Smart Locks
August Home
Retrofit smart lock with native Airbnb integration
Best for Small Hosts
The right smart lock when you can't modify the door exterior
From $149.99 • No free trial
Comparison
August Home vs RemoteLock
Pricing, pros and cons, and buyer-fit side-by-side. Pick the one that matches your operation — or see why neither should.
Smart Locks
RemoteLock
Cloud-based smart lock access control for vacation rentals
Solid Option
Solid access control platform held back by hardware reliability and support concerns
From $6/listing • No free trial
✓Editorial verdict
Which Should You Pick: August Home or RemoteLock?
Pick August Home if you want a single retrofit smart lock with native Airbnb code automation and no recurring software fees. Pick RemoteLock if you manage 5+ properties across multiple booking channels and need centralized PMS-driven code automation across Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, or August hardware.
Editorial perspective from the August Home side; factual claims about RemoteLock are drawn from its review.
Pricing Side-by-Side
August Home
Full pricing →From $149.99 • No free trial
August Smart Lock
$149.99 one-time
- Bluetooth keyless entry
- Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock
- DoorSense for door open/closed detection
- Up to 6-month battery life on 2x AA
Smart Lock + Connect
$199.99 one-time
- All Smart Lock features
- Wi-Fi Bridge included for remote control
- Voice assistant integration (Alexa, Google, Siri)
Wi-Fi Smart Lock
$229.99 one-time
- Built-in Wi-Fi (no separate Bridge needed)
- Smaller form factor than Smart Lock + Connect
- Direct app and voice-assistant control
RemoteLock
Full pricing →From $6/listing • No free trial
Premium
$6/lock/mo
Billed annually; hardware extra (~$279+ per lock)
All portfolio sizes
- Centralized cloud access control across all locks
- PMS integrations for automated guest code delivery
- Scheduled access (check-in/check-out windows)
- Mobile app + web dashboard
- Audit log of all lock events
Enterprise
$12/lock/mo
Hardware extra; volume discounts on hardware available
Larger portfolios needing advanced features
- Everything in Premium
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Priority customer support
- Custom integrations and API workflows
- SSO and team-management features
What each tool does well — and where it falls short
What August Home does well
Non-invasive installation preserves original door appearance
August's retrofit design installs over an existing deadbolt without changing the exterior — SafeWise describes it as "perfect for rentals with HOA restrictions or landlord requirements" with a 10-minute install.
Native Airbnb integration automates guest access codes
Linking August and Airbnb accounts means the lock automatically generates a unique access code when a guest books, eliminating manual code management per The Connected Shop.
Works with every major smart home platform
August's official Works With page lists Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, SimpliSafe, Control4, and ecobee among supported integrations.
Keeps physical key functionality as a backup
The retrofit-over-deadbolt design means the original key still works — useful for owner access, maintenance, or when batteries die unexpectedly.
What RemoteLock does well
Seamless PMS integration automates guest code workflows
Connects with Hostfully, Guesty, Track, and other PMSs to automatically generate and deliver access codes tied to reservations. Reduces manual key handoff entirely.
One dashboard to monitor and control all locks remotely
Cloud-based centralized console shows real-time access logs, sends alerts, and lets managers control devices across all properties from anywhere.
Broad hardware compatibility across major lock brands
Supports Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, and August locks, so operators can choose hardware that fits their property type and budget rather than being locked into one manufacturer.
Where August Home falls short
Shorter battery life increases maintenance burden
Smart Home Perfected notes CR123 batteries last 3-6 months versus 9-12 for Yale or Schlage — a notable drawback when managing multiple properties at distance.
Keypad for backup access sold separately
The external keypad is a separate accessory at around $59, adding 25-40% to the effective per-door cost before shipping or installation.
Less proven for high-volume commercial rentals
RedAwning notes Yale Assure Lock 2 is deployed across 50,000+ RedAwning-managed properties with a 99.7% uptime rate, and recommends Yale or Schlage Encode Plus for high-traffic rentals.
No comprehensive public API documentation
Integrations are available through official partners and supported platforms, but August does not publish a documented public API — limiting custom PMS/automation integrations.
Where RemoteLock falls short
Lock hardware failures reported well before expected lifespan
Capterra reviewers report that despite significant investment, nearly every lock has required replacement, with many failing in under two years from moisture damage and sudden failures.
Customer support is hard to reach and slow to resolve issues
Users report difficulty contacting anyone, resolution processes stretching weeks or months, and no emergency services — a significant gap for a product that controls property access.
Monthly per-lock fees add up on top of upfront hardware costs
At $6/lock/month plus ~$279+ per lock in hardware, the total cost of ownership can be substantial for larger portfolios compared to simpler one-time-purchase solutions.
Which Should You Pick
Pick August Home if
Properties with HOA restrictions or landlord requirements prohibiting exterior door modifications, where a reversible 10-minute install matters.
Skip August Home if
You run high-volume commercial properties and need maximum battery life and the most proven track record for smart-lock reliability.
Pick RemoteLock if
Property managers with 5+ units who need centralized access control and automated code delivery through PMS integration.
Skip RemoteLock if
You're a single-property host on a tight budget — the required subscription on top of hardware costs may not justify the investment.
Where August Home and RemoteLock actually differ
- August is a one-time hardware purchase ($149.99-$229.99 per lock) with no monthly subscription; RemoteLock charges $6/lock/month (Premium) or $12/lock/month (Enterprise) on top of ~$279+ hardware costs.
- RemoteLock integrates with dozens of PMS platforms including Hostfully, Guesty, and Track for automated code delivery across all booking channels; August's only confirmed native OTA integration is Airbnb, with no documented native Guesty, OwnerRez, or multi-PMS support.
- RemoteLock supports four major lock brands (Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, August) through one centralized cloud dashboard with real-time access logs across all properties; August on its own offers no equivalent multi-property fleet dashboard.
- August installs as a retrofit over the existing deadbolt in ~10 minutes preserving the exterior and physical key; RemoteLock-compatible hardware typically requires full smart lock replacement at higher per-door cost.
- August integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, IFTTT, and SimpliSafe at the device level; RemoteLock is a pure cloud access control platform with no consumer smart-home ecosystem connectivity beyond what the underlying hardware provides.
Common objections
- RemoteLock's PMS integrations and centralized dashboard look purpose-built for STR — isn't August too limited for multi-property operators?
- Honestly, for operators managing 10+ properties across Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct channels, RemoteLock's breadth is a real advantage and August on its own doesn't compete. But if you're Airbnb-focused with a small portfolio, August's native Airbnb integration delivers automated per-reservation codes with zero monthly fees — RemoteLock's $360/year-per-5-locks subscription buys capabilities you may not need. The honest split is portfolio size and channel mix, not which platform is better in the abstract.
- August is one of the brands RemoteLock manages — why not just buy August locks and add RemoteLock as the management layer?
- That's actually a legitimate path for hosts who outgrow August's standalone capabilities — you keep the retrofit install and add RemoteLock's $6-$12/lock/month for centralized fleet management and broader PMS integration. The question is whether you need that platform layer. For Airbnb-only hosts under 10 properties, August standalone is cheaper and simpler; for multi-channel operators at scale, layering RemoteLock on top of August hardware is a reasonable upgrade path.
- RemoteLock has reported hardware reliability issues — is August's hardware more dependable?
- RemoteLock's reliability complaints relate to third-party lock hardware (which includes August), not the platform itself, so the comparison isn't clean. RedAwning data favors Yale Assure Lock 2 for high-volume commercial deployments at 99.7% uptime across 50,000+ properties, suggesting Yale's track record edges out August's at scale. Neither August nor RemoteLock is the proven choice for high-volume operators — Yale through RemoteLock or Yale standalone is typically the stronger pick when reliability at scale is the priority.
Keep Digging
August Home
The right smart lock when you can't modify the door exterior
RemoteLock
Solid access control platform held back by hardware reliability and support concerns