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OpenHAB vs Yale Smart Locks

OpenHAB logo

OpenHAB

Smart Home

Open source automation software for your home

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Yale Smart Locks logo

Yale Smart Locks

Smart Home

Trusted smart lock security for your home

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenHAB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenHAB requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately; Yale Smart Locks the Internet Archive's capture of Yale's US homepage on 22 December 2020 named six distinct smart lock and security product lines, Assure Lock, Assure Lever, Smart Delivery Box, Smart Cabinet Lock, Pro SL, and the Pivot Collection, each with a 'Buy Now' link but no price figure present on the page.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Yale Smart Locks covers Keypad entry.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenHAB and Yale Smart Locks actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenHAB and Yale Smart Locks differ
AttributeOpenHABYale Smart Locks
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry PiIOS, Android
Founded20101840

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 OpenHAB

  • Vendor Agnostic
  • Rule Engine
  • 200+ Bindings
  • Local Processing
  • Z-Wave
  • Zigbee
  • MQTT
  • REST API

Only in Yale Smart Locks

  • Keypad entry
  • App control
  • Guest codes
  • Auto-lock
  • Tamper alerts
  • Activity log
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Amazon Alexa

What people use each for

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

OpenHAB

  • Self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hubnot Yale Smart Locks
  • Bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rulesnot Yale Smart Locks

Yale Smart Locks

  • Keyless entrynot OpenHAB
  • Guest accessnot OpenHAB
  • Security monitoringnot OpenHAB
  • Rental managementnot OpenHAB

Where each one falls short

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

OpenHAB

  • Requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately
  • Oracle Java is explicitly not recommended by the project because of potential licensing restrictions
  • The recommended hardware is a dedicated Raspberry Pi 4 or newer rather than shared hardware
  • Some version upgrades require additional manual steps run through a separate upgrade tool

Yale Smart Locks

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Yale's US homepage on 22 December 2020 named six distinct smart lock and security product lines, Assure Lock, Assure Lever, Smart Delivery Box, Smart Cabinet Lock, Pro SL, and the Pivot Collection, each with a 'Buy Now' link but no price figure present on the page.

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenHAB

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited devices
    • 200+ bindings
    • Local control

Yale Smart Locks

On request
  • Assure Lock 2$190/month
    • Keypad
    • Auto-lock
    • DoorSense
  • Assure Lock SL$260/month
    • Touchscreen
    • No key
    • Modern design

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenHAB if

  • You need vendor agnostic.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want rule engine.
OpenHAB review

Choose Yale Smart Locks if

  • You need keypad entry.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want app control.
Yale Smart Locks review

Questions people ask

Is OpenHAB or Yale Smart Locks better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenHAB starts at Free and Yale Smart Locks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenHAB or Yale Smart Locks?
OpenHAB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenHAB and On request for Yale Smart Locks.
Does OpenHAB or Yale Smart Locks run on more platforms?
OpenHAB runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi. Yale Smart Locks runs on IOS, Android.
Can I use OpenHAB for free?
Yes. OpenHAB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yale Smart Locks starts at On request.
What is OpenHAB best used for?
OpenHAB is most often used for self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hub, bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rules. Of those, self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hub and bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rules are not what Yale Smart Locks is typically brought in for.
What can OpenHAB do that Yale Smart Locks cannot?
OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Rule Engine, 200+ Bindings, Local Processing. Yale Smart Locks covers Keypad entry, App control, Guest codes, Auto-lock.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenHAB: How much does openHAB cost?

openHAB is 100% open source and completely free to download, install, and use across all supported platforms.

Source
Yale Smart Locks: Where can I find Yale smart lock pricing on their website?

Yale does not publish pricing information on their main website or dedicated pricing page. Pricing details are not publicly listed online.

Source
OpenHAB: Are there any subscription fees for openHAB?

No, openHAB has no subscription fees. The software is free and released under an open source license for unlimited use.

Source
Yale Smart Locks: How do I get pricing for Yale smart locks?

Yale does not disclose standard pricing on their website. Customers must contact Yale directly through their support system to request pricing and product information.

Source
OpenHAB: How can I support openHAB?

While openHAB is free to use, the project accepts voluntary donations through the openHAB Foundation to support development and maintenance.

Source
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