August Wi-Fi Smart Lock vs. Yale Approach: Which Should You Buy?

Updated August 2026

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The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and Yale Approach are two of the better options if you want a smart lock without replacing the deadbolt already on your door.

Both mount on the inside. Both preserve the exterior hardware and original key. Pair either one with the Yale Keypad Touch and you can add PIN and fingerprint entry.

The more useful comparison is what you have to buy to get there.

For most people, the Yale Approach is the better value. Its complete package includes the Wi-Fi bridge and fingerprint keypad, uses standard AA batteries and has a substantially longer manufacturer battery-life estimate.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the better fit for Apple Home users and anyone who wants Wi-Fi built directly into the lock.

Buy the Yale Approach with Wi-Fi and Keypad Touch if you want the best complete package. You get fingerprint and PIN access, remote control and the necessary Wi-Fi hardware together.

Buy the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad Touch if you use Apple HomeKit or Siri, or if you'd rather have Wi-Fi built into the lock than plug in a separate bridge.

When we checked manufacturer pricing in August 2026, the complete Yale package was less expensive. Prices and promotions change, so check the current total for both packages before buying.

Check August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Bundle Price on Amazon

Compare Yale Approach Bundle Options on Amazon

This is where the pricing can get misleading.

The standard August Wi-Fi Smart Lock includes the retrofit lock, batteries, DoorSense and installation hardware. Remote access is already covered because Wi-Fi is built into the lock.

The keypad is optional.

If you want fingerprint entry, you need the Yale Keypad Touch, either purchased separately or as part of an August bundle.

The Yale package we're comparing includes the Approach lock, Connect Wi-Fi Bridge and Keypad Touch.

That means the Yale package arrives with both the hardware required for remote access and the keypad required for fingerprints and PINs.

Comparing that package with a bare August lock makes August look less expensive than it really is for someone who already knows they want keypad access.

Compare the total setup you actually plan to use.

On that basis, Yale has the advantage.

Both locks are retrofits.

Instead of removing the entire deadbolt, you take off the interior thumbturn and install the smart lock on the inside of the door. The exterior cylinder stays where it is.

That gives you two important benefits.

First, the outside of the door doesn't suddenly look like you've installed a new electronic lock.

Second, your original key continues to work.

Both locks are designed for compatible single-cylinder deadbolts, but neither works with every door or lock configuration. Check compatibility before ordering, particularly if you have a mortise lock, double-cylinder deadbolt or unusual door hardware.

The reversible installation also makes these two appealing to renters. Save the original thumbturn and every piece you remove so you can put the door back the way you found it.

If you're renting, our Best Smart Locks for Renters guide covers what to check before changing anything on the door.

Here's the biggest day-to-day difference between them.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock connects directly to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.

The Yale Approach uses the included Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. The bridge plugs into an outlet near the lock and handles the internet connection.

August's setup is cleaner.

There's no extra box occupying an outlet and one less device to position near the front door.

Yale's approach separates the Wi-Fi connection from the lock itself. You have an additional component, but the lock can run on standard AA batteries and carries a much longer published battery estimate.

I wouldn't buy one solely because its Wi-Fi architecture sounds better. I'd decide which inconvenience bothers you more: another bridge in the house or more frequent battery changes.

If the internet goes down, both locks retain local ways to get through the door. What you lose is primarily remote functionality.

We explain that distinction in Do Smart Locks Work Without Wi-Fi?.

You don't need a keypad with either lock.

For most households, I'd still get one.

The Yale Keypad Touch adds PIN and fingerprint entry. Instead of reaching for a phone, you can enter a code or use a finger.

That becomes useful quickly.

Kids don't need phones. A cleaner can have a separate code. Visiting family doesn't need to install an app. You can also create temporary or scheduled access rather than handing out a physical key.

This is another reason Yale's bundle is attractive. The Keypad Touch is already part of the package we're comparing.

With August, it's an option.

If you know you want fingerprint entry from the start, price the August lock and keypad together before deciding which lock is cheaper.

The difference on paper is substantial.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock runs on two CR123 lithium batteries. August currently estimates up to roughly three months of battery life under typical Wi-Fi use.

Yale Approach uses four AA alkaline batteries and publishes an estimate of up to roughly 12 months, depending on use.

Neither number should be treated as a promise.

A busy front door is different from a door used four times a day. Alignment matters. Wireless conditions matter. So does how often the motor has to run.

Even with that caveat, Yale has the easier maintenance setup. AA batteries are inexpensive and available almost everywhere, and its published replacement interval is much longer.

August's built-in Wi-Fi is convenient. Battery consumption is one of the tradeoffs.

If either lock does run out of power, your original exterior key is still there.

If you use Apple HomeKit, the decision gets much easier.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock supports Apple HomeKit and Siri.

The Yale Approach currently does not.

Both work with Alexa and Google Assistant, but that doesn't help someone who has already built the rest of the house around Apple's Home app.

August also gives Apple households a more established path for including the lock in existing HomeKit routines and Siri controls.

I wouldn't buy Yale Approach because of promised future integrations. Smart-home products are better judged by what they support on the day you buy them.

If Apple Home is central to your setup, choose August.

They don't look much alike from inside the house.

August uses the familiar circular design. It's roughly 2.8 inches across and about 1.8 inches deep.

Yale Approach is a tall rectangle, approximately 5.6 inches high, 2.6 inches wide and 1.6 inches deep.

So calling Yale simply “smaller” isn't quite right.

Yale is slightly shallower.

August takes up much less vertical space.

I prefer the August shape on a door where you want the retrofit lock to disappear as much as possible, but that's purely a design preference.

More importantly, check the dimensions if your deadbolt sits close to decorative trim, glass or another lock.

From outside, neither replaces the existing deadbolt. The keypad is the only obvious new piece of hardware.

Yale Approach is my pick for most renters.

The retrofit design preserves the landlord's exterior hardware, and the complete Yale package gives you a keypad, fingerprint access and remote connectivity without having to assemble the system piece by piece.

The AA batteries are another plus if you're going to live with the lock for a year or two.

August makes more sense if you use Apple HomeKit or don't have a good outlet for Yale's Connect bridge.

Whichever one you install, keep the original interior hardware.

A reversible smart lock isn't particularly reversible if you lose half the parts before move-out day.

Both can work with Airbnb when paired with compatible keypad hardware, and both preserve the existing exterior deadbolt.

For a dedicated short-term rental, I'd choose Yale Approach between these two.

The longer published battery estimate and complete keypad package are more useful to a remote host than HomeKit support.

The keypad is doing most of the work for guests anyway. They don't need fingerprint enrollment or an app. They need a code that works when they arrive.

August remains a good option if you're already managing other August locks and want to keep everything in one system.

For the locks we'd consider across the entire category, see Best Smart Locks for Airbnb and Rental Properties.

Choose August if:

Apple compatibility is the strongest reason to choose it over Yale.

View the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Bundle on Amazon

If you're open to replacing the entire deadbolt instead, our Schlage Encode vs. Encode Plus comparison covers another pair worth considering.

Choose Yale Approach if:

For most buyers in this comparison, that's the stronger package.

View Yale Approach Bundle Options on Amazon

Buy the Yale Approach for overall value.

You get the retrofit lock, remote connectivity and fingerprint keypad together, along with standard AA batteries and a much longer manufacturer battery estimate.

Choose Yale Approach: View Options on Amazon

Buy the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock if you use Apple Home or strongly prefer built-in Wi-Fi.

That's enough to swing the decision for the right household, but otherwise Yale gives you more for the money.

Yes. Local access can continue when the internet is unavailable. The Connect bridge is needed for remote internet access.

No. Wi-Fi is built directly into the lock.

Yes. Both locks preserve the existing exterior deadbolt cylinder, so your current physical key continues to work.

No. The current Yale Approach does not support Apple HomeKit or Siri. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock does.

Yale publishes the stronger estimate: up to roughly 12 months for Approach compared with up to roughly three months for August under typical Wi-Fi use.

Actual battery life will vary.

Potentially. Both use reversible interior retrofit installations, but renters still need to follow their lease and building rules.

Yes, when paired with the Yale Keypad Touch. Fingerprint recognition is in the keypad, not the interior lock itself.