The 2 Best Smart Garage Door Opener Controllers of 2025

Top pick

This model installs easily, has a reliable geofencing feature, and provides broad compatibility with both garage openers and smart- home apps.

Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Control4, Crestron, Google Home, Home Assistant, Hubitat, Samsung SmartThings

The Tailwind iQ3 2.0 Smart Automatic Garage Controller offers an excellent combination of easy installation, straightforward app control, an intuitive auto-open and auto-close feature, and support for a huge variety of smart-home platforms. Tailwind even says the iQ3 2.0 will work with “all known garage door openers on the market today.” It’s impossible for us to test every model out there, but we’ll keep tabs on this claim.

It is yellow-button-proof. In the past, Tailwind and other brands have sometimes had to devise workarounds in order to be compatible with Chamberlain and LiftMaster garage- door openers and their signature yellow “learn” button (, used for programming the open/close signal).

Tailwind says the previous workaround it supplied for free to customers is no longer required — its new smart controller is designed to work with all Chamberlain, Craftsman, and Liftmaster models out of the box, including the previously incompatible newer ones.

It’s car-friendly. The iQ3 2.0 is compatible out of the box with Android Auto, Android Automotive OS, Google Built In, and Apple CarPlay. And unlike many controllers, the Tailwind app offers auto-open and auto-close. It’s a great feature, and it works well, letting you come and go without ever fumbling for a remote control or thinking about the garage door after you’ve left.

Auto-open and-close requires having a phone paired to your car, and Tailwind even gives you options if either your phone or your car is incompatible.

Android users whose cars aren’t equipped with Bluetooth and all iPhone owners to need a $20 battery-powered vehicle sensor to enable the auto-open and auto-close feature.

I have an iPhone, so for our testing Tailwind sent me a vehicle sensor in addition to the main kit. The car sensor installed seamlessly in minutes, and it consistently closed the door for me automatically when I drove away and opened it when I returned.

It’s the smartest of the smart garage-door controllers. No other smart controller I tested had as many optional smart-home integrations as the Tailwind. They include consumer favorites like Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home support and they also include Control4, Crestron, and more enthusiast options like, Home Assistant, Hubitat, and Samsung SmartThings.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

There’s no camera (for now). Tailwind currently doesn’t offer a camera for you to check a live video feed to confirm the status of your door. The company told us that it is working on a camera, as well as an LED garage light but it delayed their releases to focus on the second-gen smart controllers. The company does not yet have details on when these products are expected to arrive.

Privacy and security snapshot

• Tailwind uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt personal data.
• Select data is stored to maintain an active account.
• Your account history is deleted automatically after 60 days.
• Your information may be shared with third parties.

For more details, read Tailwind’s privacy statement.