The smart lock industry is slowly growing, and more people are becoming interested in these beautiful products. Currently, there are dozens of smart lock manufacturers that promise to create the most functional, reliable and powerful products on the market.
Sadly, the majority of those companies advertise poorly built smart locks that are no good. We need to be quite careful while choosing this kind of a device since it's heavily linked with our home security.
August Smart Lock and Kwikset Kevo are two well-known locks on the market that are reliable, capable and best-selling products. These two have thousands of satisfied customers and high ratings.
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Kwikset Kevo vs August Smart Lock: Pros & Cons and Verdict
In this August vs Kwikset article, we'll compare, evaluate and rate the most important aspects of both smart locks to find out how exactly these two differ and what they have in common.
We'll also present a few charts that'll illustrate essential aspects of August Smart Lock and Kevo. Lastly, we'll come up with a reasonable verdict and crown one of these two as a leading product.
1. Installation Process
The first topic we need to write about is the installation processes of our smart locks. Today, people don't buy products that require hours of setting up. Everyone looks for devices that have simple installation processes which don't need professional assistance.
Kwikset Kevo
Setting up Kwikset Kevo 2nd Generation can be a bit frustrating since it requires drilling. People who don't have previous experience in this area might find it hard to complete the installation of Kevo.
I won't write a step-by-step guide since Kwikset has uploaded an excellent one that perfectly explains how to set up and activate the Kevo lock (the video was uploaded for the 1st generation Kevo, but 2nd gen Kevo has the same installation process).
So judging from the video posted above, activating your smart lock might take around 15-20 minutes. If you follow the installation guide posted above, there's no chance of messing up.
If you still get confused and can't figure what to do next, simply check the user's manual included in the Kevo package. Alternatively, reach out to the Kwikset support team. They'll gladly help with the issues you're facing.
August Smart Lock
August Smart Lock's installation process is straightforward and takes less time. August Smart Lock is labelled a DIY product that requires no professional assistance to complete the installation process.
To activate the August Smart Lock, you'll need a simple screwdriver to complete the five easy steps to install the smart lock. If you're interested in the installation process, make sure to watch the guide posted below:
So assuming that you've already watched the installation guide, you'll have a general understanding of how to activate your August Smart Lock. If you still have any questions, try referring to the user's manual included in your smart lock package.
As a last resort, please reach out to the support team of August. I've personally talked to them and always received professional answers and tips. Those people are attentive and caring.
2. Design
The next topic we need to cover is the design of August Smart Lock and Kwikset Kevo. Today, everyone wants to purchase a smart device that'll improve the overall looks of the indoor and outdoor environment. It's essential for our intelligent locks to be both functional and beautifully designed.
Kwikset Kevo
Kwikset Kevo is one of the most beautifully designed smart locks we've seen. It's well-sized, quality built and eye-catching. The 2nd Generation Kwikset Kevo is available in three finishes (Satin Nickel, Polished Brass, and Venetian Bronze).
Kevo is well sized; the dimensions of the smart lock are 5.87 x 10.3 x 3.74 inches, and it weighs 3.5 pounds. Those dimensions are fair, and the smart lock can fit any door.
Kwikset Kevo is one of the most beautifully designed smart locks on the market. It's modern, sleek and eye-pleasing. We've rarely seen a smart lock this attractive.
We've personally installed the smart lock and also spoken with other Kevo owners. Everyone seemed to be happy with the looks of Kevo and even mentioned how their guests love to compliment its looks.
August Smart Lock
August is another famous lock that looks wonderful. It's a most modern and highly praised smart lock and has garnered attention with its innovative design.
The dimensions of August Smart Lock are 3.4 x 3.4 x 2.2 inches, and it weighs around 1 pound. August has acceptable dimensions, and you shouldn't have any trouble mounting it in the place of a traditional door lock.
If you're looking for a modern smart lock that has a beautiful and eye-catching design, don't look further; August is a smart lock that'll raise curiosity and attract a lot of admiring attention.
I've personally seen the smart lock in action and can say for sure that it begs for attention. It's a beautiful lock that transforms how your house looks.
3. Features
The next thing we need to discuss is the features of both smart locks. The main reason why people purchase these locks are their features and capabilities.
Before we decide which smart lock to purchase, it's essential to know the features of both and have complete clarity.
Must Read: Schlage Connect vs Kwikset Kevo: Pros & Cons and Verdict
Hence we've created a fantastic chart to show the primary and essential features of both Kwikset Kevo and August Smart Lock.
| KWIKSET KEVO | AUGUST SMART LOCK | |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Smart-ready with a Bluetooth 4.0 enabled device | Sends instant invites | |
| History and notifications – see who locked/unlocked Kevo | Battery Powered | |
| Smartphone compatibility | Smartphone compatibility | |
| Touch-to-Open technology | Auto Lock and Unlock Feature | |
| Can be integrated with third-party products | Third-party integration friendly | |
| Free unlimited guest keys | 24/7 activity log | |
| Lock & Unlock via mobile app | HomeKit Enabled | |
| Transferable eKeys | Uses highly secure Low Energy Bluetooth | |
| LED technology | Amazon Alexa Support | |
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So these smart locks have exciting features, and both are top-notch devices. Kevo and August offer everything that is essential for a smart lock to be a reliable and secure product.
3. Performance
Knowing the performance capabilities is the most crucial aspect of our comparison article. The main reason why people purchase smart locks is their performance capabilities. If these two can't meet the minimum requirements of a buyer, there's no need for us to invest in such devices.
Kwikset Kevo
One of the most exciting and attractive features of Kwikset Kevo is the touch-to-unlock. The smart lock detects when you go out, and when you come back you can unlock the door by just tapping on the lock. If Kevo lights up in blue, it means that the door is open.
We've had a few cases though when the smart lock refused to unlock itself. At first, we thought that it was a bug and we reached out to the Kevo support team. They explained that your smartphone needs to be in a specific range so that Kevo analyses what's going on. If the smart lock allowed opening doors from long range, everyone would tap on Kevo, and they'd seemingly trespass your property.
So the Kwikset Kevo is quite picky about the whereabouts of your phone, and you might need to tap the smart lock two or three times for it to unlock itself.
The drawback of Kwikset Kevo is that the smart lock can take around 30 seconds to decide whether to let you in or not. If you can't get in with a single tap, additional requests will take a minute or two. If you decide to leave your house without your smartphone or the battery suddenly dies, there's no way for you to unlock the door.
In such cases, it's better to keep the key with you to avoid such situations arising. Alternatively, Kevo is offering its owners an innovative way to unlock the door. There's an accessory called the ‘Kevo fob' equipped with its Bluetooth radio, and it can be used instead of your phone to get the touch-to-unlock working.
There's a dedicated link between the fob and Kevo, so you don't need to worry about third-party programs and devices interfering with the unlocking process. As our tests showed, the fob works as well as (if not better) than the smartphone.
The drawback here is that if you also want the Kevo fob, you'll have to purchase it separately.
The integrations of Kwikset Kevo are pretty good, and it works with significant names like Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, Honeywell, Skybell, Nest and Ring. What I don't like about the integrations of Kevo is that if you want to pair with Amazon Alexa, you'll need to purchase the Kevo Plus (within the app) for the feature to become available.
As for the integration itself, it went pretty smoothly, and Kevo had zero trouble obeying the commands of Amazon Alexa and Echo Dot.
August Smart Lock
August Smart Lock is a capable product that is a best-selling and a highly rated smart lock. If you want to keep your existing deadbolt, purchasing the August Smart Lock is the best decision since it's the most widely-compatible lock.
August is a third-party integration-friendly smart lock that happily works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Nest, Google Assistant, Logitech, Wink, and Xfinity. Those integrations are pretty good since not all locks offer these kinds of perks.
Trending: Schlage Connect vs August Smart Lock: Pros & Cons and Verdict
Another cool thing about the smart lock is that it offers an optional keypad if you don't like the idea of pulling out your phone now and then. August also allows you to grant access to your friends, family members, and neighbours. If you're not home and would like to let someone in, you can do so.
There's also an auto-lock and auto-unlock feature. Unlike the unlocking feature, the auto-lock is time-based and will be triggered anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes after you've successfully unlocked your door.
Since the August Smart Lock is HomeKit-enabled, you can use your voice and give Siri custom commands. You can even assign names to specific rooms and say things like, “Unlock the bathroom door”.
The battery life of August seems to be a bit weak. We had to change it a few times during the testing period that lasted for 3-4 months.
Lastly, with all the smart lock accessories August offers and the fact that it's HomeKit-enabled, it's a beautiful product that takes one of the top spots on the market.
4. Mobile Application
It's crucial for modern smart home products to have functional mobile applications since we actively use them to control, monitor and check the activities of our locks. If Kwikset or August have bad mobile apps, the user experience will be quite low, and people will consider purchasing alternative locks.
Kwikset Kevo
Kwikset's mobile application is pretty good and functions quite well. The first thing what Kevo's mobile app does is guide you through the whole installation process. It provides wonderfully constructed visual content that perfectly explains how to activate your smart lock.
If you don't like the idea of controlling the smart lock via Bluetooth, you'll have to pay additionally to get the Kevo Plus. With this, you'll be able to get Kevo on your Wi-Fi network.
One of the advantages of the Kevo's app is the eKeys. You can send them to your friends, guests, neighbours or family members.
Kwikset allows you to create three varieties: Anytime eKeys, Guest eKeys and Scheduled eKeys. They all serve a different purpose, and I'll explain what each variant does.
- Anytime eKeys – They work until you revoke the access.
- Guest eKeys – It's only good for 24 hours and then expires.
- Scheduled eKeys – This variant gives you full control over the eKey. You can set it to work on certain parts of the day, and you can also set the expiration date.
The best part is that Kwikset no longer charges the $2 for eKeys. All types are now free, and you can use them in unlimited amounts.
The integrations of Kevo are somewhat nice. It happily works with IFTTT and Nest. Unfortunately, Kwikset Kevo doesn't support Amazon Alexa or SmartThings.
August Smart Lock
August's mobile application is well-built, intuitive and easy to use. As soon as you've mounted the lock, you need to download the mobile app and follow the setup instructions. August will require a few things to make sure the smart lock properly functions.
As soon as you've completed the tests August asks for, you're good to go. Like the Kevo, August connects with your phone via Bluetooth. You can grant access to your friends and family members, send eKeys and provide permanent or temporary access to the lock.
In addition to what we've mentioned above, August Smart Lock also has the geofencing feature. In other words, the smart lock will rely on the location of your smartphone to determine whether to lock or unlock the door.
The geofencing feature is easily customizable, and you can set the detection perimeter to any distance between 100 to 5,000 meters.
The integrations of August are superb. It happily integrates with all the popular smart devices including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Wink, and IFTTT. The biggest drawback here is that August doesn't support Samsung's SmartThings.
5. Advantages and Disadvantages
Besides everything we've discussed, it's important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of both smart locks to know what the capabilities of Kevo and August are.
To find out the pros and cons of Kwikset Kevo and August Smart Lock, we've created two detailed charts that show the advantages and disadvantages of both devices.
Kwikset Kevo
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES | |
|---|---|---|
| Great Design | Weak Finger-Unlock | |
| High Durability | Sometimes Buggy | |
| Reliable and Secure | Weak Integrations | |
| Good Design | ||
| Flexible Mobile App | ||
| eKeys | ||
| LED Technology | ||
| Easy to use | Purchase Kwikset Kevo |
August Smart Lock
| PROS | CONS | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to Use | Mobile App could use some tweaks | |
| Beautiful Design | Bluetooth Connection Sometimes Lags | |
| Powerful Integrations | ||
| HomeKit Enabled | ||
| iOS & Android Support | ||
| Mobile Lock & Unlock | ||
| Flexible Mobile App | ||
| Supports Siri & Alexa | ||
| Detailed Reports | ||
| User-Friendly | Purchase August Smart Lock |
So those are the main pros and cons of both smart locks, and it's safe to say that both Kevo and August are top-notch products and two of the most popular devices on the market.
6. Support
It's essential for a smart home company to have a reliable, responsive and quality customer care area since people who regularly purchase intelligent gadgets get lost during specific processes. When they fail to find answers on their own, reaching out to the support team is the last-resort option.
Luckily, both August and Kevo are known for having superb customer services. I've reached out to both and always received professional answers and tips. I can safely say that they'll be of help with your issue.
| NAME OF THE SMART LOCK | KWIKSET KEVO | AUGUST SMART LOCK |
|---|---|---|
| iOS & Android Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Support | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Lock & Unlock via Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Activity Report | Yes | Yes |
| HomeKit Support | No | Yes |
| Sensing Qualities | Average | Average |
| Reports | Daily and Monthly Monitoring | Daily and Monthly Monitoring |
| Integrations | Average | Good |
| Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant Support | No | Yes |
| Alarm Technology | No | No |
| Dimensions Of The Product | 5.87 x 10.3 x 3.74 inches | 3.4 x 3.4 x 2.2 inches |
| eKeys | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Application | Good | Good |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
| Check Price |
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| Smart Lock Name | Kwikset Kevo | August Smart Lock |
So both smart locks are functional products that offer pretty good features and capabilities. Kevo and August are reliable smart locks and are two of the best on the market.
If you want to own a reliable smart lock that is nearly impossible to break and has bank-grade encryption, purchasing either of these two is a great step to take. From our tests and resultant analysis, Kwikset Kevo and August Smart Lock gave exceptional results.
The Bottom Line
August Smart Lock and Kwikset Kevo are two top-notch smart locks on the market. These two have all the features required for a smart lock to be successful.
August's Alexa and HomeKit integration went smoothly, and we haven't had a single problem with it. It perfectly obeys the commands and we've even gone further and paired it with Nest Cam. We've created exciting scenes, and luckily, August never had a problem with it.
Kwikset Kevo's integrations are quite good too. While not as great as August as far as integrations go, Kevo takes the top spot in other areas. The overall performance rate of Kevo is superior, and it's more functional and reliable.
Since the eKeys are now free, Kevo's user experience went higher, and right now many consider it as the best smart lock on the market. It's not that well-connected and can't properly work with larger smart home platforms, but it's still one of the most reliable and secure locks we've ever tested.
If I were about to purchase a smart lock, I'd go for the Kwikset Kevo since it has a lot of room for upgrades. August has shown its maximum potential, and now it's Kevo's time to shine.
| Smart Lock Name | Kwikset Kevo | August Smart Lock |
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