Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock vs Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock: Which Keyless Deadbolt Fits the Door

Two Schlage keyless deadbolts that look nearly identical on a product page, split by one feature: the Encode Plus adds tap-to-unlock with Apple watch and Apple Home support, while the standard Encode covers the same keypad, app and voice basics for less. This comparison covers the build, the smart-home fit, the finishes and the price tiers so the reader can pick a deadbolt in one pass. The short version sits in the overview table below; the long version follows.

The Picks at a Glance

Product	Key Spec	Best Use	Price Tier
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim	Touchscreen keypad, WiFi, Alexa, Google Home, Ring	Mixed smart-home households and rental hosts	Mid
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock	Tap to Unlock, Apple Home, Apple watch unlock	Apple-first homes that want hands-free entry	Premium

The Encode is the practical default: it covers the major voice assistants, works with Ring, and stays friendly to Airbnb-style guest turnover. The Encode Plus is the same deadbolt with Apple’s home ecosystem treated as a first-class citizen. Both are certified security deadbolts from Schlage, so the decision is about ecosystem and finish rather than about core locking hardware.

Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim

Type: Keyless entry deadbolt
Entry method: Touchscreen keypad plus app control
Connectivity: Built-in WiFi
Voice and platform support: Alexa, Google Home, Ring, Airbnb
Trim: Century
Finish: Matte Black

The Encode carries its WiFi radio inside the lock itself, so it joins a home network without a separate bridge or hub. That matters for buyers who do not want another box plugged in near the router. The touchscreen keypad handles code entry, and the app handles remote locking, code management and guest access, which is why the Airbnb compatibility appears in the name.

The Century trim is a squared, clean profile that suits modern doors, and the matte black finish reads as a deliberate design choice rather than a default. Buyers who want a deadbolt that blends into a contemporary entry will find the look easy to live with. Voice control through Alexa and Google Home covers the everyday commands, and Ring integration adds the door to an existing camera-and-alarm setup.

Trade-off: The matte black finish shows fingerprints and road dust more readily than lighter or satin finishes, so a high-traffic front door will need occasional wiping to keep the keypad looking clean.

Check the current price on Amazon

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock

Type: Keyless entry deadbolt
Entry method: Touchscreen keypad, app control, tap to unlock
Connectivity: Built-in WiFi
Platform support: Apple Home, Apple watch unlock, Alexa, Airbnb
Special feature: Tap to Unlock
Finish: Aged Bronze

The Encode Plus keeps the touchscreen keypad and the built-in WiFi of the standard model, then adds tap-to-unlock. A compatible Apple device — an iPhone or an Apple watch — unlocks the door with a tap rather than a code, which is the difference buyers notice most on a grocery run with full hands. Apple Home support puts the deadbolt into the Home app alongside lights and thermostats.

The aged bronze finish is the other visible split. It carries a warmer, traditional tone that suits older homes, wood doors and hardware that is not black. Buyers replacing a brass or bronze deadbolt on a period property will find it a closer visual match than matte black.

Trade-off: The tap-to-unlock convenience is tied to Apple hardware, so an Android household pays the premium for a feature it cannot use — and the aged bronze finish is a stronger style commitment than a neutral color.

Check the current price on Amazon

Side-by-Side Specs

Attribute	Schlage Encode	Schlage Encode Plus
ASIN	B07HXMLCBT	B09RS3W7M5
Entry methods	Touchscreen keypad, app	Touchscreen keypad, app, tap to unlock
WiFi	Built-in	Built-in
Apple Home	Not listed	Yes
Apple watch unlock	Not listed	Yes
Alexa	Yes	Yes
Google Home	Yes	Not listed
Ring	Yes	Not listed
Airbnb compatible	Yes	Yes
Trim / style	Century	Not listed
Finish	Matte Black	Aged Bronze
Price tier	Mid	Premium

How the Two Deadbolts Differ

The first real split is ecosystem. The Encode is built for the broad middle: Alexa, Google Home and Ring all appear in its name, so it slots into a mixed household where different people use different assistants. The Encode Plus leans Apple — Apple Home and Apple watch unlock are its headline features, and Google Home and Ring do not appear in its listing. A buyer who runs a Google speaker in the kitchen and a Ring doorbell on the porch gets more from the standard Encode.

The second split is how the door opens. Both models take a code on a touchscreen and both can be controlled from a phone. The Encode Plus adds tap-to-unlock, which removes the pause at the keypad entirely for anyone carrying an Apple watch or iPhone. That is a genuine daily-life improvement for some buyers and an unused premium for others.

The third split is finish and trim. The Encode ships in Century trim with a matte black finish — a squared, modern look. The Encode Plus arrives in aged bronze, a warmer tone that pairs better with traditional doors and older hardware. Buyers who care about matching existing fixtures should weigh this as heavily as the smart features, because the lock is on the front of the house.

The fourth split is price tier. The Encode sits in the mid tier and the Encode Plus in the premium tier, which is consistent with the extra Apple functionality. Neither is a budget deadbolt; both are certified security locks from an established brand. The premium buys the tap feature and the finish, not a stronger lock body.

On the shared ground, both models carry built-in WiFi, both take keypad codes, both work with the Schlage app, and both list Airbnb compatibility — a signal that guest access and code scheduling are part of the design. Buyers running a short-term rental will find either model workable, with the standard Encode the safer bet if guests arrive with Android phones.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Schlage Encode if the household runs Alexa, Google Home or Ring, if guests or family members use a mix of phones, or if a matte black Century trim suits the door. It is the lower-cost way into a WiFi deadbolt with keypad and app control, and it gives up nothing on the locking hardware.

Choose the Schlage Encode Plus if the household is Apple-first, if an Apple watch is already on the wrist, and if hands-free tap entry is worth the premium. The aged bronze finish is a bonus for traditional doors, but the tap feature is the reason to pay more.

Buyers who want the broadest assistant support and the lower price tier should take the standard Encode. Buyers who want the door to open with a tap and live inside Apple Home should take the Encode Plus.

FAQ

1. What is the main difference between the Schlage Encode and the Encode Plus?
   The Encode Plus adds tap-to-unlock with Apple watch and Apple Home support plus an aged bronze finish. The standard Encode covers touchscreen keypad, app control, WiFi, Alexa, Google Home and Ring in matte black Century trim.

2. Does the standard Schlage Encode work with Apple Home?
   Apple Home is not listed among its supported platforms. Buyers who need Apple Home should choose the Encode Plus, which names Apple Home and Apple watch unlock directly.

3. Do both locks need a separate hub for WiFi?
   Both product names state built-in smart WiFi, so neither depends on a separate bridge for network connectivity. That keeps the installation to the door itself.

4. Which model suits an Airbnb or rental property?
   Both list Airbnb compatibility. The standard Encode is the more flexible choice when guests carry a mix of Android and Apple phones, since it covers Alexa, Google Home and Ring.

5. Is the Encode Plus worth the higher price tier?
   It is worth it for Apple households that will actually use tap-to-unlock. Buyers on Android or Google-based setups pay for a feature they cannot use and should take the standard Encode instead.

6. Which finish is better for an older home?
   Aged bronze on the Encode Plus matches traditional doors and warm hardware more closely. Matte black on the Encode suits modern, squared entries.

7. Do both deadbolts have a touchscreen keypad?
   Yes. Both names list a touchscreen keypad, so code entry is available on either model regardless of the smart features chosen.

8. Can both be controlled from a phone?
   Both list app control as part of the package, alongside the keypad. The Encode Plus adds tap-to-unlock on top of the app for Apple devices.

Bottom Line

The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock is the pick for most doors: it covers Alexa, Google Home and Ring, keeps the lower price tier, and gives up nothing on the lock itself. The Encode Plus is the right upgrade only for Apple-first homes that will use tap-to-unlock every day.