As smart home technology continues to evolve, there are more and more devices that can be integrated with virtual assistants like Alexa. One of the most recent additions to this list is smart garage door openers.
With a smart garage door opener that works with Alexa, you can open or close your garage door with your voice and even check if the door is closed or open.
Alexa-enabled smart garage doors add to the convenience and security of your home.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the best smart garage door openers that work with Alexa, their features, and how they integrate with Alexa.
But first, what is Alexa, and what are the benefits of using Alexa to control your smart garage door opener?
What Is Alexa?
Alexa is a voice-controlled virtual assistant that can play back music, make to-do lists, set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, and provide weather, traffic, sports, and news updates. Alexa can also control a wide range of smart home devices, including smart plugs, smart bulbs, smart cameras, and smart locks.
Essentially, Alexa works as a central hub that controls your smart home devices.
You can think of Alexa as comprising three elements:
- The cloud-based software that recognizes your voice and answers questions
- The Alexa enabled device such as an Echo Dot or an Echo Show that interacts with the cloud-based software.
- The Alexa app on your smartphone that allows you to control devices by setting triggers and actions
Using the Alexa smartphone app, you can control a wide range of devices by voice command or by setting up schedules that turn devices on and off at set times.
One of the devices you can control via Alexa is your smart garage door.
Let’s look now at the different types of smart garage door openers, the features they offer, and the benefits of having a smart garage door opener.
Smart Garage Door Openers
Different types of smart garage door openers
If you are considering adding a smart garage door to your home, there are two ways to go about it: (1) use a retrofit kit that turns a ‘dumb’ garage door into a smart garage door or (2) install a garage door opener that has smart technology already built-in.
We’ll be covering both types in this article.
If you want to add a retrofit kit to an existing garage door, it’s important to make sure that your existing garage door opener is compatible. Retrofit kits usually work only on sectional garage doors that are powered by a rubber belt drive.
So, what features do smart garage door openers offer?
Features of smart garage door openers
Here are six key features to look for when buying a smart garage door opener:
- Remote access. A smart garage door opener is connected to your Wi-Fi network and the Internet. And that means you can control your garage door remotely. For example, you can open and close a smart garage door from your work. You can also see from the app whether your garage door is open or closed from wherever you happen to be.
- Voice Control. Smart garage door openers are usually compatible with a voice assistant, such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri. This means you can close your garage door with a voice command (however, for security reasons, most smart garage door openers won’t allow the garage door to be opened with a voice command).
- Real-time alerts. Most smart garage door openers will send you notifications via SMS or text when your garage door is opened or closed. Some will also send you alerts when your garage door has been open for more than a certain period of time. These alerts add a layer of security to your garage door and give you peace of mind.
- Integration with smart home hubs. Smart garage door openers can often be integrated with other smart smart devices via a smart home hub. This allows you to create automations that tie your garage door in with smart cameras, smart locks, smart lighting, and other devices. For example, you can connect your smart garage door to Amazon Key so that your Amazon deliveries are left in the garage, where porch pirates can’t steal them. If you are worried about giving a delivery person access to your garage, you could then sync the smart garage door to a smart camera so that you have video of the delivery.
- Auto-close. Some smart garage doors have an auto-close feature that closes the garage door automatically after a certain lapse of time.
- Many of the newer smart garage door openers come with a backup battery that in the event of a power outage, you will still be able to operate the garage door.
Benefits of smart garage door openers
Before installing a smart garage door opener, it’s worth asking, why bother? Is it really worth it?
That will depend on you, of course, but here are the main benefits of having a smart garage door opener.
Remote control
With a smart garage door, you can open and close the garage door from anywhere.
For example, if one of your children rings you at work to say they are locked out of the house, you could simply open the garage door using the app on your smartphone.
With a smart garage door, you can also give temporary access to friends and guests through the smartphone app.
Security
Smart garage doors will send you an alert every time the garage door is opened or closed. They can also send you a notification when the garage door has been left open for more than a specified period of time.
A few years ago, I had been doing some work in the front garden, and I’d left the garage door up. The following day, I was horrified to realize the garage door had been left open all night.
That will never happen again because my smart garage door opener now alerts me when the garage door has been left up for more than 30 minutes (you can set whatever interval you like).
Another security feature you can use with a smart garage door is to set up a schedule. For example, if you connect your smart garage door to Alexa, you could create a routine that closes your garage door every evening at 7 p.m. (or whatever time you specify).
Have you ever been at work and suddenly got a hunch that you left the garage door open? With a smart garage door opener, there’s no need to drive home and check. Go to the app on your smartphone – it will tell you if the garage door is open or closed.
Also, with a smart garage door, there’s no more need for a keypad. With ‘dumb’ garage doors, the way to give access to family members is to mount a keypad on the wall next to the garage door. But a keypad is an invitation to someone on the street to come and try their luck with the code. Through constant use, keypads leave marks showing which numbers have been pressed and that can make your garage vulnerable to being hacked.
A smart garage door opener can also keep your parcel deliveries safe from porch pirates. If you connect your smart garage door opener to Amazon Key, the delivery person can leave your parcel in the garage and close the door again.
Convenience
The most convenient aspect of a smart garage door is never having to worry about losing the remote. Your smartphone is your remote, and it’s always going to be with you. That’s a huge convenience right there.
Voice control is another convenience. If you connect your smart garage door opener to a voice assistant such as Alexa or Google, you can close your garage door with a voice command (for security reasons, most smart garage door openers will not allow you to open the garage door with a voice command).
How Smart Garage Door Openers Work with Alexa
Some smart garage door openers are compatible with Alexa. That means they can be connected to Alexa through an Alexa ‘skill’.
An Alexa skill is like a mobile app, except that it is voice-driven. There are currently more than 100,000 Alexa skills available, so there’s a good chance there’s a skill for your smart garage door opener.
In the Alexa app, go to ‘Skills & Games’ and type in the name of your smart garage door opener. If your garage door opener is listed, enable the skill and follow the instructions to link your garage door opener account with Alexa.
Once the integration is complete, you can use voice commands to control your garage door using Alexa. For example, you could say, “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
If there isn’t a specific Alexa skill for your smart garage door opener, you may be able to add your smart garage door opener to Alexa using IFTTT.
First, make sure that your smart garage door opener is compatible with both Alexa and IFTTT, and then connect IFTTT to your Alexa app. Then, create an applet within IFTTT. This involves choosing a ‘trigger’ and an ‘action’. The trigger could be a voice command, and the action might be closing the garage door. Once you have set up the applet in IFTTT, you can activate your smart garage door either with a voice command or with a schedule (e.g., garage door closes at a certain time each day).
Top Smart Garage Door Openers That Work with Alexa
Image credit: Meross
#1. Meross Garage Door Opener
The Meross Smart WiFi Garage Door Opener is a retrofit add-on kit that turns your existing garage door opener into a smart garage door opener.
The Meross smart garage door opener connects easily with Alexa through the Meross smartphone app. But there are some issues that you should be aware of before buying this garage door opener.
Firstly, the Alexa app classifies the Meross garage door opener as a “lock.” This means that Alexa requires you to set a four-digit code for your garage door. Every time you open your garage door, Alexa will ask you for that 4-digit code.
Secondly, there is no open/close button in the Alexa app, so if you want to control your garage door through Alexa, you will have to use voice commands. If you want to use a button to open/close, you will have to use the Meross smartphone app.
Thirdly, if you open or close your garage door using the remote, the Meross app gets out of sync. It will show the garage door as open when it is closed and vice versa (you can get it back into sync by using the remote a couple of open/close cycles).
This can be annoying so it’s best if you only use either the Meross app or Alexa (but not the remote).
Features:
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings
- Check the garage door’s open/ close history in the app
- Easy to Install
- Let in your family, guests or couriers through the garage door while you are cooking or not at home.
- Voice control via Alexa or SmartThings
How to add to Alexa:
- First, make sure your Meross Garage Door Opener is set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network using the Meross app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “Meross” in the search bar.
- Select the Meross skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Meross account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Meross account to Alexa.
- Once your Meross account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say, “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Geeni
#2. Geeni garage door opener
The Geeni Smart Garage Door Opener is a retrofit add-on kit that turns your existing garage door opener into a smart garage door opener.
It’s easy to install (about 10 minutes) and connects with Alexa without much trouble. However, you won’t be able to add the Geeni smart garage door opener to an Alexa routine involving other devices – you can only operate it within Alex as a stand-alone device.
Also, Alexa will ask you to set a 4-digit PIN, and you’ll have to say that PIN number in your voice command every time you open the garage door (this is a safety measure).
Features:
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Home
- Makes your existing home garage door system smart
- Set your garage on a schedule or timer to ensure it closes at night
- Receive a notification if the garage door has been left open
- DIY install on your existing garage motor (no professional needed)
- Compatible with most garage opener belt systems
- No hub required – the smart garage opener has Wi-Fi built-in
- Requires 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network
How to add to Alexa:
- Ensure that your Geeni garage door opener is properly set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network using the Geeni app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, then search for “Geeni” in the search bar.
- Select the Geeni skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Geeni account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Geeni account to Alexa.
- Once your Geeni account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Skylink Store
#3. Skylink ATR-1723BKW
The Skylink ATR-1723BKW is a garage door opener mechanism, not a retrofit add-on kit.
The motor is powerful and much quieter than some other brands of garage door openers.
The app for this smart garage door opener is easy to set up but very basic – all it really does is let you open or close the garage door and check on the garage door status. There are no advanced settings.
Features:
- Extremely quiet DC motor and belt drive
- Built-in LED light
- Wireless keypad
- WiFi compatible
- Soft start and stop adjust the speed gradually at two ends to reduce vibration
- Works with Orbit Smarthome, Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure that your Skylink ATR-1723BKW garage door opener is installed and working properly.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, then search for “Skylink” in the search bar.
- Select the Skylink skill from the search results and tap “Enable.”
- Enter your Skylink account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Skylink account to Alexa.
- Once your Skylink account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Beam Labs
#4. beamUP Volta BU860
The beamUP Volta BU850 is a garage door opening mechanism, not an add-on retrofit kit.
This garage door opener is easy to install but takes longer than a retrofit kit (1 to 2 hours). It is also extremely quiet, much quieter than most other garage door openers.
Where the beamUP Volta BU860 doesn’t perform so well is the smart tech. It doesn’t integrate directly with Alexa: you’ll have to connect it to Alexa via IFTTT. However, the IFTTT connection tends to drop out, and each time it does so, you have to go through the whole pairing process again.
The app that comes with the garage door is very basic and just opens and closes the garage door. The app sends alerts whenever the garage door goes up or down, but it doesn’t show the time or keep a log file.
Features:
- Integrated motion-activated 3000 lumen (200W) edge-to-edge LED security lighting system
- Blankets the entire garage with motion sensors — not just near the door control.
- Quick & easy setup – installs without any special tools
- Battery backup
- Two car garage door opener
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure your BeamUP Volta BU860 garage door opener is installed and working properly.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “BeamUP” in the search bar.
- Select the BeamUP skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your BeamUP account credentials and follow the prompts to link your BeamUP account to Alexa.
- Once your BeamUP account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Atomi Smart
#5. Atomi garage door opener
The Atomi garage door opener is an add-on retrofit kit that turns your existing garage door opener into a smart garage door opener.
It installs easily (10 to 15 minutes) and connects to Alexa without too much trouble.
The main problem with the Atomi is the open/close indicator in the smartphone app. As with some other smart garage door openers, if you use the garage door remote to open or close the garage door, it confuses the app – the app gets out of sync and displays the opposite open/close status.
Also, you need a Wi-Fi router that operates on 2.5 G. If you only have 5 G, the camera won’t work. Be aware that the camera does not provide video, just snapshots of the garage door.
Features:
- Real-time notifications and alerts
- Built-in camera
- Monitor garage door activity
- Create timers and schedules for closing garage door
- Control multiple garage doors
- Atomi smart app (free download)
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure that your Atomi garage door opener is properly set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network using the Atomi Smart app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “Atomi Smart” in the search bar.
- Select the Atomi Smart skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Atomi Smart account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Atomi Smart account to Alexa.
- Once your Atomi Smart account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say, “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Liftmaster
#6. LiftMaster garage door opener
The LiftMaster 87504-267 garage door opener is a garage door opener mechanism, not a retrofit kit for an existing garage door.
It is important to note that this product does not come with the rail that connects the motor to the garage or with the belt drive. The rail, belt, and trolley are sold together in a separate unit.
When connecting the LiftMaster 87504-267 to your Wi-Fi, ensure that port 8883 on your router is open and that your router is set to 2 GHZ and WPA2 only.
Installation is quite straightforward, and the garage door opener pairs easily with the MyQ app.
Features:
- Belt drive smart opener with a camera (built-in camera adds video and 2-way audio communication to the myQ app)
- LED corner-to-corner lighting
- Battery backup lets you get in and out when the power is down
- Control, secure, and monitor the garage with the myQ app from anywhere
- 360° light ring uniformly brightens every corner of the garage with 2,000 lumens of long-lasting LED light
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure that your LiftMaster garage door opener is properly set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network using the MyQ app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “MyQ” in the search bar.
- Select the MyQ skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your MyQ account credentials and follow the prompts to link your MyQ account to Alexa.
- Once your MyQ account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Genie Company
#7. Genie Aladdin Connect smart garage door opener
The Genie Aladdin Connect is an add-on that turns your existing garage door opener into a smart garage door opener. This is a great retrofit kit – one of the best out there!
It’s very easy to install – it took me less than 30 minutes! There was one small glitch: the app didn’t recognize the serial number. But this was quickly solved by calling the Genie helpline.
When you connect this smart garage door opener to your Wi-Fi, make sure to turn off mobile data on your smartphone. If you don’t do this, the app will tell you that “no networks could be found”.
Alexa integration is easy – there is a Genie Aladdin skill within the Alexa skills list.
However, the integration with Alexa is fairly limited. For example, you can’t include the Genie Aladdin garage door opener in an Alexa routine that involves other devices. Also, for safety reasons, you have to create a 4-digit passcode within Alexa. You will have to say that 4-digit code every time you tell Alexa to open the garage door.
Another thing to be aware of is that the virtual keys that you can share with family members and guests require that the other person has the Genie Aladdin app installed on their phone.
Features:
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa, & Google Assistant
- Uses a sensor attached to the garage door to alert you when the door opens or closes – electronically or manually.
- Monitor and control up to 3 garage doors with additional door position sensors sold separately
- Schedule times to close your garage door
- Set the garage door to close after a certain length of time
- Create virtual keys for friends, neighbors, and relatives
- Wi-Fi router requirements: 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz with WPA2 or WPA Security
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure that your Genie Aladdin Connect garage door opener is properly set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi network using the Aladdin Connect app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “Genie Aladdin Connect” in the search bar.
- Select the Genie Aladdin Connect skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Genie Aladdin Connect account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Genie Aladdin Connect account to Alexa.
- Once your Genie Aladdin Connect account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Get Nexx
#8. Nexx Garage smart garage door opener
The Nexx Garage smart garage door opener is a retrofit kit that turns your existing garage door into a smart garage door. Installation is very simple – just 30 minutes and that includes integration with Alexa.
Once the garage door opener is integrated with Alexa you can tell Alexa to open or close your garage door. However, to open the garage door, you will need to include a 4-digit passcode in your voice command.
You can also ask Alexa if the garage door is open or closed.
One very useful aspect of the Nexx Garage smart garage door opener is the Just Drive feature. Just Drive uses geofencing to open your garage door automatically, once your car is within a certain number of meters of your house.
Features:
- Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
- Open and close your garage for from anywhere
- Schedule your garage door to close at certain times
- View history of garage activity
- Voice commands to Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant
- Receive notifications if someone has forgotten to close the door
- Installs in 15 minutes or less
- No hidden fees or ongoing monthly subscription
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure your Nexx Garage smart garage door opener is properly installed and set up using the Nexx Home app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “Nexx Home” in the search bar.
- Select the Nexx Home skill from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Nexx Home account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Nexx Home account to Alexa.
- Once your Nexx Home account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Image credit: Go Tailwind
#9. Tailwind iQ3 smart garage door opener
The Tailwind iQ3 is probably the best retrofit smart garage door opener on the market.
It takes a bit longer to install than other retrofit kits – 45 minutes to an hour. Most of that time is taken up with placement of the sensors and arrangement of the cabling and zip ties etc. Make sure to watch the Tailwind iQ3 installation video before you start.
The Tailwind iQ3 has a very good geofencing auto open/close feature but for this you will need to make sure that you order the model with car sensor included.
One really nice aspect of the Tailwind is the Night Mode feature. If you are prone to leaving your garage door open at night (as I am) this is a godsend.
Night Mode makes sure your garage door is closed all night long. If your door opens at any time during the night, Tailwind will close it again in 5 minutes, making it far more secure than other solutions.
Tailwind connects easily to Alexa and there are two Tailwind Alexa skills. Both skills allow you to open and close the garage door and check on the garage door status.
One advantage of Tailwind over other retrofit kits is that you can include your garage door within an Alexa routine. For example, you can have an Alexa routine where you say “Alexa goodnight” and Alexa will turn off lights, check that your smart lock is closed, and close the garage door (if it is open).
For some reason, Tailwind iQ3 is no longer available on Amazon and has to be purchased from the Tailwind site.
Features:
- Night Mode monitors your garage door all night
- Auto-open upon arrival (garage door opens automatically as you arrive home)
- Integrates with with Apple HomeKit, Siri, Google Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, Smart Things, Home Assistant, IFTTT, Hubitat, Control4, and Crestron
- Share access to your garage with an unlimited number of people
- Schedule, restrict or revoke access at any time
- auto-close will close the door for you if you forget
- Controls up to 3 doors
- Works with Chamberlain, Chamberlain MyQ, Liftmaster, Genie, Wayne, Dalton, Sommer, and other garage door openers
- Patent pending technology senses which car you’re driving and closes the door automatically when you leave
- Free Tailwind iOS or Android app
- Check the door status and receive alerts anywhere in the world
How to add to Alexa:
- Make sure your Tailwind iQ3 smart garage door opener is properly installed and set up using the Tailwind app on your smartphone.
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone and tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select “Skills & Games” from the menu, and then search for “Tailwind” in the search bar.
- Select one of the two Tailwind skills from the search results and tap on “Enable.”
- Enter your Tailwind account credentials and follow the prompts to link your Tailwind account to Alexa.
- Once your Tailwind account is linked to Alexa, you can discover your garage door opener by saying “Alexa, discover my devices.”
- After Alexa discovers your garage door opener, you can use voice commands to open or close it. For example, you can say “Alexa, open the garage door” or “Alexa, close the garage door.”
Conclusion
Smart garage door openers that work with Alexa can bring a new level of convenience and security to your home. The ability to control your garage door with your voice means you can easily open and close your garage from anywhere in your home.
And with an Alexa compatible smart garage door, you can set routines so that your garage door automatically closes at the end of every day.
Additionally, smart garage door openers offer a variety of features such as alerts and scheduling options that can further enhance the safety and convenience of your home.
Overall, if you’re looking to upgrade your garage door opener, a smart garage door opener that works with Alexa is a great option to consider.