Yale Assure Lock 2 vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Which Should You Buy in 2026?

Yale Assure Lock 2 vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock at a Glance

The smart lock category has gotten serious in 2026. The two locks most cross shopped at this price point are the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Generation. They take different approaches to the same problem: how do you keep a front door secure while making it easier for the people you trust to come and go? Yale replaces the entire deadbolt with a fingerprint enabled smart unit. August keeps the existing deadbolt and motorizes the interior thumbturn so your old keys still work.

Neither approach is “right.” The right pick depends on whether you own or rent your home, whether you want fingerprint entry, which voice assistant runs your smart home, and how important it is to keep a physical key as a backup. This guide walks through the specs, install differences, security ratings, integration support, battery life, and real world use cases so you can pick the lock that fits your door and your life.

Side by Side Specs

Feature	Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch (Wi-Fi)	August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Price (2026)	$299 to $339	$229 to $249
Install type	Full deadbolt replacement	Retrofit over existing deadbolt
Built in Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Built in keypad	Yes, fingerprint touchscreen included	No (sold separately)
Original key still works	No (new keys included with optional cylinder)	Yes
Apple Home Key	Yes	No
Matter support	Yes (over Thread)	No (HomeKit, Alexa, Google direct)
Voice assistants	Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri	Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
Auto unlock by GPS	No	Yes (DoorSense)
Power	4 AA batteries	2 CR123 batteries
Battery life	About 12 months	About 4 to 6 months
BHMA grade	Grade 2	Inherits from existing deadbolt
Warranty	1 year electronics, lifetime mechanical	1 year limited

Installation: The Single Biggest Decision Point

Install style is the first question to ask before anything else, because it changes who can use either lock at all. The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch is a complete deadbolt replacement. You unscrew the old deadbolt entirely and install the new Yale assembly in its place. This takes about 20 to 30 minutes with a screwdriver. It requires permission to modify the door, which makes it perfect for homeowners but a nonstarter for most rental agreements. The included pieces fit standard US door prep (2 1/8 inch bore hole, 1 inch edge bore).

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the rental friendly choice. It attaches to the inside of your existing deadbolt with a metal bracket that captures the thumbturn. The exterior side of the door stays completely unchanged, including the keyway, which means your original keys keep working and your landlord never knows. Install takes 10 to 15 minutes with one Phillips head screwdriver. When you move out, unscrew the bracket and the door is exactly as it was. This is the single biggest reason August has held its market position for years despite Yale’s stronger feature list.

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Both locks have built in Wi-Fi in their 2026 versions. The Yale Assure Lock 2 with the WiFi module connects directly to your home network, which means you can lock and unlock from anywhere through the Yale app. The August 4th Generation also has Wi-Fi built in, removing the need for the separate August Connect bridge that older August locks required. This is a major upgrade for August because the previous reliance on the Bluetooth to Wi-Fi bridge created connection issues for buyers in older homes with thick walls.

Both locks support 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only (no 5 GHz), which is normal for low power smart home devices. Both also support local Bluetooth for when Wi-Fi is unavailable. The August has a slight edge for owners with weak Wi-Fi at the front door because the lock can fall back to phone Bluetooth for local control without a hiccup.

Voice Assistants and Smart Home Integration

Both locks support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The Yale adds Apple Home Key support, which lets you tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the keypad to unlock the door (with biometric verification on your device). The Yale also supports Matter over Thread on its newer firmware, which makes it more future proof as smart home standards consolidate.

August leans on its older direct integrations: SmartThings, Ring, Airbnb, Vrbo, and Hostfully are all officially supported. For short term rental hosts, August has been the default choice for years because the integrations with vacation rental platforms generate unique guest codes automatically when a booking is made. The Yale supports Airbnb integration too as of 2025, but the August integration is more mature.

Daily Use: Fingerprint, Keypad, App, or Auto Unlock

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch’s headline feature is the fingerprint reader. Built into the touchscreen keypad, it stores up to 30 fingerprints. Recognition is fast (under 1 second in our tests) and works in cold weather, with gloves obviously removed. The same keypad accepts up to 250 user codes for housekeepers, contractors, or guests. The app rounds out the access methods with remote unlock and a notification log of every entry and exit.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock has no fingerprint reader and no built in keypad. To get keypad entry, you buy the optional August Keypad separately for around $60 and mount it next to the door. App control and physical key entry are the only primary access methods on the lock itself. What August does have that Yale does not is GPS based auto unlock. When your phone crosses a geofence around your home, the lock unlocks as you arrive at the door. This works well in practice but is occasionally finicky if you have spotty cellular coverage near your home.

Security and Lock Grade

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is BHMA Grade 2 rated, which is the standard residential commercial grade. The lock body is built from solid steel with hardened anti drill plates and the touchscreen keypad does not display fingerprints (so an intruder cannot guess your code by looking at smudges). Yale also offers Z-Wave and Zigbee variants for users who want to keep their network off the public internet.

The August lock inherits its physical security from your existing deadbolt. If your current deadbolt is BHMA Grade 2 (most modern ones are) you get Grade 2 security. If your deadbolt is a $20 builder grade unit, that is what you have. This is a strength for owners who have already invested in high security deadbolts and a weakness for renters who inherit whatever lock the previous tenant or builder installed. The motor inside the August is well protected and tamper resistant. The bigger risk is the door itself, which is the same for any smart lock.

Battery Life and Reliability

Yale runs on 4 AA batteries and typically lasts 12 months under normal residential use. The keypad and Wi-Fi draw power, but the lock motor is efficient and the touchscreen sleeps quickly. The Yale also has a low battery warning that gives you a few weeks of notice and a 9V terminal on the bottom for emergency power if the batteries die completely.

August runs on 2 CR123A lithium batteries and lasts about 4 to 6 months. The shorter battery life is because the Wi-Fi radio inside the lock is always on, listening for app commands. The CR123A batteries are more expensive than AAs (about $4 to $5 each) and not as easy to find at a corner store. August users typically buy a 4 pack from Amazon and rotate them every few months. There is no emergency power option, but the existing deadbolt’s keyway still functions if the lock dies.

Pros and Cons

Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Pros

• Fingerprint reader for fast keyless entry
• Keypad with up to 250 user codes built in
• Apple Home Key support
• Matter compatible over Thread
• 12 month battery life on common AAs
• Cleaner exterior look (no extra keypad on the wall)

Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Cons

• Requires full deadbolt replacement (not landlord friendly)
• Higher upfront price than August
• No auto unlock by GPS
• Buying mistakes on size are easy (always check your bore measurements first)

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen Pros

• Installs over existing deadbolt in 15 minutes
• Rental friendly, no door modifications needed
• GPS auto unlock as you arrive
• Original keys still work as backup
• Most mature Airbnb and Vrbo integration in its class

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen Cons

• No keypad or fingerprint reader built in
• CR123A batteries last only 4 to 6 months
• No Apple Home Key support
• Adds visual bulk to the inside of the door

Best For Recommendations

Best for renters: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen. It is the only one of the two you can install in most apartments without violating the lease.

Best for homeowners who want fingerprint entry: Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch. The fingerprint reader works in cold and rain, stores 30 prints, and unlocks in under a second.

Best for Apple Home users: Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch. Apple Home Key support means you can unlock with your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Best for Airbnb hosts: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen. The Airbnb integration generates time bound guest codes automatically and is more mature than Yale’s equivalent.

Best for everyday voice control: Either lock. Both support Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri equally well.

Best for security purists: Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch. The Grade 2 BHMA rating and integrated anti drill body offer a more uniform security baseline than relying on whatever deadbolt the door came with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install a Yale Assure Lock 2 in an apartment?

Most leases prohibit replacing the deadbolt, so the answer is usually no. Check your lease first. If your landlord allows it, you can install the lock and reinstall the original deadbolt when you move out. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the safer rental choice because it preserves the original lock and key.

Do these locks work without Wi-Fi at home?

Yes. Both locks use local Bluetooth for control from your phone when you are physically near the door. Remote control from outside the home does require Wi-Fi. The keypad and fingerprint entry on the Yale work without any network connection.

What happens if the batteries die?

The Yale Assure Lock 2 has a 9V emergency terminal under the keypad. Touch a 9V battery to it and the keypad wakes up so you can enter your code. The August keeps your original keyway working, so you can always enter with a physical key if the lock dies.

Can multiple users have their own access codes or fingerprints?

Yes. The Yale stores 250 user codes and 30 fingerprints. The August allows unlimited user invitations through the app, each tied to that user’s phone Bluetooth identity. Guest access can be time limited on either lock.

Are these locks safe from hacking?

Both locks use AES 128 bit encryption for all communication. Both Yale and August have a track record of patching vulnerabilities quickly. The most common security incidents with smart locks are physical (lost phone, stolen code) rather than digital. Use strong, unique codes and disable unused user accounts promptly.

Will these locks work with my Ring or Nest doorbell?

Yes. Both locks integrate with Ring (especially August, owned by Ring’s parent company). Google Nest integration is supported by both as well. The August offers slightly tighter Ring integration with shared notifications.

Final Recommendation

The choice between the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Generation almost answers itself once you know whether you own or rent your home. Homeowners who want the best feature set should buy the Yale. The fingerprint reader, built in keypad, Apple Home Key support, and 12 month battery life make it the more polished daily driver. Renters and short term rental hosts should buy the August. The retrofit install, GPS auto unlock, and Airbnb integration make it the right fit even though it lacks a keypad and a fingerprint reader out of the box.

The price gap between the two is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor. The Yale lists around $300 and the August around $230, but actual sale prices on Amazon often narrow this gap to under $40. Pick based on your install constraints, your preferred entry method, and which smart home platform you live in.

Related reading on VersusNest: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs Nest Doorbell Wired 2nd Gen, Blink Outdoor 4 vs Wyze Cam OG security camera comparison, and Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium vs Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen.