Software · head to head
August Smart Lock vs Matter
August Smart Lock
Software
Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Matter has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: August Smart Lock entry-level August Smart Lock ($149.99) has no built-in Wi-Fi and requires a separate Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for remote functionality; 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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which August Smart Lock and Matter actually diverge.
| Attribute | August Smart Lock | Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | IOS, Android, Web | Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control |
| Founded | 2012 | 2021 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Entry-level August Smart Lock ($149.99) has no built-in Wi-Fi and requires a separate Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for remote functionality
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
On request- Smart Lock$149/month
- Auto-lock
- Auto-unlock
- Guest access
- WiFi Smart Lock$249/month
- Built-in WiFi
- Remote access
- DoorSense
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is August Smart Lock or Matter better?
- Neither clearly leads. August Smart Lock starts at On request 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 On request 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 On request.
- 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.
Related pages
More on August Smart Lock
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