The Critical Difference
August smart locks are designed for American deadbolts — the type of lock where you turn a thumb turn that moves a bolt into the door frame. This is the standard lock type in North American homes.
European homes overwhelmingly use euro-profile cylinders: a keyhole-based system where you insert a key and turn the cylinder to engage a multi-point locking mechanism. Dutch, German, Austrian, Belgian, French, and most other European doors use this system.
August does not fit on euro-profile cylinders. Period. It's not a compatibility issue you can work around with an adapter. The lock mechanism is fundamentally different. August mounts over a deadbolt thumb turn; euro-profile doors don't have one.
This isn't a minor detail — it's the entire story. If you have a standard European door, August is not an option.
Can You Use August in Europe?
In rare cases, yes. Some older European buildings (particularly in the UK, Ireland, and some Scandinavian countries) use deadbolt-style locks. A small number of European doors have been retrofitted with American-style deadbolts. If you happen to have one of these, August works fine.
But in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and most of Central and Eastern Europe? No. Your door has a euro-profile cylinder, and August won't fit.
If you're unsure, look at your front door. If you see a narrow keyhole (about 8mm wide) with a key that has grooves on both sides, you have a euro-profile cylinder. If you see a wider thumb turn on the inside with a separate deadbolt keyhole, you might have a deadbolt — but this is extremely uncommon in continental Europe.
Feature Comparison
For the sake of completeness — and for the few European readers who do have compatible doors — here's how the locks compare on features.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, ~€210): WiFi and Bluetooth built in, auto-lock, auto-unlock via DoorSense, works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home (via HomeKit bridge or Matter on newer models), Amazon Key integration for in-home deliveries. Battery: CR123 lithium cells, roughly 6 months.
Nuki Smart Lock Pro (€269): WiFi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter built in, auto-lock, auto-unlock via GPS/Bluetooth geofencing, works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home natively. Rechargeable battery, ~12 months. No subscription required.
On paper, both are capable smart locks. August's Amazon Key integration is unique and valuable for US users. Nuki's Thread support and rechargeable battery are advantages on the European side. August has a slightly smaller form factor. Nuki has significantly better battery life.
Why Nuki Is the Choice for European Homes
Beyond the deadbolt compatibility issue, Nuki was built for the European market from the ground up. The company is Austrian. The lock is designed around euro-profile cylinders. The app supports European languages. Customer support operates in European time zones. The servers are in Europe (GDPR compliant). The Matter/Thread implementation follows European smart home adoption patterns.
August, by contrast, is an American product that happens to be available internationally. Their support infrastructure, product development, and feature roadmap are all US-focused. Even if your door were compatible, you'd be using a product designed for a different market.
Nuki also doesn't require any subscription for full functionality — something August has experimented with in various forms over the years. Remote access, guest management, activity logs — all free with Nuki, forever.
Verdict
If you live in continental Europe, this comparison has a one-line answer: get the Nuki. August physically cannot fit on your door.
If you're one of the rare European residents with a deadbolt-style door, August is a solid lock at a lower price point. It's well-made, well-supported in the US ecosystem, and has a proven track record. But even then, Nuki's better battery life, Matter/Thread support, and European-focused development make it the more logical choice for a European home.
August is an excellent lock — for American doors. For Europe, Nuki exists for a reason.