Schlage BE375 vs August Home Smart Lock: Keypad or App Control

The Schlage BE375 and the August Home smart lock solve the same problem from opposite directions. One is a standalone touchscreen deadbolt that works without a phone, an app, or a Wi-Fi network. The other is a retrofit unit that clamps over an existing deadbolt and adds app control, remote access, and auto-unlock.

The decision comes down to how much connected convenience a household actually wants, and how much complexity it will tolerate. The sections below compare construction, entry methods, power, installation, and everyday use, then name the buyer each lock fits.

Schlage BE375 Touch Electronic Deadbolt vs August Home Smart Lock at a Glance

Product	Key Spec	Best Use	Price Tier
Schlage BE375 Touch Electronic Deadbolt	Touchscreen keypad, 100% keyless, Century trim	Households that want code-only entry with no app or hub	Mid-range
August Home Wi-Fi Connected Smart Lock	Wi-Fi connected, retrofit over existing deadbolt	Renters and app-first households keeping their current keys	Premium

The Schlage is the simpler purchase. It replaces the deadbolt outright, runs on its own keypad, and never asks for a phone. The August Home lock is the more flexible purchase: it keeps the existing deadbolt and cylinder, adds Wi-Fi and app control, and suits anyone who cannot or will not swap hardware.

Schlage BE375 Touch Electronic Deadbolt

Type: Electronic touchscreen keypad deadbolt
Entry Method: Keypad code, 100% keyless
Trim: Century
Finish: Satin Nickel
Security: Certified security rating
Install: Easy install, replaces existing deadbolt

The BE375 is a deadbolt first and an electronic lock second. It replaces the existing hardware in the door, mounts with the standard deadbolt prep, and presents a touchscreen keypad on the exterior instead of a keyway. The Century trim and satin nickel finish give it a clean, traditional look that blends with most residential doors rather than announcing itself as a gadget.

Because it is 100% keyless, there is no key to lose, copy, or leave under a mat. Codes are entered on the touchscreen, and the lock is built for households that want a fixed, reliable entry method without pairing a phone or maintaining an app.

That same design is its limit. There is no app, no remote access, and no way to let someone in from another city. Anyone who wants to check lock status or issue a temporary code from a phone will find the BE375 deliberately dumb. It is also a full hardware replacement, so buyers need to be comfortable removing the old deadbolt and fitting a new one.

Trade-off: The keyless design removes app control entirely, so remote entry and phone-based monitoring are simply not part of the package.

Check the current price on Amazon

August Home Wi-Fi Connected Smart Lock

Type: Retrofit smart lock
Connectivity: Wi-Fi connected
Entry Method: Smart keyless entry, existing keys retained
Install: Fits existing deadbolt in minutes
Finish: Silver
Model: AUG-SL05-M01-S01

The August Home lock is a retrofit, not a replacement. It mounts on the interior side of the door over the existing deadbolt thumb turn, so the outside of the door and the existing key cylinder stay exactly as they are. That makes it the friendlier option for renters, for doors with hardware that cannot be changed, and for anyone who wants to keep a physical key as a backup.

Wi-Fi is built in, which means the lock connects to the home network directly rather than relying on a separate bridge. App control, remote access, and keyless entry all run through that connection, and the existing deadbolt continues to work with its original keys.

The trade-off is dependence. A Wi-Fi lock is only as useful as the network and the app behind it, and a dead battery or a dropped connection turns a smart lock into a manual one until it is sorted. The retrofit form factor also adds bulk to the interior side of the door, which some buyers notice on tight door frames.

Trade-off: The lock leans on Wi-Fi and an app for its best features, so network outages and battery upkeep become part of ownership.

Check the current price on Amazon

Side-by-Side: What Actually Separates Them

Dimension	Schlage BE375	August Home Smart Lock
Installation	Replaces the deadbolt	Retrofit over existing deadbolt
Exterior hardware	Touchscreen keypad, no keyway	Unchanged, original keys still work
Phone app	None	Required for smart features
Connectivity	None	Wi-Fi built in
Remote access	Not available	Available through the app
Power	Electronic keypad lock	Battery-powered smart lock
Best for	Code-only households	App-first households and renters

The installation row is the first real fork. The Schlage changes the door’s hardware and gives the buyer a lock that is entirely self-contained. The August Home changes nothing on the outside and adds intelligence on the inside. A homeowner replacing worn hardware will find the Schlage cleaner; a renter who must restore the door at move-out will find the August Home far safer.

The control row is the second fork. Keypad entry is instant, shared verbally, and works for a dog walker or a cleaner without anyone installing anything. App control is more capable but adds steps: pairing, permissions, notifications, and a network that has to stay up. Neither is better in the abstract; they suit different temperaments.

Price tier matters less than it appears. The Schlage sits lower, but it includes the full deadbolt. The August Home costs more and assumes a working deadbolt already exists. Buyers replacing everything should compare the total, not the sticker.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Schlage BE375 if: the household wants entry by code and nothing else, the door needs new hardware anyway, and nobody wants to manage an app, a password, or a Wi-Fi connection. It suits a primary entrance, a rental property with a fixed code, or a home where the phone stays in a pocket at the door.

Choose the August Home smart lock if: the existing deadbolt should stay, the household is renting, or remote access and app-based entry are the whole point. It suits buyers who want to keep their keys as a backup and who are comfortable maintaining a connected device.

Buyers who want a lock that works during an internet outage should lean Schlage. Buyers who want to unlock a door for a guest from another state should lean August Home. There is no overlap in those two use cases, and that is the cleanest way to decide.

FAQ

1. Is the Schlage BE375 a smart lock?
   It is an electronic keypad deadbolt, not a connected smart lock. It has no app, no Wi-Fi, and no remote access, which is a feature for buyers who want simplicity and a limitation for buyers who want phone control.

2. Does the August Home lock replace the existing deadbolt?
   No. It retrofits over the existing deadbolt and keeps the original exterior hardware and keys, which is why it suits renters and doors that cannot be modified.

3. Which lock is easier to install?
   The August Home lock is designed to fit an existing deadbolt in minutes, so it involves less work. The Schlage replaces the deadbolt and requires standard deadbolt installation.

4. Can the Schlage BE375 be controlled from a phone?
   No. Entry is by touchscreen keypad only. Buyers who need app control, remote unlocking, or activity history should look at the August Home lock instead.

5. Does the August Home lock need Wi-Fi?
   Wi-Fi is built in, and the smart features depend on it. Without a working network, the lock falls back to the existing deadbolt and its keys.

6. Which is better for a rental?
   The August Home lock, because it leaves the door’s exterior hardware and keys untouched and can be removed at move-out. The Schlage is a permanent hardware change.

7. Do both locks keep a key backup?
   The August Home lock does, since the original deadbolt and keys stay in place. The Schlage BE375 is 100% keyless and has no keyway at all.

8. Which lock suits a household with frequent visitors?
   The Schlage, if visitors can be given a code. The August Home lock, if the household prefers issuing access through an app instead.

Bottom Line

The Schlage BE375 is the pick for buyers who want a self-contained keypad deadbolt with no app, no network, and no maintenance beyond the lock itself. The August Home lock is the pick for renters and app-first households that want to keep their existing keys and gain remote control. Decide whether the door needs new hardware or new intelligence, and the choice makes itself.