August and Level both sell app-controlled deadbolt access, but the hardware paths are different. August’s current Wi-Fi Smart Lock is an interior retrofit for compatible existing deadbolts in the United States and Canada. Level’s current catalog includes products such as Level Lock+ and Level Bolt with different relationships to the visible deadbolt and internal mechanism. The first decision is the exact door and product, not the app logo.
Short answer: shortlist August when a supported US or Canadian deadbolt can keep its outside hardware and the interior retrofit clears the door. Shortlist Level when the selected Level product fits the deadbolt opening or concealed-mechanism path and its exterior appearance and supported credentials suit the property. Buy neither until manual entry, egress, alignment, access roles, batteries, accounts, and outages pass.
August vs Level Lock at a glance
| Decision | August | Level |
|---|---|---|
| First gate | US/Canada support, exact compatible deadbolt, interior clearance, and outside-key path | Exact Level product, deadbolt type, bore and backset, trim clearance, and included hardware |
| Installation path | Interior retrofit intended to retain compatible existing outside hardware | Level Lock+ and Level Bolt represent different replacement or concealed-mechanism paths |
| Primary evidence | Exact-deadbolt compatibility record plus an installed-door acceptance test | Exact-product compatibility record plus an installed-door acceptance test |
| Access question | Which named users, guest paths, schedules, history, and recovery roles are required? | Which named users, supported credentials, schedules, history, and recovery roles are required? |
| Missing layer | Neither reported lock state proves that the door is physically closed, latched, unforced, alarmed, or answered by a person | |
1. Compare exact products, not brand promises
Save a dated copy of the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock record. Record supported country, compatible deadbolt, included adapters, interior clearance, outside key path, app, users, guest access, remote path, integrations, activity history, battery system, warranty, return terms, and support.
For Level, save the dated Level smart-lock catalog and exact Level Lock+, Level Bolt, or other delivered-product record. Record compatible deadbolt geometry, exterior and interior hardware changes, supported credentials, required phone or platform, remote path, users, activity history, battery system, warranty, return terms, and support.
Do not transfer a feature from one model, generation, or accessory to another. Confirm Apple Home Key, Matter, keypad, remote access, activity history, or platform integration on the exact product and test it after installation.
2. Survey the door before choosing an app
Record door material, thickness, handing, bore pattern, backset, cylinder or deadbolt type, thumbturn clearance, trim, weather seal pressure, frame condition, strike depth, bolt throw, hinge movement, key path, inside release, and rental or fire-door restrictions. Operate the current lock ten times with the door open and ten times closed. Fix sagging, swelling, loose hardware, a shallow strike, or a binding bolt before adding a motor.
Photograph the inside and outside hardware and measure the actual door. A product page match is not enough if decorative trim, a storm door, multipoint hardware, a narrow stile, a double-cylinder arrangement, or local egress rules block safe use.
3. The retrofit paths are not interchangeable
August’s current Wi-Fi model is designed to replace interior control while retaining compatible exterior hardware. Level’s catalog separates products that replace visible deadbolt hardware from Level Bolt’s concealed internal-mechanism approach. Those differences affect tools, exterior appearance, keying, tenant permission, return risk, and the parts that must be restored later.
For both brands, verify physical key entry, inside release, emergency egress, door seal pressure, manual operation, calibration, and 20 powered cycles. Do not enable unattended routines while the motor is compensating for resistance.
4. Keep door, latch, lock, alarm, and response states separate
| Record | What it may show | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Lock command | A named app, keypad, platform, or automation requested an action | The motor completed, the door was closed, or the right person entered |
| Reported lock state | The lock believes its mechanism reached a state | The latch engaged, bolt entered the strike, frame is sound, or door stayed closed |
| Direct door contact | The contact is near or separated at the mounted point | The lock engaged, hinge side is intact, or no person passed through |
| Alarm event | A configured zone and alarm state changed | A camera captured useful evidence or a responder acknowledged the event |
| Activity history | Selected user, lock, or automation events with timestamps | Every physical key turn, manual action, failed attempt, door movement, or incident fact |
When security depends on open versus closed, add a direct contact and reconcile it with the lock, physical pull test, alarm, camera context where lawful, and human response.
5. Map access roles before inviting users
List owners, residents, children, relatives, carers, cleaners, dog walkers, guests, contractors, and emergency responders. For each person, record the approved door, credential, start time, expiry, schedule, remote authority, activity visibility, alarm authority, sponsor, and removal owner.
- Give each person a distinct credential where the exact product supports it.
- Keep administrator and recovery rights separate from routine unlocking.
- Test temporary expiry and revocation from a second authorized phone.
- Remove former users from the lock, vendor account, household platform, voice assistant, recovery method, and old phones.
- Retest the revoked credential instead of trusting a successful delete message.
6. Activity records need interpretation rules
For each product, test manual key entry, inside release, app unlock, keypad or supported credential, automation, remote unlock, failed attempt, battery warning, offline event, and administrator change. Record which events appear, time zone, viewer, export, retention, and what a missing event means.
A lock log is not a complete incident record. Use one timeline for lock request, reported state, direct door state, alarm, camera evidence where used, notification, acknowledgement, response, and final secure state. Mark gaps rather than filling them with assumptions.
7. Auto-unlock and auto-lock need failure tests
Location, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, phone permissions, low-power settings, old devices, shared-home members, and delayed network events can affect convenience routines. Test one automation at a time with two residents arriving and leaving in different orders, a phone left at home, the primary phone offline, and the door held open.
Do not let a location event prove identity, a lock command prove closure, or a camera classification trigger unattended unlocking by itself. Require a direct-state check, a safe end state, an exception path, and rollback.
8. Outages expose the actual product
| Failure | Test | Pass condition |
|---|---|---|
| Internet unavailable | Local operation, remote access, history, notifications, automations, and restore order | Manual entry and egress remain available; remote losses are documented |
| Primary phone unavailable | Second authorized user, mechanical entry, administration, and recovery | No one borrows a shared owner password |
| Battery low | Warning lead time, replacement or charging, emergency path, and final-state test | Reliable access is restored before lockout |
| Hub or platform unavailable | Core entry, automations, remote paths, voice control, and recovery | The lock does not depend on one integration for safe entry or egress |
| Door resistance increases | Manual and powered cycles under realistic weather pressure | The motor does not force a binding door into a misleading state |
| Vendor service ends | Local use, user removal, reset, replacement, export, and disposal | The property can regain a safe supported lock without an abandoned account |
9. Privacy and account recovery need owners
Lock history can reveal occupancy, work schedules, care visits, guests, and travel. Limit viewers and administrators, use neutral device names, protect lock-screen notifications, and document retention and export. Technical access does not create permission to monitor residents, tenants, workers, or visitors.
Inventory the vendor account, household platform, email, password manager, multifactor method, recovery phone, emergency codes, old sessions, subscriptions, and mechanical keys. Confirm a second authorized person can recover the system without impersonation or access to another person’s private messages.
10. Compare 36-month cost at equal scope
- exact lock, cylinder, deadbolt parts, adapters, keypad or credential accessory, hub or bridge, and direct contact;
- shipping, tax, professional fitting, rekeying, strike or frame repair, and return risk;
- batteries or charging, spares, inspections, cleaning, firmware and account administration, and replacement;
- optional remote, platform, service, or integration charges at normal terms;
- rental permission, original-hardware storage, restoration, account closeout, and move-out acceptance;
- service-ended replacement and the cost of maintaining safe mechanical entry and egress.
Use current written prices and terms when ordering. The cheaper cart is not cheaper if the product does not fit, the door needs repair, or required access depends on an unsupported feature.
60-minute August vs Level Lock acceptance test
- Minutes 0–10: save exact product records; inventory country, door, dimensions, cylinder or deadbolt, trim, key path, users, accounts, integrations, alarm zone, and recovery owner.
- Minutes 10–20: run ten manual and ten powered cycles with the door open and closed; record resistance, final lock state, direct door state, and physical pull result.
- Minutes 20–30: test owner, resident, temporary user, schedule, expiry, revocation, activity history, and administrator recovery without a shared login.
- Minutes 30–40: test one auto-lock or auto-unlock rule with two residents, an old phone, a phone left home, and the door held open; prove rollback and final alarm state.
- Minutes 40–50: remove internet, the primary phone, and the selected platform under controlled conditions; prove manual entry, egress, local operation, warning, and backup ownership.
- Minutes 50–60: restore service, reconcile one event timeline, verify every user and final state, then assign failures, deadlines, and retests.
Who should choose August?
Choose August when the property is in the US or Canada, the exact compatible deadbolt and exterior hardware can remain, and manual entry, egress, access roles, batteries, accounts, outages, and recovery pass.
Who should choose Level?
Choose Level when the exact Level product fits the deadbolt geometry, its visible or concealed hardware path suits the property, required credentials and integrations are confirmed on that model, and mechanical entry, egress, batteries, accounts, outages, and recovery all pass.
Verdict
August wins only where its supported interior retrofit matches a compatible US or Canadian deadbolt and access plan. Level wins only where the selected Lock+ or Bolt-style path matches the deadbolt, exterior preference, and credential plan. Neither wins a binding door, unresolved rental restriction, shared administrator login, or missing mechanical fallback.
Official sources and related comparisons
- August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
- Level smart-lock catalog
- Nuki vs August
- Nuki vs Level Lock
- Blink vs August
- Level Lock vs Wyze
August vs Level Lock FAQ
Can August and Level fit the same door?
Sometimes, but do not assume it. Match the exact products to country, cylinder or deadbolt, bore, backset, dimensions, trim, key path, and door condition.
Which is better for renters?
The better renter option is the exact product the owner approves in writing, that does not create prohibited damage, and that can restore the original hardware and accounts at move-out.
Does either lock prove the door is closed?
No. Reported lock state does not prove physical closure. Use a direct contact when open versus closed matters, then reconcile it with the lock, alarm, and physical test.
Which is better during an internet outage?
Test the delivered product, phone, hub, credentials, integrations, and mechanical path. Document which local functions remain and which remote features stop.
Do I need a subscription?
Check the current written terms for the exact product and required remote or integration path. No-subscription marketing does not prove every history, remote, platform, or backup job is included.
With over 20 years of experience evaluating home security technologies, Andrew is a trusted home security expert. He specializes in DIY home security systems, indoor and outdoor security cameras, doorbell cameras, and safety software such as password managers. Andrew uses in-depth research to provide accurate and actionable insights. His work helps you make better decisions to protect your home.
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