Schlage Encode Plus vs. Yale Assure Lock 2: Which Smart Lock Is Better?

Updated August 2026

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If you're deciding between the Schlage Encode Plus and the Yale Assure Lock 2, the choice comes down to what matters most at your front door.

For most homeowners, we'd choose the Schlage Encode Plus. It costs more, but it gives you built-in Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key, keypad access, a physical key backup, remote access, guest codes, and direct Airbnb integration in one package.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is a strong alternative, especially if you value automatic unlocking, Yale's DoorSense feature, or its cleaner, more minimalist design.

There's one wrinkle worth knowing before you buy: Yale now sells several versions of the Assure Lock 2. The standard model, Assure Lock 2 Touch, and Assure Lock 2 Plus don't all have the same features.

Best overall: Schlage Encode Plus

Best for Apple users: Schlage Encode Plus

Best for automatic unlocking: Yale Assure Lock 2

Best for fingerprint access: Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch

Best for Airbnb and vacation rentals: Schlage Encode Plus, by a small margin

If you want the simplest answer, the Schlage Encode Plus is the better all-around smart lock for most people. Yale becomes more compelling if Auto-Unlock, DoorSense, fingerprint access, or Yale's design are priorities for you.

Pricing changes, so check current prices before buying.

The biggest difference isn't Wi-Fi, the keypad, or even the apps.

It's how you prefer to unlock your door.

The Schlage Encode Plus leans heavily into Apple Home Key. With a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, you can tap your device against the lock much like you would make a contactless payment.

Yale takes a different approach. Its Auto-Unlock feature can detect when you're returning home and unlock the door as you approach.

Both save you from digging through your pocket for keys. They just go about it differently.

For an Apple household, we'd rather have Home Key.

For someone who wants the door to unlock automatically without tapping anything, Yale has the edge.

The Encode Plus does a good job of giving you several ways to get inside without making the system feel complicated.

You can unlock it with:

You can also lock or unlock the door remotely, create individual access codes, and review activity through the Schlage Home app.

Apple Home Key may sound like a nice-to-have feature until you start using it.

Instead of opening an app or typing a code, you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the lock and walk in.

It's fast, intuitive, and particularly convenient when your hands are full.

If your household already lives in the Apple ecosystem, this is one of the Encode Plus's strongest advantages.

The Encode Plus doesn't require a separate Wi-Fi bridge for normal remote access.

That's a small detail that matters more over time than it does on installation day. Fewer hubs and bridges mean fewer things to troubleshoot later.

Smart homes already have enough little boxes plugged into outlets.

Yale takes a slightly different approach.

Rather than putting every feature into one model, the Assure Lock 2 family gives you several configurations depending on how you want to use the lock.

The Wi-Fi version offers remote access, guest codes, activity notifications, voice-assistant support, Auto-Unlock, and DoorSense.

There's an important difference between knowing your deadbolt is locked and knowing your door is actually closed and locked.

DoorSense helps Yale determine whether the door itself is open or closed.

That makes features like Auto-Lock more useful because the lock can wait until the door has actually shut before engaging the deadbolt.

For families, landlords, and vacation-rental owners, that extra bit of information can be valuable.

The Yale lineup is more flexible, although it can also be a little confusing.

The standard Assure Lock 2 gives you keypad or touchscreen access.

The Assure Lock 2 Touch adds fingerprint access.

The Assure Lock 2 Plus adds Apple Home Key.

If you like Yale's design, make sure you're comparing the exact version you want. Two locks that look almost identical can have very different feature sets.

Schlage Encode Plus.

Both brands work within the Apple smart-home ecosystem, but the Encode Plus includes Apple Home Key as a core feature.

That means a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch can act almost like a digital house key.

If you prefer Yale and still want Home Key, look specifically at the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus, not the standard Assure Lock 2.

For an Apple-heavy household, we'd still give Schlage the advantage because Home Key is built into the main Encode Plus offering rather than requiring you to move to a different version.

This one is much closer.

Both Schlage and Yale support Airbnb integrations that can simplify guest access.

Instead of manually creating and deleting codes for every reservation, compatible integrations can create temporary access codes tied to a guest's stay.

That's exactly the kind of automation a vacation-rental owner should want.

Our guide to the best smart locks for Airbnb compares these two models with four other rental-friendly options.

We give the Schlage Encode Plus a slight edge for Airbnb properties because it combines Wi-Fi, keypad access, remote management, guest codes, physical key backup, and Airbnb support in a straightforward package.

For a rental property, reliability matters more than novelty.

The last thing you want is a guest calling at midnight because the smart lock decided tonight was a good night to become stupid.

Both locks come from established lock manufacturers and are designed for exterior residential doors.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touchscreen with Wi-Fi carries an ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 rating.

Schlage says the Encode Plus carries its highest BHMA residential ratings for security, durability, and finish.

That gives the Schlage Encode Plus the advantage on paper for physical security.

That said, don't ignore the rest of the door.

A strong smart lock won't compensate for a weak strike plate, short screws, a damaged frame, or poor installation.

This is where the decision gets more personal.

Neither lock is a bad choice.

The better one is the lock that fits the way you actually enter, leave, and manage your home.

If we were choosing between the Schlage Encode Plus and the standard Yale Assure Lock 2 with Wi-Fi, we'd buy the Schlage Encode Plus.

It's more expensive, but it feels like the more complete product. You get Apple Home Key, built-in Wi-Fi, keypad entry, a physical key backup, remote management, strong security ratings, and Airbnb compatibility without needing to sort through several different versions.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 still makes a lot of sense for the right buyer.

Choose Yale if Auto-Unlock or DoorSense are more valuable to you than Apple Home Key.

Choose the Assure Lock 2 Touch if fingerprint access is high on your list.

Choose the Assure Lock 2 Plus if you prefer Yale but want Apple Home Key.

For everyone else, the Schlage Encode Plus is our better all-around pick.

For most buyers, yes. The Encode Plus offers a strong combination of Apple Home Key, built-in Wi-Fi, keypad access, remote management, physical key backup, and Airbnb compatibility. Yale is more appealing if you specifically want Auto-Unlock, DoorSense, or fingerprint access.

Yes. Yale offers Apple Home compatibility across compatible Assure Lock 2 configurations. Apple Home Key, however, is available on the Assure Lock 2 Plus rather than the standard Assure Lock 2.

Yes. Apple Home Key lets compatible iPhone and Apple Watch users tap the Encode Plus to unlock the door.

Yes. Schlage offers Airbnb integration for compatible Encode locks, allowing hosts to automate temporary guest access codes.

Yes. Compatible Yale Assure Lock 2 models can integrate with Airbnb and automate temporary access for guests.

Neither Schlage nor Yale requires a monthly subscription for the core smart-lock features covered in this comparison.

At Entry Scout, we care less about how impressive a smart lock looks on a specification sheet and more about what happens after you install it.

We focus on the things that matter every day: security, reliability, access options, remote management, guest access, smart-home compatibility, rental-property use, and value.

For this comparison, we reviewed current manufacturer specifications, compatibility information, security ratings, and independent product testing.

Because the best smart lock isn't necessarily the one with the longest feature list.

It's the one you stop thinking about after you install it.