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Schlage sells two nearly-identical Wi-Fi deadbolts under the Encode name, and the entire buying decision comes down to one question: do you use an iPhone? The Encode Plus adds Apple Home Key — tap-to-unlock with your iPhone or Apple Watch, the same NFC tech behind Apple Pay — on top of a deadbolt that’s otherwise mechanically the same lock Schlage has sold for years. If you’re on Android, most of what makes the Plus worth the upgrade disappears.
Pricing: expect to see two different numbers
MSRP for the Encode Plus has been listed anywhere from $299.99 to $329 depending on the retailer and finish (Satin Nickel, Matte Black, and Aged Bronze all price slightly differently, and the Century vs. Camelot trim style adds another variable). The standard Encode without Home Key runs $259.99-$299. In practice, street price on Amazon typically lands $20-30 below whatever the current MSRP is, so check the live price before buying rather than trusting either number here — Schlage adjusts pricing by finish and channel more often than most lock brands.
What Home Key actually does
Once set up, you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the lock’s keypad and it unlocks — no app, no unlock, no passcode required in the default “Express Mode.” If you want a security step, you can require Face ID or a passcode before it’ll open, which is the smarter setting for a front door. Anyone in your Apple Home family group gets a digital key automatically pushed to their Apple Wallet, so you’re not manually provisioning access for a spouse or a teenager the way you would with a traditional keypad code. Reviewers who’ve tested it describe setup as genuinely fast — under 10 minutes, including the HomeKit pairing step, which is triggered just by tapping your phone to the lock’s NFC chip.
Everything else is the same lock
Take away the NFC chip and the two locks are close to identical: both run on 4 AA batteries rated for 6-12 months, both have a backlit keypad, both offer remote access and scheduling through the Schlage Home app, and both carry Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA physical durability certification (250,000 cycle testing, pick and forced-entry resistance). The Plus additionally carries a Grade AAA rating under the ANSI/BHMA A156.40 standard specifically for electronic lock security — a separate certification track from the physical Grade 1 rating that covers things like keypad/wireless attack resistance. The Plus also adds Bluetooth alongside Wi-Fi, so certain local functions keep working through an internet or Wi-Fi outage, whereas the base Encode depends on a stable Wi-Fi connection for its smart features.
Check Schlage Encode Plus price on Amazon
Ecosystem support: this is the actual dividing line
The base Encode works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant but has no native Apple HomeKit support at all. The Encode Plus works with all three — Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit/Siri — plus Home Key. That asymmetry, not the NFC chip alone, is why an iPhone household should skip straight to the Plus: buying the cheaper Encode as an Apple user means giving up HomeKit entirely, not just Home Key.
Real-world performance
Testers running the Plus on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi report the connection working reliably from first setup, with quick response times to app-based lock/unlock commands. One long-term reviewer who swapped from a Nest x Yale lock described the Encode Plus’s deadbolt motor as noticeably quieter in operation. Auto-unlock (which triggers as you approach the house, roughly within 100 feet) worked consistently in testing, though like any geofencing feature it depends on your phone’s location accuracy and can occasionally lag by a few seconds.
Guest access without handing out your Home Key
Not every visitor is going to add themselves to your Apple Home family group, and the Encode Plus doesn’t force you to choose one access method. You can still generate standalone keypad codes for a dog walker, cleaner, or short-term guest through the Schlage Home app, set them to expire on a schedule (one-time, recurring, or a fixed date range), and get a notification whenever any code is used. That activity log is the same across both Encode models — it’s Home Key that’s Plus-exclusive, not the scheduled-access or logging features, so a family member on Android isn’t locked out of smart functionality, just out of the tap-to-unlock convenience.
Installation, finishes, and what’s in the box
Both Encode models install the same way: you swap out your existing deadbolt hardware entirely, keeping your existing door prep (standard 2-1/8″ bore, 1″ or 2-3/4″ backset are both supported with the included adapter). The box includes the exterior keypad assembly, interior thumb-turn assembly with the Home Key antenna, four AA batteries, and the mounting screws — no separate hub or bridge is needed for any of the smart features. Finish options are Matte Black, Satin Nickel, and Aged Bronze, offered across two trim styles (Century and Camelot); price varies by roughly $20-30 across finishes even at the same trim, so if the finish you want looks expensive, check the other trim style before assuming you have to pay the higher price.
The honest downside
The $30-40 premium for Home Key buys you exactly one new hardware capability — everything else is a software/ecosystem difference, not a mechanical upgrade. If you’re an Android household, or an iPhone user who’s fine unlocking through the Schlage app or a keypad code, the base Encode is the better value and you won’t miss anything you’d actually use day-to-day. Neither lock has a camera or video component, so don’t confuse this with a video doorbell purchase — it’s a deadbolt replacement, full stop.
Verdict
Buy the Encode Plus if anyone in the household carries an iPhone and you want either tap-to-unlock convenience or native HomeKit/Siri support — the ecosystem gap between the two locks is bigger than the spec sheet makes it look. Buy the standard Encode if your household is Android-only or Alexa/Google-centric, since you’d be paying extra for a feature tied to hardware you don’t own. Either way, you’re getting a Grade 1-certified deadbolt with real remote access and code management, not just a gadget bolted onto a lock.
Comparison table
| Model | Approx. price | Home Key (Apple) | HomeKit | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Security certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schlage Encode Plus | $299.99-$329 | Yes | Yes | Both | Grade 1 + Grade AAA (A156.40) |
| Schlage Encode | $259.99-$299 | No | No | Wi-Fi only | Grade 1 |
| August Wi-Fi Smart Lock | ~$230 | No | Via separate Home Hub | Bluetooth + Wi-Fi hub | Retrofit, no ANSI grade published |
FAQ
Do I need an existing deadbolt to install the Encode Plus? It replaces your entire deadbolt, not just the thumb-turn — you’ll remove your existing deadbolt hardware and install the Schlage unit in its place, which is a same-footprint swap on most standard doors.
Will Home Key still work if my phone battery dies? Yes — Apple Home Key uses reserve power that keeps NFC unlock functional for up to several hours after your iPhone shows 0%, though this isn’t unlimited, so don’t rely on it as a permanent backup.
Does the Encode Plus need a separate smart home hub? No — it connects directly over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, unlike hub-dependent locks such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which needs its Home Hub accessory for full remote/HomeKit features.
Is the Grade AAA rating the same as the Grade 1 rating on the box? No — they’re two different standards. Grade 1 (ANSI/BHMA A156.36) measures mechanical durability and forced-entry resistance; Grade AAA (A156.40) is a newer standard specific to electronic locks that also tests wireless/keypad attack resistance. The Encode Plus carries both; the base Encode carries only the mechanical Grade 1 rating.