Can I Use My Cell Phone As A Garage Door Opener

Homeowners who take made the jump into high-stop smart home systems have found their investments to be richly rewarding. The ability to control lighting, sound and entertainment systems, and more—either in the moment or by setting a pre-divers 'atmosphere' wherever y'all happen to exist—can transform how you experience your domicile.

And every added convenience, every new opportunity to further centralize the control of your abode, makes this experience all the more satisfying.

Garage door openers are 1 of the few classes of home appliance that accept seemingly seen petty progress in the last several decades. Everything from coffee makers to refrigerators offer programmable features, but yous still control your garage door with the same clicker that has been found clipped to the sun visor of every homeowner's car since the 1980s.

But finally, that'due south changing.

With an app-integrated receiver, yous can open your garage door with the tap of button on your iPhone or Android phone.

In contempo years, several companies have rolled out receivers which can be wired into your existing garage door opener, allowing them to be paired with an app installed on your phone. Just open the app, tap the button, and your garage door will open as normal, only without the hassle of needing a defended device.

Many of these products practise a great deal more than just open up and shut your garage door. They include such features as logging each time your door opens or closes, the ability to open up the door remotely to permit a family member or other person to enter the garage, scheduling the door to open or close at specific times, and so on.

Here are just a few of the most popular products that allow you lot to command your garage door from your smartphone.

MyQ Smart Garage Command – $79.95 – iPhone & Android Compatible

The MyQ smart garage door system was designed specifically for employ with the Chamberlain line of garage door openers. Some new models of garage door opener feature ready-to-go MyQ integration, but existing models manufactured equally far back as 1993 can exist retrofitted with the Wi-Fi garage hub device.

However, other brands of garage door are compatible with the MyQ, including Craftsman, Genie, Liftmaster, Linear, Overhead Door, and more.

Chamberlain has sought to brand a smart garage door system that tin readily be integrated with popular smart dwelling house brands, including Honeywell, Apple tree HomeKit, Alpine, and more. Homeowners should note that some compatible application integrations, such every bit IFTTT (If This Then That), require small monthly or annual subscription fees.

Features include:

App alerts in existent-time when the garage door is opened or closed.
Door can be opened or airtight from anywhere with Wi-Fi access.
Schedule garage door to open or shut at prespecified times.

GarageMate – $49.95 – iPhone & Android Uniform

The receiver for the GarageMate can be purchased from many brick and mortar and online retailers. The GarageMate site claims that the receiver can exist installed in only two minutes and is compatible with most popular models of garage door opener, including Sears-Craftsman, LiftMaster/Chamberlain, Overhead Door, Genie, and then on. The manufacturer's listing of compatible models and installation notes can be establish here.

An unusual feature of the GarageMate is that it utilizes Bluetooth pairing, rather than Wi-Fi. This means that the GarageMate tin be used even in homes without Internet admission.

Boosted features include:

Doors tin can be opened using Siri or Google Assistant voice command
Activity log that details when and who opened or closed garage door
Can be paired with up to 8 phones
App can be paired with more than one garage door
No subscription fees

Gogogate 2 – $99.99 – iPhone, Apple Watch & Android Compatible

The Gogogate ii system is designed for those who desire a more nuanced access command system. A single Gogogate 2 receiver tin be integrated with up to 3 garage doors or gates, making information technology platonic for homeowners with a remote-controlled outside gate and/or multiple garages.

The Wi-Fi enabled system delivers alerts via app or email whenever a door is opened or closed. It tin can control doors remotely from anywhere with Internet access—even a desktop browser—and tin can be integrated with optional camera systems for increased security.

Gogogate 2 allows for a variety of custom options, such as:

Control with voice command systems, including Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa
Automatically opening a garage or gate when y'all are within a specified distance
Scheduling doors to open up or close at sure times
Sharing admission for pre-specified periods of time, so that caretakers can admission your dwelling as needed.