What was the first smart home product? One could argue it was the electric garage door opener. The first such openers with a radio-based remote controls came to market way back in 1931, predating the first TV remote by 20 years. Comfort and convenience were the motivation behind all three technological advances. In the case of the garage door, people were looking for a way to get out of their cars and into their homes while avoiding the weather. Given that history, it’s a wonder that it took so long to bring IoT technology to the biggest door in the house.
Well, the good news is that it’s here now. And the better news is that most existing garage door openers can be integrated with the rest of your smart home, greatly reducing the cost of that convenience. What’s more, these products are rapidly improving in both simplicity and capability. Buy one and you’ll not only be able to open and shut the door from anywhere—letting in guests, relatives, or delivery people—you’ll also know whether the door is open or closed in real time.
Why you should trust us
TechHive’s writers and editors have been reviewing smart home products for decades, and they draw on their deep and wide experience to evaluate every new product that comes to market. We install the products we review in our own homes to gain real-world experience as we evaluate how well they can be integrated into existing systems as well as how they perform on their own.
The best smart garage door opener controllers
Best smart garage door controller — Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Hub (model MYQ-G0401)
Pros
- Price remains unbeatable
- Attractive styling fits in with the typical garage décor
- Plenty of third-party compatibility
Cons
- Occasional trouble with disconnects
- Still no support for a third garage door (you must buy a second controller)
It’s still a no-brainer: Everything we said about the Chamberlain model MYQ-G0301 myQ Smart Garage Door Hub is now true of the Chamberlain model MYQ-G0401: It’s the easiest smart garage door controller to set up, the most functional controller on the market, and, it’s the least expensive on the market—by a wide margin. That said, there’s little reason to upgrade from the previous model. The myQ app is simple to configure and use, and the system supports a small but growing number of smart home ecosystems, including HomeKit. While it isn’t compatible with every opener—check online before you buy—it’s definitively the one to get.
Best smart garage door controller, runner-up — Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener (model MSG100)
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Solid performance during our testing
- Lots of extra features to ensure you don’t leave the door open
Cons
- Wired door sensor adds complexity
- Virtually no handholding during installation
Meross smart home products have left us with mixed emotions. They’re all inexpensive, but value is defined by more than a price tag. The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener is on the better end of that scale. If Chamberlain’s product doesn’t fit your needs, this one is worth your consideration. (Note: This device is not HomeKit compatible, but Meross offers a separate model that is. It wasn’t available at press time, however, for us to evaluate.)
Best security camera for garages — LiftMaster myQ Smart Garage Camera
Pros
- Easy to set up and simple to use
- Magnetic base makes it tailor-made for garage mounting
- Good overall video quality
- Integrates well with other myQ gear
Cons
- No recording features unless you pay for a subscription
- Electrical outlet management can be tricky in a garage setting
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