Yale Access vs Design Manager
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Yale Access
Control and secure your home with smart lock technology. Manage access for family and guests, receive activity alerts, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your property is protected. This app is compatible with specific Yale and August smart lock models in the US and Canada.
- Smart lock control
- Home security management
- Access for family and guests
- Activity alerts
- Peace of mind
- Compatible with Yale and August locks
Read full descriptionHide full description
Yale locks using the Yale Access app are supported exclusively in the United States and Canada. Yale Access offers you everyday convenience and trusted security for your entire home through smart security solutions and the Yale Access app. We’re here to help you protect the things that matter the most. Peace of mind is only a tap away. This app is for products available in the U.S. and Canada only. Compatible products include: Yale Assure Locks - Yale Assure Lock with Wi-Fi (YRD2x6-WF1 , YRD2x6-CBA , YRD6x6-WF1 and YRD6x6-CBA) - Yale Assure Lever with Wi-Fi (YRL2x6-WF1 and YRL2x6-CBA) - Yale Assure Lock 2 - All Models (YRD4x0) - Yale Assure Lock for Andersen Doors with Wi-Fi Yale Smart Cabinet Lock Yale Smart Safe Yale Smart Delivery Box August Smart Locks August Smart Keypads Emtek EMPowered Smart Lock
Design Manager
This app provides interior designers with mobile tools for project management and accounting. It allows users to create clients, projects, and vendors, capture item details, record time, and view project galleries while on the go. It connects with the Design Manager Pro Cloud for seamless business management.
- Create clients, projects, vendors, and employees
- Capture item pictures and specifications
- Record time spent on projects
- View project item gallery and proposal items
- Lookup contact information
- Connects with Design Manager Pro Cloud
Read full descriptionHide full description
Design Manager’s mission is to give interior designers the best tools and services in the world. Since 1984, we have been dedicated to serving the design community. We deliver project management and accounting software that saves time, money, and frustration, while eliminating countless hours of paperwork. The Design Manager mobile app helps you manage your interior design business while on the go. Features include: Create Clients, Projects, Vendors & Employees Capture Item Pictures & Specifications Record your Time View your Project Item Gallery and Proposal Items Lookup Contact information The Design Manager app helps you work faster by connecting your Design Manager Pro Cloud with your Apple device. Less frustration + less paperwork = happy designers. *App users are required to have a Design Manager Pro Cloud user account.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Design Manager at 100% against Yale Access's 41%. Design Manager also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Yale Access's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (75K vs 6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Yale Access holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yale Access has 75K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Yale Access's written reviews are positive against 100% of Design Manager's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Yale Access ships an update fortnightly, Design Manager every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Yale Access | Design Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (75K ratings) — better | 4.2 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 41.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 75K — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6.1 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 305 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | August Home, Inc. | Franklin-Potter Associates, Inc. |
Customer experience
Yale Access
Design Manager
Bugs and requests
Yale Access
Reported bugs
5 issues- App shows incorrect lock status
- Issues with adding/deleting users
- Connectivity problems between lock and app
- Firmware updates causing functionality issues
- Incompatibility with certain devices/networks
Requested features
5 requests- Add battery level indicator
- Allow users to remove themselves as guests
- Improve auto-lock/unlock functionality
- Provide better integration with smart home platforms
- Enhance app UI and UX
Design Manager
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Yale Access
No in-app purchases
Design Manager
No in-app purchases
