Best Smart Garage Door Controllers for Your Home in 2025

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Tailwind iQ3 Pro: We liked the Tailwind iQ3 well enough in our review, but installation packages have come a long way since then and Tailwind didn't quite make it onto our list this time, although it remains a viable choice for anyone shopping around.

Wyze Smart Garage Door Opener: Wyze's retrofit is an option for those already invested in the Wyze ecosystem but who don't mind an extra cam and garage sensor bundle, but we're still concerned over Wyze's 2023/2024 security breaches, which makes this simple sensor hard to recommend right now.

Genie ALKT1-R Controller Aladdin Connect Kit: This button and app replacement is an option for those with compatible garage doors with dry contact adapters, especially Genie series doors. While it didn't quite make our list with its dated design, it's still a smart option if you want minimal changes to your old set up but with some smartphone functionality added in.

Chamberlain myQ Garage Door Video Keypad: This is a fun upgrade to your garage door buttons that combines smart features with a physical keypad. But unless you really want a keypad, it costs a bit too much for what you get compared to other choices.

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Retrofit compatibility

If you're choosing a retrofit, take a close look at the product page, which should list the brands that the retrofit works with. It should also detail important caveats, like if the retrofit won't work on garage doors of a certain age (late 90s/early 2000s doors may have compatibility trouble). Some retrofits won't work on certain garage door sensor designs, either. Pay attention to all these details before making a choice.

Height

Garage door motor kits are typically rated for height, usually the standard 7 feet. If your garage door is higher, you may be able to spend extra on an extension kit, a.k.a. extra tracks to fit higher garage doors.

Horsepower

Horsepower requirements vary based on the side of the garage door and its overall weight. If you're getting a new motor, match the HP of your old motor. The smallest, lightest doors can get by on 0.3HP, but larger and sturdier doors need at least 0.75HP. Our top picks are rated at 1.5HP so you don't need to worry about the size of your garage door at all.

Lighting

If you don't have many sources of light in your garage, we suggest choosing a motor that includes lighting options, letting you install your own bulbs or offering LED lights.

App controls

One of the biggest benefits of a smart garage door opener is the ability to use app controls right from your phone, whenever you want. So pay attention to the app and the settings offered. See if you like the style of the app and if it offers settings you want like geofencing, long-distance control with Wi-Fi, automatic closing and so on.

Smart home support

Not all smart garage doors work with other smart home platforms. If you have a preferred voice assistant like Google Assistant or Alexa, look for a system that works with them. If you use a car dashboard like CarPlay, see if it's supported as well.

Garage door installations typically take some serious ladder work with fairly heavy objects.

Genie

One question almost everyone has when looking at smart garage doors is what installation looks like -- and how hard it is. That depends what kind of smart garage door you get. Retrofits replace or add onto your current garage door electronics, and are a very easy DIY project.

However, there's a trick to retrofits: They don't work on every garage door brands, they are limited by garage door design and they may not work with garage doors that are a few decades old. Unfortunately, that puts them out of the running for quite a few homeowners.

The other option is a full smart garage door kit, which doesn't replace the door itself but rather replaces the garage door motor and usually some of its tracking. These kits are rated for height (usually the standard 7-foot garage door) but may come with extension options. The motors also have horsepower ratings that should match the needs of your garage door (check your old motor for details).

A full garage door kit is also a DIY project but only if you're comfortable around ladders and somewhat heavy metal tracks that need to be installed on the ceiling. That can be a lot of work for one or even two people, but you do have the option to look up local garage door services to see what they charge for an installation.

Smart garage door openers come with the same risks as any smart home device, including potential hacks if someone gains access to your network. Fortunately, smart garage doors also come with many of the same protections as other smart home devices, including data encryption and password-protected access and settings. Plus, a smart garage door opener may improve home security by allowing homeowners to check if their garage door is open and close it remotely.

Yes, thanks to a very useful addition called battery backups. Modern smart garage doors have an internal battery to keep them working during power outages. But if you're using a retrofit, your current garage door may not have a backup battery, especially if it's an older model.

Many smart garage door openers are compatible with other smart home devices, such as Amazon Echo or your smartphone. By integrating your smart garage door opener with compatible devices, you could open the door for guests while sticking a roast in the oven by saying "Alexa, open the garage door," or even close the garage door behind you while your hands are full of groceries with a simple "Siri, close the garage door." But it's not guaranteed, so check compatibility before you buy.

Yes, a smart garage door connects to smart assistants and your phone via the internet and Wi-Fi access is essential for it to work.

Beyond the obvious convenience, a smart garage door opener offers other features that justify the price. Integration with security systems, real-time alerts and even automatic closing timers are all quality-of-life additions that make a smart garage door opener worth the investment.