Smart Locks · owner-verdict comparison

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) vs Yale Assure Lock 2: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Yale Assure Lock 2: 62% of 136 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 →

Yale Assure Lock 2

62%of 136 owners recommend

62% recommend · 6% neutral · 32% don't

Owners praise

Rock solid and reliable, especially on Z-Wave
Wide smart-home integration (HomeKit, HomeKey, Home Assistant)
Long battery life on Z-Wave or Bluetooth

Owners complain about

WiFi module drains batteries fast
Connectivity drops and goes offline
Fiddly, complicated setup

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 Yale Assure Lock 2 if

✓Apple households wanting HomeKit and HomeKey tap-to-unlock
✓Home Assistant or SmartThings users who add a Z-Wave module
✓Airbnb and rental hosts needing keyless guest codes
✓Buyers who want a lock that looks sleek and modern

Skip it if

People relying on the WiFi module for connectivity
Households in very cold climates using the touchscreen

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 Yale Assure Lock 2 owners say

“Few days in and I have zero complaints.”
— The_Reject_ on Reddit

“Personally I use the Yale Assure Lock 2 with the WiFi Module for the door lock and have it connected to Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings.”
— willdeliver4money on Reddit

“I bought this lock and had nothing but problems. I tried for TWO full days to get Home Key to work with no success.”
— @JustinWinchester on YouTube

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) vs Yale Assure Lock 2: frequently asked questions

Is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) or the Yale Assure Lock 2 better?

Real owners lean toward the Yale Assure Lock 2: 62% of 136 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 Yale Assure Lock 2?

Owners point the Yale Assure Lock 2 at apple households wanting HomeKit and HomeKey tap-to-unlock, and home Assistant or SmartThings users who add a Z-Wave module.

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 Yale Assure Lock 2, it's wiFi module drains batteries fast.