What Is a Smart Garage Door Opener?
A smart garage door opener (also called a Wi-Fi garage opener) works just like a conventional garage opener except it can connect to the internet and be paired with your smart home. This way, you can control it via voice commands from your mobile device or your smart home control hub. It has various advanced features depending on the brand and model. Some of them can send you reminders that you’ve left your garage door open; they can even notify you whenever it opens or closes. There are different types of smart garage kits. Some are universal—which means you can install them to your existing garage door opener—while others require a total replacement of your entire garage door system. We’ve included both in the list below.
12 Best Smart Garage Door Openers for Your Home
We have arranged this list starting from our top three picks: the first one being our best choice, the second is our premium pick, and the third offers the best value at an affordable price. The rest of the items are in no particular order.
How Does a Smart Garage Door Opener Work?
Smart garage systems work by linking to your existing garage door opener and then connecting to your smart home environment. This is how you are able to control your garage door using voice commands and mobile apps. However, there are systems that may have their own hub. Most of them also use a service called IFTTT (If this, then that). It’s a type of programming that tells your garage system that if this particular scenario happens, then it performs the programmed action. Another great feature of the Chamberlain myQ opener is its “in-delivery with key.” It allows delivery service personnel to access your garage securely using a one-time passkey. This way, you can avoid package theft. This is a universal type garage door opener which means it works with all major brands of garage openers. It lets you control up to two garage doors. A notable additional feature of this model is its battery backup. This ensures that your smart garage system will continue to work if the power goes out. The package comes with two remote controls with a range of up to 1,500 feet but you can also control the garage door using the mobile app. It also features safety sensors that command the garage door to stop and reverse if they detect obstructions. As with myQ, it features activity notifications, motion detection, and access sharing. A great unique feature of this model is its Multi-Condition Automation which lets you automate commands based on various conditions such as sunset, a scheduled time, and specific temperatures. It also features a timer so you don’t have to command the door to close after you’ve parked or have left your garage. It also has a compatible mobile app for smartphones so you can control your garage door when you are at work or other places outside the house. The kit has a built-in battery backup so you don’t have to worry about power outages. It also features a vacation lock mode. You can also download the free mobile app so you can access the settings from anywhere. It has an excellent Wi-Fi connection and range so you don’t have to worry about it being disconnected from your smart home. You can receive notifications about your garage door’s operations, so you’ll know the situation in your garage at all times. It has a secure delivery feature that lets couriers through the door using a secure key so you never have to worry about stolen delivery packages again. The Overtime Close feature automatically sets your door to close after a period of time that it’s been open for added security. You can also access your garage door activity’s history via the app. You can set a schedule for when you want your garage door to open and close. It also has a countdown function that automatically sets your door to close in case you accidentally leave it open. Get real-time notifications and share app access with your family. Additionally, it has the Wink feature, which sets your house lights to turn on when the system detects that you have arrived and parked in your garage. For example, if the door is left open for 15 minutes, then automatically close it. This program can also be linked to other smart home devices like lights, sensors, and other appliances. This is why it is possible for some smart garage systems to have features like turning your house lights on when it detects that you are parking in the garage.
Types of Garage Door Drive Mechanisms
To understand how a smart garage system works with already existing garage openers, it would be good to know the different garage door drive mechanisms.
Chain
This drive mechanism is the most common and most affordable type. It is designed with a machine installed in the ceiling of the garage which is connected to a chain. This is what lifts the door and lowers it back down.
Belt
You’ve seen a few examples of the belt mechanism from the list above like many of the Chamberlain models. It works similarly to the chain drive except it uses a rubber belt in place of a chain. The advantage of a belt drive over a chain drive is it operates more quietly. However, a chain drive can lift heavier doors and belt drives are also often pricier than chain types.
Direct
This garage door system is unique because it does not use the same mechanism as the two above. Instead of using a chain or a belt, its machine opens the door by pulling it directly along a track. It is designed with an attachment connecting the machine or the motor to the door. However, it also has a more limited lifting capacity compared to chain drives.
Screw
This type of garage door opener is robust and can handle larger and heavier doors. According to smart garage door opener reviews, this drive mechanism also has the quietest operation. It opens the door using a spinning rod.
Jackshaft
The Jackshaft drive mechanism is the most advanced type and requires professional installation. It is also more expensive than the examples above. The motor is installed on a wall instead of the ceiling and all the alignments must be perfectly accurate for the whole system to work. All the above drive mechanisms could work with or be turned into a smart garage door opener. You just have to check the compatibility of the brand and model to the smart garage system.
How to Choose the Best Smart Garage Opener
Installation and Setup
As you’ve noticed from the list of models above, some types of smart garage systems need to completely replace your existing garage door opener. Make sure that the installation instructions are clear and check if it requires the help of a professional technician. In some cases, all you have to do is connect the main hub or device to your existing garage opener’s control panel. This is common for universal smart garage door openers like the Chamberlain myQ. You may also want to check the interface of the app. It has to be intuitive and user-friendly so that you don’t have to spend hours during setup. How easy is it to connect to your WiFi? Is it easily recognized by the Alexa app? These are useful pieces of information that you can get from reviews online.
Connectivity
In relation to connecting the garage opener system to your WiFi, you may also want to read user reviews to see whether there are connectivity issues. This is not limited to the connectivity to your home internet. It must also easily connect to your smartphone once you get near your garage to park. Some smart garage systems also enable Bluetooth connection.
Smart Home Compatibility
Make sure that your smart garage system is compatible with your smart home environment. While most of them are compatible with both Google Home and Alexa Smart Home (and sometimes, even with the Apple HomeKit), some have limited functionalities in one system or the other.
Remote On and Off
Most of these kits already come with one or two remote control devices. However, it would be better if you could also turn the system on and off even when you are not at home. This is made possible when it has a mobile app which is discussed in the next section.
Mobile App Control
Ideally, you should be able to make changes to your smart garage’s settings remotely using its smartphone application. This can come in handy when, for example, you get to work and forget to close your garage door. The app should let you close the door with a simple tap. It can also be useful when you are expecting a package delivery. You can let your courier know that you would prefer your package to be brought inside the garage either by giving them a one-time keypass or by remotely opening the garage door when the courier arrives. Other possible settings that you can control via mobile app include timers, schedules, and changes to the IFTTT service—discussed in the How It Works section. If your smart garage system includes two-way audio and video features, it would also be good if you can access these within the mobile app. This way, you can easily communicate with unexpected visitors when you are not at home or when you are busy in the kitchen. Access to this mobile app should be protected with a password or biometric log-in like thumbprint or face recognition. It should also be limited to only a few people, such as the people in your household. You may also want to check for the app’s encryption settings for added security. It must not be easily hacked by intruders.
Real-Time Notifications
Notifications are a very useful feature when it comes to smart garages. It lets you know when your garage door opens or closes through your smartphone even when you are not at home. This feature is also useful for parents who would like to monitor their kids in their first few months of driving. A great added security feature to this would be a history of these activity notifications. This way, you would have a record or a log of each time someone enters or leaves your garage. It may come in handy in case of theft or a break-in.
Access Sharing
As mentioned, access to the mobile app should be limited to members of your household only or other trusted individuals. However, the access sharing feature must also be well-designed. For example, each user should be able to set their own passwords instead of everyone sharing the same password which is unsafe. It makes your account prone to hacking. Another problem that could arise with a unified password is if one of the users forgets and needs to reset it. It will then affect everyone who needs to access the account. It’s also important that only one person has master access to the settings. For example, who can access the full history or logs? You may not want to share all detailed information with everyone using the app.
Control Range
This applies to the remote controls as well as IFTTT proximity rules. A good remote control range is at least 1,500 feet. This will let you open and close your garage door from a decent distance as you are approaching so you don’t have to wait for it to open as you arrive.
Security
The access sharing feature is only one aspect of your smart garage door opener’s security system. You may also want to check for other security features like video monitoring. The system must have reliable encryption so that it cannot be easily hacked. Another important security feature is keeping your garage door locked once it closes.
Final Word
Installing a smart garage door opener surely makes your home more secure. It also makes it more convenient for you to drive in and out of your garage. You can link it with your smart home system whether it’s Alexa or Google Home so you can control it with voice commands. So check out our top picks above and turn your traditional garage into a smart garage system today!
