The Chamberlain B970 is our top pick because it combines a steel-reinforced belt with new features like home automation. It’s not only powerful and simple to set up, but it’s also Wi-Fi compatible and comes with a free myQ automation app right out of the box. These smart features allow you to use your phone to open and close your garage, check its status, and even set up a schedule.
Other garage doors have these features, but they are optional or require additional time and money.
Your front door is protected by locks and doorbells, but many of us use our garage doors just as much. Here are the top smart garage door openers to keep them safe.
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How To Choose The Best Smart Garage Door Opener
If you don’t already have one, you can buy a garage door opener with smart home compatibility built in. If you have an older garage door opener, you can make it “smart” by purchasing a kit that allows you to connect it to the Internet and control it remotely via your smartphone.
Will It Work With My Garage Door Opener?
Before purchasing a smart garage door opener, ensure that it will work with your existing garage door. On the manufacturer’s website, you can usually find out which doors an opener is compatible with. The vast majority of smart garage door openers, however, will work with most garage door openers manufactured after 1993.
How Many Garage Doors Do You Want To Control?
Some smart garage door openers can only control one garage door, whereas others can control two or three. Check the product to ensure that it will control what you require.
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
The best smart garage door openers have Wi-Fi, while others connect to your phone via Bluetooth. We recommend Wi-Fi models because they allow you to remotely monitor your garage door; Bluetooth models will only work if you are within 20 feet of the garage.
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub
The newest version of Chamberlain’s MyQ Smart Garage Hub, available for $20 on Amazon, promises to add smarts to a wide range of garage door openers. With MyQ installed, you can check the status of your garage door and open or close it remotely using the MyQ app on your iOS or Android smartphone. The system is simple to install because there are no wires to connect to your existing door opener, but it does require bolting a bracket to your ceiling rather than the more common adhesive tape approach used by other manufacturers.
Furthermore, Chamberlain provides HomeKit compatibility that no other manufacturer in our testing did, though it does necessitate the MyQ Home Bridge adapter. Chamberlain’s MyQ system has the quality of a well-known garage brand and should be at the top of your list for high-quality garage smarts. Check out our review of the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub.
Alcidae Garager 2
The Garager 2 is a two-in-one camera and easy door control that is by far one of the more eye-catching and interesting garage devices we’ve tested. This surveillance camera attaches to the bottom of your garage door opener with a magnet and is controlled by the Alcidae smartphone app (Android and iOS). The camera features 1080p colour and night vision video, as well as two-way audio, which is excellent for a device that costs less than $50, though clip storage requires a $5 monthly subscription.
Tailwind iQ3
If you have an Android phone, the Tailwind iQ3 smart garage door opener can use your car’s Bluetooth connection to trigger your garage door to open and close automatically when you arrive or leave home. (iPhone users must use a separate dongle.) It’s clever and effective, but you can’t change the range at which it operates.
Installing the iQ3, like many other smart garage door openers, wasn’t as simple as we’d like, but once set up, it worked nearly flawlessly. Its simple app, notifications, and compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and IFTTT appealed to us. Versions that work with one, two, or three garage doors are also available.
GarageMate
GarageMate’s smart garage door opener is almost too simple. Unlike the other smart garage door openers we’ve reviewed, GarageMate connects to your phone via Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi. This means you can’t check on its status or use it when you’re not at home. That’s unfortunate, which is why it ranks lower on our list of the best smart garage door openers.
The GarageMate smart garage door opener is also incompatible with other smart home systems. However, you can use Siri or Google Assistant on your smartphone to voice launch the app and automatically open the door. For added security, use GarageMat’s Activity Log to track who opens your garage door.
Nexx NXG-200
The Nexx NXG-200 is a small, straightforward opener that does the job well. It is wired, but it comes with pre-stripped wires that are easy to connect to your motor or wired garage button—they are, however, a little short, so make sure you have an outlet nearby for the hub. The app is also straightforward, and anyone with even a smidgeon of smart home experience will find the entire setup process simple. It also works with Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and SmartThings, making it a well-rounded set of smart home services.
Genie ALKT1-R Aladdin Connect
The Genie ALKT1-R Aladdin Connect(opens in a new tab) controller allows you to monitor, open, and close your garage door with a smart device from anywhere. It is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Voice control is also an option.
You can program your garage door to close after a certain amount of time. You can also use Aladdin Connect to generate virtual keys for friends, neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. You may supply up to 19 virtual keys. This intelligent garage door opener is ideal for AirBnB owners.
