So your garage door opener finally gave out, and now you need to buy a new system. But where to start? The best garage door opener will be quick, quiet, loaded with the latest technology, and capable of connecting to your home network. By perusing our garage door opener comparisons below, you’re well on your way to finding the best option for your home.
Modern garage doors are following the trend of smart home gadgetry, and to great effect. After all, everything from light bulbs to home thermostats activates at the sound of your voice or the tap of a button, so why shouldn’t your garage door? The best garage door opener for your smart home is out there, and we’re going to help you find it here.
To come up with our list, we went through all of the highest rated garage door openers, and we looked for models that stood apart because they had something unique to offer. Our pick for the top garage door opener is the Chamberlain B1381 Smart Garage Door Opener. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other models on our list, true. But it can’t be beaten when it comes to features, including personalized schedules, customizable alerts, and real-time notifications.
Our Top Picks: Best Garage Door Openers
It’s time to ask the question — what is the best garage door opener? Check out our quick list:
  | Best Overall: Chamberlain B1381. The perfect combination of power and intellect, this is the best garage door opener overall. |
  | Best Eco-Friendly: LiftMaster 8164W. Even with all of its smart features, this opener can still operate with 75% less power in standby mode — why not go green? |
  | Best Budget: Skylink AT-1622BK. Possibly the cheapest belt drive garage door opener on the market. Fortunately, it’s also reasonably well-reviewed. |
  | Best Smart: Chamberlain B6765. If you want it all and don’t like making compromises, this could be the model for you: power, smarts, and a camera. |
  | Best Rated: Chamberlain B970. When the average of over 4,000 reviews still results in an overall 5-star rating, they must be doing something right. |
  | Best Quiet: Sommer Direct Drive. Lots of openers on our list are pretty quiet. But if you want the best silent garage door opener, this is it. |
  | Best ½ Horsepower: Chamberlain B550. If you want an opener with a lot of smarts, but you don’t need heavy lifting power, the Chamberlain B550 is an excellent choice. |
  | Best Chain Drive: Genie ChainMax 1000. If you’re not concerned with the noise of a chain drive opener, this model has a lot to offer for an impressive price point. |
  | Best Screw Drive: Genie Premium. It’s super fast, strong enough for weighty garage doors, and works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. |
  | Best Last-Gen Model: Chamberlain B4545. Yep, this 2019 model still makes the cut because it’s that good: mid-range power, smarts, and a camera. |
1. Chamberlain B1381 Smart Garage Door Opener
The best garage door opener overall
Brand: Chamberlain | Horsepower: 1 ¼ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰💰
If you’re looking for the best belt drive garage door opener, this one should be near the top of your list. When it comes to features, this model can hold its own.
Once the system is installed, download the myQ smartphone app to control your garage door — anytime and anywhere. There are even real-time notifications, and you can program the door to shut or the lights to turn off at the same time every night (to avoid those times when you might forget).
This model is quiet enough that you may want to set up an app alert if you’re worried about teenagers trying to sneak the car out of the garage in the middle of the night.
The two remotes that come with the unit are long-range, giving you up to 1,500 feet. It’s got a backup battery that kicks in whenever there’s a power outage. It also comes with extra bright lights that are motion sensitive and can be controlled manually.
The Chamberlain B1381 model garage door opener comes with a belt drive and a one and a quarter horsepower motor. Its heavy-duty lifting power will make it work for just about any residential-sized garage door.
If you don’t mind going without a camera, this seems like the best smartphone garage door opener around.
This unit comes with a lifetime warranty on the belt and motor, a 5-year warranty on the parts, and a 1-year warranty on accessories. Although this model isn’t the cheapest of our top picks, we think it’s the best value garage door opener on our list.
Reviewers Like
- Quiet enough to not disturb overhead bedrooms
- Super bright led lights illuminate the whole garage
- myQ phone app interface makes it possible to control the garage door from anywhere
Reviewers Dislike
- An extender kit is necessary for doors taller than 7 feet
- A subscription fee is required for it to integrate with Google Home, Alexa, or IFTTT
2. LiftMaster Contractor Series Garage Door Opener
The best eco-friendly garage door opener
Brand: Liftmaster | Horsepower: ½ | Drive System: Chain Drive | Power Type: AC | Price: 💰💰
This garage door has built-in WiFi, making it easy to connect and get mobile updates. In fact, you’ll be able to receive alerts and control the door from anywhere by connecting this opener to your home network. Every time you use the remote, a new code is sent, reducing the likelihood of someone cloning your remote.
The Posi-lock prevents someone from forcing your garage door open. The Alert-2-Close system uses an invisible light beam to auto-reverse the door if there is an obstruction.
The system also has a standby mode that consumes 75% less power. This particular model has standard lifting power with a ½ horsepower motor and chain drive.
Each unit comes with a 4-year motor and a 1-year parts warranty.
Reviewers Like
- Powerful chain drive system
- Comes from one of the top brands in the industry
- Peace of mind thanks to Posi-lock and ever-changing security code
Reviewers Dislike
- Requires extra hardware to sync w/ older cars
- Manual doesn’t include installation instructions
3. Skylink AT-1622BK Garage Door Opener
The best budget garage door opener
Brand: SKYLINK | Horsepower: ½ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰
This unit has a powerful DC motor, but it still provides an extremely quiet operation. The motor is noticeably quieter than AC motors, especially with the belt drive system. This unit is perfect if you have someone living above your garage.
An LED light illuminates your garage, making this system fit right in with the other smart bulbs you have throughout your home. It’s easily one of the best-rated garage door openers on the market.
The numeric display will make it easy for you to install this system yourself. If your car has a built-in opener, you can program it, eliminating the need for an extra remote.
This unit is SkyLinkNet compatible, allowing you to control and monitor your garage door opener from your smartphone. Additionally, there is an auto-close timer option, so you’ll never forget to close your garage door.
If you want a warranty for this system, you will have to contact the customer service department.
Reviewers Like
- Inexpensive for a belt drive opener
- Much quieter than a chain drive opener
- Youtube installation video makes setup easy
Reviewers Dislike
- The lower horsepower causes the door to open and close slowly
- Backup battery and WiFi connectivity need to be purchased separately
4. Chamberlain B6765 Garage Door Opener
The best smart garage door opener
Brand: Chamberlain | Horsepower: 1 ¼ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰💰💰
This opener does it all and would be our absolute favorite if not for the price.
This model has the same features as our overall favorite pick, but with the addition of a built-in camera. So, if heavy lifting power and security are what you’re after, this model has you covered. The Chamberlain B6765 is the best garage door opener for the money.
The secure view camera offers live and recorded video with two-way audio allowing you to watch the video feed in real-time to ensure your in-garage deliveries go smoothly. The myQ app also offers customizable, real-time notifications.
Much like the other Chamberlain models on our list, the manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty for parts, a lifetime warranty for the motor, a 1-year warranty for accessories, and a lifetime warranty for the drive.
Reviewers Like
- Superb security features
- The in-garage delivery feature keeps packages safe
- Motion detector lights are bright enough to illuminate a two-car garage
Reviewers Dislike
- Doesn’t integrate with Alexa or Google Home
- There’s a monthly fee for access to the camera feed
5. Chamberlain B970 Smart Garage Door Opener
The best-rated garage door opener
Brand: Chamberlain | Horsepower: 1 ¼ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰
With a 5-star overall rating on multiple sites and well over 2,000 reviewers on each site, this is — without a doubt — the most highly-rated garage door opener on our list. This model is one of the best smart garage door openers with built-in WiFi technology. An app on your cell phone will give you the power to open and close your door with the touch of a button.
This model also comes with a battery backup for functionality, even in power outages. This unit is super quiet, with a steel-reinforced belt drive. A standout feature is the MAX Lift Power System, which offers maximum lifting ability. You will get the equivalent of 1 ¼ horsepower, which is the highest lifting capacity you will find in this category. If you have extremely large or heavy doors, this is the unit you must buy.
myQ smartphone control is the app you will use to control your garage door. Its intuitive interface lets you create customized schedules for your garage door and set lighting through the app.
This unit also comes with Chamberlain’s long-range remotes and security features. As always, Chamberlain makes their openers with the highest quality materials. You should be able to install this unit yourself, as Chamberlain offers installation videos, pre-programmed remotes, and tech support.
This model comes with a lifetime warranty for the motor and belt, the parts have a 5-year warranty, and the accessories have a 1-year warranty. All of this is why we are confident that it’s one of the best WiFi garage door openers available.
Reviewers Like
- It’s so quiet the dogs don’t hear it
- The free myQ app that works with the opener does everything you need
- Being able to check the door remotely alleviates fears of forgetting to close it
Reviewers Dislike
- Some people had issues with the garage door spontaneously opening
- You have to pay a subscription to integrate with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT
6. Sommer Direct Drive Opener
The best quiet garage door opener
Brand: Direct Drive | Horsepower: ¾ | Drive System: Direct Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰💰
If you have an especially large or heavy garage door, this is the best garage door opener system for you. This unit has a lifting capacity of 550 pounds!
The installation kit comes with the ability to install 7 and 8-foot rails. There is only one moving part with this garage door opener, making it unique from all of the other openers out there.
Sommer Direct Drive garage door opener’s motor moves along the chain silently. The chain is embedded in a steel rail. This motor is unbelievably quiet with minimal vibration making it the best silent garage door opener on the market.
This is the perfect unit for those with living space above the garage. The unique design of this system puts the motor upfront at the door. This maximizes the amount of power the system can produce.
Be aware that Sommer has had a history of having problems with the circuit boards. This has caused some systems to malfunction when it comes to moving the door up and down.
The good news? You can have your unit sent in for servicing. But do you want to have to send in a brand new unit for fixing when you’ve just spent three hundred dollars to purchase the system? Read up on recent customer feedback and see if it’s worth the risk for you! It’s still a great option, especially for heavier doors.
This is the only opener on our list where the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty on everything, which is why we believe that it should still be considered amongst the best 3/4 HP garage door openers available.
Reviewers Like
- Integrates with Homelink easily
- Virtually silent — all you hear is the door itself and not the opener
- The installation kit that comes with this opener works for 8-foot tall doors
Reviewers Dislike
- The direct drive is slower than other types of drives
- The quietness of the unit doesn’t make up for the other features it’s lacking
7. Chamberlain B550 Smart Garage Door Opener
The best 1/2 HP garage door opener
Brand: Chamberlain | Horsepower: ½ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: AC | Price: 💰💰
The Chamberlain B550 is another excellent choice, as you’ll always have control of your garage door opener via built-in connectivity technology. With the app, you’ll be able to open, close, and see your door’s status from anywhere you want.
This model comes with a battery backup, meaning you’ll be able to open and close the door even in a power failure. The ½ horsepower motor, paired with the reinforced belt, gives you the most robust lifting capacity in its class.
The belt drive with this system is reinforced with steel. You’ll have a quiet yet powerful performance. The remote for this system has a range of 1,500 feet, giving you a quick entrance and exit. The wireless keypad will provide you with access to a simple four-digit code.
The security included in this system is top-notch, with a 100 billion code encryption to protect you from hacking. Moreover, the Posilock will protect you from forced entry, making this an excellent option for home security by far.
You can get a warranty for the different parts of this system. The motor comes with a 10-year warranty, and the belt has a 15-year warranty. The parts and accessories both have a 1-year warranty.
Reviewers Like
- Substantially quieter than other openers
- The controls are relatively simple to operate even with all of the smart features
- The remote operation helps you let friends and family pick up or drop items when you’re not home
Reviewers Dislike
- Smart home hub integration requires a subscription
- Using LED bulbs can drastically reduce the range of the remotes
8. Genie ChainMax 1000 Garage Door Opener
The best chain drive garage door opener
Brand: Genie | Horsepower: ¾ | Drive System: Chain Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰
This system is one of the most powerful, best-rated garage door openers at ¾ horsepower. It has a traditional chain drive, but Genie still promises that its operation is quiet.
This particular model has the Safe-T-Beam system that prevents accidents with an invisible infrared beam across the opening of your garage. The door will automatically reverse if something crosses the beam while the door is going down.
If security is a concern, then you’ll love the Intellicode technology that changes the access code upon each activation. This prevents unauthorized access by someone. You will be able to set this garage door opener up yourself with the simple push of a button. This technology is called SmartSet and is only offered by Genie.
You’ll also get a bunch of accessories included with purchase, including two remotes, a wireless keypad, and a multi-function wall console. The wireless keypad can be programmed for a pin and mounted inside or outside the home. This system has a lifetime motor warranty. The parts have a 5-year warranty.
Reviewers Like
- Good quality motor
- Holds up in cold weather
- Quiet for a chain drive opener
Reviewers Dislike
- Some users received kits with missing parts or tangled chains
- It’s battery backup compatible, but the battery doesn’t come with the unit
9. Genie Premium Smart Garage Door Opener
The best screw drive garage door opener
Brand: Genie | Horsepower: 2 | Drive System: Screw Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰💰
If you have a heavy garage door, the 2 horsepower on this opener should be able to handle it. This model is built to stand up over time and comes with two pre-programmed remotes, a wall console, and safe T-Beam garage control sensors. The included rails work for doors as tall as 8 feet without needing an extension kit.
This heavy-duty opener is smart home enabled without requiring a hub. It comes with built-in Aladdin Connect technology that allows you to connect your phone by downloading a free app. It even works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. And, if you’re worried about power outages, you can rest assured because the backup battery is powerful enough to operate the door for up to 50 times without electricity. There’s even a vacation lock feature that you can set to be sure your door can’t be opened when you’re away.
The manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty on the drive components.
Reviewers Like
- Fast opening and closing
- The Backup battery comes in handy
- Strong enough for a two-car wood garage door
Reviewers Dislike
- Not that much quieter than a chain drive opener
- Some of the parts don’t appear to be very durable
10. Chamberlain B4545
The best last-gen garage door opener
Brand: Chamberlain | Horsepower: ¾ | Drive System: Belt Drive | Power Type: DC | Price: 💰💰💰
Out with the old, in with the new — right? Not necessarily. This model was at the top of its class in 2019, and it still belongs amongst the best available garage door openers a year later.
If security is a concern for you, the camera on this opener is sure to help. You can use the myQ app to monitor your garage from your smartphone and keep an eye and an ear on anyone you let into your garage to drop off deliveries. You can even set up alerts to notify you anytime the motion detector senses movement in your garage.
Along with the necessary hardware, this model comes with two remotes, a wall control panel, and safety sensors. Amongst its many features is the ability to set personalized schedules and customize your alerts. One of the only downsides to this model is that it doesn’t have a backup battery to work when the power goes out.
The motor and drive come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. There is also a 5-year warranty on parts and a 1-year warranty on accessories.
Reviewers Like
- Cheaper than other models with similar features
- Using a smartphone instead of having to keep a remote in the car
- You have to sign up for their service if you want to save any videos
Reviewers Dislike
- The audio quality on the camera was poor
- The camera won’t work well if you don’t have a strong WiFi signal in your garage
What to Look for in the Best Garage Door Openers
As you begin searching for the best automatic garage door opener, you’ll first want to figure out what options are necessary for your needs. Next, you’ll want to figure out what options and features you prefer. These machines have come a long way, and the best-rated garage door openers are going to have all of the features and benefits you need to make using them a breeze.
1
How Much Power Do You Need?
The size of the motor you need will depend on what you want to lift. The typical horsepower range for residential purposes begins at ½ and goes up to 1 ½. Take into consideration the size, construction material, and the number of doors you are trying to lift.
For a standard, single door, you can get away with a ½ horsepower motor. If you have an insulated or heavy, wooden door, you should consider sizing up to a ¾ horsepower model. Go with at least 1 to 1 ½ horsepower if your door is oversized, industrial, or you’re looking to open multiple doors.
Keep in mind that a more powerful motor will experience less stress and therefore last longer. The best residential garage door openers will last a long time if their motors aren’t overburdened with extra weight. To help ensure that your new opener lasts, you might even want to consider choosing a motor size one step above your needs.
2
Which Drive System is Best?
You will need to choose from four main types of drive systems: belt drives, chain drives, screw drives, and direct drives. Garage door openers that use a belt drive are typically higher-end and more expensive. Chain drive and screw openers will be lower in cost but not as quiet as belt drive systems. Direct drive openers are the quietest openers, but they also tend to be pricier.
- Belt drives use a rubber belt system to drive the trolley and raise/lower the door. The belt is constructed with materials like fiberglass, Kevlar polymer, or steel-reinforced rubber. Systems that use this system will be the quietest while running, so it’s the best type of garage door opener for residential homes with the garage attached to the main house. We highly recommend a belt drive garage door opener if someone in your home spends time or sleeps in a space above or adjacent to the garage. The downside is that belt drive systems are expensive.
- Chain drives use a chain to raise and lower the garage door. You will hear the banging of the chain while the system is in operation. Think of a bike style chain. This chain is looped around a rail and pulls the trolley. With periodic maintenance, chain drive garage door openers can last a long time. While these garage door openers are noisy, they are more affordable than belt drive garage door openers. Another typically overlooked benefit is that chain drive systems can still be easily operated manually when the power is out.
- Screw drive systems use a threaded rod mechanism (think of a very, very long screw) to move the door. Garage door openers that use this type of system require the least amount of parts. Screw drive garage door openers are less noisy than chain drives but not as quiet as belt drives. It has fewer parts than both belt drive and chain drives and therefore is less likely to break. That said, it does require maintenance. Lubrication about twice annually should do the trick and prevent wear on the screw heads. Screw drive garage door openers are not ideal for hefty garage doors such as large, one-piece doors found in older homes because that extra strain can wear down the screw heads quickly.
- Direct drive systems only have a single moving part: the motor itself. Instead of the motor staying stationary and working to rotate a moving chain or belt that pulls the door, the motor in these systems does the pulling itself. They work by running forward or backward along a track to push or pull the garage door along. This is why direct drives have a reputation for being the quietest on the market.
3
Garage Door Power & Speed
You will find openers that run on AC and DC power. Both types of openers will plug into a standard power outlet. The DC power openers will convert the AC power.
The DC models tend to be smaller, quieter, and have softer starts and stops. You can also usually find battery backups on DC power units. This will let you use the door in the event you lose power.
In terms of speed, the average garage door opener can open your door at a rate of 7 inches per second. If speed is important, you can find a door that will open at twice that speed.
If speed isn’t a priority for you, you can find some systems that work slower. The speed does not dictate the quality of the opener.
4
Garage Door Opener Features
You should decide which features you want before you start shopping for the best smart garage door opener. You will find that certain features are standard.
Key Features
Important things we recommend that our readers consider before purchasing an opener are components like remotes/keypads, lighting, and doors. Most garage door openers are sold separately from the door itself.
You should make sure the opener you want will have enough power for your current door (or the new door you’re going to be installing).
Most garage door openers come with two remotes and one keypad, but not all do. Remotes cost around $40 and keypads around $60. Lastly, lighting features are great to illuminate the garage’s interior as you pull in.
These types of lights (also called security lights) usually stay on about 30-60 seconds after the garage door closes. If the garage door opener does not come with a light, it can cost about $50-$100 to get one installed.
Standard Features
Most (but not all) garage door openers will come with remotes, wall mounts, and keypads. A manual release is standard on all garage doors. The manual release is what you will use when you lose power unless you have a model with a backup battery.
A security light will also be standard. Most garage door openers are protected by a 3 to 5-year warranty. If you find one with a 10-year or lifetime warranty on their motor, that’s a great indication of the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
Best Smart Garage Door Opener Features
You will find that some of the higher-end garage door openers will come with unique features such as integration with smart home ecosystems like Alexa, Xfinity, and Nest.
The best WiFi garage door openers will have home automation capabilities through built-in WiFi connectivity. This enables you to operate the opener with your smartphone and check on its status remotely (to make sure you didn’t leave it open, for example).
The best smart garage door openers are even vehicle compatible. You will also find the best systems to have an auto-close function. Some of the other options you’ll see are battery backup, rail extensions, motion sensors, and locks. You may not find all of the features you want in a single system, so decide which are the most important to you.
Garage Door Opener Installation
So, you have decided which of the best garage door openers is also the best option for you. What’s next? While installing most garage door openers isn’t technically challenging, it can be time-consuming.
You will need some knowledge in electrical to successfully install the opener yourself. Keep in mind that chain-driven garage openers are often easier to install, while belt-driven openers are more complicated.
Hire a Pro
Spending a whole weekend setting up a new garage door opener is not on the top of most peoples’ idea of a good time. If you don’t feel comfortable, you can hire someone to install the opener for you. If you’ve never done this kind of installation yourself, it will take a pro considerably less time.
According to Fixr.com, the average cost to install a garage door opener falls within the range of $200-$650. Home Advisor found the national average cost for a garage door opener installation to be $337. A chain-driven opener will be on the lower end of prices and a belt-driven opener on the higher end.
The DIY Route
If you decide to do the installation yourself, you will need a multimeter, screwdriver, hammer, adjustable wrench, socket wrench, tape measure, drill driver, hacksaw pliers, wire stripper, level, and ladder.
Plan for a few hours (at a minimum) to remove the old opener and install the new one. Before you start the installation, check the warranty terms. You may void the warranty by not having an approved professional do the installation.
Our Process
For this guide on garage door openers, our team spent 8 hours researching the most popular options from over 15 brands and manufacturers, big and small. We then read about one hundred user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each opener. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 10 garage door openers on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading
