Best Garage Door Openers: Complete Buying Guide & Top Recommendations

Installing a new garage door opener isn’t exactly the sexiest upgrade you can make, but it’s an important one. Especially if your goals are to boost your home’s efficiency and increase its value. Today’s garage door openers are light years away from the ones you grew up with. From smart technology and improved security to quieter operation and sturdier construction, it’s a whole new ballgame. 

There are multiple drive systems, materials, features and price points to choose from. We’ll share our top picks across multiple categories to help you make an informed, cost-effective decision.

Types of Garage Door Openers

A garage door opener’s drive mechanism connects the motor and the door itself. The most common types of drive mechanisms are chain drives, belt drives and screw drives. Other options include direct drives and jackshaft mechanisms.

Choosing The Best Garage Door Opener

Compare the five types of garage door drive systems before deciding which one is right for your home:

Key Features To Consider When Choosing a Garage Door Opener

It’s easy to brush garage door openers off as uncomplicated, single-purpose products. But in reality, they’re complex systems with multiple components and features that impact the performance, safety and convenience of your system. Pay particular attention to their:

• Drive type: The drive system is responsible for raising and lowering the door. The most common drive mechanisms are chain, belt and screw drives. Other options include direct drive and jackshaft mechanisms.
• Horsepower: The garage door opener’s horsepower (HP) determines its lifting power. ½ HP is best for lightweight, smaller doors, ¾ HP is a go-to for standard two-door garages and motors with 1 HP and above will typically be found on commercial units or heavier residential doors. 
• Noise level: Chain drive openers are strong and budget-friendly, but they’re noisy. If you have an attached garage or if it’s near a bedroom, consider a quieter option like a belt or direct drive. 
• Safety and security features: At a minimum, your garage door opener should have motion-detecting lights and auto-reverse sensors that prevent the door from closing if something is underneath it. 
• Smart home compatibility: Many modern garage door openers come with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to control your door from anywhere and receive notifications if the door is left open. Some models are also compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
• Price: Opener prices run the gamut, typically falling between $200 and $600. If you have a modest budget, prioritize features like safety and horsepower before considering extras like cameras, keyless entry and advanced lighting options.

Best Belt Drive Garage Door Openers

Belt drive garage door openers operate quietly, smoothly and efficiently. A belt drive opener is a solid noise-reducing pick if your garage door is adjacent to or under a bedroom—looking at you, parents of young kids. 

Best Overall: Chamberlain B6755T Secure View Garage Door Opener

This sleek, ultra-quiet, tech-heavy unit from Chamberlain is the total package. Its 1.25-horsepower motor is capable of hoisting heavy doors with ease. You’ll also find an integrated wide-angle camera, motion-activated, 2,000-lumen lights, and loads of smart home features.  

Pros

• Powerful 1.25HP motor
• Quiet operation
• Impressive smart home capabilities
• Sleek design

Cons

• Expensive for a residential unit
• Professional installation recommended

Best Value: Craftsman Smart Belt Drive Garage Door Opener

Craftsman’s smart, belt-drive garage door opener provides the quiet operation you’d expect from a belt system, with the bonus of being wallet-friendly. You can connect to WiFi via the myQ app, and its .5HP motor is more than respectable for residential use. 

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Smart home compatible

Cons

• Warranty info not provided online
• Lacks more advanced features

Easiest DIY Installation: Chamberlain B2405 WiFi Garage Door Opener

The B2405 has one of the quietest belt-drive motors around, making it ideal for attached garages within close proximity to bedrooms. This unit is myQ app compatible, and Chamberlain’s included 3-D instructions go above and beyond what most manuals provide. 

Pros

• Detailed, 3-D instructions included
• Quiet AC motor
• Safety sensors, keypad and two remotes included

Cons

• No motion-detection lighting

Best Chain Drive Garage Door Openers

Best Overall: Genie 2033 Chain Glide Connect Smart Garage Door Opener

Powerful motor. Generous accessories. Accessible price point. Smart home compatibility via Alladin Connect WiFi. The Genie 2033 Glide Connect smart garage door opener has all of these features and more, making it our top chain-drive pick.   

Pros

• Smart connectivity
• Battery backup
• Generous accessories

Cons

• No motion sensors

Best Value: Genie Chain Drive 500

The Genie 500 and 550 chain-drive models are widely considered two of the best garage door openers on the market. The former is a dependable, relatively quiet unit that won’t break the bank.

Pros

• Quiet for a chain drive
• Budget friendly
• Battery backup

Cons

• Lacks advanced features

Easiest DIY Installation: BeamUp Workhorse BU100

The BeamUp Workhorse BU100 Garage Door Opener has a respectable 1-horsepower motor and chain drive system suitable for heavier doors. It’s a no-frills system for homeowners seeking a solid, budget-friendly opener and not much else.

Pros

• Powerful motor for the price
• Installation manual, YouTube videos and phone tech support available for installation

Cons

• No bells or whistles
• Noiser system

Best Screw Drive and Specialty Garage Door Openers

Best Screw Drive Garage Door Opener: Genie 4062 MachForce

With Genie’s 4062 MachForce screw drive door opener, you’re working with a powerful 2HP DC motor, pre-programmed remotes and an opening time of 12-inches per second—two times faster than most chain or belt drive openers. Homeowners with heavier doors or who use the garage as their main entrance will benefit most from a unit like this. 

Pros

• Powerful 2HP motor
• Fast-opening
• Low maintenance

Cons

• Some reviewers cited a difficult installation process

Best Direct Drive Garage Door Opener: Sommer 2080 evo+

Designed in America and manufactured in Germany, Sommer garage door openers are premium products that deliver premium results. The 2080 evo+ features a durable 1HP motor and some of the quietest, smoothest performance you’ll find in a direct drive system.  

Pros

• Quiet, smooth opening and closing
• Built to last

Cons

• Expensive

Best Jackshaft Garage Door Opener: LiftMaster 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft

LiftMaster’s 8500 Elite Series Jackshaft opener is ready to take on heavy doors and high ceilings. A favorite among truck owners for its unobtrusive jackshaft design, it’s capable of lifting up to 350 pounds and allows for higher garage door openings. 

Pros

• Lifts up to 350 pounds
• Allows for higher garage doors

Cons

• Expensive
• Requires professional installation

Common Questions About Top Garage Door Openers