August vs Yale Smart Locks: Which Brand Fits Your Door?

Quick answer

Choose August if you want a retrofit lock that keeps your existing deadbolt and exterior key, especially when a keypad or Wi-Fi bridge is bundled in. Choose Yale if you want to replace the whole deadbolt with a keypad-first unit. On the August side, the August Smarter Hosting Bundle - Standard and the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle are the two clearest starting points.

The core design difference: retrofit vs full replacement

August locks are retrofit models. They install on the inside of your door over an existing deadbolt, so the outside of your door keeps the key cylinder you already have. That matters if you rent, if your building or HOA controls the exterior hardware, or if you simply want a physical key as a backup. Yale's keypad-first locks are typically full replacements: the exterior keypad and the interior assembly are both part of the new unit, so the look and feel of your door hardware changes.

This is the single biggest factor in the August vs Yale smart lock decision. Retrofit keeps your door's exterior unchanged and usually means a shorter install. Full replacement gives you an integrated keypad on the outside but requires removing the old deadbolt and matching the new finish to your door.

What August bundles actually include

August's catalog leans on bundles rather than single locks, and the contents differ in ways that affect total cost. The August Smarter Hosting Bundle - Standard includes an August Smart Lock, an August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, and a free August Smart Keypad. If you price those three items separately, the bundle is the cheaper path to remote access plus code-based entry.

The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle bundles a lock with a matching handle rather than a keypad. That is aimed at homeowners replacing door hardware for a coordinated look, not at hosts who need to issue temporary codes to guests. If your priority is guest access, the hosting bundle is the more direct fit; if your priority is a matched door set, the Navis paddle bundle is the one to look at.

Keypad access: built in vs added on

Yale's keypad locks put the code entry on the outside of the door as part of the lock itself. August's approach is different: the August Smart Keypad is a separate accessory that mounts near the door, and it is included in the hosting bundle. Functionally both let someone without a phone unlock the door with a code. The trade-off is placement and appearance. A built-in keypad is one integrated unit; a separate August keypad is another device on your wall or trim, but it lets you keep your original deadbolt and key.

Neither approach is universally better. If you dislike extra hardware on the door frame, a Yale keypad lock is tidier. If you want to keep the door's exterior untouched, August plus a keypad gets you the same code-based entry without swapping the deadbolt.

Remote access and what you need to add

Remote control from outside the home depends on a Wi-Fi bridge, not on the lock alone. The August Smart Lock on its own supports phone-based lock and unlock and access tracking at the door; adding a Connect Wi-Fi bridge enables remote access. This is why the August Smarter Hosting Bundle - Standard and the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect bundles include Connect: they are built for people who want to check or control the door when they are not home.

When comparing August and Yale on price, compare like for like. A bare lock without a bridge or keypad is not the same product as a bundle that includes both. Add the cost of the missing pieces before deciding which brand is cheaper for your setup.

Finish and door-matching considerations

The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle is offered in Satin Nickel and Bronze, and the bundle pairs the lock with a Navis paddle so the handle and lock match. Available color options are listed per product, so check the option selector on the product page rather than assuming a finish is stocked. If your door hardware is an uncommon finish, a retrofit August lock that leaves your existing exterior hardware in place avoids the matching problem entirely.

Yale keypad locks are also sold in multiple finishes, but the exterior keypad and trim are part of the lock, so the finish you choose is visible from outside. That is a design decision as much as a functional one.

Trade-offs to weigh before you pick a brand

• Retrofit vs full replacement: August locks install over your existing deadbolt, so the exterior key cylinder stays. Yale keypad locks replace the deadbolt, so the outside hardware changes. Renters and anyone with building-controlled exterior hardware should start with August.
• Separate keypad vs built-in keypad: August uses a separate Smart Keypad, included in the hosting bundle. Yale keypad locks integrate code entry into the lock itself. Pick August if you want to keep your deadbolt; pick Yale if you want one integrated exterior unit.
• Bundle math vs bare lock: August's hosting bundle includes the lock, Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, and a keypad. Buying the lock alone leaves remote access and code entry to be added later. Price the full set you need, not just the lock, before comparing brands on cost.
• Finish matching: The August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle comes in finishes such as Satin Nickel and Bronze, with color options listed per product. A retrofit lock sidesteps exterior finish matching entirely. Check the option selector on the product page for current finish availability.

August options worth comparing

• August Smarter Hosting Bundle - Standard: The perfect bundle for hosting guests. Get all the tools to grant temporary access to your rental property or your home. This exclusive bundle includes an August Smart Lock, August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, and a free August Smart Keypad. One purchase covers phone control, remote access, and code-based entry, which is the combination most hosts and short-term rental owners need.
• August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle in Satin Nickel: August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with Navis Paddle in Satin Nickel is a smart door bundle from August Home. It pairs the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect with a Navis paddle, giving you a coordinated smart lock setup for convenient, keyless entry. A better fit when you are replacing the handle and lock together and want the two to match, rather than adding a separate keypad.
• August Smart Lock: Secure, keyless entry for your smart home. Lock and unlock your door, control keyless access and keep track of who comes and goes, all from your phone. Upgrade with a Connect Wi-Fi bridge for remote access. The lowest-entry option if you only need phone-based control at the door and can add remote access later.

Which brand fits your situation

August is the better fit for

• Renters or anyone who cannot change the exterior deadbolt
• Hosts and short-term rental owners who need temporary codes and remote access in one bundle
• Homeowners who want a matched lock-and-handle set in a specific finish

Yale is the better fit for

• Buyers who want code entry built into the lock rather than a separate keypad device
• Homeowners replacing the full deadbolt and exterior hardware anyway
• Anyone who prefers a keypad-first lock with no phone required for daily entry