Remote garage door openers have been handy for decades, but that bulky black box you’ve got clipped to your car’s sun visor is about to get an upgrade. Enter: the smart garage door opener, an integral component of a smart home. Alongside a smart doorbell and a smart security camera, a smart garage door opener is a convenient gadget that makes life easier and your home more secure.
What to Look for When Buying a Smart Garage Door Opener
A smart garage door opener is a simple way to give your garage door a tune-up, but there are a few factors to consider to find the right one for your home.
Compatibility
Most smart garage door openers take the form of a hub that connect to apps and your other smart home hubs. However, compatibility between these is far from universal. Make sure that the smart garage hub you’re buying is compatible with your non-smart opener. If your garage door opener is too old, you may need to replace the entire mechanism with a new one in order to use a smart opener.
Features
Do you want wired or wireless sensors? Many of the latest smart garage door openers allow you to place wireless sensors that run off of batteries, much like wireless security cameras. However, they’re less reliable than wired units and can be prone to interference.
How We Chose the Best Smart Garage Door Openers
When considering smart garage door openers, we looked for products with a positive reputation and a large sample size of consumer and professional reviews. Once we narrowed down our selection, we focused on four major points: price, reliability, compatibility and ease of installation. After analyzing each product, we picked the best for each of the categories below.
Best Overall Smart Garage Door Opener
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub and Sensor myQ-G0401-ES
The Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub connects to most garage doors with its smart garage hub, and couldn’t be easier to set up. Simply plug it into a wall outlet or smart plug and place the sensor properly. After that, just pair it with the app and you’re good to go. Not only does it set up in minutes, it works like a charm.
Five-star Amazon reviewer John says, “I’d been looking for a functional and secure remote operator for my Genie garage doors openers for several years. I didn’t want to replace the openers and I didn’t want to pay $200+ dollars for a wireless solution. This unit works perfectly and is secure, with more features than I’ll use. It tells you in real time if the doors are open or closed. No more ‘Did I close the doors before I left?’ worries.” Read our full Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub review.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Doesn’t require additional wiring
- Works with Apple HomeKit
- Compatible with Amazon Key for in-garage Amazon deliveries
Cons
- Not compatible with Alexa
- No geofencing for automatic door opening on approach
Best Budget Smart Garage Door Opener
Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener Remote
The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener Remote is a quality budget model that gives the reliability of a wired connection. It’s got settings that allow you to schedule when your garage door opens and closes, as well as an auto-close feature that activates after the door has been open for a set amount of time. The Meross is also compatible with Google and Alexa voice assistants for easy, hands-free use. For the money, it’s one of the best outdoor smart home devices you can buy.
Pros
- Excellent budget model
- Can operate two garage doors
Cons
- Some reviewers find installation challenging
- Not compatible with Apple HomeKit
Best Smart Garage Door Opener for Alexa Users
Nexx Smart Wi-Fi Controller NXG-200
If having voice assistant smart home devices is a must for you, the Nexx Smart Wi-Fi Controller NXG-200 is your smart garage door opener match. With both Alexa and SmartThings support, it also includes geofencing, which opens the garage door automatically when you’re within a certain distance of your home. Additionally, this smart garage door opener uses a wireless sensor system, making it significantly easier to install than previous models.
Pros
- Compatible with Alexa and SmartThings
- Excellent geofencing
- Wireless sensor makes for an easy install
Cons
- Pricier than comparable models
Best Full Replacement Smart Garage Door Opener
Chamberlain B6753T Smart Garage Door Opener
If your existing equipment is too old, you might not be able to install a smart garage door opener without replacing the whole thing. If that’s the case, choose the Chamberlain B6753T, which includes the opener assembly and a built-in MyQ hub. The B6753T has some excellent features that make it more than just a motor with a smart garage hub. It includes a 2,000-lumen light and camera that activates via motion detection and records any happenings in your garage.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Built-in MyQ hub
- Includes a light and camera
Cons
- Camera recordings require a subscription
- No Alexa integration
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