Garage door opener remotes should not be something that you overlook for your garage. If you buy one that’s prone to breaking, or one that’s not compatible with your garage door opener, you’ll have to buy it more than once.
I don’t want that to happen to you. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of the best garage door opener remotes I could find for each price point. These will be compatible with different types of garage door openers.
First of all, let’s take a look at which one is likely to be the right one for your garage door.
How to Know Which Garage Door Opener Remote is Right for You
Some of the time, manufacturers will give you the right garage door opener remote you need and that’s fine if you only want one. But I’d imagine you want at least two to keep one as a spare.
Therefore, to buy the right one for you, you’ll want to check a few things first. Here are a few ways you can make sure you’re not going to waste money.
Buy a Universal Garage Door Opener Remote
Universal garage door opener remotes are by design, the most versatile remotes you can buy. You can program the remote to suit your garage door. You’ll just need to know the manufacturer just to make sure it’s definitely compatible. This may be a better option for newer garage door openers as well.
Buttons vs Keypads
Garage door opener remotes are usually available with up to 4 buttons. This may be a better option if you have more than one garage. Some buttons simply work as a light switch for your garage.
Keypads on the other hand, or wireless keypads can usually open up to 3 different gates or garage doors. They are normally mounted outside the garage so you can open the garage without the remote. This is still secure as they will require a security code to open the garage door. This may be a better option if you don’t fancy carrying around your garage door opener remote all the time.
Find the Garage Door Opener Remote Information
Most of the time, you’ll be able to find the replacement of your remote by simply checking the model the manufacturers show you in the instruction manual. Many universal models don’t work on older garage door openers, so this may be the way to go if your model is older. However, if it is really old there may be a chance that it is not sold anymore.
If that’s the case, you can usually just buy a remote of the same brand as your garage door opener and program the remote to be compatible with it. There should be instruction guides coming either with the remote or the opener telling you what to do.
Now you have a better idea of which type of garage door opener remote is best for you, let’s get into the best ones I’ve found at varying price points.
Top Garage Door Opener Remotes
1. Craftsman Garage Door Opener 30499. This pocket sized, compact yet high-performing remote operates up to three different Craftsman garage door openers. If you’ve got a Craftsman garage door opener, this one is the perfect option. This remote opens garage doors from greater distances than most models, meaning all you lucky people with massive gardens don’t have to worry. My favourite feature of this one is that LED lights will give you visible feedback that the signal has been sent to your garage door. It also indicates when the battery needs changing. All it requires is 1 CR2 lithium battery and you’re good to go.
2. LiftMaster 1-Button Remote Control. This is the perfect remote for those of you with LiftMaster garage door openers. Coming with a 12V battery and visor clip already included, this one is good to go. It will be easily compatible with your LiftMaster garage door opener. You can be sure of the upmost security with this remote. The one button features computer programmed security codes that are private to you. The second button will provide you with trinary coding with almost 20,000 selections. Meaning your garage door will be more than safe.
3. The beamUP Smart Controller. This Wi-Fi garage door opener works from your phone where you can share access with an unlimited amount of users, perfect for large families. It is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993, coming with a photo eye safety system. It comes with everything you need. Coming with a smart controller and cable, wireless door sentry, batteries, a power adapter alongside an installation guide and manual. You can even check the activity of it through your phone and receive alerts for when you’re outside the house. That’s not even all the features either, I could go on. However this is definitely my favourite one on the list.
4. X X-HOUSE Universal Garage Door Opener. This option is better for you if you’re looking for a cheaper, universal remote. Compatible with basically every model of Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman models (and more), this is a simple option that is sure to be reliable for your garage door. Also coming with a learn button feature, this remote has a 12-month warranty. The two channels feature means it has two buttons which are able to control two different garage doors with the same remote. The best option if you’re on a budget.
5. GENIE G3T-R 3-Button Remote. Conveniently available in a 1 or 2-pack, this remote will keep your garage safe by using rolling code technology that changes the access code from an endless number of combinations. Compatible with Genie garage door openers, it is easily programmable and is easy to use. Overall, this is a high performing remote with auto-seek dial frequency. This means it can access strong, secure signals to minimise the interface and improve the overall performance.
6. LiftMaster 374UT Universal Remote. This red and black remote offers the quality of the LiftMaster brand while offering the versatility of a universal remote, you can’t go wrong here. It works with every major brand of garage door opener, while being very compact and therefore portable. The programming is simple and wireless for your convenience to get you connected fast. Finally, it has a 2-button design to control multiple garage doors. It can even control entry gates and MYQ-enabled lights, a very strong option to finish this list.
Common Reasons why your Garage Door Opener Remote Won’t Work
Garage door opener remotes are like anything else, sometimes they decide to stop working. Lucky for you, here’s a list of the reasons why it might not work.
The Battery is Out
For this you’ll obviously just want to replace the battery, most newer remotes use a 3-Volt lithium battery, but older remotes tend to use a 12-Volt battery.
When replacing the battery, you may have to reprogram the remote control to your garage door opener.
The Remote needs Reprogramming
For this you’ll need to clear the remote, usually via the memory opener, then press and hold until the LED light turns off. Then, simple reprogramme the remote control and keypad and you’re good to go.
Your Garage Door Opener is Broken
This is a tougher one to fix, make sure your actual garage door opener is working properly. If it is broken, reprogramme the remote after the fix.
The Lock Button is On
Check for the blinking light on your door control panel. If the light is indeed blinking, you’ll want to push the lock button and this will turn off the lock feature.
Final Thoughts
Investing in a good, long lasting garage door opener remote will give you piece of mind and make your life easier. As you can see from this article, you’ll either want to get a remote that is compatible with the make of your garage door opener or get a universal one if that’s what you fancy.
Thank you for reading this far, if you want to learn about how to install your own garage door opener, be sure to check out my previous article. Please share it if you found it useful!
