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Smart Home · head to head

August Smart Lock vs Matter

August Smart Lock logo

August Smart Lock

Smart Home

Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt

From
$29.99/mo
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Matter logo

Matter

Smart Home

Unified smart home connectivity standard

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Matter has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: August Smart Lock one-time purchase model with no recurring subscription fees; Matter the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.
  • They diverge on capability: August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Matter covers Unified Standard.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which August Smart Lock and Matter actually diverge.

Attributes where August Smart Lock and Matter differ
AttributeAugust Smart LockMatter
Starting price$29.99/moFree
Pricing modelone-timeopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebMatter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control
Founded20122021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in August Smart Lock

  • Retrofit Design
  • Auto-Unlock
  • Guest Access
  • Activity Log
  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

Only in Matter

  • Unified Standard
  • Multi-Admin
  • Secure Communication
  • Interoperable
  • All major ecosystems
  • Matter-enabled devices support
  • All major hubs support
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • HomeKit
  • SmartThings

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

August Smart Lock

  • Keyless entrynot Matter
  • Guest accessnot Matter
  • Remote unlocknot Matter
  • Activity monitoringnot Matter

Matter

  • Cross-ecosystem compatibilitynot August Smart Lock
  • Future-proof devicesnot August Smart Lock
  • Simplified setupnot August Smart Lock
  • Local controlnot August Smart Lock

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

August Smart Lock

  • One-time purchase model with no recurring subscription fees
  • Smart locks range from $129.99 to $229.99 depending on model and features

Matter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.

Pricing, plan by plan

August Smart Lock

$29.99/mo
  • Smart Lock$149.99/mo
    • Standard smart lock
  • Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi$129.99/mo
    • Wi-Fi enabled
  • Wi-Fi Smart Lock$229.99/mo
    • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Smart Lock + Connect$210.99/mo
    • Lock plus connectivity module

Matter

Free
  • Open StandardFree
    • Unified connectivity
    • Cross-platform
    • Local control

Which should you pick?

Choose August Smart Lock if

  • You need retrofit design.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want auto-unlock.
August Smart Lock review

Choose Matter if

  • You need unified standard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
  • You also want multi-admin.
Matter review

Questions people ask

Is August Smart Lock or Matter better?
Neither clearly leads. August Smart Lock starts at $29.99/mo and Matter at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, August Smart Lock or Matter?
Matter has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/mo for August Smart Lock and Free for Matter.
Does August Smart Lock or Matter run on more platforms?
August Smart Lock runs on IOS, Android, Web. Matter runs on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
Can I use Matter for free?
Yes. Matter has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. August Smart Lock starts at $29.99/mo.
What is August Smart Lock best used for?
August Smart Lock is most often used for keyless entry, guest access, remote unlock, activity monitoring. Of those, keyless entry and guest access are not what Matter is typically brought in for.
What can August Smart Lock do that Matter cannot?
August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Auto-Unlock, Guest Access, Activity Log. Matter covers Unified Standard, Multi-Admin, Secure Communication, Interoperable. Both handle Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit, SmartThings.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

August Smart Lock: How much do August smart locks cost?

August smart locks are one-time purchases. Prices range from $129.99 for the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi to $229.99 for the Wi-Fi Smart Lock. Standard Smart Lock is $149.99. Bundles like Wi-Fi Smart Lock + Keypad Touch are $249.99.

Source
August Smart Lock: Does August offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes. August offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases. Additionally, shipping is free in the United States.

Source
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