Whether you’re interested in learning about the options or considering an upgrade, many models don’t involve professional installation. “If you’re able to upgrade your existing garage door opener to a smart garage door opener, you might have better luck installing it on your own,” says Dan Mock, VP of Operations at Mister Sparky Electric. We researched dozens of smart garage door opener kits and integrated units for ease of installation, compatibility, and advanced features to find the best ones. Our favorite, the Tailwind iQ3 Smart Automatic Garage Controller Pro, has excellent compatibility with smart home systems and garage door openers and comes with an unparalleled feature set—including an option to automatically open and close the door when it senses your arrival or departure. Here are the best smart garage door openers. The Tailwind iQ3’s standout feature is that it can automatically open your garage door when you arrive home and close it when you leave. This feature, also known as geofencing, requires a Bluetooth-equipped vehicle and an Android phone, or you can buy an accessory that allows it to work with iPhones and older vehicles that don’t have Bluetooth. The iQ3 has many other useful features, including a night mode to automatically shut the door if it’s left open for more than five minutes and a sharing trait that lets others control the door at specific times of the day. This opener also works well with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, so you can control it with voice commands. The Tailwind iQ3 is a little more complicated to set up than many competitors because it uses a wired sensor, but that’s a tradeoff for reliability. Wireless sensors are significantly easier to install, but they’re also more prone to failure. As for smart compatibility, it works well with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with the HomeKit-enabled model), SmartThings, and IFTTT for voice control and automations. It’s also highly compatible with a range of garage door openers (over 200 brands). Plus, you can get an adapter from Meross or make some modifications yourself if you know how to solder if it isn’t compatible with yours right out of the box. The Alcidae Garager 2 includes a built-in 1080p camera with a motion sensor (and night vision), which allows it to turn on and start recording whenever it senses movement. You can also view a live video feed through the app and control the garage door’s operation wherever you have an internet connection. However, there is a monthly fee if you want to use the cloud video storage service. In addition to robust Alexa support, you can use Google Assistant and Siri voice commands, and the companion Nexx Home app lets you operate and monitor your garage door remotely. The Nexx GXG 300 also has Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can operate your garage door even when the internet is out. This unit is also a great option if your Wi-Fi is a little weak. It has an external Wi-Fi antenna, which allows it to connect in areas where other smart garage door openers can’t. It comes with some additional useful features, like an alarm that sounds when it closes and an option to have it close automatically every night if you accidentally leave it open. Unlike most smart garage door openers, the iSmartGate Pro doesn’t rely on the cloud. It just uses its built-in processing power and your internet connection, which means more privacy. You can integrate it with any IP (or network) camera to add video surveillance for viewing on your phone through the connected app. The app also provides status alerts and lets you operate the door remotely, and you have the option to grant time-limited access to additional users. This smart garage door opener works with both Alexa and Google Home, and the smartphone app lets you operate and check the status of the door wherever you are. Notifications can arrive slowly at times, though, and you won’t be able to use this model with Apple HomeKit. However, you can take advantage of Walmart InHome compatibility for the convenience of secure in-garage deliveries (with an InHome membership). The Genie 7155-TKV doesn’t require a hub to connect to your Wi-Fi network, but it does need a strong Wi-Fi signal for the smart features to work. Add-on kits are less expensive, easier to install (usually no wiring), and come with various feature sets, so you have a lot of options. The catch is that you can run into a situation where a specific add-on kit won’t work with your garage door opener. Integrated units are more expensive and more difficult to install, but you never have to worry about compatibility. “If your garage is over a few decades old, it may be most effective to install a new unit,” says Kristen Bolig, CEO of SecurityNerd. In addition to wearing out due to age, garage door openers built before 1993 lack key safety features. If it’s newer than that, and in good working order, then a compatible add-on kit that has the features you’re looking for is typically a better choice.
Connectivity and Compatibility
Most smart garage door openers connect via Wi-Fi, but some allow you to connect via a wired Ethernet connection. A wired connection is always more reliable than Wi-Fi, but it requires you to run a physical cable all the way from your router to your garage. Compatibility refers to both smart home systems and garage door opener models. If you’re installing an add-on kit, you need to look for one that supports both your smart home system, like Alexa, Google Home, or SmartKit, and your existing garage door opener. If you’re installing a new garage door opener with integrated smart controls, you only need to make sure it’s compatible with your smart home system.
Extra Features
The basic functionality you get from a smart garage door opener is the ability to control it through a phone app and your smart home system. If you want more monitoring control from your garage door opener, you might want to consider other important features, including built-in cameras and control sharing through the companion app.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce, wrote and researched this article. He’s had a smart garage door since the options were far slimmer than they are today, and he has over a decade of experience reviewing electronics for outlets like Lifewire and Digital Trends in addition to The Spruce. On the other hand, Mock suggests smart options might be fine for self-installation. While the exact process differs, Mock says, “generally, we suggest coming prepared with a smartphone, Wi-Fi router, Wi-Fi network and password, Wi-Fi signal, and a compatible garage door opener with standard safety sensors.” Some kits even use wireless sensors and controls, so you don’t need to do any wiring. To gain a deeper understanding of the most important smart garage door opener features Jeremy contacted Dan Mock, VP of Operations of Mister Sparky, and Kristen Bolig, CEO of SecurityNerd. With their expert insights, Jeremy looked at factors like compatibility, ease of installation, and extra features like cameras and sensors. He gave priority to add-on kits due to ease of installation and affordability and included a top recommendation for an integrated unit for those whose garage door opener needs replacing due to age or lack of safety features.
