Wins overall8.8
August Smart Lock (5th gen)
Best overall — Smart locksBuy it to keep your keys and your landlord happy — 12-minute install over your existing deadbolt, and the fastest unlock we've timed.
Head-to-head — Smart locks
August Smart Lock (5th gen) vs Yale Assure Lock 3 Keypad: which should you buy?
Our #1 overall against the set-and-forget keypad pick — one keeps your existing deadbolt, one replaces it entirely.
Wins overall8.8
Wins on batteries8.6
Yale Assure Lock 3 Keypad
Best keypad — Smart locksBuy it for the keypad and 9-month batteries — the set-and-forget choice for homeowners who want guest codes built in.
4 rounds — August Smart Lock
8 spec battles
3 rounds — Yale Assure Lock 3
Spec by spec
Winners marked per row · every number links to its test in the full methodology.
Performance — measured
Unlock timeapproach → open, s
0.9s
1.4s
Auto-unlock reliability100 approaches
97%
93%
ANSI/BHMA gradedurability class
Grade 2
Grade 2
Practicality
Install type
Retrofit — inside only
Full replacement
Install timetimed, one person
12 min
25 min
Battery lifemeasured, months
3 mo
9 mo
Physical key backup
Yes — original key works
None — keypad + app only
Cost & policy
Street pricetracked weekly
$229
$189
Warranty
1 yr
2 yr
The measurements, drawn
Both against the category average. Amber = row winner.
Unlock timelower is faster · seconds
▍ August is the fastest auto-unlock we've timed on either benchBattery lifehigher is better · months
▍ Yale runs roughly 3× longer between battery changesStreet pricelower is cheaper · $
▍ $40 apart at street priceCost of actually owning it
Sticker price is one number. Here's the fuller math.
Street pricetracked weekly
$229
$189
Cost per year10-year horizon
$22.90 /yr
$18.90 /yr
Batteries per year4× AA
~16 changes
~5 changes
Install costDIY, either way
Free — screwdriver
Free — drill required
Backup if electronics fail
Original key still opens it
None — no cylinder to fall back on
*Both inherit their ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 rating from the underlying hardware — August from your existing deadbolt, Yale from its own replacement cylinder-less body.
Round by round
The same data, called like a match.
Speed at the door
0.9s from approach to open is the fastest we've timed on either bench — Yale's own auto-unlock lands roughly half a second later.
AugustKeeping your key
The August clips over your existing deadbolt from the inside. Your original key, and your landlord's peace of mind, are untouched.
AugustGuests & codes
A built-in keypad means a code for the dog walker or the in-laws without buying anything extra. August's keypad accessory is an $80 add-on.
YaleBattery anxiety
9 months and 2 days on four AAs against August's 3 — you'll be changing August's batteries roughly three times as often.
YaleThe install
12 minutes with a screwdriver versus 25 minutes and a drill for a full deadbolt swap.
AugustThe call
Renters, and anyone who values keeping the original key: August, without hesitation. Homeowners who want a keypad baked in and don't mind losing the cylinder: Yale.
Depends on youStill torn? Answer three questions.
Our guided pick — same logic our editors use
Do you rent, or want to keep your existing key?
How do guests get in?
How do you feel about changing batteries?
From people who own them
Verified-owner feedback we collected while re-testing — the stuff spec sheets can't tell you.
RMRhea M.August owner · 4 months
"It genuinely unlocks before I've finished reaching for the handle. My landlord loves that the outside of the door looks untouched."
Matches our finding: unlock speed ↑, retrofit ↑DKDevraj K.Yale owner · 7 months
"Codes for the cleaner, the in-laws, and the dog walker — nobody has a key, nobody needs the app. Install took a full evening though."
Matches our finding: guest codes ↑, install time ↑Questions people ask about this matchup
Can I install the August myself?
Yes — it's a 12-minute inside-only job with a screwdriver, and your existing exterior hardware and keys are untouched. It's the one we'd hand to a renter.
Is Yale's missing cylinder a security risk?
No — it removes a physical attack surface (nothing to pick) at the cost of a physical backup (nothing to fall back on if the electronics fail). Our pick test passed cleanly either way.
Do both work with Apple Home / Google / Alexa?
Yes, both support Matter, HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box — smart-home compatibility isn't a differentiator here.
What about the Schlage Encode Plus?
Schlage's Grade 1 rating and physical vault-like build (8.4) beat both here on raw security, at a $70–110 premium. See where it lands in the full ranking.
Want a third option in this fight?Add the Schlage Encode Plus (8.4) or any of 18 tested locks
Open the compare tool