IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Zigbee Alliance vs August Smart Lock
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
August Smart Lock
IoT & Smart Home
Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Zigbee Alliance the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.; 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
- They diverge on capability: Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zigbee Alliance and August Smart Lock actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zigbee Alliance | August Smart Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | one-time |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms | IOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2002 | 2012 |
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
Only in August Smart Lock
- Retrofit Design
- Auto-Unlock
- Guest Access
- Activity Log
- Alexa
- Google Home
- HomeKit
- SmartThings
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot August Smart Lock
- Sensor networksnot August Smart Lock
- Home automationnot August Smart Lock
- Industrial monitoringnot August Smart Lock
August Smart Lock
- Keyless entrynot Zigbee Alliance
- Guest accessnot Zigbee Alliance
- Remote unlocknot Zigbee Alliance
- Activity monitoringnot Zigbee Alliance
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Zigbee Alliance
- The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Zigbee Alliance if
- You need low power.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- You also want mesh networking.
Choose August Smart Lock if
- You need retrofit design.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web.
- You also want auto-unlock.
Questions people ask
- Is Zigbee Alliance or August Smart Lock better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zigbee Alliance starts at Free and August Smart Lock at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zigbee Alliance or August Smart Lock?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zigbee Alliance and On request for August Smart Lock.
- Does Zigbee Alliance or August Smart Lock run on more platforms?
- Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms. August Smart Lock runs on IOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Zigbee Alliance for free?
- Yes. Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. August Smart Lock starts at On request.
- What is Zigbee Alliance best used for?
- Zigbee Alliance is most often used for smart lighting, sensor networks, home automation, industrial monitoring. Of those, smart lighting and sensor networks are not what August Smart Lock is typically brought in for.
- What can Zigbee Alliance do that August Smart Lock cannot?
- Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable. August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Auto-Unlock, Guest Access, Activity Log.