We compiled a list of the best garage door openers and outlined the different features you should consider when shopping. Keep reading to get to know what they are.
Garage Door Openers offer a convenient way to open and close garage doors without having any manual effort. They come in various models with modern features that include smart home integration, wi-fi connectivity etc.
Which kind of garage door opener is best?
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1. Chamberlain B970
- Smart garage door opener comes with built-in myQ technology to...
- Battery backup: Ensures safe replacement ins-and-outs even during...
- Ultra-quiet & strong belt drive: Steel-reinforced belt drive and...
- Powered by Chamberlain’s Max Lift Power System, the B970...
- Superior range: Includes 2 3-button remote controls that let you...
The chamberlain B970 uses a steel-reinforced rubber belt drive, and its system is powered by Chamberlain’s Max Lift Power System, which delivers a lifting force equivalent to 1 ¼ horsepower. Through its app MyQ, the garage door opener is wi-fi enabled, and you have smartphone access allowing you to receive alerts on the status of your garage door. You can sync the garage door opener to smart home applications.
The garage door opener is constructed with quality materials hence making it durable. Your purchase includes a pair of safety sensors and motion-detecting control. The control allows you to easily program the keypads, myQ lighting accessories and remote controls. Also, when motion is detected, it automatically turns the lights on.
The garage door opener features a built-in battery back up. This is great as you don’t have to worry when the power is out. The garage door opener comes with a wireless keypad equipped with Posilock antitheft protection and +2.0 encryption that protects against hacking. It allows you to set a four-digit code without the use of the remote.
The garage door opener’s feature safety sensors that project an invisible beam across the garage door opening with automatic reverse. This prevents anyone from any possible harm. The opener lights turn on and flash if the infrared beam is broken from the blockage of any object.
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2. Genie Silentmax Connect
- ULTRA-QUIET OPERATION: The SilentMax 1200 is an ideal garage door...
- POWERFUL AND SMOOTH OPERATION: The powerful 140V DC motor...
- FAST AND EASY INSTALLATION: With no additional hardware required...
- DURABLE AND RELIABLE: The steel-reinforced belt drive system adds...
- SAFE AND SECURE: The Self Diagnostic Safe-T-Beam system helps...
The Genie Silentmax is ideal if you're looking for the best smart garage door opener. It is a steel-reinforced belt drive which makes it ultra-quiet and powerful. The garage door opener features a horsepower of 1/2, strong enough to lift sectional garage doors to seven feet tall and 500 lbs. Genie DC Motor powers it.
The belt drive system adds strength, value and durability. The smart garage system is compatible with Alexa, Google through Aladdin Connect Technology. Aladdin Connect allows you to easily monitor, open and close the garage door from anywhere with your smartphone.
The smart garage door opener is easy to install as it features a strong 5-piece rail system that comes together quickly for smooth installation. It’s lightweight with no added hardware needed. Additionally, it comes with two pre-programmed 3-button remotes that are ready to use and a multi-function wall console.
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3. Craftsman Chain Drive
This chain drive garage door opener is equipped with a rail system that makes it easy and quick to install. The chain drive door opener has a wireless keyless entry pad that allows entry into the garage without a key or remote using a secure 4-digit programmable PIN.
The garage door opener features simple user interface monitors. These are set and adjusted depending on the force required to open and close the garage doors during temperature fluctuations. The chain drive opener is energy efficient when in sleep mode and uses less than 1 watt of power.
Regarding safety and protection, it has safety reversing sensors that automatically reverses the door if anything interrupts the beam while the door is going down. The garage door opener comes with two remotes and a keypad.
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4. Liftmaster 8500
- This sleek, space-saving design mounts on the wall beside your...
- This elite series model comes fully equipped with security 2.0,...
- Get reliable, durable and powerful performance with our p3 motors
- Runs ultra-quiet by eliminating sound and vibrations through the...
- Not compatible with roll up doors, low headroom track, wayne...
The Liftmaster 8500 is a wall mount garage door opener, and p3 motors power it.
The Liftmaster runs quietly and is reliable and smooth with a variable speed. Its drive system is direct drive and has a horsepower of Heavy Duty 24V DC.
The direct drive garage door opener comes equipped with an auto-force feature that constantly monitors the garage door system, adjusting forces for temperature fluctuations, floor height, and door track movement.
The direct drive garage door opener includes an enclosed gearcase that offers continuous protection and lubrication and smooth operation and durability. In the event of any obstruction, the protector system uses an invisible light beam across the garage door and automatically reverses the door. The opener light only turns on when The Protector System’s infrared beam is broken.
You can electronically program the security codes through the myQ Control Panel. The Liftmaster 8500 comes with an attached six-foot power cord and has a power deadbolt lock for added security. The extension kit includes a remote light kit that can be mounted anywhere in the garage and delivers up to 200 watts of light with adjustable light time delay.
It's important to note that the drive opener isn’t compatible with low head track and roll-up doors. It is more ideal for garages with sectional garage doors with a front mount torsion spring with a one-inch shaft. The model can handle doors that are up to 180 square feet, 14 feet tall and up to 650 pounds.
The purchase comes with safety sensors, three-button remote control, one myQ Control Panel, one Remote Light and a cable tension monitor. The garage door opener comes with a five-year parts warranty and a lifetime motor warranty.
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5. Genie 2055
- STRONG AND QUIET: The Stealth 500 Essentials garage door opener...
- SAFE AND SECURE: The Stealth 500 garage door opener includes a...
- FAST AND EASY INSTALLATION: The Stealth 500 Essentials garage...
- HOMELINK & CAR2U ENABLED: This garage door opener out of the box...
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: The Stealth Essentials garage door opener...
The Genie 2055 is an excellent choice if looking for the best screw drive garage door opener. It features a steel-reinforced belt drive system hence making it ultra-quiet and strong. The garage door opener's horsepower is 1/2 which is ideal for sectional doors up to 500lbs in weight.
Genie DC Motor powers it. The garage door opener includes the Safe-T-Beam system that helps prevent accidents, and Intellicode Security technology helps prevent unauthorized access into the garage by changing the code every time the button is pressed from billions of combinations.
The Genie screw drive garage door opener features a 5-piece rail system that easily comes together for quick installation. It’s lightweight with no extra hardware needed. Additionally, two pre-programmed remotes are ready to use out of the box, making the installation process easier.
The Garage door opener is compatible with in-car remote systems such as Home link and Car2U. Additional accessories that come with the garage door opener include a lighted push button, 2 of Genie's radio frequency friendly and shatter-resistant LED garage door opener bulbs.
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Features To Consider When Buying The Best Garage Door Opener
a) Type of Garage Door Openers
- Chain - Driven
Chain driven garage door openers use metal chains to drive the trolley up and down to open and close the door. They are known to be affordable and durable. However, they tend to be noisy due to the chain.
- Belt- Driven
A belt drive garage door uses a rubber belt to move the trolley. This makes it quieter than a chain drive garage door. Belt driven garage door openers require less maintenance compared to chain-driven door openers. They, however, tend to be more expensive.
- Screw-Driven
A screw drive garage door opener uses a threaded steel rod to move the door up and down by wrapping the wire around to pull the door up and unravelling to let it down. Speed-wise, they are the best option. These garage door openers are durable and reliable but require more maintenance. They are not equipped to handle larger, heavier doors. Hence, if considering these garage door openers, it's best to stick to single-car doors.
- Wall-mount
Wall mount garage door openers use a motor that drives pulleys and cables to turn the torsion bar and raise the door. They are also known as jackshafts.
These are suitable for all types of garage doors and tend to be big ceiling-space savers. The downside is that they can be pretty expensive.
b) Level of Horsepower
The horsepower determines the weight of a garage door that a garage door opener can lift and how effectively and efficiently it can move it.
Most garage door openers can be categorized into three levels:
Depending on the type of door, you want to ensure that you have enough horsepower for your garage door opener to function effectively.
- ½ - Usually, ½ horsepower will work for most doors in newer homes. Garage door openers with this horsepower are ideal for dual car or sectional doors that weigh around 300 pounds.
- ¾ - If your door is heavy and made of solid wood, ¾ horsepower may be better suited. This will allow you to lift and close the garage door with ease. This type of horsepower can lift up to 400 pounds.
- 1-1 ½ - You can also get garage door openers that have 1 and 1 ½ horsepower. These are, however, better suited for commercial situations. Garage door openers with a horsepower ranging between ¾ to up to 1 ½ will most likely high tech and have high power.
It's important to note that wood is considered the heaviest material for garage doors and can often be found in older garages. If you a lighter door, you can still buy a garage door opener with a higher power. It will simply fasten the process hence open the door quicker.
c) Security
When it comes to garage security, there are two aspects to think about: There's there special reversing mechanism and the rolling code.
- Automatic Reversing Mechanism
Since 1993, all garage door openers have been required to have a special reversing mechanism to prevent closure if a child, pet or car is in the way. Most garage door openers have automatic reversing safety sensors that detect when there's something in its way before closing a door. It's key to look for a highly efficient model at this for better protection and prevention of any accidents.
- Safety Features
Most newly designed garage door openers are equipped with essential safety features like a rolling code with helps prevent hackers from intercepting the code sent between your remote and the garage door. There's also lock mode, which allows you to lock your garage while you're away, and only you can open it.
d) Remote Controls
The remote is part of the extension kit and can be considered the most used component. It's essential to check how many remotes your kit comes with and how well they function.
Nowadays, most garage door openers come with a remote-control device to place in your car and a wall-mount button for inside the garage. Most door openers have remote controls, which allow you to open the door easily without getting off from your vehicle.
Manufacturers tend to offer 1 or 2 remote controls along with the product. It's also good to check if the door opener has a keyless entry keypad to limit access to your home for security reasons.
A few high-end garage door opener systems are compatible and integrated with several vehicles. Thus, check for this option while you’re purchasing them to know whether it is compatible with your car. You can easily test this by opening or closing the door by using your car’s built-in control.
d) Smart Home Integration
Some garage door openers offer advanced features that include smart home integration. Some openers are equipped with an auto-close feature that automatically closes the garage door after a certain amount of time.
f) Battery Backup
Usually, garage door openers are connected to the electric supply and take the essential power required to operate. However, in case of a power cut, a battery backup system is essential. Though the manual release is common on all garage doors, it is useful when there is no power supply unless your unit had a backup battery. Some garage door openers have battery backup capability meaning you don’t have to rely on electricity for the model to work.
g) Additional Features
- Wi-Fi
Other features you can consider are if the garage opener comes with built-in WiFi. Some can be connected to WiFi, while others serve as their own hub, and others require you to purchase a separate hub that you can connect to through a compatible app.
- Wireless Keypad
A wireless keypad is ideal as it allows you the convenience of entering your home without having a remote control. It would work for families or households where people come and go on different schedules.
