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7 Best Smart Garage Door Openers: Belt Driven Vs Direct Driven

Garage door openers have become an integral part of modern homes, offering convenience and peace of mind. Whether you are installing a new opener or replacing an old one, it is essential to pick a reliable and efficient one that meets your requirements.

Smart Garage door openers are essential devices that provide convenience and security for homeowners. They allow you to open and close your garage door with ease, saving you from the hassle of manually lifting heavy doors.

With a variety of options available, choosing the best smart garage door opener can be overwhelming. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the 7 best garage door openers available today.

In this article, we will explore the top 7 smart garage door openers on the market, considering factors such as performance, features, and customer reviews.

Read Also: 8 Best Garage Door Sensors: Better Build Quality & Security

A Quick List of Best Selling garage door openers

Garage Door Opener Buying Guide

Let’s talk about the important criteria you should take into account when making your choice before exploring about the best garage door openers.

Buy from a professional manufacturer

For the best warranty coverage and easy servicing facilities, you just need to buy the opener from professional specialized garage door appliance manufacturers.

First search for the best garage door brands and models. There are many companies manufacturing the Opener for decades. A reputed manufacturer always keeps their customers happy and satisfied.

Noise Level

The noise level of a garage door opener is an important consideration, especially if there are any living areas above or next to the garage. To keep your home quiet, look for openers that operate quietly

Horsepower

The lifting capacity of a garage door opener is determined by its horsepower. A 1/2 or 3/4 horsepower opener should be plenty for most residential doors. For smooth functioning, heavier doors can need more horsepower.

Drive Type

Chain drive, belt drive, and screw drive are the three primary categories of drive systems. Belt drive openers operate more quietly whereas chain drive openers are more robust but can be noisy. Screw drive openers are renowned for their dependability and low need for maintenance.

Security Options

To protect your home, be sure the garage door opener you select has sufficient security measures. In order to prevent unwanted entry, look for rolling code technology, which changes the access code each time the opener is used.

Options for Remote Control

Take a look at the remote control options the opener offers. Certain brands let you manage and keep an eye on your garage door from a smartphone. Others are more convenient and include keypads or additional remotes.

Best Smart Garage Door Openers

Types of Smart Garage door Openers

Belt-driven openers

The belt Driven garage door openers are known for their quietness. The rubber belt connected with the trolley to the motor makes your garage door mechanism smooth. These smart openers are available in the market at a price of around $200 to $400.

If you’re searching for the best garage door opener that combines power, convenience, and smart features, look no further than the Genie 7155-TKV Smart Garage Door Opener.

I’ve had the pleasure of testing this opener for the past four months, and it continues to impress me with its smooth and quiet operation. The 1 1/4 HPC DC Motor, coupled with a steel-reinforced belt drive, ensures reliable performance and durability.

What sets this opener apart is its seamless integration with the most popular smart home automation systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and more. You can effortlessly control your garage door using voice commands or through dedicated apps.

The inclusion of a battery backup ensures that you’re never left stranded during power outages. Installing the Genie 7155-TKV is a breeze, thanks to its innovative 5-piece rail system that easily snaps together.

In the package, you’ll find two pre-programmed 3-button remotes, a wireless keypad for convenient pin-based entry, and a multi-function wall console with vacation lock and light control options.

For the ultimate garage door opening experience, the Genie 7155-TKV Smart belt drive Garage Door Opener is truly the best garage door opener out there.

This new unit has everything – wireless keypad, battery back-up, wifi connectivity/app, quiet belt drive, etc. Since I did the install alone, it took me a but longer than the 2 hours specified (about 3 here) but went well. I LOVE the ability to control this via an app.

~ Mike Hitch (Amazon Customer

Pros

  •  Easy to install and easy to program
  •  It’s whisper quiet and operates very quickly
  •  Back up battery is great
  •  Remote has great range

Cons

  •  The rails on top of the motor unit are sharp as a knife, careful with that.

Welcome to the next generation of smart garage door openers with the Chamberlain B2405 Smart Garage Door Opener. After analyzing 40 different types of openers, we have selected this as one of the best smart garage door opener for your needs.

With the myQ app, you can now have complete control, security, and monitoring of your garage from anywhere.

The quiet AC motor and robust belt drive system ensure smooth and reliable operation. Enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity and improved memory support the latest myQ features, keeping you at the forefront of garage technology.

With integrated Bluetooth technology, you can conveniently connect your smartphone to the opener. Security+ 2.0 technology offers unmatched encryption, providing you with peace of mind and 100 billion possible code combinations.

The Chamberlain B2405 Smart Garage Door Opener is the epitome of convenience, reliability, and security, making it the best smart belt drive garage door opener you can find. Upgrade your garage experience and enjoy the future of door opening technology.

I’ve installed this brand 3-4 times now. It’s a rock solid performer. They’ve continued to improve installation and setup to WiFi. If you have the right tools, ladders, or scaffolding you can install this by yourself. But I recommend getting one other person involved for a few of the tasks

~ Jernie (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  •  Takes only a few seconds to set up with home WIFI.
  • Smartphone control
  • Very quite(Belt drive)
  • Easy installation

Cons

  • The light should be activated when motion is detected around the garage.

The greatest smart garage door opener on the market, the Chamberlain B4603T Smart Belt drive garage door opener, will modernize your garage door. You can easily protect and keep an eye on your garage with the MyQ app on your smartphone, offering you security no matter where you are.

The integrated advanced LED lighting adds a new level of convenience, with motion-activated 1,000 lumen brightness to guide your way. With the strong DC motor, enjoy incredibly silent operation and seamless start/stop functionality. 

Enjoy improved Wi-Fi connectivity and enhanced memory for seamless integration with new myQ features and solutions. Connecting to the myQ app, other myQ devices, and smart home technology solutions has never been easier.

The strong Belt Drive ensures reliable performance, and the wireless keypad is included for added convenience. With a remote range of up to 1,500 feet, you can control your garage door from a significant distance.

The box includes two 3-button remotes, safety sensors, a wireless keypad, and a motion detection control panel.

Upgrade to the Chamberlain B4603T Smart Belt drive garage door opener for the best smart garage door opener experience and enjoy the perfect combination of security, convenience, and advanced technology.

I love the notifications showing that the door has been opened or closed. The Google home integration is nice as well so you can use a voice command, however I wish there was an option to open/close the garage without a pass code when inside the house. The laser safety sensor is high enough to prevent leaves from blocking the beam and stopping the door from closing, a constant issue with out old unit.

~ George M (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  • Convenient smartphone control with MyQ app.
  • Integrated advanced LED lighting for enhanced visibility.
  • Ultra-quiet operation with soft start/stop functionality.
  • Improved Wi-Fi connectivity and easy integration with smart home technology.

Cons

  • Limited to belt drive system, may not be compatible with all garage door setups.
  • Some users reported occasional connectivity issues with the Wi-Fi feature.

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Chain drive openers

Opposite of belt-driven openers, this type of opener connects to the trolly with the metal chain. The system of metal chains in an opener makes it a bit noisy.

The reason behind the loudness is the metal-to-metal rattling and vibration. But they are quite less expensive than belt ones. These are available at the price of $130 to $250 in the local market.

Chain drive garage door opener


Discover the ultimate convenience and reliability with the Genie Chain Drive 750 3/4 HPc Garage Door Opener, the best Chain drive garage door opener available.

With its integrated battery backup of 50 cycles, you’ll never have to worry about being locked out during a power outage. The 3/4 HPC DC Motor, coupled with a durable chain drive, delivers robust performance and ensures long-lasting operation.

Installing this opener is a breeze, thanks to its innovative 5-piece rail system that easily snaps together, and its lightweight design requires no additional hardware.

The package includes two pre-programmed 3-button remotes, a wireless keypad for secure PIN-based entry, and a multi-function wall console with vacation lock and light control button.

The heavy-duty chain drive system guarantees smooth and reliable door operation. Don’t forget to measure your door’s backset, cross bore, and thickness to ensure the perfect fit.

My one bit of advice, if you do a similar replacement, is to note (or take a picture) of how the original was wired, the low voltage bits, and use that same connection setup with the new motor head. In my case, it was NOT the same as spelled out in the instructions.

Upgrade to the Genie 750 3/4 HPc Chain Drive Garage Door Opener for the best smart garage door opener experience. Experience convenience, reliability, and peace of mind with this top-notch opener.

 I’ve had this a month or so now. Still in awe of how quiet it is. the install is super straightforward. The instructions are very well written. I was also able to connect my WiFi opener and it worked flawlessly. The range is better than I initially thought. It works from the road. 

~ Nick (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  • Quieter then other chain drive openers
  • The remotes work flawlessly
  • The safety beam stops the door
  • The instructions are very well written. 

Cons

  • The chain was a little bit slow to put on.
  • The wire clips for the sensors and buttons seem cheap

The Chamberlain C2405 Smart Garage Door Opener is the best smart garage door opener you can buy, providing you with the utmost convenience and security. After evaluating several chain drive openers, we found the Chamberlain C2405 to be the finest choice.

Easily manage, secure, and keep an eye on your garage with the myQ app. The durable chain drive guarantees dependable performance and longevity.

You may take use of the newest myQ features and maintain connectivity at all times thanks to improved Wi-Fi connectivity and increased RAM.

Integrated Bluetooth technology allows for easy smartphone pairing, making garage access a breeze. The security of your garage is guaranteed by the unrivaled encryption offered by Security+ 2.0 technology.

You won’t ever need to be concerned about connectivity issues because to a phenomenal Wi-Fi signal range of up to 150 feet.

Enjoy smooth management and peace of mind by upgrading your garage experience with the Chamberlin C2405 Smart Chain Drive Garage Door Opener.

I love being able to open my garage from my phone. In the past I would always get the feeling I had forgotten to close my garage door, but with this and the app, I can see if my garage is open or closed. I can also open the garage from wherever I am. Works great if you are out and about and one of your kids has just been dropped off and needs to get into the garage! Very convenient!

~ sasha (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  •  Great value for the money
  • Easy to setup the App for remote operation
  •  The unit has a self diagnostic feature(A blinking light)
  • The door will not hit the floor and stop before slamming the motor.

Cons

  •  The rail system could be improved

Direct drive openers

With a driven by 24v DC motor, these smart garage door openers are installed on the side of the garage door. The motor drives the cables on pulleys to turn the torsion bar and raise the door.

They work for big doors and the biggest advantage of these openers is that they keep your ceiling independent, so it doesn’t matter if your ceiling is high or low. But as we know ‘with great advantages, came with great prices’. These are much more expensive than other smart garage door openers.

The best smart garage door opener you can find, the Chamberlain Smart Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener, is poised to revolutionize your garage.

Its unique wall mount style gives your garage a sleek look while still conserving valuable ceiling space. Enjoy a quiet and seamless operation that guarantees less noise interference.

You can operate your garage door from any location at any time thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and the myQ App. Concerned about safety? The Automatic Garage Door Lock adds an extra layer of protection to your home.

Even during power outages, the built-in battery backup keeps you covered. This opener is ideal for small spaces because it can be installed in small openings on either side of the garage door.

Safety is paramount, and the integrated safety sensors prevent the door from closing on any obstructions. Stay connected and receive real-time alerts, enabling you to open or close your garage door conveniently with just a few taps on your smartphone.

Upgrade to the Chamberlain Smart Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener and experience the best in smart garage door technology.

Omg this thing is amazing. I have a low ceiling so the overhead one was always trouble. So much less of a hassle install. Make sure you have enough of the bar on one side. The side I wanted to use didn’t. But the other was fine. Just need to run power over permanently.

~ Rich Litton (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  •  Expensive but worth
  • The noise level is quiet.
  • Open a little faster than old models. 
  • The remote range is up to 1,300 feet

Cons

  • The black plastic door on the opener is flimsy and has a goofy design flaw.
  • Expensive


Experience the pinnacle of garage door opener technology with the LiftMaster 8500 Jackshaft garage door opener, the best smart wall mounted garage door opener you can find.

Its sleek, space-saving design is perfect for those looking to maximize their garage space. This wall-mounted garage door opener comes fully equipped with Security 2.0 and myQ, ensuring top-notch security and remote control capabilities.

Powered by P3 motors, it delivers reliable, durable, and powerful performance that you can count on. The ultra-quiet operation eliminates sound and vibrations, providing a peaceful environment in your garage.

Please note that this opener is not compatible with roll-up doors. However, it is designed to work seamlessly with low headroom tracks and features a front mount torsion bar system.

Note: To ensure proper installation, make sure the space between the door track and the wall or ceiling is sufficient. We recommend at least 8 inches to the side of the shaft and 3 inches above it.

Upgrade to the LiftMaster 8500 Jackshaft Operator for the best wall mounted garage door opener experience and enjoy cutting-edge technology, durability, and space-saving design.

My ceiling clearance was too low for a traditional garage motor install. A side mount was recommended by the door installer and he said I could put it in if I was a bit handy. It could easily be cut in half the second time after learning where all the bits go. Feels like great quality. I plan on waiting 6 months before buying one for my other door to see how it holds up. Happy so far.

~ J Elliott (Amazon Customer)

Pros

  • Free up ceiling space to install storage racks
  • Allow for remote controlling and monitoring doors
  • Lifetime warranty on the motor.

Cons

  • The black plastic door on the opener is flimsy and has a goofy design flaw.
  • Expensive

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of a smart garage door?

A smart garage door has so many complexities and heavy maintenance than any normal garage door. With smart garage doors, openers need regular maintenance and repairs. The structure of a smart Garage door is complex with wires and gadgets like sensors, remotes, wifi, and many more. The installation of the Morden garage door opener is complicated.

Which company makes the best garage door opener?

Many experienced manufacturers make the best garage door opener for your garage. Genie, Liftmaster, Chamberlain, Skylink, Craftsman, beamUP, and Decko are some experienced garage door manufacturers.

What is the lifespan of a smart garage door opener?

10 to 15 years is the average lifespan for a smart Garage door opener. With proper maintenance and repairs, you can increase the life of your gadgets. Monthly cleaning and oiling of the rails can decrease the chances of damage. To clean the opener uses the blower to make it sand-free.

Conclusion

People usually prefer the belt drive or chain drive garage door opener in their houses. As they are affordable as well as trusted. But some people want some extra features like contactless and peaceful functioning, that’s why they go for Direct driven openers. One more benefit of wall shaft smart opener’s is that they keep your ceiling independent.

In this blog post, we discussed how to buy the best smart garage door opener. And also mentioned some finest smart garage door openers available on amazon. If you find this article useful then please let us know in the comment section below. Also, share your feedback.

Trisha Mae Raymundo
Trisha Mae Raymundo

Senior Writer and Editor of The Home Spot.