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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

August Smart Lock vs MQTT

August Smart Lock logo

August Smart Lock

IoT & Smart Home

Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MQTT logo

MQTT

IoT & Smart Home

Lightweight messaging protocol for IoT devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MQTT 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; MQTT mQTT is an OASIS standard messaging protocol maintained by a standards committee, not sold by a vendor; there is no company-controlled price list, subscription, or edition to compare because implementations are independent open source or commercial products built on the spec
  • They diverge on capability: August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where August Smart Lock and MQTT differ
AttributeAugust Smart LockMQTT
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timeopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebAny platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing
Founded20121999

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & 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
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • HomeKit
  • SmartThings

Only in MQTT

  • Publish-Subscribe
  • Lightweight
  • QoS Levels
  • Retained Messages
  • IoT platforms
  • Home automation
  • Cloud services
  • Edge devices

What people use each for

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

August Smart Lock

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

MQTT

  • IoT messagingnot August Smart Lock
  • Sensor datanot August Smart Lock
  • Real-time updatesnot August Smart Lock
  • Device telemetrynot 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

MQTT

  • MQTT is an OASIS standard messaging protocol maintained by a standards committee, not sold by a vendor; there is no company-controlled price list, subscription, or edition to compare because implementations are independent open source or commercial products built on the spec

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

MQTT

Free
  • Open ProtocolFree
    • Publish-subscribe
    • Lightweight
    • QoS levels

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 MQTT if

  • You need publish-subscribe.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing.
  • You also want lightweight.
MQTT review

Questions people ask

Is August Smart Lock or MQTT better?
Neither clearly leads. August Smart Lock starts at On request and MQTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, August Smart Lock or MQTT?
MQTT has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for August Smart Lock and Free for MQTT.
Does August Smart Lock or MQTT run on more platforms?
August Smart Lock runs on IOS, Android, Web. MQTT runs on Any platform, Embedded devices, Cloud, Edge computing.
Can I use MQTT for free?
Yes. MQTT 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 MQTT is typically brought in for.
What can August Smart Lock do that MQTT cannot?
August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Auto-Unlock, Guest Access, Activity Log. MQTT covers Publish-Subscribe, Lightweight, QoS Levels, Retained Messages.
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