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Remote access lets a household use a lock through an internet connection while away from the door. Local Bluetooth control is a shorter-range connection between a phone and the lock. If the existing lock works locally but lacks remote access, the cheapest change may be a compatible bridge rather than a new deadbolt.
The October 2026 examples use August’s own US store and compatibility information. Other brands use different radios, hubs and accounts. A Wi-Fi bridge is not a universal adapter, and buying one does not establish that a particular old lock can be upgraded. Identify the installed model before comparing prices.
Key figures
- $79.99 August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, compatible lock required
- $199.99 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock retrofit replacement
- $139.99 Example: bridge and setup labor
A compatible bridge can cost less than a new lock
August’s product collection lists the Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for $79.99 and its Wi-Fi Smart Lock for $199.99. The bridge page describes remote control for a compatible August lock. The Wi-Fi model has the internet connection built into the lock rather than requiring a separate Connect purchase for that feature.
| Purchase route | Hardware price or input | What the figure covers |
|---|---|---|
| August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge | $79.99 | Bridge for a compatible existing lock |
| August Wi-Fi Smart Lock | $199.99 | Replacement retrofit lock with built-in Wi-Fi |
| Bridge plus assumed setup | $79.99 + $60 = $139.99 | Calculation using a hypothetical setup fee |
| New Wi-Fi lock plus published starting installation labor | $199.99 + $149 = $348.99 | Separate manufacturer and provider inputs, before any visit fee |
Source note: August’s own store and product information, and Rekey Republic’s San Diego installation-labor starting price, October 2026. The mixed-provider totals are budget calculations, not packaged offers; $60 is an assumption. Confirm hardware variant, tax, service call and extra work.
The hardware difference is $120. With the example setup and labor inputs, the difference is $209. A bridge can therefore remain the less expensive route even when setup has a charge, but only if it provides the required function on a lock worth keeping. A failing mechanism or incompatible door can erase the reason to retain the old equipment.
If the existing unit already offers working remote access, start with troubleshooting the network and account rather than purchasing another bridge. If remote access is not a household requirement, local operation may already solve the access task without the added hardware.
Radio and model compatibility determine the route
August’s third-generation Smart Lock product information lists Bluetooth operation and a Connect option for Wi-Fi access. Its requirements include a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. The product variants distinguish the lock purchase from the bridge bundle; confirm which item the cart includes rather than assuming the photograph supplies both.
Other brands follow different paths. Schlage explains that its Connect series does not use Wi-Fi directly. That does not make an August bridge the answer for a Schlage lock. The model’s supported hub or ecosystem determines remote access. Read the manufacturer’s information for the lock already on the door.
Record the model, generation and available radio connection. Also record the feature being purchased: remote locking, temporary guest access, status information or a supported integration. A bridge that provides internet control may not create every feature sold with a newer lock or a different platform.
The smart-lock purchase guide covers the broader choice of electronic hardware. Keep this upgrade focused on the extra function. A replacement can be justified by other improvements, but those should be named rather than hidden inside a remote-access budget.
Setup costs differ from mechanical installation
A plug-in bridge does not involve fitting a new bolt, but it still requires pairing, a supported home network and an owner account. If someone charges for setup, ask whether the fee includes connecting the bridge, demonstrating off-site control and explaining account recovery. Unboxing a bridge is not the same as leaving a working remote function.
Rekey Republic publishes smart-lock installation labor from $149, excluding the supplied lock. That is an installation service in San Diego County, not a nationwide charge for plugging in a bridge. Using it as a bridge-setup fee would overstate the task and misrepresent the provider’s price.
The provider also publishes a $49 visit fee. Ask whether it applies to the chosen smart-lock service. If it is added to the replacement example, the subtotal rises from $348.99 to $397.99 before tax and other work. The invoice should identify that treatment instead of leaving the customer to discover it after dispatch.
Separate door adjustment from account setup. An electronic lock should not have to overcome a binding bolt through repeated motor effort. A door problem remains a door problem after a bridge is added. The rekeying and lock-service comparison separates access work from retained hardware and repairs.
Remote access relies on the internet and the owner account
A remote command passes through the supported network and service. An internet outage can interrupt remote control even when the lock still has battery power. Conversely, backing up the router does not recharge batteries inside the lock. The manufacturer should explain which local functions remain available for the model involved.
Keep a fallback access method that the installed hardware supports. Do not assume a phone is always charged, that a remote guest can reach the app, or that a bridge remains powered during an outage. Establish those limits before using remote access for a household’s regular entry arrangement.
The FTC recommends strong passwords, device updates and protection for connected equipment. Use a household-controlled owner account, remove access that is no longer required, and retain recovery information. Temporary guests and installers should not become permanent account owners simply because they helped pair the equipment.
For a hypothetical optional service at $5 per month, the continuing expense is $60 per year or $180 over three years if the rate remains unchanged. That is a calculation example, not a claim that August charges that fee for basic remote access. Only add a recurring line when the chosen product or function requires it.
An off-site test confirms the feature purchased
Have the provider demonstrate remote access with the phone using a connection away from the home’s Wi-Fi, while someone remains safely able to access the door. A successful Bluetooth command beside the lock does not prove an internet command will work from elsewhere. Also confirm the displayed status and the supported guest function being purchased.
Have a damaged or binding lock and door assessed by the responsible lock professional. Remote connectivity does not repair the mechanical entrance or guarantee access during a network or equipment failure.
Retain the bridge and lock model numbers, supplied instructions and setup invoice. Ask which warranty applies to hardware and which return service covers pairing problems. Choose the bridge when the current lock works and the supported upgrade solves the access need; choose replacement when its additional functions or condition justify the larger installed total.
Questions people ask
How much is the August Connect bridge?
August lists it at $79.99 in its own product collection. Confirm availability, taxes and compatibility with the installed lock before ordering.
Does every August lock require that bridge?
No. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock has Wi-Fi built in. A bridge purchase depends on the model and generation rather than the brand name alone.
Can an August bridge make a Schlage Connect lock use Wi-Fi?
Do not assume cross-brand compatibility. Schlage Connect uses its supported ecosystem; consult the manufacturer's model information for the route to remote control.
Does Bluetooth operation prove remote access works?
No. Test the internet feature away from the home network, with a fallback way to enter and the account under household control.
Where these figures come from
- US product prices and Wi-Fi lock comparison August Home · august.com
- Connect Wi-Fi Bridge product information August Home · august.com
- Third-generation Smart Lock and Connect purchase options August Home · august.com
- Smart-lock installation labor and visit fees Rekey Republic · rekeyrepublic.com
- Schlage Connect and Wi-Fi Schlage · schlage-res.zendesk.com
- Securing connected devices at home Federal Trade Commission · consumer.ftc.gov
Figures last checked October 2026.
