I remember when the garage door openers used to be so simple and often not all that contrasting from one another, but this is the year of 2023 and the era of the Internet and Artificial Intelligence in the garage opener industry. Present day openers are quieter and made of more modern materials compared to the ones installed 25 years ago, and they can do much more: talk to your iphone, listen to your home and garage and chat with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. I know it’s kind of creepy in a way like stalker ex-girlfriend.
The foundations are still exactly the same: these garage openers will open and lower your robust garage door thousands of times over the years, so our underlying rating metrics center on the score that are most important: quiet operation, lifting capacity, power to operate double doors, material construction, noise levels, durability and user-friendly design. But we also look at the bonuses many of these products now include, including levels of security and connectivity with electronic devices.
For our opening studies in Pennsylvania, the LiftMaster 8500W garage door opener was extensively tested and served as a measure for comparability. It’s one of the most from top to bottom to left to right equipped and strongest garage door openers in 2023, but also one of the most expensive garage openers of 2023.
Best Overall Garage Door Opener
LiftMaster 8500W
The LiftMaster 8500W has everything: quiet operation, battery backup, deadbolt locking every time the door closes, soft open and close (slower speed the first and last foot), smartphone and smart device control, the power to raise tall or heavy wood doors, secure access via Amazon Key, and an LED ceiling light. It bolts on the garage wall and connects to a torsion spring, leaving the space between the door rails free for overhead storage or to raise your car on a shop lift.
Quietest Garage Door Opener of 2023
Genie Stealth 500 Essentials
Quiet in a sub-$300 garage door opener means belt-drive, without frills. There’s no support for Wi-Fi, only HomeLink and Car2U in-car wireless (the built-in garage door openers). Genie does supply a pair of RF-enabled LED light bulbs so they can be independently controlled. There’s a basic push-button, in-garage control and a single-button wireless remote. Some users say they wish they’d stepped up to the Genie StealthDrive Connect with Wi-Fi, battery backup, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for about $50 more.
Best Value Garage Door Opener
Skylink Atoms ATR-1611C
The entry-level Skylink opener uses a chain drive but provides a lot of features for under $200. It has a half-horsepower motor, LED light, soft start and stop (just like the premium LiftMaster/Chamberlain wall-mount openers) and a rail (for the drive chain) of seven feet. For eight- and 10-foot doors, a separate kit is required. The wall control is a single button, like a doorbell. A backup battery is an option.
Best Garage Opener with Camera
Chamberlain B4643T
The Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Opener has a built-in video camera and features the company’s myQ smartphone integration for garage door control and monitoring. The camera features a wide-angle lens that sends a video feed to the myQ app, which can alert you to motion detection. This particular model is a new generation and features better Wi-Fi connectivity than older models plus Amazon Key. The B4643T is belt-driven and promises ultra-quiet operation.
Best Upgrade for Existing Openers
Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control
The Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control is a wireless garage hub controlled via smartphone. In its latest iteration the myQ (myQ-G0401-ES) is less expensive than its predecessor and allows you to control your garage door from anywhere via the no-cost myQ app. The app allows for real-time alerts if the garage door is opened, closed, or left open and is compatible with Amazon Key for in-garage delivery.