Smart Locks · owner-verdict comparison

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) vs Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: 53% of 17 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 37 for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

35%of 37 owners recommend
35% recommend · 16% neutral · 49% don't
Owners praise
  • Rock-solid, flawless day-to-day performance for a large share of owners, some going years without a single hiccup
  • Smooth setup and integration with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home, including running through Z-Wave and HomeKit/Alexa simultaneously
  • Battery life becomes a non-issue once paired with the August Connect bridge, with some owners going years without a battery change
Owners complain about
  • Buggy, unreliable companion app and firmware, from confirmations that never load to owners calling the software an outright mess
  • Poor battery life, with batteries draining unusually fast or going completely flat within a couple of months for some owners
  • Wi-Fi connectivity is shaky, with frequent disconnects and setup struggles that some owners feel the Wi-Fi version never fully solved
Full owner report →

Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro

53%of 17 owners recommend
53% recommend · 23% neutral · 24% don't
Owners praise
  • Owners broadly report being happy with the lock, calling it solid, pretty good, and reliable for daily use
  • Fingerprint unlock is called out as a standout feature, working well most of the time
  • Runs fine without a WiFi bridge or cloud connection, so it still unlocks during network outages or power loss
Owners complain about
  • Smart-home integration is thin: Z-Wave support is described as severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't shipped, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't trigger unlock
  • A subset of owners hit outright reliability failures, from batteries dying within hours of replacement to units called garbage or plagued with ongoing trouble
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) if
  • ✓Homeowners wanting deep HomeKit/Alexa/Google Home integration with minimal setup hassle
  • ✓Users who add the Connect/Bridge, which owners say fixes battery drain and reliability
  • ✓Buyers upgrading from earlier August generations who've had a smooth multi-year run
  • ✓Households on standard deadbolts wanting z-wave plus app control simultaneously
Skip it if
  • Anyone relying on auto-unlock, which many owners call inconsistent or broken
  • Buyers who can't tolerate flaky software, frequent Wi-Fi disconnects, or app freezes
Get the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro if
  • ✓Home Assistant users who want Z-Wave lock/unlock and status without a cloud bridge
  • ✓Families wanting fingerprint and code access for kids, guests, or delivery drivers
  • ✓Buyers who want a fingerprint deadbolt but prefer skipping WiFi/internet connectivity
  • ✓Owners fine rekeying the cylinder themselves to match existing Schlage keyways
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing deep SmartThings or Ring integration beyond basic lock and status
  • Users wanting robust Z-Wave features like secure inclusion working out of the box

What Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro owners think

Most owners who chime in say they like the U-Bolt Pro and lean on it daily without complaint, several specifically praising the fingerprint reader and the fact that it keeps working locally even without a WiFi bridge or during a network outage. The recurring frustration sits on the smart-home side: Z-Wave support gets called severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't materialized, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't drive the unlock. A smaller group ran into flat-out reliability failures, batteries dying within hours of a fresh swap or the lock simply acting up from the start. Anyone shopping this for a serious home-automation setup should expect to work around the platform gaps rather than plug and play.

What August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) owners say

“One thing i love is i have it running thru z wave to my alarm panel AND HomeKit/alexa simultaneously.”
— tgoz13 on Reddit
“Setting up notifications was a breeze. Alexa setup was a breeze. HomeKit works great. I have had zero issues and have been very impressed.”
— blampen on Reddit
“It hasn’t been as reliable as my old August Pro + Connect. It’s been disconnecting from Wi-Fi frequently and the original batteries had gone completely flat in less than 2 months.”
— d3rw1n on community.home-assistant.io

What Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro owners say

“one of the best fingerprints enabled options was the U-tec Ultraloq Pro smart deadbolt.”
— TheJessicator on Reddit
“I opted for the Ubolt pro zwave and have been very happy with it. Love the lock's quality and fingerprint scanner. Downside, as already mentioned, is the limited integration but that's not an issue for me.”
— synchronizedelusions on Reddit
“I'm still waiting for them to deliver the promised SmartThings integration. I would get something more established.”
— moooootz on Reddit

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) vs Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: frequently asked questions

Is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) or the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro better?

Real owners lean toward the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro: 53% of 17 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 37 for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen).

Who should get the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)?

Owners point the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) at homeowners wanting deep HomeKit/Alexa/Google Home integration with minimal setup hassle, and users who add the Connect/Bridge, which owners say fixes battery drain and reliability.

Who should get the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro?

Owners point the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro at home Assistant users who want Z-Wave lock/unlock and status without a cloud bridge, and families wanting fingerprint and code access for kids, guests, or delivery drivers.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is buggy, unreliable companion app and firmware, from confirmations that never load to owners calling the software an outright mess. For the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, it's smart-home integration is thin: Z-Wave support is described as severely limited, promised SmartThings integration hasn't shipped, Keymaster entities are missing, and Alexa routines can't trigger unlock.