The Best Garage Door Openers, According to Experts

One of the top names in garage door openers, Chamberlain's Secure View easily secured the top spot in GH's testing. The app lets you open or close the door from virtually anywhere, and this function really worked very well, impressing the testers. It also works with Amazon Key.

One main advantage of this feature is that you can avoid leaving valuable packages in the open or on your doorstep by allowing deliveries straight into the garage if no one is home. Testers were also impressed by the Wi-Fi-connected camera that lets you view the interior of your garage from your smartphone. Operation is (relatively) quiet, and the interior light is bright. Finally, testers found the MyQ app to be intuitive and easy to use too. If you're looking for the best garage door opener on the market, you've found it.

Want a great deal? Look no further. Perhaps the only brand name that's more synonymous with garage door openers than Chamberlain is Genie, and Genie's 500 model costs about $150, comes with a preprogrammed remote control—and the chain-drive system means it will last for years without worry.

The 500 features Genie's Safe-T Beam, an infrared beam across the opening of the door that automatically reverses the door-closing process if it detects objects passing through. In addition, it's compatible with both Apple's Homelink and Overhead Door's Car2U universal garage door opener systems. One caveat: It's not recommended for garage doors that weigh over 350 pounds.

If you'd rather not deal with apps and all that, the Genie 550 garage door opener comes with two preprogrammed remotes, a wireless keypad, and a wall-mount console for versatility in opening and closing. Plus, it's Homelink and Car2U compatible, so you won't need any additional hardware like a smart home hub. And it still costs less than $200.

Reviewers say this unit is surprisingly quiet for a chain-driven garage door opener, and GH testers were happy it includes a "vacation lock" to keep the door securely closed when you'll be away from the house for a while.

Note that the 550 is compatible with 7-foot doors but for 8-foot garage doors you will need Genie's extension kit, sold separately.

Chamberlain is one of the most popular garage door opener brands out there, not only because of the quality of the product, but also because it was one of the first companies to embrace and incorporate smart-home functions into garage door openers. If you already own a Chamberlain garage door opener, this Smart Garage Hub Bundle has everything you need to take it to the next level.

It includes a myQ smart garage camera, smart garage control, and a door sensor to add live or recorded video and motion-sensor notifications to any myQ-connected garage door opener. Plus, you can two-way talk to anyone in the garage, whether it's to tell your kids to keep away from your valuables, give instructions to delivery drivers when you're not home, or scare away intruders.

Testers noted that this smart-home hub is compatible with Amazon Key and Google Assistant but, curiously, not with Alexa.

If your house rattles and shakes every time someone opens and closes the garage door, you need a super-quiet garage door opener like the belt-driven Chamberlain B2405. By far the quietest garage door opener that GH tested, it also comes with two remote controls, a wireless exterior keypad, and dual-function wall control.

It also comes with built-in MyQ technology, the same as other Chamberlain smart garage door openers. As mentioned above, the Institute's testers found the MyQ app highly intuitive and easy to use, but to access some features, you'll need to step up to a paid subscription. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as our best overall pick, such as a built-in camera, but if you want to stop the shaking while sticking to the basics, this is a solid belt-drive garage door opener.

Now you can pull that big ol' truck right into the garage with the Liftmaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft. It's a serious industrial-grade but residential garage door opener that's ideal for truck and van owners because it frees up vertical space in your garage by mounting to the wall, and using a front-mount torsion bar system to raise and lower solid or sectional garage doors.

It's MyQ compatible, which allows you to control and check the status of your garage door from your smartphone, create open/close schedules, and get alerts in real time. And with Security+ 2.0, a new code is sent to the garage door opener with every click of the remote, so the door opens only for you.

Note that the 8500 Elite is not compatible with roll-up doors or low-headroom tracks. To check compatibility with your garage door, consult the LiftMaster website.

Want to automate your existing garage door as an Alexa smart-home user? Check out the NXG-200. It works with a wide range of garage door openers, and it's also compatible with Google Assistant and Samsung's SmartThings.

Installation is relatively simple and streamlined. GHI tech experts noted the variety of features, including voice control and the fact that it's easy to share access to the garage with multiple approved visitors. Plus, it allows you to set up geofencing, which can automate actions such as closing the garage door when you drive away or opening it as you pull into your driveway. Slick.

Perfect for the big, busy household, Aladdin Connect lets you control up to three garage doors from your smartphone.

It lets you share up to 19 virtual keys to your garage, so you can give access to your kids, neighbors, babysitters, and more. Plus, it has a sensor that will alert you if your garage is opened, either electronically or manually. Aladdin is Wi-Fi enabled and compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Note: Check if your garage door openers are compatible with Aladdin Connect before you buy one.