August WiFi Smart Lock Review: Smart Entry Made Easy

The August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) takes a fundamentally different approach to smart locks. Instead of ripping out your existing deadbolt and starting from scratch, August clips onto the inside of your door and converts what you already have into a connected smart lock. After months of daily use, we can say it is one of the most thoughtful smart lock designs on the market in 2026.

Design and Build: The Retrofit Advantage

August’s biggest selling point is its retrofit design. The lock attaches to the interior thumb-turn of your existing deadbolt. That means your exterior hardware stays exactly the same — your neighbors, your landlord, and anyone approaching your door will never know you have a smart lock. More importantly, you keep your existing physical keys as a backup.

The 4th generation unit is noticeably smaller and sleeker than previous models. It measures roughly 2.8 inches in diameter and 2.2 inches deep, finished in a matte silver or dark gray that blends in with most door hardware. Build quality is solid, with a satisfying resistance when you manually twist the lock from inside.

Installation took us about 10 minutes. You remove two screws from the interior plate of your deadbolt, attach August’s mounting plate, slide the lock on, and tighten the adapter to your thumb-turn. No drilling, no wiring, no locksmith required. The companion app provides step-by-step video instructions and even helps you identify your specific deadbolt model. Renters and homeowners who don’t want to modify their door will find this installation process genuinely effortless.

Built-In WiFi: No Hub Required

Older August locks needed a separate WiFi bridge plugged into a nearby outlet to enable remote access. The 4th Gen builds WiFi directly into the lock, which eliminates extra hardware and simplifies the setup considerably. During initial pairing, the app connects to the lock via Bluetooth, then walks you through adding it to your home WiFi network. The whole process took under five minutes in our testing.

With WiFi connectivity, you get full remote control from anywhere. Lock or unlock from the office, check the status from the grocery store, or get real-time notifications when someone opens the door. Response times are snappy — we consistently saw the lock respond within 1-2 seconds of tapping the app button, even on a remote connection.

Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock

These two features are where August transforms from a novelty into something you rely on daily.

Auto-Unlock uses your phone’s GPS to detect when you arrive home. As you walk up to your door, the lock disengages automatically. In our testing, it triggered reliably within 5-15 feet of the door, with occasional delays of a few seconds on colder days. It is not perfect every single time, but it works well enough that you stop reaching for your keys entirely.

Auto-Lock re-engages the deadbolt after a configurable delay — we set ours to 30 seconds. Combined with DoorSense, this means you never accidentally leave your door unlocked. Walk out, close the door, and it locks behind you without a second thought.

DoorSense: Know Your Door’s Status

DoorSense is a small magnetic sensor that attaches to your door frame. It tells the lock whether the door is physically open or closed, not just locked or unlocked. This distinction matters. A lock that reports “locked” when the door is actually ajar gives you false confidence. DoorSense eliminates that problem and enables smarter automations — for example, auto-lock only triggers when the door is actually closed.

The DoorSense sensor is included in the box and takes about 30 seconds to install with adhesive backing.

Guest Access and Activity Tracking

The August app makes it simple to share access with family, dog walkers, housekeepers, or Airbnb guests. You can grant:

• Permanent access for household members
• Scheduled access with specific days and time windows
• Temporary access that expires after a set period
• One-time access for a single entry

Every lock and unlock event is logged with a timestamp and the identity of the person. The activity feed gives you a complete audit trail, which is especially useful if you share access with multiple people. You can also enable push notifications for every event or only for specific users.

Smart Home Integration

August plays nicely with all three major ecosystems:

• Amazon Alexa: “Alexa, lock the front door.” Works reliably with Echo devices.
• Google Assistant: Full lock and status control via voice. Compatible with Nest displays.
• Apple HomeKit: Native integration, including support for Home Key on iPhone and Apple Watch. You can lock and unlock by tapping your device to a compatible NFC reader.

The lock also supports IFTTT and integrates with platforms like SmartThings, giving you flexible automation options. You can create routines like locking all doors at bedtime or unlocking when your smart garage door opens. If you are building a multi-device smart home, a dedicated hub can tie these automations together across brands.

Battery Life

August uses two CR123A batteries (included in the box). The company rates battery life at around 6 months, but our real-world experience landed closer to 3-5 months depending on WiFi activity, auto-lock/unlock frequency, and how often you check the lock remotely.

The app provides a battery percentage indicator with a low-battery warning well before they die. Replacement CR123A batteries cost about $5-8 for a pair and take 30 seconds to swap out. If the batteries do die completely, your physical key still works — you are never locked out.

Our Rating

Category	Score
Design & Build	9/10
Installation	10/10
Smart Features	9/10
Battery Life	6/10
App Experience	8/10
Smart Home Integration	9/10
Value	8/10
Overall	4.5/5

Who Should Buy the August WiFi Smart Lock?

Buy it if:

• You want a smart lock without replacing your existing deadbolt — our smart lock buying guide explains the difference between retrofit and replacement locks
• You rent your home and need a non-destructive installation
• You use a mix of Alexa, Google, and HomeKit devices
• You value auto-lock/unlock and remote access in daily life
• You want to share access with guests, cleaners, or family

Skip it if:

• You want a built-in keypad or fingerprint reader on the exterior
• You need maximum battery life and minimal maintenance
• You prefer a single-piece replacement lock with no interior hardware
• You are looking for the lowest price smart lock available

Final Verdict

The August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen) earns its reputation as one of the most practical smart locks you can buy. The retrofit design is its defining advantage — you get smart home convenience without giving up your physical keys or modifying your door. Built-in WiFi, reliable auto-lock/unlock, DoorSense, and broad smart home compatibility make it a well-rounded package. Battery life is the one area where we wish it performed better, but it is a manageable trade-off for everything else this lock delivers.

If you want the easiest path to a smarter front door, this is the lock to get. See how it compares to every other top contender in our best smart locks of 2026 roundup.

Score: 4.5/5 — Highly Recommended

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