Yale Assure Lock 2 vs Schlage Encode Plus: Which Smart Deadbolt to Buy?

Adding a keyless deadbolt to the front door is one of the most useful smart home upgrades, and the Schlage Encode Plus and Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi are the two Apple Home Key locks most homeowners end up choosing between. Both have a touchscreen keypad, both run on four AA batteries, both connect to Wi-Fi, and both let an iPhone or Apple Watch unlock the door with a tap. They split on security grade, physical key backup, how they talk to Apple Home, door sensing, and price. Everything below comes from Schlage and Yale spec pages and support articles, current Amazon US listings, and published reviews and owner reports summarized in our own words.

Quick verdict

Most homeowners should buy the Schlage Encode Plus. It carries the strongest deadbolt rating of the pair, keeps a keyed cylinder for the day the batteries die, and can run over Thread in an Apple Home with a HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K, which Schlage and reviewers tie to much longer battery life than Wi-Fi.

Buy the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi if you want a smaller, cleaner exterior, a door position sensor that makes auto-lock smarter, a door up to 2-1/4 inches thick, or a lower price, and you are comfortable with a key-free lock that relies on a 9V battery terminal as its emergency backup.

Which Yale model this page compares

Yale's Assure Lock 2 line has several versions: the standard Assure Lock 2 (keyed or key-free, push-button or touchscreen), the Assure Lock 2 Touch with a fingerprint reader, and the Assure Lock 2 Plus with Apple Home Key. Each comes in Bluetooth-only or Wi-Fi versions, and some accept plug-in modules. This page compares the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi (model YRD450-N-WF1-619, Satin Nickel), the Home Key model with the Wi-Fi module installed, because it is the closest match to the Schlage. Against the Schlage we use the Encode Plus with Century trim in Matte Black (BE499WB CEN 622).

Ecosystem fit: Apple Home Key, HomeKit, Google, Alexa, Matter

Winner: Schlage for Apple homes, tie for Google and Alexa.

Both locks support Apple Home Key, so a tap of an iPhone XS or later (iOS 15+) or Apple Watch Series 4 or later unlocks the door. With Express Mode on, you do not need to wake the phone, and Power Reserve keeps Home Key working for a few hours after the iPhone battery runs flat. Sharing Home Keys with other people and remote control through the Apple Home app need a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV set up as a home hub.

The difference is the radio each lock uses to reach Apple Home:

• Schlage Encode Plus has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a Thread radio for HomeKit over Thread. The Verge's review notes that with a Thread-capable home hub (HomePod mini or second-generation Apple TV 4K or newer), the lock connects over Thread; otherwise it falls back to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
• Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus talks to HomeKit over Bluetooth, per Yale's support FAQ. Its Wi-Fi module adds remote access through the Yale Access app and opens up Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Philips Hue, and Airbnb integrations. Yale notes that Bluetooth-only Plus models work with Apple Home only.

For Google Home and Alexa, both locks work through their own apps over Wi-Fi rather than natively. Matter: Schlage's support site says the Encode Plus is not a Matter-enabled device (updated June 2025), even though it has a Thread radio. Yale's Matter module currently works only with the Assure Lock SL, and the Assure Lock 2 Plus accepts only the Yale Wi-Fi Smart Module. Firmware and module support can change, so treat this as the status as of October 2026 and check each maker's support page before buying for Matter.

If you are building a broader smart home, our guide to building a Home Assistant hub on a Raspberry Pi covers a local hub that can sit alongside either lock's cloud integrations.

Keypad style and access codes

Winner: Yale on code flexibility, Schlage on the classic look.

The Schlage has a backlit, fingerprint-resistant touchscreen inside a taller Century or Camelot trim, with a capacity of 100 access codes and schedules managed in the Schlage Home app. The Yale has a smaller matte touchscreen designed to resist glare and fingerprints, and Yale advertises unlimited entry codes that can be permanent, scheduled, or set to expire, managed in the Yale Access app. Both apps keep an activity history. For most families, 100 codes is more than enough, so this axis mostly comes down to whether you prefer Schlage's larger traditional trim or Yale's compact rectangle.

Battery type and claimed life

Winner: Schlage, if you set it up on Thread.

Both use four AA alkaline batteries. Schlage rates the Encode Plus at up to six months with typical use, and its support site lists six months as the expected baseline across the Encode series. Schlage told The Verge at launch that running the lock on Wi-Fi with both the Schlage app and HomeKit drops that to about four to five months, while a HomeKit-only setup on Thread stretches it to about a year. Owner reports on Reddit line up with that, with several Thread users reporting 12 to 16 months between battery swaps after adding the lock through the Apple Home app instead of the Schlage app.

Yale told How-To Geek it expects about nine months on Bluetooth only and about three to six months with the Wi-Fi module. Amazon owner reviews of the Wi-Fi version include complaints about short battery life. Wi-Fi drains batteries faster on both locks, so Apple users who want long battery life should lean toward the Schlage on Thread.

Security ratings and physical key backup

Winner: Schlage.

Schlage's spec sheet lists ANSI/BHMA A156.36 Commercial Grade 1 for the deadbolt and a Residential AAA rating under A156.40, which is the top tier for security, durability, and finish. It also has a built-in alarm with selectable sensitivity for door activity and forced-entry attempts. It keeps a 5-pin C keyway cylinder, but Schlage includes only one key, so plan on cutting a spare.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus is ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 certified and IPX5 rated for weather. It is key-free: there is no key cylinder on any Assure Lock 2 Plus. If the batteries fully die, Yale's manual says to hold a 9V battery against the contacts on the bottom of the exterior keypad and enter your code. That works, but it means keeping a 9V battery somewhere you can reach from outside, or relying on another entry door.

Install on an existing door

Winner: tie, with Yale ahead on thick doors.

Both locks are battery powered with no wiring and replace a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Both fit a 2-1/8 inch face bore (1-1/2 inch also supported), a 1 inch edge bore, and a 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inch backset. Schlage says the Encode Plus installs in minutes with just a screwdriver, and its Snap 'n Stay design holds the exterior in place while you work. Yale's install guide includes a door checker and marking templates.

Door thickness is the real difference. Schlage lists 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inch doors, with a separate thick door kit for 1-7/8 to 2-1/2 inches. Yale lists 1-3/8 to 2-1/4 inch doors on its spec page without extra parts. Measure your door, and confirm the existing deadbolt bolt throws smoothly without lifting or pushing the door; a binding bolt shortens battery life on any motorized lock.

App features, auto-lock, and door sense

Winner: Yale.

Yale includes DoorSense, a small sensor that knows whether the door is actually closed, so Auto-Lock can lock it after the door shuts rather than on a blind timer. The Yale Access app also offers Auto-Unlock based on your phone's location. Schlage's Encode Plus offers customizable auto-lock timing and one-touch locking, but Schlage does not list a door position sensor for it. Both apps send lock activity notifications, and neither maker lists a subscription for core lock features.

Owner feedback is mixed on both. Amazon's review summaries mention Wi-Fi drops and HomeKit hiccups for some Schlage owners, and unreliable Wi-Fi connection and auto-lock issues for some Yale Wi-Fi owners. A strong 2.4 GHz signal at the front door helps either lock; our Powerline vs MoCA vs Mesh guide and What Is Mesh WiFi? explainer cover how to fix weak spots. Yale now lists 5 GHz support for Assure Lock 2 models with a Wi-Fi module, while the Schlage needs a 2.4 GHz network.

Finishes and looks

Winner: tie.

Schlage offers the Encode Plus in Century (square) and Camelot (curved) trims, in Matte Black, Satin Nickel, Aged Bronze, and Bright Chrome on Amazon US. The exterior is about 3 by 5 inches. The Yale comes in Satin Nickel, Black Suede, and Oil Rubbed Bronze, with a slimmer keypad that suits modern doors. Pick the one that matches your handle set.

Price and who should buy which

Winner: Yale on price, Schlage on value.

At current Amazon US listings, the Schlage Encode Plus in Matte Black sits around $329 and the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi in Satin Nickel around $290, with Yale's own store listing it at $309.99. Schlage backs the Encode Plus with a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty and a limited three-year electronics warranty.

Schlage Encode Plus strengths and tradeoffs

Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi strengths and tradeoffs

Buy the Schlage Encode Plus if you want the toughest deadbolt rating, a key backup, and the longest battery life in an Apple Home with a Thread hub.

Buy the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi if you want smart auto-lock with door sensing, a slimmer look, a thicker door fit, or a lower price, and you are fine going key-free.

Skip both if Matter support is a must right now, or if you are on Android with no Apple devices, since Home Key is the main reason to pay for either Plus model.

Bottom line

The Schlage Encode Plus is the better smart deadbolt for most front doors: Grade 1 security, a real key backup, and Thread for Apple households that want fewer battery swaps. The Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Wi-Fi is the smarter-feeling lock day to day, thanks to DoorSense and Auto-Unlock, and it costs less, but it gives up the key cylinder and the top security grade. View on Amazon to compare current finishes before you order, and if your front door sits at the edge of your Wi-Fi, start with our First-Time Home Wi-Fi Upgrade Kit.