Do You Need a Keypad with Your August Wi-Fi Smart Lock? Keypad vs Phone-Only Entry

Quick answer

You don't need a keypad if everyone who enters your home carries a phone and you're comfortable managing access in the August App. Add a keypad if kids, cleaners, dog walkers, or short-term guests need entry without borrowing a phone. The Yale | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch and the August Smart Lock + Connect + Keypad both cover that need at different price points.

Your August Wi-Fi Smart Lock already unlocks from your phone, so a keypad can feel redundant. In daily use, though, the two entry methods solve different problems. Phone entry is personal and trackable; keypad entry is shared and hands-free of apps.

This guide gives you concrete rules for choosing keypad vs phone-only entry, plus which August bundle fits your household. We'll skip the hype and focus on who actually benefits from a keypad, what it costs you in setup and maintenance, and when your phone alone is genuinely enough.

What phone-only entry does well

Phone-only entry means you control the lock through the August App: lock, unlock, check status, and send virtual keys. For a single adult or a couple who always carry a phone, this is the simplest setup. There's no code to share, no keypad to mount, and no extra batteries to track. Access is tied to a person's account, so you can revoke a virtual key remotely if plans change.

The tradeoff is dependency. If your phone is dead, lost, or left inside, you're locked out unless you have a physical key or another entry method. Guests also need to install the app, create an account, and accept a virtual key before they can enter. For a neighbor watering plants once, that's a lot of friction for a small favor.

• Best when the same one or two people always enter and always carry a charged phone.
• Weakest when entry needs to be shared with people outside your household.

What a keypad adds that your phone can't

A keypad turns your smart lock into something anyone can use in seconds. You assign a code, share it verbally or by text, and the person types it to unlock. No app install, no account, no phone handoff. That matters for kids who don't have phones, a dog walker on a schedule, or a guest arriving while you're still at work.

Keypads also give you a fallback when your phone isn't available. If your battery dies on a run, you can still get in with a code. And because codes are separate from virtual keys, you can hand out temporary access without giving someone a digital key tied to their own device. The August Smart Keypad and Yale Keypad Touch both serve this role, with the Yale Keypad Touch adding fingerprint access on top of code entry.

• Choose a keypad if anyone in your life needs entry without a smartphone.
• Choose a keypad if you want a phone-free backup for yourself.

How to decide in under a minute

Ask one question: does everyone who enters your home carry a smartphone and know how to use an app? If yes, phone-only entry is probably enough, and you can save the keypad for later. If no, or if you regularly hand out access to people outside your household, a keypad pays for itself in convenience.

A second question is about turnover. If you host short-term guests, manage a rental, or coordinate recurring help, codes are easier to issue, change, and revoke than virtual keys. You can retire a code after a visit without touching anyone's phone. That alone is why many hosts pair a keypad with their lock rather than relying on app invites.

• Household of phone-carrying adults: phone-only entry is fine.
• Kids, guests, or recurring help: add a keypad.
• Short-term rentals or frequent turnover: keypad strongly recommended.

Bundle options and what you're actually buying

August sells keypad entry in a few configurations, and the right one depends on whether you want Wi-Fi built in, a separate bridge, or a touch keypad with fingerprint access. The Yale | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch bundles a Wi-Fi lock with the Yale Keypad Touch for fingerprint and code entry. The August Smart Lock + Connect + Keypad pairs the lock with a Connect Wi-Fi Bridge and the August Smart Keypad, which is a common choice if you want remote control and code entry without a touch keypad.

If you already own an August lock, you may only need the keypad accessory rather than a full bundle. Check which lock you have and whether it includes Wi-Fi or requires the Connect bridge for remote access. That single detail often decides whether a bundle saves you money or duplicates hardware you already own.

• Match the bundle to your existing hardware before buying.
• A Wi-Fi lock plus keypad is the fewest-parts setup.
• A lock plus Connect bridge plus keypad is the classic remote-access combo.

Tradeoffs to accept with a keypad

A keypad is one more device to mount, power, and maintain. It needs its own batteries or power, and it adds a visible code-entry point on your door. If you rent and can't modify the door, check mounting requirements before committing. You'll also want to manage codes over time: change them after a contractor finishes, delete codes for guests who've left, and avoid reusing the same code everywhere.

Phone-only entry has its own tradeoffs: app dependency, account setup for guests, and no entry if your phone is unavailable. Neither option is strictly better. The decision is about who needs to get in and how much friction you're willing to accept at the door.

• Plan a code hygiene routine: unique codes, timely deletion.
• Confirm mounting and power needs before buying a keypad.

Decision rules: keypad or phone-only

• Rule 1: Count the non-phone users: If anyone who needs regular entry doesn't carry a smartphone, choose a keypad. Kids, older relatives, and occasional helpers are the common cases. One non-phone user is enough to justify a keypad.
• Rule 2: Count the handoffs: If you share access more than a few times a month, codes are faster to issue and revoke than virtual keys. Hosts and households with recurring help should lean keypad. Frequent access changes favor a keypad.
• Rule 3: Check your backup plan: If losing your phone or running out of battery would lock you out, a keypad gives you a phone-free backup. If you always have a physical key nearby, this matters less. No reliable backup means add a keypad.
• Rule 4: Match the bundle to what you own: If you already have an August lock with Wi-Fi, you may only need a keypad accessory. If you're starting fresh, a bundle with lock, bridge, and keypad avoids buying parts twice. Buy the bundle that fills your gaps, not the biggest one.

August products that fit this decision

• Yale | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch: Bundled with the Yale Keypad Touch for fingerprint access and convenient code entry, great for small kids and one-time visitors. Fingerprint entry removes the need to remember or type a code, which is useful for kids and quick visits.
• August Smart Lock + Connect + Keypad: Includes an August Smart Lock, August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, and the August Smart Keypad, and works with Alexa and the Google Assistant. A complete remote-access and code-entry setup if you don't already own an August lock or bridge.
• August Wi-Fi Smart Lock + Connect with Keypad Touch: Comes with an additional Connect Wi-Fi bridge for extended battery life. If battery maintenance is a concern, the added bridge can reduce how often you recharge or replace batteries.

Who should choose which

Best for a keypad

• Households with kids or relatives who don't carry phones
• Short-term rental hosts and anyone managing frequent guest access
• People who want a phone-free backup entry method

Not for a keypad

• Single adults or couples who always carry a charged phone
• Renters who can't mount a keypad or prefer zero added hardware
• Anyone who only needs occasional entry and is fine issuing a virtual key

Start with who needs to get in, not with the hardware. If everyone carries a phone and access rarely changes, phone-only entry keeps things simple. If kids, guests, or recurring help need in, add a keypad and pick the bundle that matches the lock and bridge you already own.