These two locks get compared constantly, but they are not really the same kind of product, and that is the key to choosing. The Schlage Encode Plus is a full-replacement deadbolt: it swaps your entire lock for a new keyless one. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a retrofit: it keeps your existing deadbolt and keys and motorizes them from the inside. So "which is better" is really "which approach is right for your door" - and once you frame it that way, the answer is usually obvious.
The verdict up front
For most homeowners, the Schlage Encode Plus is the better buy. It does more - a purpose-built deadbolt, a keypad, and crucially Apple Home Key and HomeKit - and it does the Apple side of the house that the August simply does not list. If you own your home and especially if you live in Apple Home, buy the Schlage.
The August wins in one important situation and wins it cleanly: you rent, or you cannot (or do not want to) change your door's exterior, or you want to keep your existing keys. Because it installs only on the inside, a landlord never knows, and your keys keep working. For an Alexa or Google household that fits that description, the August is the right call - not a compromise.
Ecosystem: the sharpest difference
This is where the two diverge most. The Schlage lists Apple HomeKit, Apple Home Key and Alexa; the August lists Alexa, Google and SmartThings. Read that carefully: the Schlage is the Apple lock and the August is the Google-friendly lock. Neither listing names Matter. So if you want to tap an iPhone to unlock, only the Schlage does it; if Google Home is your hub, only the August names Google. The matrix below is the whole comparison in one glance, and the deeper explainer lives in our ecosystem compatibility guide.
Install and door impact
The August is the easiest install we cover: unscrew the inside of your deadbolt, attach the adapter, and clamp on the August body - about ten minutes, no exterior change. The Schlage is a standard deadbolt swap: remove the old lock entirely and fit the new one with the included template. Both are screwdriver jobs, but only one changes what your door looks like from the street. For renters that difference is decisive; for owners it is a one-time step toward a nicer lock.
Keys, keypad and backups
The August keeps your existing keys as the physical fallback and adds a Keypad Touch for codes. The Schlage has its own touchscreen keypad and keeps a physical backup too. Both run on batteries with ample low-battery warning, and neither leaves you locked out when a battery dies - the details are in our guide on smart locks without power. On connectivity, both have Wi-Fi built in, so remote control needs no separate hub; what still works when the internet drops is covered in the without-Wi-Fi guide.
So which one?
Own your home, or live in Apple Home, or want a brand-new keyless deadbolt with a keypad? Buy the Schlage Encode Plus. Rent, want to keep your keys, or run on Google and just want remote control without touching your door's exterior? Buy the August. There is no universally "better" lock here - there is the right tool for your door. For the full field, both appear in our best smart locks roundup, and each has a dedicated review (Schlage / August).
