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Smart Locks

August vs Yale Approach

Two locks built on the same retrofit design — the difference is the keypad, the bridge and the price. Which renter should buy which.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

Here’s a comparison that’s simpler than it looks, because these two locks are close cousins. August and Yale are sister brands, and the Yale Approach is built on the same renter-friendly idea as the August: it retrofits onto the interior of your existing deadbolt, keeping the exterior hardware and your physical key exactly as they are, with no drilling. So the core renter question — is it reversible? — is answered the same way for both: yes, Excellent Lease-Safe.

What separates them is what’s in the box and how you get in. The August is the phone-first lock with Wi-Fi built in; the Yale Approach adds a peel-and-stick keypad for code entry. Below is the honest head-to-head so you buy the one that fits how you actually come and go. Prices are pulled live and dated.

How this is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked on renter fit, no-fee recording and how cleanly each one comes off the wall. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forLease-SafePrice
1

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

The renter lock. It retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key don't change at all — your landlord never knows, and it comes off in ten minutes at move-out. Wi-Fi is built in, and there's no subscription.

Best if you unlock by phoneLease-Safe: Excellent
2
Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

August's sibling under the Yale name, bundled with a keypad. Same renter-friendly retrofit — keeps your exterior and key — with the addition of a peel-and-stick keypad outside so guests can use a code instead of a spare key.

Best if you want a keypadLease-Safe: Excellent
$109.00 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best if you unlock by phoneLease-Safe: Excellent

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

The renter lock. It retrofits onto the inside of your existing deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your physical key don't change at all — your landlord never knows, and it comes off in ten minutes at move-out. Wi-Fi is built in, and there's no subscription.

What we like

  • Fits over your existing deadbolt — exterior and key unchanged
  • No drilling, fully reversible in minutes
  • Wi-Fi built in; no subscription for remote access

Trade-offs

  • Needs a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt (most, but check yours)
  • A keypad for code entry is a separate accessory
Installs byRetrofits over the interior of an existing single-cylinder deadbolt
PowerAA batteries
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth + 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (built in)
InstallRetrofit (interior only)
Keeps your keyYes

Lease-Safe: Excellent. It replaces only the interior thumbturn of the deadbolt you already have — no new holes, the exterior and your key stay exactly as they were, and it unscrews back to stock in minutes. This is the gold standard for a rental.

Spec note. August publishes a retrofit design that mounts on the interior of an existing deadbolt and keeps the original exterior hardware and keyway. Confirm your deadbolt is on the compatibility list before buying.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Best if you want a keypadLease-Safe: Excellent

Yale Approach Retrofit Lock with Keypad

August's sibling under the Yale name, bundled with a keypad. Same renter-friendly retrofit — keeps your exterior and key — with the addition of a peel-and-stick keypad outside so guests can use a code instead of a spare key.

What we like

  • Retrofit install keeps your existing exterior and key
  • Includes an outdoor keypad for code entry
  • No drilling; reversible at move-out

Trade-offs

  • Full remote access via the app wants the Yale/August Wi-Fi bridge
  • Slightly bulkier interior unit than the plain August
Installs byRetrofits over an existing single-cylinder deadbolt; adhesive keypad
PowerAA batteries
SubscriptionNot required
ConnectivityBluetooth (Wi-Fi via bridge)
InstallRetrofit + adhesive keypad
KeypadIncluded

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Interior-only retrofit plus a peel-and-stick keypad — no holes on either side of the door, and everything comes off clean. The keypad mounts with adhesive, not screws.

Spec note. Yale publishes a retrofit deadbolt design with an included keypad. The exterior keypad is adhesive-mounted; the lock body reuses your existing deadbolt.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

Install: identical, and renter-safe

Both mount on the interior thumbturn of your existing single-cylinder deadbolt using a baseplate held by a couple of screws on the insideof the door — no new holes, nothing changed on the outside, your landlord’s key still works. Either one comes back off in about ten minutes at move-out. Before buying either, run the same two-minute check: confirm your deadbolt is a standard single-cylinder model on the brand’s compatibility list. We cover that check in the deadbolt guide.

Entry: the real difference is the keypad

The plain August unlocks by phone (Bluetooth at the door, built-in Wi-Fi from anywhere) and auto-unlocks as you approach. A physical keypad is a separate accessory. The Yale Approachincludes a peel-and-stick keypad in the box, so guests can punch in a code without your app and without a spare key. If code entry matters to you — and for many renters with guests, cleaners or family it does — the Yale saves you buying an add-on. If you genuinely only ever unlock by phone, the keypad is cost you don’t need.

Remote access and Wi-Fi

The August has Wi-Fi built into this generation, so remote lock/unlock and auto-lock work from anywhere with no separate bridge and no fee. The Yale Approach handles local codes and auto-lock on its own, but full remote control from away wants the Yale/August Wi-Fi bridge (sometimes bundled, sometimes a separate buy). Neither charges a subscription. So if remote-from-anywhere is a must-have and you want it in the box, the August is the more self-contained option.

Price and the verdict

The plain August is usually a bit cheaper on the sticker; the Yale Approach costs more but includes the keypad you’d otherwise buy separately. So the honest verdict is about behavior, not brand: buy the August if you unlock by phone and want built-in Wi-Fi with nothing extra; buy the Yale Approach if you want guest code entry included. Both keep your key and your deposit. See the whole category in the best smart locks of 2026, or the deeper August review.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the August and the Yale Approach?

They share the same retrofit-over-your-deadbolt design, so both keep your exterior hardware and key and install without drilling. The differences: the August has Wi-Fi built in and unlocks by phone (a keypad is a separate accessory), while the Yale Approach includes a peel-and-stick keypad for code entry but uses a bridge for full remote control.

Which is better for renters, August or Yale?

Both are Excellent for renters — reversible, key-keeping, no drilling. Choose the August if you unlock by phone and want built-in Wi-Fi with nothing extra to buy. Choose the Yale Approach if you want a keypad for guest codes included in the box. It comes down to how you and your guests actually get in.

Do the August or Yale need a subscription?

Neither charges a subscription. The August's built-in Wi-Fi handles remote access at no cost. The Yale Approach's local codes and auto-lock work on their own; only full remote control from away needs the Wi-Fi bridge (a one-time device, not a fee).

Will either fit my deadbolt?

Both fit standard single-cylinder deadbolts, which covers most apartment doors — but not every older or unusual thumbturn. Before buying either, take two minutes to check your deadbolt against the brand's compatibility list. Our deadbolt guide walks through exactly what to look for.

Sources

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