August

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

Ranked #4 in Smart Locks

515 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

August is the top smart lock for 2026, with easy installation, great design and seamless integration.

Consolidated from 14 independent outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

11 positive sources
2 mixed sources
1 unconvinced source

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

1 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. A trap is a product buyers genuinely cross-shop but should not buy, ranked honestly alongside the real picks rather than dropped to the bottom. Why the boards include them

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Pros & cons

✓ Easy plug-and-play installation
✓ Modern design that fits most doors
✓ Seamless integration with major smart home platforms
✓ Reliable Wi-Fi
✓ Best overall design and integration

✗ 2020-era, dated hardware riding on brand recognition
✗ Well-documented appetite for batteries
✗ The whole August line is being transitioned into Yale-branded successors
✗ The Yale Approach is the better buy

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 6 articles, 7 video reviews and 1 community source

11 positive sources

GleamSync GleamSync · reviewer

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock installs on the interior side of your existing deadbolt only. The exterior hardware and physical key remain unchanged. This makes it the go-to choice for hosts who cannot or do not want to modify their door's exterior, including condo owners with HOA restrictions, renters doing rental arbitrage, and properties with historic or custom hardware.

Read C

CNET CNET · 4.1M subscribers · May 2020

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock proves itself as the best retrofit smart lock and wins CNET's Editors' Choice award.

Watch M

mhn Product Review mhn Product Review · channel

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation) and August app allows you to remotely lock or unlock your door, check door status, grant virtual guest keys and always know who’s coming and going. Connected out of the box with built in Wi-Fi, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is easy to install and attaches to your existing deadbolt so you can keep your original keys.

Watch H

How To Do It All How To Do It All · 228K subscribers · Jul 2020

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is smaller, but smarter than its predecessors, with built in Wi-Fi and today, I’m going to walk you through how to set it up in under 5 minutes.

Watch P

PCMag Australia Article

August has released several outstanding smart locks over the years, but the Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the first one that has a built-in Wi-Fi radio. This retrofit solution replaces just your existing interior thumb turn mechanism and uses the rest of your existing lock hardware, including the keys. It's stylish, easy to install, and performed well in testing.

Read B

Best Buy Canada Product Videos Best Buy Canada Product Videos · 44.1K subscribers · Nov 2020

Leave your keys at home with the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and Smart Keypad.

Watch T

Trunetto Trunetto · reviewer

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock wins for renters and buyers who want to keep their keys — 10-minute tool-free install, zero exterior changes, works with existing keys. Yale Assure Lock 2 wins for homeowners who want a full replacement: touchscreen keypad, higher security rating, and a cleaner one-device solution with no interior adapter.

Read T

ToysCat ToysCat · 637 subscribers · Aug 2021

We've liked August's previous offerings, and this is the best one yet. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock proves itself as the best retrofit smart lock and wins CNET's Editors' Choice award.

Watch Y

Yeglocksmith Article

Considering the hardware design, lock functions, security features, and ease of installation, we highly recommend the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock as the best smart lock for home and Airbnb.

Read B

bstej_TechReviews bstej_TechReviews · 236 subscribers · May 2026

This is a fantastic solution for upgrading your home security because it installs on the inside of your door, meaning you get to keep your existing deadbolt and your physical keys. The kit includes the Wi-Fi Smart Lock, the versatile keypad, and everything you need for setup. Because it features built-in Wi-Fi, there are no extra hubs or hardware required.

Watch W

WIRED Nena Farrell · reviewer

You can get it bundled with the same Yale keypad I tested for an additional entry point.

Read

2 mixed sources

Tom's Guide Article

It's a good option, but quite bulky, so if you want something more aesthetically-pleasing, I'd go for the Yale Approach .

Read A

AdvisorReview AdvisorReview · 4.6K subscribers · Apr 2023

However, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is relatively expensive compared to other smart locks on the market, so it may not be the best option for those on a tight budget.

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1 unconvinced source

T Tiktok @smartgeekhome

Fix rampant August Wi-Fi Smart Lock dropouts and battery drain for US homeowners. Learn quick resets and router tweaks, then preview UWB Matter-ready replacements launching in twenty twenty five.

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #4 of 17 on our smart locks tier list, in B tier. That placement draws on 14 independent outlets.

1 of the 14 sources with a clear view is critical of it: Tiktok. 2020-era, dated hardware riding on brand recognition. Well-documented appetite for batteries. The whole August line is being transitioned into Yale-branded successors. The Yale Approach is the better buy.