Assure Lock 2
If you already own the door and have shortlisted a full keypad deadbolt, the Yale Assure Lock 2 lines up with what you actually need, and its weighted 7.2 on the SHE Smart Lock Fit Score leads this three-way contest because the two highest-weighted factors after install both fall its way. Relative to the rivals, it joins HomeKit, Alexa, and Google natively and adds SmartThings via a module, breadth that CNET and PCMag both rate as the widest assistant coverage in the slate, and the deadbolt plus generous access codes enables every household member and guest to enter on a personal code rather than a shared key.
Living with the Yale Assure Lock 2, the modular bay delivers the quiet advantage: Reviewed and TechHive note Bluetooth ships standard while a Wi-Fi module and a Matter cartridge slot in later, so the Matter question becomes a future upgrade rather than a buy-now demand. The honest catches, versus the retrofit August, are that Matter is not built in today and the deadbolt swap permanently changes the door — the roughly 30 mins of install that The Verge flags, compared to the August's 5 mins. Still, for an owner, the keypad and ecosystem breadth yield almost no price premium.
What We Love
- Speaks HomeKit, Alexa, and Google out of the box, and reaches SmartThings via a Z-Wave or Matter module, so everyone in the house can use it however they already control their home.
- Built-in keypad or touchscreen lets guests and cleaners enter by code with no phone and no copied key.
- Modular bay means you add Wi-Fi or a $79.99 Matter module later instead of buying a whole new lock.
What Could Be Better
- It's a full deadbolt replacement, so a rental needs landlord sign-off before you swap the hardware.
- Matter isn't built in — you buy the module separately once you want cross-ecosystem Matter control.
- No built-in door-position sensor like the August's DoorSense.
The Verdict
If you own the door and you've narrowed to a keypad deadbolt that covers every ecosystem, the Yale Assure Lock 2 fits the brief — HomeKit, Alexa, and Google out of the box, with SmartThings and Matter via a module, so you're not boxed into one platform.
Best for Renters & No-Swap Installs: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen
(Current price, subject to change)
For the renter or the buyer who refuses to touch the exterior, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen fits without compromise on the one thing that defines this category for you: it mounts over your existing deadbolt, so TechHive confirms you remove two screws and clip it on inside 5 mins while keeping your keys — the door reads as untouched from the street and the change reverses at lease end. That reversible install is the highest-weighted factor in the SHE Smart Lock Fit Score, which is why its weighted 6.7 lands within striking distance of the Yale despite skipping a keypad.
Day to day, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen leans on built-in Wi-Fi that enables remote control plus geofencing auto-unlock and DoorSense, the door-ajar sensor CNET praised and that the Schlage omits. Relative to its rivals the ceilings are honest: there is no keypad, so a guest needs the app or your physical key, and TechHive measured the two CR123 cells at 3 to 6 months versus the Yale's longer endurance. Compared to a full-deadbolt swap that runs 20 mins to 30 mins, this retrofit installs in roughly 5 mins, which The Verge and Engadget both frame as the lowest-friction path for a rental.
What We Love
- Retrofit design mounts over your existing deadbolt and keeps your keys; the exterior is unchanged, so a landlord won't notice.
- Built-in Wi-Fi means no separate bridge for remote lock, unlock, and HomeKit, Alexa, and Google control.
- Geofencing auto-unlock plus DoorSense tells you whether the door is actually shut — features the Schlage lacks.
What Could Be Better
- No built-in keypad, so guests need the app or a shared physical key rather than a door code.
- Two CR123 cells last roughly three to six months with Wi-Fi active, per TechHive.
- No Matter and no Thread; you live entirely in the August app and your existing voice assistants.
The Verdict
If you're renting or simply won't modify the door, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen is a sensible pick for that setup — it clips over your existing deadbolt in minutes, keeps your keys, and leaves the exterior looking factory-original.
Best for Apple Households: Schlage Encode Plus
For the buyer already living in Apple Home, the Schlage Encode Plus checks the boxes that matter for that household, and its weighted 6.9 on the SHE Smart Lock Fit Score reflects the strongest security tier in the slate. Reviewed rates it among the first locks to ship Apple Home Key, so a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch on the deadbolt produces entry, and the Grade 1 certification is the highest residential security tier — a measurable step above its rivals. PCMag confirms the built-in Wi-Fi enables remote control with no hub required.
Where the Schlage Encode Plus gives ground, relative to the Yale, is breadth and price. As a full deadbolt swap that Reviewed timed at about 10 mins, it is off the table for a renter who cannot modify the door, and CNET flags that it omits the door-position sensor the August delivers, so it cannot report whether the door is shut. Its Thread radio powers Apple Home Key today; Schlage has not committed Matter to this model, which is why it trails the Yale's broader ecosystem. Compared to the others it costs well over $100 more, so it earns its spot for Apple households rather than as the all-rounder.
What We Love
- Apple Home Key lets you tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock — Reviewed called it one of the first locks to ship the feature.
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 deadbolt, the highest residential rating, with built-in Wi-Fi and no hub for remote control.
- Up to 100 access codes plus HomeKit, Alexa, and Google, with a Thread radio it uses today for Apple Home Key (no committed Matter path for this model).
What Could Be Better
- Full deadbolt replacement, so renters need landlord approval before the swap.
- Four AA batteries last about six months and drop faster under heavy daily use, per Reviewed.
- No door-position sensor, so it can't tell you whether the door is actually shut.
The Verdict
If you live deep in Apple and you've shortlisted a tap-to-unlock deadbolt, the Schlage Encode Plus checks the boxes that matter for that household — Home Key on your iPhone or Apple Watch on a Grade 1 lock, with built-in Wi-Fi and no hub for the basics.
How We Score: SHE Smart Lock Fit Score
SHE Smart Lock Fit Score
Score Formula
(0.28 × Install Reversibility) + (0.24 × Ecosystem Reach) + (0.22 × Security & Access Tier) + (0.16 × Key Flexibility) + (0.10 × Battery Endurance)Score Factors
- Install Reversibility (weight 0.28)How easily the lock goes on and comes off without permanently changing the door. Retrofit-over-deadbolt locks that keep your keys and exterior score high (August 10); full deadbolt replacements that need landlord sign-off score lower (Yale and Schlage 4). 10 = clip-on retrofit, fully reversible; 0 = irreversible hardware swap.
- Ecosystem Reach (weight 0.24)Breadth of native voice assistant and hub support, including Matter/Thread readiness. Yale (HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings + Matter module + Z-Wave) scores highest at 9; Schlage (HomeKit + Home Key, Alexa, Google, Thread) at 8; August (HomeKit, Alexa, Google, no Matter) at 7.
- Security & Access Tier (weight 0.22)ANSI/BHMA deadbolt grade plus access-control depth. Schlage Grade 1 plus Home Key scores 9; Yale Grade 2 with 250 codes scores 8; the retrofit August relies on your existing deadbolt and ships no keypad, scoring 5.
- Key Flexibility (weight 0.16)Number of independent ways in — keypad code, app, physical key, auto-unlock, tap-to-unlock. Yale (keypad/touchscreen + code + key + app) scores 9; Schlage (keypad + code + Home Key tap + key) scores 8; the keypad-less August (app + auto-unlock + your existing key) scores 4.
- Battery Endurance (weight 0.10)Rated runtime under normal use. Yale's 4 AA cells (≈6 mo Wi-Fi, ≈1 yr Bluetooth) score 7; Schlage's 4 AA (≈6 mo) score 6; August's two CR123 cells (≈3-6 mo with Wi-Fi) score 5.
SHE Smart Lock Fit Score — Ranked
Yale Assure Lock 2
7.2/10Broadest native ecosystem plus a keypad and Matter module path lead the composite, even with a full-deadbolt install.
Schlage Encode Plus
6.9/10Grade 1 security and Apple Home Key top the security tier, held back by narrower breadth and the highest price.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen
6.7/10A fully reversible retrofit that keeps your keys leads on install but skips a keypad and Matter.
App & Ecosystem Compatibility
This is where the "do I actually need Matter?" question finally sorts itself out for you. All three locks already work with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google today, so you get reliable voice control on day one no matter which model you ultimately choose. The real difference comes down to Matter, and only the Yale delivers it as genuine Matter-over-Thread through a separate module you snap in later — a detail that both Reviewed and TechHive confirm — which keeps your lock connected across Apple, Google, Amazon, and SmartThings even if you eventually switch phones or migrate hubs. The Schlage carries a Thread radio too, but it dedicates that radio to Apple Home Key, and Schlage has not committed Matter to this particular model. The August skips Matter altogether, so you live inside its own app alongside whatever assistants you already run. For most people shopping in 2026 you don't strictly need Matter yet, but if you want insurance against a future ecosystem move, the Yale's modular approach is the cleanest way to buy that protection.
| Product | Apple Home | Alexa | Google Home | Built-in Keypad | Matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yale-assure-lock-2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| august-wifi-smart-lock-4th-gen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| schlage-encode-plus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
When NOT to Buy
Stub WNTB (Block 3B fallback).
Frequently Asked Questions
August vs Yale Assure Lock 2 — which is better for renters?
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, by a clear margin. It retrofits over your existing deadbolt and keeps your keys, so the exterior is unchanged and a landlord won't notice — and you can remove it cleanly at lease end. The Yale Assure Lock 2 is a full deadbolt replacement that needs landlord approval before you swap the hardware.
Do I actually need a Matter smart lock in 2026?
Not strictly. All three of these locks already work with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google today without Matter. Matter mainly buys you insurance: if you switch phones or smart-home hubs later, a Matter lock keeps working across Apple, Google, Amazon, and SmartThings. If that future-proofing matters to you, the Yale Assure Lock 2 adds it through a separate module rather than forcing a new lock.
Does the Yale Assure Lock 2 have Matter built in?
No. Bluetooth ships standard, and Matter over Thread comes via a separate smart module that costs around $79.99, as Tom's Guide and TechHive document. The benefit of the modular bay is that you add Wi-Fi or Matter later without replacing the whole lock.
Does the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock replace my deadbolt?
No — that's the point. It mounts on the inside over your existing deadbolt, so the exterior hardware and your physical keys stay exactly as they are. TechHive notes the install is as simple as removing two screws and clipping the lock on, typically in a few minutes.
Which of these is best for an Apple Home household?
The Schlage Encode Plus, because it adds Apple Home Key — you tap an iPhone or Apple Watch to the deadbolt to unlock, which Reviewed flagged as a standout. All three support HomeKit, but only the Schlage offers Home Key tap-to-unlock on a Grade 1 deadbolt.
Where can I see the SHE Smart Lock Fit Score methodology?
See the methodology section above and the dedicated metrics page. It scores five weighted factors — install reversibility, ecosystem reach, security and access tier, key flexibility, and battery endurance — on a normalized 0-10 scale.
Bottom Line
Get the Yale Assure Lock 2 if You own the door, want a keypad and broad ecosystem support, and value a Matter module path — at a $184.99 budget..
Get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen if You rent or won't modify the exterior, want to keep your keys, and need a reversible retrofit install at $191.99..
Get the Schlage Encode Plus if You're an Apple Home household that wants Home Key tap-to-unlock on a Grade 1 deadbolt, with a $319.00 budget..
Sources & Methodology
Methodology: SHE Smart Lock Fit Score — Formula: (0.28 × Install Reversibility) + (0.24 × Ecosystem Reach) + (0.22 × Security & Access Tier) + (0.16 × Key Flexibility) + (0.10 × Battery Endurance). Factors: Install Reversibility (weight 0.28): How easily the lock goes on and comes off without permanently changing the door. Retrofit-over-deadbolt locks that keep your keys and exterior score high (August 10); full deadbolt replacements that need landlord sign-off score lower (Yale and Schlage 4). 10 = clip-on retrofit, fully reversible; 0 = irreversible hardware swap. | Ecosystem Reach (weight 0.24): Breadth of native voice assistant and hub support, including Matter/Thread readiness. Yale (HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings + Matter module + Z-Wave) scores highest at 9; Schlage (HomeKit + Home Key, Alexa, Google, Thread) at 8; August (HomeKit, Alexa, Google, no Matter) at 7. | Security & Access Tier (weight 0.22): ANSI/BHMA deadbolt grade plus access-control depth. Schlage Grade 1 plus Home Key scores 9; Yale Grade 2 with 250 codes scores 8; the retrofit August relies on your existing deadbolt and ships no keypad, scoring 5. | Key Flexibility (weight 0.16): Number of independent ways in — keypad code, app, physical key, auto-unlock, tap-to-unlock. Yale (keypad/touchscreen + code + key + app) scores 9; Schlage (keypad + code + Home Key tap + key) scores 8; the keypad-less August (app + auto-unlock + your existing key) scores 4. | Battery Endurance (weight 0.10): Rated runtime under normal use. Yale's 4 AA cells (≈6 mo Wi-Fi, ≈1 yr Bluetooth) score 7; Schlage's 4 AA (≈6 mo) score 6; August's two CR123 cells (≈3-6 mo with Wi-Fi) score 5.
Expert review sources used in this analysis:
- Specs and performance claims, verified as of June 2026, draw on The Verge, CNET, PCMag, TechHive, and Reviewed, plus each maker's official spec sheet
- Install type, ecosystem support, Matter and Thread availability, keypad and code support, ANSI/BHMA security grade, and battery type were verified per SKU
- TechHive documents the August retrofit-over-deadbolt install at roughly 5 mins and rates its two cells at 3 to 6 months, while The Verge and TechHive document the Yale's modular Matter path and its 1 yr Bluetooth battery
- Reviewed clocks the Schlage full-deadbolt swap at about 10 mins, versus the Yale's 20 mins to 30 mins, and PCMag covers its Apple Home Key and Grade 1 deadbolt; CNET corroborates the August's DoorSense sensor
- The SHE Smart Lock Fit Score is SmartHomeExplorer's own weighted, normalized composite, with every factor scored relative to the same 0 to 10 scale.
Nicholas Miles is the founder of SmartHomeExplorer and a longtime smart home enthusiast focused on helping everyday homeowners make better technology decisions. He researches, compares, and writes about products across security, climate, lighting, leak prevention, sensors, home energy, and automation, with an emphasis on real-world usefulness, ecosystem compatibility, reliability, privacy, and long-term value.
Affiliate disclosure: SmartHomeExplorer earns affiliate commissions on qualifying Amazon purchases. Our scoring methodology is independent of affiliate relationships.
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