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Tasmota vs Yale Smart Locks

Tasmota logo

Tasmota

Smart Home

Open-source firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 based devices

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 Tasmota has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Tasmota tasmota only runs on Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C3 chipsets, so devices built on other silicon cannot use it; 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: Tasmota covers Local Control, 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 Tasmota and Yale Smart Locks actually diverge.

Attributes where Tasmota and Yale Smart Locks differ
AttributeTasmotaYale Smart Locks
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devicesIOS, Android
Founded20171840

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 Tasmota

  • Local Control
  • MQTT Support
  • Web Interface
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant
  • Domoticz
  • OpenHAB
  • Node-RED

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.

Tasmota

  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based smart plugs and switchesnot Yale Smart Locks
  • Controlling smart home devices locally over MQTT or HTTPnot Yale Smart Locks
  • Integrating off the shelf Wi-Fi devices with Home Assistant without a cloud accountnot Yale Smart Locks

Yale Smart Locks

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

Where each one falls short

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

Tasmota

  • Tasmota only runs on Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C3 chipsets, so devices built on other silicon cannot use it
  • Initial installation requires opening the device, bridging GPIO0 to ground during boot and using a 3.3V serial programmer; a 5V programmer damages the chip
  • The ESP chip needs at least 150mA at 3.3V, so an underpowered supply causes flashing and stability failures
  • The Wi-Fi setup access point stays active for only 3 minutes, after which the device must be power cycled to try again
  • The Power Cycle Recovery feature can reset a device to firmware defaults where mains power fluctuates, and the docs advise disabling it in that case

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

Tasmota

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • MQTT
    • Web UI

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 Tasmota if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devices.
  • You also want mqtt support.
Tasmota 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 Tasmota or Yale Smart Locks better?
Neither clearly leads. Tasmota 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, Tasmota or Yale Smart Locks?
Tasmota has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Tasmota and On request for Yale Smart Locks.
Does Tasmota or Yale Smart Locks run on more platforms?
Tasmota runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Compatible devices. Yale Smart Locks runs on IOS, Android.
Can I use Tasmota for free?
Yes. Tasmota has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yale Smart Locks starts at On request.
What is Tasmota best used for?
Tasmota is most often used for replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based smart plugs and switches, controlling smart home devices locally over mqtt or http, integrating off the shelf wi-fi devices with home assistant without a cloud account. Of those, replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based smart plugs and switches and controlling smart home devices locally over mqtt or http are not what Yale Smart Locks is typically brought in for.
What can Tasmota do that Yale Smart Locks cannot?
Tasmota covers Local Control, MQTT Support, Web Interface, OTA Updates. Yale Smart Locks covers Keypad entry, App control, Guest codes, Auto-lock.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tasmota: What is the cost of Tasmota?

Tasmota is completely free as open-source firmware for ESP devices. Source code is available on GitHub, and the project accepts donations for continued development.

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
Tasmota: Can Tasmota be modified and redistributed?

Yes, Tasmota is open-source software allowing users to access, compile, modify, and redistribute builds according to the project LICENSE.

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
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