The 6 Best Garage Door Openers, Including Basic and Fancier Models
Updated: Mar. 18, 2024
The best garage door openers are more than just convenient—the latest generation of models will suit your security needs.
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When it comes time to purchase a new garage door opener, the technological advances may surprise you. However, you may be aware of some of these advancements if you’ve considered retrofitting your old opener to be Wi-Fi compatible.
Whether you have a single- or multiple-car garage, upgrading to one of the best garage door openers offers simplification and a higher level of security. However, choosing just one from among the many can be challenging. There are now more companies than ever offering several models, all with multiple features and benefits. To complicate things further, garage door openers are available at all different price points.
To help you sort through the vast array of motor, drivetrain, backup, safety and compatibility options, we’ve evaluated the best openers around to arrive at this list of the six best garage door openers. We also spoke with Dan Rogers, vice president of operations for the APi Family of Garage Door Companies, to better understand what makes a top-tier garage door opener and the key features to seek out.
VIA MERCHANT
Best Overall Garage Door Opener
Chamberlain Secure View Garage Door Opener
Chamberlain garage door openers are a perennial favorite among consumers, and its Secure View garage door opener is no exception. In fact, it takes our best overall spot for its long list of user-friendly features.
Its feature list starts with its quiet operation, ¾ horsepower (hp) lifting capacity and bright 1,000-lumen LED lighting. But that truly is just the start. The Secure View also comes equipped with an in-garage, wide-angle camera, connectable to the Chamberlain myQ app, so you can see inside your garage and receive real-time alerts and notifications from anywhere. The door opener is compatible with Amazon Key to facilitate secure package and grocery deliveries.
The product package includes a pair of remote controls and a wall control panel. Safety sensors also come standard, and Chamberlain backs its product with a lifetime motor and belt warranty and a five-year parts warranty.
Pros
- User-friendly design
- Wide-angle, in-garage camera
- Compatible with Amazon Key
- Lifetime motor warranty
Cons
- More powerful than necessary for single garage doors
VIA MERCHANT
Best Budget Garage Door Opener
Atoms ATR-1611C by Skylink Garage Door Opener
For a garage door opener designed with just enough bells and whistles to not break the bank, the Atoms ATR-1611C by Skylink is our pick for best budget garage door opener. The chain drive garage door opener with Wi-Fi features several benefits that you’d expect from more costly units—quiet DC-motor operation, an automatic door close timer, LED lighting and SkylinkNet compatibility for smart home automation (with the additional purchase of the Skylink Hub).
Rogers touts that one of the benefits of DC-powered garage door openers is that they often have battery backup capability, which the Atoms ATR-1611C includes. However, the battery is sold separately, so planning ahead is necessary.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Built-in door close timer
- LED lighting
- Includes self-diagnostic display
Cons
- SkylinkNet capability requires purchase of hub
- Backup battery sold separately
VIA MERCHANT
Best Basic Garage Door Opener
Genie Chain Drive 500
For those just looking for the ability to open and close their garage doors with a button push, the Genie Chain Drive 500 is a simple answer that gets back to basics—mostly. The 500 is a simple 1/2 hp, chain-drive, plug-it-in-and-use-it garage door opener. It comes with a wall button, remote control and safety devices. Perhaps the best feature is its simplicity, which makes the unit quick to install, easy to operate and, if something happens, easy to troubleshoot.
However, some technology upgrades aren’t avoidable. The Genie Chain Drive 500 is compatible with HomeLink systems, and you can easily upgrade to Wi-Fi integration if you wish.
Pros
- Simple, standard design
- Affordable
- HomeLink system compatible
- Option to upgrade for Wi-Fi integration
Cons
- Only a five-year motor warranty
- Light bulb not integrated or included
VIA MERCHANT
Best Smart Garage Door Opener
BeamUP Workhorse BU100 Garage Door Opener
We chose this BeamUP garage door opener as our pick for the best smart garage door opener. But it should be noted that its impressive compatibility features are only available with an extra purchase of BeamUp’s Smart Controller.
This model is a fully functional 3/4 hp, chain-driven, DC-motor operated unit that comes complete with a bright, 1,500-lumen LED overhead light. It features a remote response time of under one second, and compatibility with all generations of HomeLink-equipped vehicles without purchasing a repeater.
Pros
- Compatible with most smart home devices
- DC-motor operation
- 1,500-lumen LED light
- Response time of under one second
Cons
- Smart automation features require purchase of smart controller
- Only a five-year motor warranty
VIA MERCHANT
Best Garage Door Opener for Trucks
LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft Garage Door Opener
If you need overhead clearance for parking larger vehicles like trucks—or if a chain or belt rail would get in the way of other garage uses—Rogers suggests considering a wall-mounted or jackshaft garage door opener. The LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft is an ideal option.
This best garage door opener includes a battery backup design for power-out situations, an automatic garage door lock and a remote LED light. This device works with LiftMaster’s myQ app and Amazon Key for added convenience and security. Expense is one of the few downsides, and if you need an entry keypad or second remote control, they’re available separately.
Pros
- Wall-mount design increases overhead clearance
- Includes a battery backup
- Features an automatic garage door lock
- Compatible with myQ app and Amazon Key
Cons
- Expensive
VIA MERCHANT
Best Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup
Genie Ultra-Quiet Wall Mount Smart Garage Door Opener
The Genie smart garage door opener is a DC-operated, wall-mounted option that offers quiet operation and works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and several other smart home devices through the Aladdin Connect app. Should the power go out in the home, the included battery provides up to 50 cycles of operation during the blackout. The product includes the door opener, safety devices, a Bluetooth LED light and an automatic garage door lock. However, only one remote control comes in the box.
Pros
- 24-volt DC motor features battery backup and quiet operation
- Battery provides up to 50 operation cycles during blackouts
- Smart home technology compatible
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Expensive
What to Look for When Buying a Garage Door Opener
Rogers compiled a list of the top factors to consider when shopping for a garage door opener:
- AC or DC motor: DC motors are becoming more common, and one of their benefits is the variable speed which allows for a soft start and soft stop, reducing in less wear and tear on your door and quieter operation. Battery backup is available on operators with DC motors, which is valuable if your power is unreliable and you use your garage door as your main entrance.
- Smartphone app options: Several brands offer this feature, which allows you to check the status of your door anywhere you have a cell signal or Wi-Fi. It also allows you to open or close your door using the app.
- Lighting: Some garage door openers now have built-in LED lighting that’s not only extra bright, but rated to last the life of the machine (no more purchasing bulbs!).
- Warranty: Most offer a lifetime warranty on the motor, but other parts and accessory warranties will vary.
- Ceiling mount vs. wall mount: If you have a larger vehicle or need overhead clearance, consider a wall-mounted opener. There are a few options for wall-mounted devices with technology that prevents cables from coming off if the door hits an obstruction.
Why You Should Trust Us
With over 30 years of construction and remodeling experience, I’ve come across a variety of garage door openers in my day. That’s just the experience I needed to research and determine the very best models. Plus, Family Handyman takes pride in carefully vetting to recommend the best products possible.
How We Found the Best Garage Door Openers
To determine the best garage door opener in each category, I evaluated multiple top brands and products in the industry, similar to the process used in choosing the best garage door insulation kits. The products were chosen based on price, warranty, power, standard and extra features, smart-home compatibility, included devices and optional upgrades. That’s what took dozens of options down to the six best garage door openers.
FAQ
Which is better: chain- or belt-driven garage door openers?
The standard chain-drive garage door openers still hold a valuable place among modern openers, as they’re durable, inexpensive and reliable. Belt-driven garage door openers are quieter but also more expensive. For those who value durability and appreciate a budget-friendly option, they’ll like like chain drive openers more. Those who value peace and quiet are more apt to choose belt drive.
Who makes the best direct drive garage door opener?
The definition of a direct drive garage door opener has gone through some changes. The current definition is that there’s only one moving part in the description: The motor itself moving on a stationary track. Sommer offers multiple versions of direct drive openers.
Which is better Genie or LiftMaster?
Reviews often tout LiftMaster as offering a better product than Genie. However, that opinion starts to change when prices are taken into consideration. Genie garage door openers are generally priced lower than many LiftMaster models, making them more accessible to consumers.
LiftMaster customers, on the other hand, seem mostly happy with their higher-priced purchases. Whether Genie or LiftMaster is better has much to do with personal preference.
Source:
- Dan Rogers, vice president of operations for APi Family of Garage Door Companies
Originally Published: October 04, 2023
