Are you considering a new garage door opener? There are many reasons why it may be a good idea. Most openers can last a long time, yet new technology is always being developed, which means there may be something new on the market that will be safer, more effective, and more convenient than the device you currently use. Newer models are free of the keys and fixed codes that made garages easier to break into. They also include battery backup, so you should never risk being locked out of your garage during a power outage.You may also be interested in:
Best Garage Door Openers of 2021
| Product | HP | Button Remotes | Smartphone control | Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain B970 |  | 3/4 | Includes 2 3-button remote controls that let you control up to 3 openers. | Yes (MyQ technology) | Check Price | Smart garage door opener, Belt drive |
| LiftMaster 3265-267 Premium Series Chain Drive |  | 1/2 | Includes 2-3 Button Remotes, Multi-Function Control Panel | Yes | Check Price | Wifi garage door opener, Chain drive |
| LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft Operator |  | 3/4 | Includes 3 Button Remote, Multi-Function Wall Control Panel | No | Check Price | Space-saving garage door opener |
| Chamberlain WD832KEV |  | 1/2 | Includes 2-3 Button Remotes, Keyless Entry Keypad, Multi-Function Wall Control Panel, Timer-to-Close | Yes | Check Price | Smart garage door opener, Belt drive |
| Chamberlain PD612EV |  | 1/2 | Includes 2-3 Button Remotes, Keyless Entry Keypad, Multi-Function Wall Control Panel | Yes (MyQ technology) | Check Price | Quiet smart garage door opener, Chain drive |
| SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 (Editor's Choice) |  | 3/4 | Includes two x 2-button transmitters and one interior wall station | No | Check Price | HomeLink compatible garage door opener, Chain drive |
1. SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 – Best For Home Garage
This SOMMER product is stationed on the wall and comes with a pair of 2×2 button transmitters. It works with garage doors up to 8 feet and is compatible with the HomeLink Wireless Control System. It utilizes rolling code technology for the utmost security. As a direct drive, it is designed particularly for quietness and safety.
This device is in the medium price range among the most trusted garage door openers currently on the market. With innovative technology that not only reduces sound like all the products assessed here but also eliminates most vibrations, it should have better consistency in its low sound level than the others. It also includes top-of-the-line safety and security features while costing over $100 less than the average of other garage door openers that offer these qualities. The SOMMER company also offers a complete installation kit that ensures you can easily replace your current device and set your new one up entirely yourself without purchasing further tools or accessories. And the company provides a full lifetime guarantee on the entire system.
Are you looking for the best value in a new garage door opener? Because of all these factors outlined above, the SOMMER Direct Drive 1042V001 is recommended as the best value garage door opener. A single purchase will provide everything you need to set up the device, use it and even maintain it.
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2. Chamberlain B970 – Most Powerful For Residential Buildings
This Chamberlain model operates with a direct belt drive made out of steel. Equipped with a LIFT power system, its lifting power is exceedingly strong. Its three-button remotes can control the actions of the opener within a range as far away as 1,500 feet, which also exceeds the norm. Those remotes are already programmed before you purchase the product, helping towards an extremely easy and quick set-up. It also includes encryption for protection against all types of forced entry.
Both the power and the range of this product help to provide faster entrances and exits than are available with most garage door openers currently on the market. Customers can get excellent tech support for setting the product up or for managing settings, especially as related to security settings. The company demonstrates a commitment to helping customers make the most of their products and to helping them reap all the safety benefits available in said products.
Is a great balance between effective power and safety your highest priority in a new garage door opener? If so, the Chamberlain B970 is especially recommended for you. Its exceeding power and range help to ensure that it does everything you paid for it do, is convenient for you throughout all stages of use, and always acts facts. But having said that, safety is never compromised, as the product is built of sturdy material and the technology is designed to prevent dangerous situations and to increase the security of your garage.
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3. Chamberlain WD832KEV – Smart Opener With Belt Drive
This Chamberlain model uses a belt drive, which is likely to enhance quietness. A quick-install rail system ensures that the product is extremely easy to set up. This opener can close the door automatically if you forget to; when you activate your new opener, you simply choose an amount of time to allow before it will shut automatically. It takes advantage of MyQ technology that allows you to use and to manage settings of your garage door opener through your smartphone.
Several customer reports include complaints that the product does not work (or at least not well) with some older cars. Any customer who has made such a report has attempted to use the product with a vehicle older than 2012. This is not a universal problem, however. No clear patterns of compatibility can be found to determine why this garage door opener will work with some older cars but not with others.
Is finding a quieter garage door opener one of your highest priorities in finding a new one? If so, this product is especially recommended for you. The steel-reinforced belt drive and a special feature for vibration isolation help to make this the quietest garage door opener among those we are assessing.
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4. LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft Operator – Portable Device With Wireless Control
This LiftMaster model is designed to be mounted on the wall next to the garage door, taking little to no ceiling space. Yet, its sound reduction technology takes advantage of the properties of any garage ceiling to help avoid unnecessary sounds. The device is equipped with MyQ technology for compatibility with smartphones and special technological security features. Its p3 motor ensures strength, dependability, and durability.
Are space and convenience your highest priority in your search for a new garage door opener? If so, the LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft Operator should take up less space than any of the other products reviewed here and is likewise recommended for you.
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5. Chamberlain PD612EV – Quiet And Smart Opener With Chain Drive
This is the second of three Chamberlain models we will review. This product can be controlled and monitored either in your vehicle or through your smartphone. Whenever the garage door opens, it activates 200w of light for utmost visibility. It is designed for consistency and durability. It is compatible with almost all vehicles, although some vehicles require a compatibility bridge that is not included.
This Chamberlain model is a little older than the others we are assessing. Its customers report almost unanimous positive experiences with it, and its features generally remain up-to-date. But, because it is slightly older, it may be difficult to find. If you think this would be the best garage door opener for you but are unable to find one, then the Chamberlain C410 Durable Chain Drive Garage Door Opener is recommended for you. Its construction and features are very similar, and almost everything this assessment of the Chamberlain PD612EV states is also accurate for the C410 Durable Chain Drive Garage Door Opener.
Is having options in how you set up, use, and monitor your garage door opener your most important factor in finding a new one? If so, either one of these related and comparable products is recommended for you. You will be able to choose whether you want to use your garage door opener from your vehicle or from your smartphone. Many modes exist from which to customize many aspects of its functioning. It is fast and easy not only to set up but also to set up exactly how you want it to work.
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6. LiftMaster 3265-267 Premium Series Chain Drive – Best Rated With WiFi
The final garage door opener we will review is a second LiftMaster product. This device operates with a chain drive that involves no rail assembly in its installation process. It is known for its strong and durable motor with many security features and customizable options for convenience and further security.
Its Smart Garage Door feature is an electronic program that allows you to create codes that prevent unauthorized entry into your garage. It includes lights that are adjustable for any given time of the day, and these lights use bulbs that are easily replaceable whenever the need arises, so you can always take advantage of the adjustable feature. You use and manage this garage door opener using a remote control with a control panel that offers many options for every aspect of the device’s functionality.
In your search for a new garage door opener, is a large pool of possible options to choose from your highest priority? If so, this Chamberlain model will offer you choices to make in how your garage door operates, how secure you want to keep it, how much light and other electricity you want to use and many other options. This means you can virtually customize every aspect of the device so that it will work exactly how you want it to.
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Buyer’s Guide
We hope that the reviews of these six garage door openers have helped you to narrow down your options and begin seeing what you personally need in your next garage door opener. As you compare the products addressed here, it will be necessary to weigh these factors with the things about your garage and the vehicle or vehicles you park in it to help make sure that you find the best product for your needs.
You will need to make sure that the year of any vehicle you park in your garage is compatible with any model of openers you are considering. You will need to know your garage door’s height. Garage door openers are only compatible with certain heights of doors, so you will need to be certain that an opener you consider works with the height of your garage door.
Many of the garage door openers currently on the market operate through cell phones. While most offer other options that come along with the product packaging, this is not universal. This means that it is necessary in your search to figure out how you want to control the new device and purchase one that is either compatible with the type of smartphone you use or will otherwise be able to control it with what you already have or will receive in the product packaging.
The median rage of cost for current garage door openers is approximately $250. Based on this figure, you can consider more expensive models to see if they offer enough extra features or better quality to make the extra cost worthwhile. Similarly, you can consider cheaper models and see if they offer enough for your needs and priorities as you look for the best value in getting the garage door opener you want.
As you prioritize the aspects of a new garage door opener that are most important to you, you will likely find it helpful to pay special attention to the noise. As mentioned earlier, all current garage door openers are quieter than those operated by chains that were normal in past decades. This does not mean, though, that all current garage door openers emit the same levels of sound. They indeed do not. Current openers with chain drives are much quieter than older ones, yet they are louder than other types of garage door openers presently on the market. For many users, the noise emitted from current openers using a chain drive will seem negligible. But for those who live in residential communities where houses and garages are very close to each other, the noise could still be mildly disturbing to others. So, the choice of how much noise limiting technology to purchase in a new garage door opener should be primarily based on the type of neighborhood you live in and the type of garage you have (that is, how likely your garage is to amplify sounds).
Conclusion
As we have taken a look at six of the top current garage door openers on the market and presented a buyer’s guide for factors to weigh in a making a decision for which product to purchase, you have had the opportunity to compare and contrast some of those openers currently considered among the best on the market. And in doing so, you are getting to know a few of the most important brands that produce and sell garage door openers. This means that if the six we addressed in this guide are not quite right for you, this guide can still be a starting point in your search. You can find more out about the brands covered here to see what else they offer on each one’s respective manufacturer’s website.
Similarly, we have discussed some of the trends in technological advancements in the production of garage door openers as they currently appear on the market, as well as several different features that companies make available in their unique garage door openers. As such, you have an idea of what to look for in other brands and models that we did not have the space to bring into this guide. As you continue to learn what is available and what features are most important for you in a new garage door opener, you will be further empowered to make the best decision for your personal needs and priorities.
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