The 3 Best Smart Garage Door Opener Controllers of 2023

We’ve refreshed this guide, and we stand by our picks. One important note: Chamberlain has discontinued the MyQ Home Bridge Hub, which allowed HomeKit compatibility. Existing devices will continue to function.

If you’ve ever arrived home only to discover you left the garage door open all day, then you should get a smart garage-door opener controller. These small devices connect to your existing garage-door opener, and they allow you to open or close your garage door from anywhere, or to check on the door's status, using an app or even a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa. The Tailwind iQ3 Smart Automatic Garage Controller has the best hardware of any controller we tested, and its unique location technology triggers it to securely open your door when you arrive home.

Smart controllers aren't universally compatible with all door openers. You may need to use an add-on adapter to ensure they’ll work together.

Most controllers install with basic DIY skills, though it involves using a ladder and tools and potentially running wiring. Hiring someone to do it may be helpful.

A few models can join with a camera and give you visual proof of whether the door is closed, who triggered it, and activity within your garage.

If you want a new garage door opener, you can forgo a separate controller and buy an opener that includes the same smart features.

Proximity sensing, wide compatibility, reliable operation, and solid hardware make this our top pick.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Google Home, SmartThings, IFTTT

The Tailwind iQ3 Smart Automatic Garage Controller is the most responsive and reliable smart garage-door opener controller we tested. The iQ3 also makes arriving home to an open door easy, thanks to precise geolocation technology that uses Bluetooth and GPS (it can automatically shut your door when you leave, too). There's also the option of voice control with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. And the iQ3, unlike other proprietary controllers, works with any brand of garage-door opener, courtesy of a free adapter.

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The MyQ is impressively simple to set up and use. And a new optional camera adds an extra layer of security, but for a higher price.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

Compatibility: Google Assistant, IFTTT

Of all the controllers we tested, the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub and Controller was the easiest and quickest to install, and it's also one of the simplest to configure and use. The MyQ offers an option to integrate with a LiftMaster Smart Garage Camera, which can provide extra peace of mind, and it's compatible with all leading garage-door openers made after 1993. It is not, however, directly compatible with any of the major smart platforms—if you hope to integrate your controller with other smart devices, consider one of our other picks.

The iSmartGate Pro offers more features than the competition, including direct camera integration, geofencing, free HomeKit compatibility, and local control. But those come at a relatively steep price.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $145.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT

The iSmartGate Pro is controlled by its local processor, so it doesn't have to rely on the cloud to operate. It's compatible with every major smart-home system and has the longest list of useful features. And the iSmartGate Pro is one of only two models we tested that can also control automatic gates. This model integrates directly with many popular IP security cameras (including its own), for visual confirmation of your garage door in real time. You can also do nifty things like check the temperature inside your garage, share access, and automatically open and close your door using geolocation and voice, through integration with a smart platform. But the iSmartGate Pro is also the most expensive controller we tested. And all those features and options mean the software setup is complicated and the app has issues. Most people who don't need the iSmartGate Pro's extra features will be better off with the Tailwind iQ3.

Proximity sensing, wide compatibility, reliable operation, and solid hardware make this our top pick.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.

The MyQ is impressively simple to set up and use. And a new optional camera adds an extra layer of security, but for a higher price.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

The iSmartGate Pro offers more features than the competition, including direct camera integration, geofencing, free HomeKit compatibility, and local control. But those come at a relatively steep price.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $145.

I’ve spent the past four years testing smart garage-door opener controllers and have installed more than a dozen of them in four different garages. I’ve been a journalist for 20 years, and I cover smart-home technology for Dwell Magazine, BBC Science Focus, and The Ambient. For Wirecutter, I have spent many, many hours over six years testing dozens of smart-home gadgets, including smart smoke alarms, smart thermostats, smart-home sensors, and smart sprinkler controllers.

A smart garage-door opener controller is a modest luxury, but it can provide real peace of mind for anyone who regularly worries about whether they accidentally left their garage door open.

These small devices connect to your existing garage-door opener, and they then let you check on or operate your door from anywhere, using an app on your smartphone, tablet, or (in some cases) a computer. Typically these devices cost between $30 and $180, and they simply add to the functionality of your existing opener. They don't replace the other devices you may have and like, such as visor clips, push buttons, and keypads.

Think of a smart garage-door opener controller like a smart door lock: an excellent security and access tool for your home, vacation home, or rental property. You can open and close your garage door remotely, or use geolocation features to automatically shut the door for you, so you don't need to worry about having left it open. Controllers can give you a heads-up if your garage door is accidentally left open, so you can close it from wherever you are—even if that's just the couch. Some controllers can even close the door for you automatically (with a safety beep to warn anyone standing underneath it).

Most controllers have a straightforward installation and are easy to use, and they don't require additional hardware to operate. So you can just buy one, plug it in, and start controlling your garage door. Even if you don't plan to have a comprehensive smart home, voice control (via integration with a smart-home platform like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit) is an especially useful smart function, as it allows you to quickly ask whether your door is open and direct it to close without having to pull out your phone and poke buttons. But you don't need to be invested in home automation for a smart garage-door opener controller to be of use to you—it's a simple, entry-level device that can make your life easier.

You don't need to be invested in home automation for a smart garage-door opener controller to be of use to you—it's a simple, entry-level device that can make your life easier.

If you plan on buying a smart controller, check its compatibility with your garage-door opener first. Not all smart garage-door opener controllers will work with all garage-door openers. And contrary to what you might expect with technology, the newer your garage-door opener is, the less likely it is to work with the majority of retrofit smart garage-door opener controllers.

The Chamberlain Group, which makes the MyQ controller, owns a hefty slice of the US garage-door opener market via its three main brands—Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman—and it has locked out most third-party smart controllers from its newer openers (2011 and newer). A simple way to tell whether your opener is one of these is to look at the "Learn" button on the controller: If it's yellow and round, or if the controller has MyQ or Security+ 2.0 printed anywhere, it won't be compatible with third-party solutions without an adapter.

That adapter is a relatively painless workaround that some manufacturers have devised: Instead of connecting wires into the back of your controller, you can connect them to a small remote control provided by the manufacturer, pair that to your opener, and get the same functionality as if it were wired to the main opener. This actually makes for an easier install, because you don't have to get up on a ladder to wire the controller into the back of your opener—something you have to do with all of the controllers except the MyQ, which uses radio signals. Also, if your opener is a 2013 model or newer Chamberlain brand, it is probably MyQ-enabled already, meaning you don't need to buy anything.

If you’re shopping for a whole new garage-door opener, there are all-in-one smart garage-door opener controllers from Chamberlain and LiftMaster that have Chamberlain's MyQ technology built in. iSmartGate offers openers with its tech incorporated, and Aladdin Genie has a line with its Aladdin Connect technology built in.

We have continually tested our existing picks while also keeping an eye out for updates on competing models and new releases (that includes scouring Amazon, Google, and tech-review sites, and reading hundreds of consumer reviews on a wide variety of sites). For this guide we spent more than 200 hours testing controllers in four different garages over a period of nine months, in addition to living with our top picks for the past 12 months.

Most of the controllers performed well when we used the app to remotely open and close the doors. We found that differences among devices came from their feature sets (some have more useful alerts and the ability to automatically open and close) and whether they suffered from false alerts—a common problem in our testing and in user reviews.

These false alerts stem from the wireless door sensors that nearly all of the controllers (apart from our pick) use. The sensor tells the controller the state of your garage door—whether it's open or closed. A wireless sensor is a much easier install, since you don't have to run wiring through your garage. But these are prone to false alerts for a variety of reasons, including dead batteries, simple malfunctions, interference from the metal garage door, or, in a few cases, falling off the door.

We focused our testing on how easy each controller was to work with—when installing and setting it up, and in everyday use—and we tested out integrations with smart-home systems including voice assistants.

We favored controllers that could operate more than one garage door (up to three in most cases, although you need to purchase extra door sensors, usually around $35, for each additional door). Some of the models we tested require you to buy the whole device again for subsequent doors.

Also, we looked at how well each device complied with UL safety standards for unattended remote garage-door operation. A garage door is a big, heavy mechanical device, and before UL standards were released and became widely adopted, accidents were common.

Although they’re not all UL-certified, all of our top picks comply with the standards, which require the controller to give a visual and an audible alert for at least 5 seconds before it closes the door. And if the door doesn't fully close after two attempts, the system must lock out remote operation.

Wirecutter takes security and privacy issues seriously. And to help you understand which data the companies you’re bringing into your garage may be taking out with them, we’ve compiled this table to answer some of the most common questions people have.

We reached out to the companies that produce our top picks and asked them to respond to an extensive questionnaire, to confirm issues that we think should be of primary concern for any potential buyer. Here are the results we think you should consider before making a purchase.

Proximity sensing, wide compatibility, reliable operation, and solid hardware make this our top pick.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.

The Tailwind iQ3 Smart Automatic Garage Controller delivers the best performance and is the most reliable of all the smart garage-door opener controllers we tested. We attribute that to two features: a hardwired door sensor and a unique Bluetooth/GPS technology that lets you control the door hands-free.

With these two components, Tailwind has successfully solved two of the most common problems we’ve found with smart garage-door opener controllers: false alerts, and unreliable geofencing for opening and closing your garage door (or doors).

The Tailwind iQ3 is compatible with all garage-door openers (if you have a Chamberlain, LiftMaster, or Craftsman, you’ll need to contact Tailwind to get a free adapter). And it can operate up to three doors with one controller (you’ll need separate sensors for each door). In extensive testing over 12 months, the iQ3 worked flawlessly, immediately opening the door as we pulled into our driveway and closing it before we were out of sight. It's the only device that sends alerts to your smartphone telling you who (or what) opened or closed the door. And you can set the door to auto-close, if it's left open for a set period of time.

The Tailwind iQ3 is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings, allowing you to open or close the door, query its status, or set up automated routines via their respective apps.

The iQ3 is not UL-certified, but Tailwind's hardware complies with UL requirements for the "unattended operation" of garage doors, including emitting several loud beeps and a flashing LED light when the door is closing (not all the controllers we tested were UL-compliant). Tailwind's companion app is well designed and easy to use, and it offers plenty of useful features, including the ability to share access to your door with friends, family members, or visitors.

The Tailwind iQ3's app gives you a clear indication of the state of your door, and tapping on the icon opens or closes it. It gives you quick access to notification settings, a history log, and other features from the home page. You can share access to the door with others via their email, and you can restrict that access to a day, a scheduled time period, just one instance, or indefinitely.

Notifications include alerts when the door closes or opens, and one for when the door has been left open for a set amount of time (this can also be a voice alert, if you prefer). You can also set the iQ3 to automatically close doors after a set period of time.

A unique feature we like is Night Mode, a handy peace-of-mind option that ensures your door is shut at night: You define when you want "nighttime" to be, and then your door will automatically close five minutes after opening, at any point during that time. There's also a "partial open" option, which allows you to set how high the door opens (this is handy if you want to "air out" the garage, or let pets in and out without leaving the door wide open).

The most complicated part of using the iQ3 is the installation, because this controller relies on a hardwired door sensor, rather than having the option of a wireless one (which was used by nearly all the other controllers we tested). However, the Tailwind iQ3 was the only sensor we tested that didn't suffer from any false readings.

Installation is involved, and it requires dealing with wires and using a ladder. The sensor must be installed by your door, and then you string wire back to the module and the opener. This was easy to do, but tedious, and it took an hour. In our opinion, this little bit of extra work up front pays off in the long run in terms of reliability and peace of mind.

Tailwind does make the install as easy as possible by providing plenty of double-sided tape, self-adhesive wiring clips, and tap screws (so there's no need for drilling), and you can tuck all the wires away neatly. There's also a very detailed YouTube video to help you out.

Once the Tailwind iQ3 is set up, you can remotely open and close your garage door with the app or with any smart-home integrations you’ve set up. But the iQ3 really shines when you add proximity sensing into the mix. Using the app, you assign each vehicle in your home to a user and associate their smartphone with that vehicle. The iQ3 then uses a combination of Bluetooth and GPS signals between the phone and the car, to track when you’re close enough to home for the device to safely open the door, and to close it when you’ve left. If you don't have Bluetooth in your car, or you use an iPhone, you’ll need to buy a Tailwind vehicle sensor for $25 (or $10 when bundled with the controller) that you keep in your car to make this all work.

When the door opens, the app now knows who triggered it, so you can opt to get an alert whenever "Dad's car" opens the door or "Mom's car" closes it. The system works only when the paired phone is also in the paired car, so others using your car will not be able to open your garage door. Since the included sensors are waterproof, you can opt to install them on a bike, a scooter, or even a skateboard.

In our testing, Tailwind's system was the most reliable auto-open/close method we used with any controller, including geofencing options through HomeKit or IFTTT. It responded much faster, as well, closing the door just as we left the driveway, not when we were already around the corner and out of view.

With other geofencing systems, the zones were too wide, resulting in the device's opening or closing the door when we were more than a block from the house. This could present a real security risk. HomeKit addresses this by requiring you to accept an unlock request on your iPhone before it triggers an automation to open the door, but this is not as simple as the Tailwind iQ3's method.

If your door is left open, the Tailwind iQ3 will notify you only twice. And it won't repeatedly notify you, as most other controllers will. This is both a blessing and a drawback, depending on how you feel about notifications. But it does mean you could miss a notification and end up leaving your door wide open. An effective workaround is to set the door to close automatically.

Tailwind's notifications are not as customizable as those from competing controllers. For example, you can't set a specific notification if the door is opened between, say, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on a Thursday. This may be a non-issue for many people, but we’d like to see it as an option.

The MyQ is impressively simple to set up and use. And a new optional camera adds an extra layer of security, but for a higher price.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

If the Tailwind iQ3 is unavailable or you want an easier install, the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub and Controller is a good option. It's one of the simplest controllers we’ve installed, and a recent hardware upgrade adds Bluetooth to make it even easier. The MyQ also sports a more compact design, and it comes in white instead of black, which may blend better in your garage (if you have a white ceiling). There's also a new camera integration with the LiftMaster Smart Garage Camera (sold separately), and the MyQ can pair up with Xfinity, Alarm.com, Vivint, Google Assistant (though not Google Home), and IFTTT. While it doesn't work directly with Amazon Alexa, it is the only controller that works with Amazon Key, an optional service that allows Amazon Prime subscribers to have their purchases delivered inside their garage instead of being left outside and vulnerable to package thieves.

The MyQ is natively compatible with all major brands of garage-door openers, and because it doesn't require hardwiring, it will most likely work with nearly any model available. However, it no longer supports proximity-based opening and closing options (though they still exist for owners of the optional Home Bridge Hub, which is now discontinued), and you can use Google Assistant or IFTTT integrations only to close the door, not open it.

We like that there's now the option of integrating the MyQ with a LiftMaster Smart Garage Camera for a live video feed in the MyQ app that gives you visual verification as to whether your door is open or closed. The integration works well—you just link the two devices in the app and view them both on the home screen. But you must use the LiftMaster camera for this function, whereas our upgrade pick, the iSmartGate, lets you use any IP camera. Plus, you have to pay $3 a month or $30 per year to view seven days’ worth of recorded footage.

The MyQ app provides a good range of notifications, including if the door has been left open for longer than a specified amount of time. You can also customize notifications so you are alerted when the door is left open during a given time frame—say, between 7 p.m. and midnight. However, unlike our top pick, the MyQ won't auto-close the door for you. But there is an option to schedule your door to close every day at a specific time.

You can share control of your MyQ with two "co-owners" and up to five guests. And if you like, you can customize the settings to limit access to specific days or times or to have this arrangement be recurring. The comprehensive history log in the app shows you who opened the door and when.

Anyone can set up the MyQ in under 15 minutes, as long as they’re handy with a drill (the only pain point is having to drill screws into the garage ceiling for the mounting bracket). It's the only model we tested that doesn't require any wiring: You mount the MyQ module, plug it in, use tape to stick the door sensor to the door, and connect the devices to each other and Wi-Fi using the MyQ smartphone app.

Once installed, the MyQ lets you open and close the door via its app. When you open the door, the icon displays your door's current status and how long it's been in that state. If the garage door icon indicates the door is closed, you tap it and the door will open, and vice versa. The actual controller also emits warning beeps and flashes an LED light when the door has been triggered to close remotely (but not when opened); this is a UL requirement, and the MyQ is UL-certified.

The optional Smart Garage Camera installs easily via a magnetic mount, which you just slap onto the bottom of your opener. You will need an available outlet nearby to power it, though, plus a strong Wi-Fi signal, since the camera needs more bandwidth than the MyQ to maintain a connection. Once the camera is set up, you can view a live feed of your garage in the MyQ app, right above the door icon. The feed loads quickly, and you can get alerts anytime motion is detected (not just when the door opens or closes). The video quality is good—1080p HD and with a 140-degree viewing angle—but HDR imaging would be nice since often the person coming into your garage is backlit, making it hard to see their face. The camera provides two-way audio, so you can talk to whoever is in the garage, and open or close the door from the video screen.

Overall, the camera is a nice—if pricey—addition for peace of mind. In our tests of systems that rely on wireless sensors, we’ve experienced false status alerts and ended up opening the door when we thought we were closing it. But the camera doesn't integrate with any smart-home systems outside of the MyQ app (although you can use it to enable Amazon Key and watch your delivery in real time or play it back later). A simple $40 Eufy Cam setup in your garage is a cheaper, if less elegant, option, but you’d need to use two apps to keep an eye on everything.

Anyone can set up the MyQ in 15 minutes, as long as they’re handy with a drill.

Although the MyQ opener controller works excellently on its own to provide access to your garage, it has comparatively limited smart-home support. You can create automations through IFTTT and Google Assistant (Chamberlain no longer charges for these), but those just close the door; they don't open it.

Chamberlain says its restrictions on auto-opening with smart-home integrations are in the interest of protecting customers. However, we’d note that other manufacturers get around this by requiring a PIN code for voice opening, just as door-lock manufacturers do.

The iSmartGate Pro offers more features than the competition, including direct camera integration, geofencing, free HomeKit compatibility, and local control. But those come at a relatively steep price.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $145.

Though the Tailwind iQ3 can also operate a gate and the Chamberlain MyQ has integrated a camera for visual verification, the iSmartGate Pro is the only controller we tested that has both features. It also offers local control and supports all major smart-home systems, including HomeKit (without buying additional hardware).

It's far more expensive than the MyQ, and it doesn't work with the newer Chamberlain-brand openers (there is a workaround coming; see What to look forward to). However, the iSmartGate Pro can control three doors (the MyQ handles only two), and it remains an excellent controller that can open and close your door with geofencing through HomeKit or IFTTT, voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple's Siri, or commands you give through its app or a web interface.

The iSmartGate Pro works with both wireless or wired sensors, which are waterproof and have built-in temperature sensing, and it can control up to three doors. It works locally, so it gives you control of your door even if your internet service goes down (that's because the iSmartGate Pro doesn't send commands to the cloud, as other controllers do). And, as the name implies, the iSmartGate Pro also works with powered gates. Most importantly: You can set it so that it will play a favorite tune from its built-in speakers when you open or close your garage door.

Aside from that of the MyQ, the iSmartGate Pro app home screen is the only other one we tested that can immediately show you a live visual of your garage door (if you add a camera). If you’re concerned about whether the sensor is working and your door is actually closed, seeing is believing. You can purchase one of iSmartGate's cameras or use one of a wide range of compatible cameras (but not our top indoor security camera picks). For a $30 fee you can enable a video plan that gets you real-time viewing and 1 GB of video storage, which is much less expensive than MyQ's offering.

Even though installation of the iSmartGate Pro is easy (if you use the wireless sensor), the app—beyond the home screen—is clunky and difficult to navigate, making setup on the software side laborious and quite tricky because there are a lot of extra steps. This is in part a software-related technical issue, since the iSmartGate doesn't use the cloud for remote access and instead handles communication locally. That means your personal data (aside from your email address) doesn't get shared over the internet, and you can still control your door locally if your internet connection goes down.

As we’ve said, installation is straightforward: Simply connect two wires from the iSmartGate Pro to the back of your garage-door opener, affix it to the side of the opener with the included tape, and then plug it into the wall. The wireless door sensor attaches to your garage door with tape (the company also sells an optional wired door sensor, which we didn't test).

Finally, if you want to add a camera to your iSmartGate setup (which we highly recommend), there are more steps to take, including downloading a separate app, getting the IP address of your camera, and inputting it into the controller's app. You also need to pay for and activate a video plugin. Again, all of this is required, so your video feed doesn't need to go out over the internet, if you don't want it to.

Proximity opening is powered by HomeKit (for iPhone users) or IFTTT's geolocation feature, which works fine, but it is not something we’d trust the security of our home with. It's better as a backup option, rather than a primary method. When we tested the automatic-close function, the door didn't shut until we drove out of sight, even though we had set the location as tightly as possible on the driveway. Also, the available alerts in the app are limited to open/closed or still open, and you can't set schedules for closing the door. However, you can configure more alerts and schedule actions through IFTTT, HomeKit, or Alexa.

iSmartGate Pro is the most expensive model we tested. And though the iSmartGate Lite is cheaper and has nearly identical features, it doesn't have an LED light that flashes during operation (a UL requirement), and so we wouldn't recommend it. It also doesn't work with wired sensors and can control only one door (not three).

iSmartGate launched the iSmartGate Mini, the cheapest model in its lineup starting at $50. The new version has features similar to those of the Lite model but will work with a wired or wireless sensor, though it doesn't support HomeKit or Samsung SmartThings. The company has also released a Switch Adaptor to make all of its controllers compatible with the newer Chamberlain-brand openers, which we are currently testing. The iSmartGate Pro+ was also announced but hasn't yet been released.

The Eufy Garage-Control Cam, announced in January 2022, has a built-in camera and door sensor that uses AI to detect people and vehicles in the garage; it also includes voice control and geofencing detection. It will have a 1080p camera and will be available in a single-door control version for $100 or in a 2K, two-door control version for $130. We don't have a firm arrival date.

The Wyze Garage Door Controller is a unique new model that relies on an included Wyze camera and AI to determine if your garage door is open rather than relying on physical sensors. An included controller device plugs into your existing door opener and allows you to use an app to open and close your door. Interestingly the controller also has a built-in smoke and carbon monoxide detector. You can opt to buy a kit that includes a Wyze v3 camera for $40, or just the controller module for $19.

Although we stand by our picks and think they are the best choices for most people, for particular setups or certain smart-home systems, some of these models might work better for you.

If you have a Genie garage-door opener (or older Chamberlain): The Aladdin Connect is the Genie's answer to the Chamberlain MyQ. This smart controller is a giant device, with four huge buttons to control up to three doors, and it is designed to replace your wall switch (although it doesn't have to). It worked reliably in our testing, and so it is a fine option if you already have a Genie door opener and know that you won't want smart-home automations or the ability to auto-open (like our other picks have). The Connect is UL-listed, and the revamped app is easier to use, with a better design, and it still retains its good Rules feature, which lets you set the door to auto-close, among other things. You can share the door with up to 20 users and see who accessed it, plus it works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to both open (with a PIN) and close. There are no other home-automation skills, such as geofencing, and no camera integration, and you can only use a wireless sensor. Note that it doesn't work with any Chamberlain brands newer than 2011.

We also tested the following devices, but we don't recommend them:

The Beam Up Smart Controller uses a wireless sensor that we had ongoing issues with, from not registering the status of the door correctly to not sending notifications. Guardian, the company behind the Beam, purchased one of our previous picks, the Garageio, but it hasn't integrated any of the smart tech from that model, such as proximity opening and closing.

Although Garadget takes a different approach, using a laser beam to track your garage door, rather than a sensor, in our testing this tech was fraught with issues, including multiple false alerts. It's not UL-compliant, you can operate only one door per unit, and it has no history log, share access, or other features. It also won't work with any Chamberlain brands newer than 2011, but it does work with Alexa and IFTTT (though the app is unintuitive and overly complicated).

Alcidae Garager 2 is a camera and door controller in one—a great concept that's poorly executed since it sends alerts only when it detects motion (the door moving when it opens or closes), but it doesn't tell you what the door is doing. Light coming through the garage windows sent constant false motion alerts, the app crashed frequently, and you have to pay to view recorded videos. It's not UL-compliant and can control only one door per unit. It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant but not with any Chamberlain brands newer than 2011.

The GoControl/Linear Z-Wave Garage Door Opener Remote Controller is a no-frills option for those with a Z-Wave smart home, but it's not a good choice if you just want to open and close your garage door remotely, because you need to also have a separate Z-Wave hub. Additionally, there is no customer support to speak of, it's more expensive than most of the competitors, and it won't work with any Chamberlain brands newer than 2011.

Insignia Wi-Fi Garage Door Controller for Apple HomeKit works only with HomeKit (so is for iPhone only), and it isn't compatible with any Chamberlain brands newer than 2011. There's also limited support since Insignia (Best Buy's smart-home brand) is now defunct, and you need to call a number to handle firmware upgrades. Steer clear.

UL Standards Matter blog, Keeping your Family Safe When Using Automatic Garage Doors

Steve Kuscsik, Convenience and Safety Working Together: Unattended Operation for Residential Garage Door Operators, UL.com, June 19, 2019

UL Standards Catalog, UL Standard for Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems, May 19, 2017

Christopher Close and Bryan M Wolfe, Best HomeKit Garage Door Openers, iMore, December 13, 2020

Molly Price, Best smart garage door controllers for 2021: Chamberlain MyQ, Tailwind and more, CNET, January 12, 2021

Grant Clauser, Smart Garage Door Openers for Home Security, Electronic House, December 9, 2015

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