August Smart Lock Review: Best Budget Smart Lock

Our Verdict

Baronial's Smart Lock is the best upkeep lock, but yous'll need to spend extra to connect it to Wi-Fi.

For

Like shooting fish in a barrel to install
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Moving ridge, Nest, IFTTT and more
Flexible settings
Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock features

Against

Need to purchase Connect bridge to link to Wi-Fi
No Apple Homekit or Amazon Key support

Tom's Guide Verdict

Baronial's Smart Lock is the best upkeep lock, but you lot'll need to spend extra to connect it to Wi-Fi.

Pros

+
Piece of cake to install
+
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave, Nest, IFTTT and more
+
Flexible settings
+
Automobile-Lock and Auto-Unlock features

Cons

-
Need to buy Connect span to link to Wi-Fi
-
No Apple Homekit or Amazon Key back up

The August Smart Lock ($132) is a smart, low-toll selection if y'all are looking for a simple style to give your business firm some smarts without upsetting those who live in it. It replaces the back of your existing door lock with a smart module that tin can unlock the door, but without you having to replace the keys or the lock cylinder. The Baronial Smart Lock has a number of other peachy features, which is why it'due south our upkeep pick on our all-time smart locks page. However, to get the most out of this lock — and to be able to utilize it with other smart-domicile gadgets (likewise as Alexa and Google Assistant), you'll as well want to purchase the August Connect, which volition boost the overall toll to around $200.

August Smart Lock: Cost and availability

The August Smart Lock has been available since 2017, and currently sells for $149, or $199 with the Connect bridge, which lets the lock connect to your domicile Wi-Fi network.

August also sells the August Smart Lock Pro ($229 with Connect bridge), which has a circular inner knob, as well as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock ($249), which is smaller than the August Smart Lock Pro, and has Wi-Fi congenital in.

Baronial Smart Lock review: Blueprint

The Baronial Smart Lock is a large, smartphone-size rectangular aluminum lump that fits onto the dorsum of your door. It is simple to install, with a neat latching machinery that attaches the lock trunk to a new backplate without needing any new screws or bolts.

It has a more conventional design than the circular Smart Lock Pro, with a large transmission latch that is piece of cake to flip.

August Smart Lock review: Installation and setup

The Baronial Smart Lock is simple to install: you but remove the back plate and thumb turn (the latch that you turn to shut the lock) of your existing unmarried cylinder deadlock, adhere a new backing plate and so slip on the August Smart Lock itself. Two latches on the side snap into place to hold the lock into identify, and iv AA batteries in the dorsum power the locking machinery. The locking mechanism is somewhat large: about the size of an iPhone and twice as thick, with a big manual latch on the back. It has a make clean, simple pattern, just it is rather obvious. This lock doesn't work with mortise, rotary or other types of lock: August has a compatibility guide on their site that lists the locks they have tested with it.

Once it is installed and powered upwardly, y'all connect information technology to the August app, which is available for iOS and Android, by following a simple prepare of instructions in the app. We constitute that this process was simple and very straightforward. Once the ii are connected, you can lock and unlock remotely, equally well as seeing when the lock was used manually with the key.

I thing to annotation: This lock requires the August Connect ($66) bridge to link the lock to your Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, yous can just control the lock locally via Bluetooth. You can purchase the Connect module separately, or arranged with the lock for $219. However, you lot tin link multiple August locks to the Baronial Connect, so one Connect can control locks on the front, back and internal doors if required.

August Smart Lock review: Smart Abode Compatibility

The August Smart Lock also includes support for virtually of the major smart-home platforms. Information technology's i of the best Google Dwelling uniform devices, best Alexa compatible devices and all-time HomeKit devices. We institute both of these to exist easy to ready upwards and employ, and both offer an actress level of security by requiring a security lawmaking to remotely unlock the door. However, to use these features, you'll need the August Connect Wi-Fi bridge.

August Smart Lock vs. Baronial Smart Lock Pro

The less expensive Baronial Smart Lock lacks a few features found on the Smart Lock Pro. For starters, Amazon's Key service isn't supported, which automatically lets the delivery person into your house. Finally,, the Smart Lock Pro supports Z-Wave Plus, whereas the Smart Lock does not.

August Smart Lock review: Features

What is supported is a neat feature called DoorSense. By attaching a small magnet to the door frame (or, if you lot are feeling brave, embedding it into the frame itself), the lock can find when the bolt has slid into place, locking the door. That ways it can observe if someone has triggered the lock, but left the door ajar. It can't automatically shut the door for you, merely it's a useful reassurance that the lock has worked when you trigger it remotely.

In addition, you lot can plow your phone (or anyone else's) into a key. Add them to the guest list in the app, and they get an invite to download and install the app, which they can utilise to unlock your door. A feature called auto-lock and auto-unlock takes this a step further. Actuate it and the lock will automatically unlock when yous arroyo your front end door and lock it when yous go out. That shouldn't replace locking the door yourself, especially equally it only motorcar-locks when yous go nearly 200 meters (650 feet) abroad, merely it's a nice feature to have if you are forgetful.

If you are an Airbnb host, the lock can integrate with AirBnB. Instead of giving a guest a cardinal, the invitee can download the app and use it to unlock the door when they go far. When they leave, the app can as well notify you then you can get in and clean upwards. Baronial has more than details on this integration on their site.

August Smart Lock review: Accessories

While the August Smart Lock itself lacks a keypad, you tin can purchase a wireless keypad separately for $60. With information technology, you can create an unlimited number of individual 4 to 8 digit codes, which can exist activated over specific times or dates. It's a peachy pick for contractors or houseguests who don't have smartphones.

August Smart Lock review: Verdict

The August Smart Lock is a great choice for the upkeep-minded smart home owner. It'due south cheaper than the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (even afterwards you include the optional August Connect bridge), with the only missing features being Z-Wave and Homekit support. If you lot don't intendance almost those, August is our tiptop option for adding smarts to an existing lock without breaking the budget or replacing the cylinder.

Richard Baguley has been working every bit a technology author and journalist since 1993. Likewise as contributing to Tom's Guide, he writes for Cnet, T3, Wired and many other publications.