We all want our homes to stand out in the neighborhood or in our social circle. Don’t we?
Interestingly, Smart locks are such gadgets that not only enhance the security of your home but can also give an overall aesthetic look to your doors!
Choosing a smart lock can be a tricky choice, especially in 2023 when there are ever-growing choices of the best smart locks! Having used many locks, I can certainly tell that Nest smart locks and August smart locks stand as the market leaders in 2023!
Today, in this article I will try to give a head-on-head August Smart Lock vs Yale Smart Lock comparison.
Just so you know, the August app works with around 5 different locks. One of the is the Yale Assured smart lock, the best august smart lock!
In this article, we will cover the Yale Assure smart lock (that comes with the August module making it work with the app). Keep in mind that the features listed for August in this article apply to nearly all August smart locks (as the app for August is the same).
The other smart lock which we will cover is the classic Nest x Yale lock. So, let’s dive in!
Key Features: Nest x Yale vs August:
August Features:
August locks give full control to the users and let them control the lock from anywhere!
Like most of the smart locks in the market, all august smart lock versions provide features like remote access (letting you control the lock when away from home), give temporary access to certain users, give permanent access to specific users, and a complete log of every lock/unlock event.
But what makes it unique?
August Auto-unlock
This feature automatically locks the door when u go out of your home and unlocks it when you return home. August smart lock is the only lock to have this feature!
This makes the august smart lock truly an incredible choice since you don’t need to worry if you return home and have your hands filled with shopping bags the August smart lock will open the door for you!
DoorSense
Oftentimes, it happens that when you leave your home, the door does not shut all the way. In this case, you may think that the door has been locked (since the lock is in the lock position), but that is not true.
In such a scenario, August’s DoorSense feature comes handy! The app always monitors the status of the door and displays a warning message inside the app in case the door has not been fully shut. This makes August the most secure and one of the best smart locks of 2023.
Nest x Yale Features:
Nest lets you control the system when you’re not home, see a history of who’s opened the door, and give people recurring scheduled access (houseguests, babysitters, nannies, house cleaners), give one-time temporary access (Airbnb guests), or give permanent access to the people in your household.
What makes it unique?
Nest Away Mode
The Nest Away Mode makes the Nest x Yale lock unique. When the smart lock detects that you aren’t home, it puts itself into away mode and locks automatically!
Nest x Yale vs August: A critical question – Integration with Smart Home Platforms?
I strongly believe that today we are living in the world of integration! The world is now increasingly demanding the idea of single-platform applications where all devices are connected to one platform making data communication and synchronization easier.
Stand-alone applications are slowly becoming an obsolete concept. Hence, integration is a must-have feature for all smart home devices. Smart locks are no different!
Nest x Yale Smart Home Integration
Integration is one of the downsides of the Nest x Yale smart lock. Nest x Yale can integrate with the Google Home platform alone and not with Amazon Alexa, Airbnb, Philips Hue, or Apple HomeKit.
Apart from that, Nest x Yale smart lock also has basic integration with other Nest products. This includes the Nest alarm.
August Smart Home Integration
I won’t hesitate to call August the King of integrations! This is because through the august app you can Integrate any August smart lock with nearly all smart home platforms including Google Home Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Alexa, Hey Google, Airbnb, Philips Hue, and Apple HomeKit.
Whether it’s the August 4th gen smart lock or Yale Assure, the app works seamlessly with all kinds of August smart locks.
Nest x Yale vs August: Locking and Unlocking Mechanism
Both, the Nest x Yale and August smart lock provide multiple methods of locking/unlocking.
Nest x Yale: Unlocking
Using the Nest app: Tap and hold onto the lock icon until the lock unlocks.
Keypad unlocking: First place your finger on the Yale logo (this will enable the keypad). You can type in your secret code to unlock it.
Using the Google Home app: Once you have configured the nest x yale lock inside the google home app, you can unlock it from there.
A major downside of the Nest x Yale lock is that it does not come with a keyhole for backup. With technology, there is never a 100% guarantee that everything will work as intended. For this reason, I believe that Nest should have included a backup key in the Nest x Yale lock!
In case of malfunction (if the battery dies out), you will need to connect a 9-volt battery to the bottom in order to make the lock usable again.
Nest x Yale: Locking
Using the auto-lock timer: You can set the timer of the yale lock to lock after10 seconds, 1 minute, or 5 minutes after you’ve unlocked it.
Using the keypad: Simply tap the Yale logo. This will lock the door.
Using the Nest app: Tap and hold the lock icon for a second to lock.
Using Google Home Assistant: Speaking “lock the door” will lock your door using the google home app.
August (Yale Assure and August 4th Generation): Unlocking
The August is clearly in the lead position here as it provides a larger number of methods to lock/unlock.
Using Auto-Unlock: The August lock will unlock itself when you arrive.
Using the August app: Tap the big red circle inside the app to unlock the door.
Using the Alexa app: Head over to your devices, tap on locks, find your lock and finally tap the unlock icon.
With the Apple Home app: Head over to your lock page and tap the unlock icon.
With a HomeKit Automation: If you own a HomeKit Hub, you can create home automation in it to unlock the door. When you return to your home, your phone will get a notification that asks your permission to unlock the door. You can tap the run automation button, and unlock your door.
Voice command using Alexa or Siri: When you say, “unlock the back door” both Siri and Alexa will unlock the door after authenticating using touch or face ID on phone.
Using the Key: Good news, August locks come with a backup key.
August (Yale Assure and August 4th Generation): Locking
With an auto-lock timer: August can automatically lock after a set period since the door was the last shut. You can pick a time between 30 seconds and 30 minutes.
Using the August app. Tap the giant green circle.
With the Apple Home app. Find the page that has your lock, then tap the icon.
Using the Alexa app. Go to your devices, tap on locks, locate your lock, then tap the lock icon.
Using Alexa, Google, or Siri. When you say, “lock the back door” your door will lock without authentication.
Using the key
Design
Design: Nest x Yale
With its simple and sleek design, Nest x Yale holds a spot in the realm of aesthetic smart locks. There is a smart-looking keypad that has huge numbers so the PIN can be entered easily.
There is no keyhole on the smart lock which makes it look like a suspicious device and an intruder might not be able to guess that it’s a smart lock!
Dimensions of Nest x Yale: 2.6″ x 5.6″ x 0.67″
Design: Yale Assure
The design of this lock is the same as Nest x Yale except that the Yale Assure has a keyhole in it for backup purposes.
The keypad is a bit smaller as compared to Nest x Yale in order to accommodate the keyhole. Overall, it still has an aesthetic look.
Dimensions: 3.6″ x 2.6″ x 0.67″
Design: August 4th Gen
Out of all August smart lock versions, the August 4th Gen is the best when it comes to design.
What makes it unique?
The best part is that with this smart lock, your existing deadbolt doesn’t have to be replaced. The August 4th gen smart lock can easily be fixed on top of your existing lever. This makes the August 4th Gen a unique smart lock.
The design is extremely futuristic giving your home an overall feel of a real smart home!
But what went wrong?
The August smart lock can only be opened using the app. This is the greatest downside of the August 4th Gen smart lock.
There is no keypad or backup key to open the lock so anyone who wants to open the lock is obligated to use the app.
Nest x Yale at a glance:
A secure smart lock that replaces the deadbolt of your door.
Keyless entry on the LED keypad so you can lock and unlock your front door without a key; keypad chimes play sounds to confirm responses, such as locking, unlocking, or turning Privacy Mode on or off
Let someone in from anywhere; unlock the door with your phone for easy guest access
Give unique passcode to family and guests and set a schedule to control when they work; when you don’t want to be disturbed, Privacy Mode disables the keypad so it can’t be unlocked with a passcode
Get alerts when someone locks or unlocks the door or tries to tamper with your smart door lock
Check the status of your door lock from anywhere and lock it with the Nest app; or use one-touch locking on your way out, or a passcode on the keypad lock; with auto-lock, it can lock automatically when you’re away from home
Easy to install; just switch out your deadbolt or call a Nest Pro to help
Yale Assure (with embedded August module) at a glance
Lose your keys, for good: Hands full, Have your door unlock for you with Auto-Unlock. Or unlock using the keypad, or Yale Access app on your smartphone or Apple Watch. Enjoy key-free access and leave the bulky keychain behind.
Expand your smart home: Connect your lock to your favorite voice assistant or smart home system. Works with Amazon Alexa, Hey Google, Airbnb, Philips Hue, Apple HomeKit, and more. Includes the Wi-Fi Connect Bridge so there’s no additional hub needed, Deadbolt Type: Single Cylinder Deadbolt
Auto-Locks and Unlocks: Your Assure Lock will Auto-Unlock as you get home for totally hands-free unlocking. With Auto-Lock and DoorSense, your home automatically secures once your door is closed, or after a set amount of time.
Digital keys are the new hide-a-key. Quickly and easily share permanent, temporary, or scheduled access with friends, family, and people you trust, and never hide a key under the doormat again.
August Wi-Fi, (4th Generation) Smart Lock at a glance
UPGRADE YOUR EXISTING DEADBOLT: August locks fit on the inside of your door, making your regular deadbolt smarter, more secure, and way more convenient. Keep your keys just in case (but you won’t need them).
GRANT ACCESS WITH THE AUGUST APP: Forget key copying. Quickly and easily share permanent, scheduled, or temporary access to your home with friends, family, and other people you trust, and never put a key under the doormat again.
EASY TO INSTALL ON ANY DOOR: Even if you’re not so handy, installation only takes about 10 minutes. August locks fit perfectly over most single-cylinder deadbolts and aren’t much bigger than your original thumb turn.
AUTO-LOCKS AND UNLOCKS: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is able to Auto-Unlock as you get home for totally hands-free unlocking (optional). With Auto-Lock and DoorSense, your home automatically secures once your door is closed, or after a set amount of time.
WORKS SEAMLESSLY WITH YOUR SMART HOME: Built-in Wi-Fi allows your lock to work with your favorite voice assistant, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and more.
AWARD-WINNING SMART LOCK YEAR AFTER YEAR: Voted CNET Editor’s Choice two years in a row (2020/2021), Best Smart Lock by Good Housekeeping (2021), Best Smart Lock by Tom’s Guide (2021).
KEEP YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL: Get smart lock functionality without changing the look of the outside of your front door. August locks are installed only on the inside of the door, so your design for your front door doesn’t have to adapt.
Final thoughts
Whether it’s Nest x Yale, Yale Assure (with August module), or the 4th Gen August, all these locks hold a spot in the top smart locks league. However, the Yale Assure (with the August module) is my personal choice. I believe the lock has amazing features, has backup recovery methods, and provides seamless integration with all smart home platforms (Google, Alexa, Siri, etc. ), making it my number 1 choice.
