Amazon.com: Customer reviews: August Home Smart Lock Pro + Connect Hub - Wi-Fi Smart Lock for Keyless Entry - Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and more

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2018

I have been converting my house into a "smart home" piece by piece, and getting this lock was the next step. I read countless reviews on different products, and decided on the August smart lock due to a few features that I really liked. I have only been using this for about 2 weeks, thus may end up updating in the future, however for now it has been working flawlessly.

1) It was EXTREMELY easy to install. I mean.....super easy. I feel like every time I install a smart device (switch/outlet) in my home, while it claims to be easy, there always seems to be something that doesn't go right for one reason or another, such that it takes some troubleshooting. You literally follow the instructions on the app, and bam it is installed. It took me just a few minutes. Without a doubt the easiest smart device installation I have ever had

2) The auto unlock feature was a big selling point for me. I am always coming into the house with my hands full, and inevitably have my keys in a pocket that is more difficult to get to etc. There were varying reviews on this feature, some saying it was faulty, some saying it was great. Thus far, it has worked every time. I will continue to monitor this feature going forward. Other reviews I have read made it seem like recent firmware updates increased this feature's reliability, so this very well could be the case

3) It works great with all of my smart devices. "Alexa goodnight" now not only turns off the lights, but locks the smart lock (the lock can auto lock on its own after the door is closed as well). The app is accessible from my apple watch too, which is nice. It is a very simple applet that has an option to lock and unlock the door, no other bells and whistles, which to me, if the auto unlock feature does malfunction, unlocking the door from my watch will take 2 seconds. To unlock the door with a smart home assistant device, you do have to say something like "Alexa tell August to unlock the door with PIN ####". This I guess seems like a pain, but I have yet to have a need to unlock the door while I am home with Alexa, thus not a problem in my opinion. No pin is required to lock the door.

4) The august Connect is such that you can control the lock away from home. I purchased the connect to make sure I had the best overall experience, however depending on how you plan on using the lock, it may not be 100% needed for you. I have yet needed to control the lock away from home, and I don't think I will control it away from home probably 99% of the time, however I imagine if and when the time comes it will be a good feature to have, however if you are looking to save money, you may not need the Connect.

5) The design is a bit cumbersome yet still has a cool streamline/minimalist look. You can unlock the door by hand by turning the lock itself, which is nice for any anti smart home people in your household. One other design aspect that I especially like, and why I was able to convince my wife to get the lock, was that the outside deadbolt doesn't change. Thus, you can still use a key to get inside if you want, and for those who might worry about smart lock security, no one outside your home has any idea that you have a smart lock on the inside, which I think is really cool.

Overall after a few weeks I would definitely recommend the lock to anyone. If things change I will make sure to update my review accordingly.

*12/4 UPDATE*
Thus far the lock has been working great. There have been 2 times that the auto unlock didn't perform fast enough, meaning I was standing at the door for about 15 seconds before it unlocked, but otherwise is really working as advertised. I am still very happy with this product, as it really seems like updates to the firmware have made this a much more reliable lock than previous reviews would indicate. I would highly recommend this product.

7 people found this helpful

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Taylor

Ignore the bad reviews, when properly installed the August Pro is the gold standard

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

First things first - I have a general distrust of smart gadgets that perform critical home functions and prefer for them to operate as piggyback/in addition to normal functionality rather than a full replacement where you're forced to rely on the smart system as the only mechanism. For that reason, the August Pro fit the bill nicely as you can still operate in a key-first model if you prefer, or use exclusively the smart functionality which is where we eventually landed. I also distrust people's glowing reviews shortly after something like this is released, because it will take a bit for the weird problems to crop up and a shining initial impression can turn into a frustrating reality months down the road. That is not the case with this review, I purchased the August Pro more than 2 years ago on Amazon and am just now reviewing it after using it multiple times a day, every day for the past 25 months!

The good:
It is EXTREMELY reliable. When connected to a stable, reliable WiFi network via the connect hub, BLE & Z-Wave as a backup, I have never once had an instance where it did not lock or unlock when I told it to. Homekit integration sometimes has a tiny bit of lag but does work reliably, through the app is always instantaneous. I've used this on the only exterior door of our home as the sole locking system and have full confidence in its operation assuming batteries are kept fresh.

The app is good, not perfect or beautiful but functional and easy to use. Sharing works well and friends have commented on how easy it was to get in when shared a key.

The installation is easy if you've ever replaced a lock or installed a deadbolt from scratch, and many of the negative reviews are clearly from people who aren't especially handy and installed it wrong, tried to place it on an incompatible door or used the incorrect adapter. If you're not confident in your skills, find a friend who is or pay a professional because the last thing you want to wing it with is the ability to get in and out of your own home.

It looks nice, unobtrusive and modern without being obvious that it's a smart gadget and free of loud branding. It lets you continue using your matching lock hardware, which is especially nice if you live in an NYC building where everyone has matching doors. Moving it to a different home is no problem, I've now used it in 2 different homes for a year each and didn't have to hang onto anything except the hardware that came off when I took it off the last place.

This is the best option for this type of solution on the market today and you can buy with confidence if you know you have a strong, stable wireless network at your home and the skills to install the back half of a deadbolt.

11 people found this helpful

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Scott

Great, reliable, high-tech house lock

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024

Verified Purchase

We’ve used this lock for years and have loved it the whole time! It’s easy to install, works in any door we have, and sets up quickly. We get peace of mind in locking our house and have lots if options for programming automated locking/unlocking. Great lock, would recommend!

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JubJub

August locks work as advertised, but there is some additional intelligence that could be integrated

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

I bought this is a Christmas gift for my parent's house last year (2018) and have waited for close to a year to finally give a comprehensive review of the product.

There are a lot of things to like about August - I believe it was one of the first companies to actually get the smart lock thing right. That doesn't necessarily mean they are the best, but it gives them a lead in receiving feedback on their product and ultimately improving it. Whether they've actually used that lead to take the feedback seriously and build upon it though, I think has yet to be seen.

The system install was painless enough. We mounted the unit upon our existing compatible bolt and plugged in the bridge to an outlet close by the door. My dad made himself master and granted us all access to the house.

Pros:
- Guest access customization
- GPS/proxy awareness to unlock doors when you arrive home
- Can set the lock time duration based on how quickly you want the unit to lock a door once its been opened
- Notifications on when a door has been lock/unlocked and by who

Cons:
- The sensor on the door can be tricked into thinking the door is closed and it activated the mechanism to lock the bolt, even when it isn't aligned with the frame
- Lock time duration can be incredibly annoying (back to my first point on cons)
- We've had to replace the batteries on ours in less than a year. This could be because we have so many people coming /going everyday that we might be in a high use category

When I've been home, I can actually tell when my dad has pulled in the driveway because I hear the August lock unlocking. I think to myself, this is a pretty awesome feature! It's consistently recognized him pulling into the driveway and prompting the door to unlock. The downside is his lock duration when the unit has been unlocked seems to be a bit short. The door will actually lock itself back up before he even gets to the door (defeats the purpose, and I know it's something he can adjust). The relock time duration has been so short in our house that we've taken to propping the door ever so slightly so we can step out and do something in the front of the house and then come back in without the unit locking us out. I think this has to do with the sensor you place above the lock. Because our door is propped the sensor still thinks the door is entirely shut and it activates the bolt to close even though it isn't aligned with the bolt to actually lock the door. If you think about it, this could give your phone a notification that the door is locked because it turned the bolt, when its actually ajar. This is a huge issue.

I think August should work on a sensor that actually correctly knows when the bolt turn actually means its locked. It isn't really an issues because for us we're always going back in when we leave the door slightly ajar and it auto-locks, but for others this could be a problem.

I like the unit and its features, but this thing clearly isn't perfect yet. Maybe in two generations they'll get there.

5 people found this helpful

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hogoneal

Works Quite Well

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2021

Verified Purchase

I really like this smart lock. I was skeptical when I ordered it, when I installed it, and even when I started using it. However, after 2 weeks I am completely sold. First, it was an easy install. All you have to do is follow the step-by-step instructions. I do have some installation tips:
1) Make sure you tape the key side. It will fall out.
2) When you take the thumb latch cover off, squirt some graphite lubricant in the lock internals and on the slide. This will help the lock work more freely.
3) Check to see how your lock slide aligns with the striker plate. Mine rubbed a little on the bottom so I used a Dremel tool to take a tiny bit off the striker plate.
4) When you install the smart lock plate, don't tighten the screws tight. The instructions tell you this but what they don't tell you is the smart lock won't mount on the plate and lock in place if the screws on the plate are real tight. I had to loosen the screws on the plate until I could get the unit to lock on the plate. It was kind of loose, so then I tightened the screws some until I could still lock the unit onto the plate and there was no play in the knob once it was installed. You can get a tight fight if you're patient and loosen and tighten the plate screws a little at a time until you get a tight fit.
The smart lock works great. Setup on my phone was easy as was connecting to my Echo. I did use the sensor to tell if the door is open or closed. Just mount it where they say and it works fine. The connect works great too. I had read that some people have connectivity issues so I set things up so the connect is less than 6' from my router and the door. No connection issues thus far. I don't use the auto lock but I do use the auto unlock and just love it. It engages when I pull in front of the house. I've had no issues with it. For those wondering, your phone is in home mode when you are home so if you walk by the door it won't sense you and unlock the door. It seems to me that the range for home/away mode is roughly 300' give or take. I just think it's really cool that I can lock and unlock my door remotely.

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Rob Sparks

August SmartLock

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024

Verified Purchase

I've been using the August Smart Lock for about five years now and I have to say, it's absolutely amazing! Living in a residential apartment complex, it has made my life so much easier. I can now utilize FedEx, Amazon, and UPS services without worrying about missed deliveries. The best part is that I can see them through my camera and unlock the door for them, ensuring the safety of my packages. I can't thank the August Smart Lock system enough for making me a happier customer!

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David H Kim

Great...for a while

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

The good: I've purchased 2 August Smart Lock Pro + connect combo's to outfit my house. It's been nice to be able to remotely lock and unlock the house, to provide access to others and to have an ongoing record of who has been using the remote features. It's also nice to have a record of the times that the door has been manually lock and opened. The install is super easy. Can be done by a non-technical person pretty easily. I love the fact that the lock looks the same on the outside of the house, so it's not screaming out to the world to hack me.

The neutral: The WiFi has been finicky and I've had to "re-boot" the connect on average about once every other month of so.

So why a 1 star review? This product literally has 1 job, to lock and unlock. It's the thing it needs to be able to do repeatedly and reliably. Both of my August locks have had mechanical issues making the mechanism work sporadically. This is a very disturbing situation to be in, to witness the technology I'm relying on to access my house start to fail. For me, this happened after many many months of use. Let me describe what you will need to go through when this happens.

First, you will consult the August website. There isn't a lot of useful information to help fix the issue. You search and search and search and finally find a phone number that you can call for technical support. You'll end up calling the toll free number for technical support and wait on hold for a reasonable 10 - 15 minutes to get a actual English speaking service representative on the phone. Make sure that you call when you have time and when you're next to the lock, because the next step is to walk through a series of scripted troubleshooting steps in order to try to fix the issue. After walking through the script, the agent will declare that there is nothing further that can be done, and that the only option is to perform a warranty exchange.

My first lock happened to fail within 11 months of purchase. After providing the purchase details for that lock, a replacement lock was shipped to me. Yay, the lock arrives, I install it, and everything is great. If I wrote a review after this experience, I probably would have given the lock a 4 stars, because the locks are working, and the company is standing behind their product and providing a no-cost replacement for a device that maturely failed.

My second lock failed after approximately 18 months. After providing details for the purchase of that lock, I was told that the lock was out of warranty, and was offered a 25% discount code that was good for 24 hours.

So my experience has been that 2 out of 2 locks failed mechanically with light usage after less than 2 years. For the unit that lasted me 18 months, I estimate that I used the lock 2 times a day on average so about 1000 times. That's horrible reliability for a very expensive lock! And the only offer to make things right is a code so that I can spend another couple of hundred dollars to hopefully have a lock that will last another 1 - 2 years.

No thank you. If you got money to burn on technology that's cool and will last for about a year, then this is your gadget! If you're looking for a long term secure solution with a company that will stand behind it's product, then I suggest that you move on.

6 people found this helpful

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Amazon Steve

A Great Smart Home Gadget! Nice-to-Have but not a Must-Have...

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

I honestly purchased the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect 3rd Generation as a fun smart home gadget, that would make my life easier, but also to add a “coolness” factor to my home. Between smart doorbells, alarm system, sensors, etc. I thought it was time to add a smart lock to the list.

After much research I went with the August due to the leading application and support (with fully customizable features...I’ve added some of my personal insight below), great design (I love the look), Connect from anywhere features (I can lock/unlock from anywhere in the world...as long as internet connection is available), the ability to send a temporary “virtual key” to visitors (like friends and family), and that I can still use the lock in a traditional fashion (from outside I can use my key in the even of low batteries, and inside I can simply turn the cylinder).

The first decision I had to make was installation location. Due to the price, although I’d like to install on all exterior doors, I only purchased one, and chose to install on my garage door. This happens to be the door most frequently use, and the one my hands will often be the most full going through (between grocery trips, heading in/out the door before/after work with coffee, computer, etc., or for my wife with the kids, book bags, etc.).

Installation was simple, and the lock was installed in less than an hour. The mobile instructions were extremely intuitive, and well thought out. They have a more simple option to place a sensor on the frame of the door, or for you to drill a small hole on the inside of the frame (making the sensor nearly invisible, especially when the door is closed). I chose the second option (picture attached) for a more clean look, and so nothing would get frustratingly caught on while running out the door. I used a dab of wood glue on the sensor to keep it in place. My only frustration was placing the Connect box. There is a plug in a laundry room very close to the front door (which we keep shut, which would have hidden the Connect box), but it wasn’t sending a strong enough signal. Luckily I have an outlet close to the front door, I just didn’t want to see the box (no big deal).

After installation, I strongly suggest customizing the settings/features. For example, I don’t have my door auto-lock after entry or when I leave the near vacinity of my home. Personally, I don’t want it to lock when I’m driving down the street, and have my wife locked out in the garage without her purse, keys, and phone (sometimes she goes out to put the kids in the car before going back in to get her purse). I LOVE the setting of auto unlocking when I get in close proximity. It’s great because I can have my hands full and don’t need to get my keys out of my pocket. I’ve also enjoyed the “virtual key” function, and use it when parents or family visit (especially if arriving late at night). The virtual key would be great for people with visitors, dog walkers, etc. Thrse features will gain even more importance as my kids grow and can do more on their own.

In conclusion...So far, my experience has been outstanding. Honestly, for me this is a nice-to-have but not a must-have for most. I bought it for the fun and love the features, but could definitely get by without it. I love keeping my keys in my pocket, and being able to check if my door is locked from anywhere in the world. In the future if the cost comes down I’ll have them on all my doors.

I rate this a 5/5 and would definitely purchase again. Thank you for reading and rating my review!

66 people found this helpful

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Mehrdad N.

Life is simpler with August lock.

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is absolutely a great product for relatively a less expensive than other brands. You can assign family members in the household to take advantage of the lock system. It automatically unlocked the door as you get close to the door. It also works well with Alexa.

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Beverley H

Incredibly reliable and convenient!

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024

Verified Purchase

Front entryway door — with stairs to get to. The August door system has come in very handy many times over! A very satisfied customer’s review.

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