August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Review

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is an improvement on the Smart Lock Pro in all the ways that matter. It’s smaller, slimmer, and comes with a built-in Wi-Fi connection, so you don’t have to pay $90 for a separate bridge like you used to.

New stuff aside, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock still does all the things we love about the August Smart Lock Pro: it’s easy to install, it works with multiple smart home platforms, and the app is intuitive and lets you control your deadbolt from anywhere.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock features: 

• Works with most single-cylinder deadbolts
• Built-in Wi-Fi integration. No bridge necessary
• Easy installation
• Automatic lock and unlock
• Guest access through digital keys
• Remotely lock and unlock your door
• Check the status of your door (if it’s locked or unlocked, closed or open)
• Lost phone feature lets you disable your app and all virtual keys
• Biometric verification option for locking or unlocking your door
• Works with Apple Watch

A lot of smart door locks make you rip out your entire existing deadbolt and replace it with a new latch, new exterior, new everything. The August keeps things simple by using your existing deadbolt, but turning it into a smart lock.

Rather than take out your whole lock, you just have to remove the thumb latch and swap it for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. Once it’s on, your standard old deadbolt now functions like a smart lock. And you didn’t even have to get new door keys.

You’ll rely mainly on your phone to control the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. The August app gives you remote access to your door lock so you can lock or unlock it from anywhere. This lock also has automatic lock and unlock features, so it can lock the door behind you when you leave and unlock the door for you when you get home.

That’s useful considering the August lock doesn’t come with a keypad. You can buy a separate keypad if you want to, but otherwise, it’s going to be easier to use the automatic option than to pull out your door keys or find your phone every time you enter or leave the house.

But keep in mind that the automatic unlock features can be finicky. It goes off the location of your phone, so sometimes, if you enter through a side door or a garage door, it knows you’re home and unlocks the front door. The automatic feature also means that anyone who has your phone can get into your house, which is a bit of a security risk.

The August app has customizable settings, so you can get alerts when certain people enter or leave your house or when your door is left unlocked in the middle of the day. You can decide which alerts to get, and you can check out anything you missed in the activity feed in the app.

Unlike a lot of smart door locks, the August app can even tell you when your door is open or closed. The lock comes with a DoorSense™ entry sensor that will alert you if your door is left open.

A new feature with the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is biometric verification. You can set the August app to require your fingerprint or Face ID before it will lock or unlock your door. That’s great if you’re prone to losing your phone or if you’re going on vacation and want to make sure no one will have access to your house while you’re gone.

Now here we get to the downside of the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: it’s expensive. The August costs as much as locks that replace your entire deadbolt and come with touchscreen keypads. If you want a keypad for your August lock, you’ll pay an additional $59.

We think the August’s smart features are worth the price if you’ve got the cash. But if you want things like a keypad and a stronger deadbolt, then you can get a different smart lock with more stuff for the same price.

August excels at home automation. It works with more smart home platforms than any other smart lock we’ve reviewed. Not only does it pair with standards like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but it also works with Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, and SimpliSafe.

If you want the best options for linking your smart lock to your other smart home devices, then August is probably the one for you. It also doesn’t charge any kind of subscription service to use its best features. If you have the lock, then you have all the good stuff.

Smart lock installation doesn’t get much easier than the August. Since you’re only replacing one part of your deadbolt, you can get the lock up and running in less than 30 minutes. It will probably take you longer to find your screwdriver than it will to set up the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock installation overview: 

1. Tape the exterior part of your deadbolt to your door to hold it in place while you install the August lock.
2. Remove your existing thumb latch. (The inside part of your deadbolt.) You’ll need a Phillips head screwdriver.
3. Use the screws from your existing thumb latch to attach the August mounting plate to the inside of your door.
4. Choose the correct adapter for your lock based on the shape of your tail piece and attach the adapter to the tail piece.
5. On the August lock itself, pull out the wing latches on either side.
6. Slide the lock onto the adapter and close the wing latches to secure it to the mounting plate.
7. Take off the faceplate and pull out the battery tab to activate the battery.
8. Download the August app and set up the lock as a new device.

If you get stuck, August has clear installation instructions to follow.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is about as good as it gets! Easy to install, super smart, and comes with a great app. Just be prepared to shell out some moolah.

Features: The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock comes with built-in Wi-Fi, biometric verification options, automatic lock functions, and customizable alerts. There’s a lot to love about August’s features.

Pricing: This is an expensive little device. Most smart locks cost over $200, but this one costs the same as locks that replace your entire deadbolt and include touchscreens. So, it’s a bit pricey.

Home automation: August is the queen of home automation. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock works with Alexa, Google, Z-Wave, SimpliSafe, and even Apple HomeKit.

Installation: It should only take you a few minutes to get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock up and running. The only tool you need is a screwdriver.

Still not sure if the August is right for you? Check out our other Best Smart Door Locks review to see what else is out there.