August vs Yale:
Which Smart Lock Suits Rental Hosts Best?

Q: Is August or Yale cheaper for a single rental property?

Yale’s Approach Lock with Wi-Fi starts at $129.99, the lowest built-in Wi-Fi option between the two. August’s cheapest route to Wi-Fi is the Smart Lock + Connect bundle at $149.99, or a base lock plus the $79 Connect bridge if you already own a compatible lock.

Q: Which lock is better suited to short-term rental hosting?

August markets a Smarter Hosting Bundle specifically for granting guests temporary access, and it allows unlimited guests and owners on a single lock at no extra cost. Yale supports guest codes too, up to 250 on the Assure Lock 2, but doesn’t offer a hosting-specific bundle.

Q: Do August and Yale locks connect to booking or channel manager software?

Neither brand’s public materials describe an integration with vacation rental PMS or channel manager software. Guest codes are created and managed manually through each brand’s own app, so hosts running multiple properties typically pair a lock with separate property management software like Zeevou to automate that process.

Q: How hard is it to switch from August to Yale, or vice versa?

Both locks are designed as DIY retrofits that install in minutes with just a screwdriver, over a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Swapping brands mainly means re-adding guest codes and reconnecting smart home integrations in the new app, since neither stores access data outside its own ecosystem.

Q: Are there ongoing fees with August or Yale?

Both are one-time hardware purchases with no subscription required for core lock functions. Yale offers optional paid Camera, Alarm and Secure plans for cloud recording and cellular backup on its wider security ecosystem, while August’s pricing is hardware-only with no software plan tiers described.

If you’re adding keyless entry to a rental property, the lock you choose shapes how smoothly guest check-in runs, day one and every day after. August and Yale both retrofit onto a standard deadbolt and hand guests a code instead of a key, but they differ in what’s included out of the box and how they fit into a wider hosting setup.

This comparison looks at both brands’ hardware, pricing and features to help you decide which lock is the better fit for your property, and where a dedicated property management platform still needs to sit alongside either one.

Choose Yale if you want the lowest-cost Wi-Fi entry point (the Approach Lock at $129.99), the longest battery life of the two (up to 12 months), or you want to add cameras and alarms under one Yale Home ecosystem.
Choose August if you want a lock built specifically with hosting in mind, such as the Smarter Hosting Bundle, unlimited guests and owners on a single lock at no extra cost, and DoorSense confirmation that the door is properly closed and locked, not just latched.
Consider Zeevou if you need more than a lock. Neither August nor Yale connects to a channel manager or booking calendar, so guest codes still have to be created and managed by hand. Zeevou gives you a free core PMS, a 0% commission direct booking website, and modular add-ons that tie guest communication, check-in and your smart lock workflow together as your portfolio grows.

August vs Yale: Comparison Table

Feature	August	Yale
Free plan / software cost	❌ (hardware purchase only, no free plan)	❌ (hardware purchase, subscription only for cameras/alarms)
Retrofit onto existing deadbolt	✅ (fits over existing lock, keeps original keys)	✅ (replaces standard deadbolt, DIY install)
Temporary/guest access codes	✅ (unlimited guests per lock at no extra cost)	✅ (up to 20 codes (Code) or 250 (Assure 2))
Remote lock/unlock via app	✅ (requires built-in Wi-Fi or Connect bridge add-on)	✅ (requires Wi-Fi model or Wi-Fi module add-on)
Smart home / voice assistant integration	✅ (Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home (Wi-Fi models))	✅ (Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit (Wi-Fi models))
Vacation rental PMS / channel manager integration	–	–
Activity log / audit trail	✅ (Activity Feed in app)	✅ (Activity Feed in app)
Keypad entry option	✅ (paid add-on accessory, stores up to 250 codes)	✅ (included keypad option on lock models)

August vs Yale: Reviews

Company	August	Yale
G2	5/5	4.8/5
Capterra	5/5	4.7/5
Trustpilot	4.5/5	1.7/5

August vs Yale: Overview

Yale

Yale brings over 180 years of lock-making into a connected ecosystem spanning locks, cameras, alarms and doorbells under one app. Its Approach Lock is the more affordable Wi-Fi entry point of the two brands, and battery life on that model stretches to 12 months. Advanced camera and alarm features sit behind an optional subscription.

August

August is built for hosts and homeowners who want a fast, keyless retrofit without replacing their existing deadbolt. Its Smarter Hosting Bundle and unlimited guest/owner allowance make it a natural fit for short-term rental hosts managing frequent turnovers, and DoorSense adds a confirmed-locked check that many host workflows rely on. Remote features need Wi-Fi, either built in or via the Connect bridge.

Comparing smart locks? Pair one with a PMS built for hosting

“…Excellent and responsive. Easy to board the property and integrate with the OTA’s. I love the monthly chat when’re we can be updated on features and improvements and being able to get support whenever needed...”

“…The platform has been a game-changer in helping me systemise my business operations while providing a seamless user journey for my guests. It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into making the process smooth and intuitive…”

“…It’s the perfect Channel Manager for our portfolio. With most CMs, you need to use an additional third-party platform to verify ID, sign Agreements or take security deposits; this is not the case with Zeevou, as you have all these functions in one place!…”

Tamar Finkelstein

Jordan Bunton-Williams

Fabian Prosciuc

August vs Yale: A Quick Feature Breakdown

Hardware

Feature	August	Yale
Battery powered	✅	✅
Wi-Fi built in	✅Wi-Fi Smart Lock model only	✅on Wi-Fi models; add-on for BLE
Keypad option	✅paid add-on accessory	✅
Retrofit to existing lock	✅	✅

Access Control

Feature	August	Yale
Remote lock / unlock	✅	✅via Yale Access app, Wi-Fi models
Temporary guest codes	✅	✅
Scheduled access	✅	✅
Activity log / audit trail	✅Activity Feed in app	✅Activity Feed in app

Smart Home

Feature	August	Yale
Works with Alexa	✅	✅
Works with Google Assistant	✅	✅
Works with Apple Home	✅	✅
Auto-lock / auto-unlock	✅	✅

Hosting Integrations

Feature	August	Yale
Mobile app	✅	✅
Tamper / security alerts	✅	✅camera/alarm alerts, subscription plan

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The information presented in this comparison is based on publicly available data and our independent analysis as of September 2026. Features, pricing, and capabilities may change without notice. “–” means the feature is not listed on the company’s public website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is August or Yale cheaper for a single rental property?

Which lock is better suited to short-term rental hosting?

Do August and Yale locks connect to booking or channel manager software?

How hard is it to switch from August to Yale, or vice versa?

Are there ongoing fees with August or Yale?

August vs Yale: Which Smart Lock Suits Rental Hosts Best?