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August Smart Lock vs Particle

August Smart Lock logo

August Smart Lock

Software

Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Particle logo

Particle

Software

Edge-to-cloud IoT platform for connected devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Particle 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; Particle paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • They diverge on capability: August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Particle covers Device OS.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where August Smart Lock and Particle differ
AttributeAugust Smart LockParticle
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebParticle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps
Founded20122013

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
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • HomeKit
  • SmartThings

Only in Particle

  • Device OS
  • Cloud Platform
  • Device Management
  • OTA Updates
  • REST API
  • WebHooks
  • Integration marketplace
  • 3rd party services

What people use each for

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

August Smart Lock

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

Particle

  • Connecting cellular and wifi IoT devices to a managed cloud platformnot August Smart Lock
  • Deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scalenot 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

Particle

  • Paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • The Basic block is $299 a month and the Plus block $599 a month
  • The free tier allows 100 devices and 100,000 data operations a month
  • Data operations are the billing unit, so chatty firmware costs more than the device count suggests
  • No overage rates are published at any tier, so exceeding an allowance has no stated cost

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

Particle

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 5 free devices
    • Cloud access
    • Basic features
  • Production$100/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Enterprise support

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 Particle if

  • You need device os.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
  • You also want cloud platform.
Particle review

Questions people ask

Is August Smart Lock or Particle better?
Neither clearly leads. August Smart Lock starts at On request and Particle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, August Smart Lock or Particle?
Particle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for August Smart Lock and Free for Particle.
Does August Smart Lock or Particle run on more platforms?
August Smart Lock runs on IOS, Android, Web. Particle runs on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
Can I use Particle for free?
Yes. Particle 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 Particle is typically brought in for.
What can August Smart Lock do that Particle cannot?
August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Auto-Unlock, Guest Access, Activity Log. Particle covers Device OS, Cloud Platform, Device Management, OTA Updates.
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