Compare Yale August Smart Lock vs Schlage Encode Smart Lock

The activity log was useful in one review, but another reviewer reported a serious failure where an unlock event was not logged.

Reviewers found the history/audit trail useful for seeing who entered and when, especially for family, guests, and rental-style access.

Alarm loudness was split: one review called the siren quiet, while a locksmith found it very loud and annoying.

The app was widely praised as intuitive, responsive, and feature-rich, though one reviewer had severe app freezing during setup.

Most reviewers found the Schlage Home or Key app easy, responsive, and useful, with some caveats about simplicity or setup complexity.

Auto-lock was one of the strongest features, praised for flexibility and peace of mind, though one reviewer disabled it because it could lock them out.

Auto-lock was widely useful for forgotten doors, though reviewers warned that timing and lack of door awareness can create practical issues.

A locksmith observed that repeated invalid codes temporarily disable the keypad, showing the lockout behavior works, though active alerts were missing.

A locksmith praised the adjustable backset as working with almost any door in normal installations.

Battery life was the most consistent weakness, with repeated concern about CR123 batteries, shorter lifespan, replacement cost, and one six-to-eight-week real-world result.

Battery feedback was mixed: built-in Wi-Fi drains AA batteries faster, but warnings and at least one long-term experience were positive.

Bluetooth-range control was described as responsive in one review, with the lock reacting nearly immediately when pressed.

The only explicit Bluetooth judgment was positive, emphasizing encrypted Bluetooth in the lock.

Build quality drew praise where discussed, with reviewers calling out high-quality materials and a solidly built feel.

Reviewers consistently described the lock as solid, sturdy, beefy, heavy, or secure-feeling.

Ring doorbell/live-view control was praised when supported, but Ring Alarm compatibility created a major limitation in one review.

DoorSense was praised when it worked and was considered worth installing, but one reviewer reported repeated calibration failures and incorrect open/closed status.

The main door-sense evidence was negative: the lock can auto-lock without knowing whether the door is actually shut.

Reviewers valued the retrofit deadbolt fit for renters and existing-door setups, though one installation was complicated by tight door trim.

Reviewers generally found the lock fit existing deadbolt openings or aligned well after adjustment, with no structural door changes needed in tested installs.

Keeping the outside hardware and existing deadbolt was repeatedly praised, especially for renters, maintenance access, and preserving exterior appearance.

One review treated hardware reuse as a drawback because Encode replaces the whole deadbolt instead of modifying the existing one.

Fingerprint entry was treated as a missing keyless feature rather than a strength of this lock.

One reviewer specifically wished the lock added fingerprint recognition, so the lack of it counted as a limitation.

Geofencing and auto-unlock were the most mixed smart feature: some reviewers found it handy or excellent, while others found it slow, inconsistent, or stopped working.

Geofencing was repeatedly identified as missing, with reviewers noting the lack of hands-free auto-unlock as a meaningful convenience gap.

Guest access was easy and useful, with virtual keys, sharing by text, and scheduled codes highlighted positively.

Guest access was a major strength, with praise for many codes, scheduling, temporary access, texts, and family/service-person use; single-use code absence was the main caveat.

Reviewers liked that built-in Wi-Fi removes the need for an add-on bridge or Connect module.

Reviewers strongly agreed that built-in Wi-Fi and no hub, bridge, or adapter is one of the lock’s clearest advantages.

Exterior design earned praise for style and curb appeal, but interior hardware size and appearance drew criticism.

Most reviewers found setup easy, quick, and well guided by the app, with one strong dissent reporting freezes, verification issues, and calibration trouble.

Installation was usually described as easy and quick, although programming, Wi-Fi setup, or third-party app setup could be confusing.

The retained physical key was useful as a fallback and for renters, but one long-term tester still ended up carrying keys because smart unlocking was not fast enough.

Reviewers valued the physical key backup, especially as protection against dead batteries or smart-function failures.

The optional keypad works and can be useful, but reviewers noted it is not included and may disappoint buyers who want a built-in keypad experience.

The keypad was generally praised as easy, bright, backlit, and accessible, with one reviewer noting a nighttime first-press annoyance.

A locksmith judged the cylinder well-made but not impossible to pick, making keyway quality respectable rather than exceptional.

App/manual locking was often described as instant, smooth, or quick, but one reviewer found physical keys faster than app, Siri, or watch workflows.

Lock/unlock response was usually fast or instant, with one reviewer describing it as only somewhat more responsive than another lock.

The motor was praised for quiet operation in PCMag testing.

Motor feedback was mixed: one reviewer found it quiet, another said it was strong, while others complained it was loud or grinding.

Locking reliability was excellent in most formal testing and one six-month review, but one reviewer reported serious state confusion and unreliable locking status.

Locking reliability was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers reporting perfect tests, flawless keyless entry, smooth unlocking, and dependable performance.

Notifications were a clear strength, with reviewers praising flexible smart alerts, quick push alerts, and better door-status awareness.

Notifications were usually useful for lock status and user activity, but reviewers noted missed battery warnings and no active invalid-code alert.

Physical security received strong praise from TechGearLab, which highlighted the ANSI Grade 1 strength rating and intruder resistance.

Physical security was repeatedly praised through Grade 1/AAA ratings, reinforced hardware, and confidence against forced entry.

Only one review directly tied the lock’s construction to pick/key resistance, saying it would be difficult for a thief to duplicate the key.

Remote access was praised as convenient for controlling the lock from elsewhere in the house or anywhere with a phone connection.

Remote access was strongly praised for checking status, letting people in, locking from away, and fast reliable remote operation.

Security software features were reassuring in the CNET review, especially authentication and encryption protections around the app and account.

The only direct encryption evidence was positive, with the reviewer praising the lock’s encrypted Bluetooth.

Smart-home integration was broad and often praised, but Alexa/Google setup hitches, HomeKit offline issues, and one severe HomeKit complaint made reliability mixed.

Smart-home integration was useful with Alexa, Google, Ring, Amazon Key, and Home Assistant, but limited by HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Google unlock, and Ring Alarm gaps.

The lack of a built-in outside touchpad/touchscreen was a drawback for the reviewer who preferred that style of lock.

Touchscreen feedback was mostly positive for responsiveness and cold-use practicality, though one reviewer stressed it is not a true modern glass touchscreen.

User access management was praised for free virtual keys and scheduled access codes.

User management was praised for quick code creation, schedules, granular options, and caregiver/parent use cases.

Value was mixed: several reviewers called it pricey but worthwhile, while others weighed the high price against batteries, keypad add-ons, and reliability frustrations.

Value was mixed but leaned positive: several reviewers called it pricey, yet many found the security, reliability, and features worth the cost.

Voice control worked quickly in one test and was supported broadly, but other reviewers reported password recognition issues or slow/failing Siri and Google Assistant use.

Voice control generally worked well, especially with Alexa, but Google unlocking limits lowered the overall score.

Support was viewed positively through a resolved battery-warning bug and confidence that August/Assa Abloy support would keep software maintained.

Warranty evidence was limited but positive, with one locksmith calling its electronics warranty the longest among reviewed locks.

Built-in Wi-Fi was praised for freshness, range, and eliminating a bridge, but reviewers tied it to battery drain and one reported mesh/Wi-Fi frustration.

Wi-Fi was strongly valued for direct remote control without extra hardware, though battery drain and one weak connection were caveats.