Home tools Buyer's Guides from tech enthusiast who loves technology and clever solutions for better living.
Best universal garage door remote 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated March 1, 2023
Hi there, I’m Arnold Simmons. After putting in 53+ hours of research and testing, I made a list of the best universal garage door remote of 2018 and explained their differences and advantages.
I have been writing about technology and entertainment since the early 90s from my secluded home in West Virginia. You see I’m an average member of the public just like you and the main reason I decided to publish a review website on universal garage door remote is because I was looking for one not so long ago.
Best universal garage door remote of 2018
I am going to specify each good-to-buy feature as much as possible for your references. Customers need to be careful on how they spend their money on these products.
There’s a product for every kind of user on the list of affordable options below. I browse the various universal garage door remote available on the market and list three of the very best.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
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| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Style |
5 points
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4 points
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4 points
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| Size |
5 points
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5 points
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4 points
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| Construction |
4 points
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5 points
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4 points
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| Value |
5 points
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4 points
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5 points
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| Awards |  |
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the universal garage door remote by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Chamberlain Group KLIK3U-BK Clicker Universal 2-Button Garage Door Opener Remote with Visor Clip
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this universal garage door remote win the first place?
I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! I also liked the delivery service that was fast and quick to react. It was delivered on the third day. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack.
5
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
№2 – Chamberlain Smart Garage Hub MYQ-G0301 Upgrade your Existing Garage Door Opener with MyQ Smart Phone Control
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this universal garage door remote come in second place?
The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money.
4
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5
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5
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4
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№3 – Clicker Universal Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Keypad KLIK2U
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this universal garage door remote take third place?
It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. A very convenient model. It is affordable and made of high-quality materials. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment.
4
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4
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4
|
5
|
universal garage door remote Buyer’s Guide
Our Favorite Garage Openers
Most, if not all garage door openers have small remotes so you can open and close the door from your car. However, you can take things a step further by adding smarts to your garage door opener. Doing so will not only let you monitor and control it from your smartphone, but also link it to other smart home devices, so that your house lights will turn on when you arrive home.
What to Look For
Before you buy a smart garage door opener, you should make sure it will work with your existing garage door. Usually, you can find out which doors an opener is compatible with on the manufacturer’s site.
Also, some smart garage door openers have Wi-Fi, while others use Bluetooth to connect to your phone. We recommend sticking with Wi-Fi models, as they’ll allow you to remotely monitor your garage door; Bluetooth models will work only when you’re within about 20 feet of the garage.
You also want to find out how many smart home systems each garage door opener is compatible with — the more, the better, because you’ll have more options when building out your smart home.
Garage Door Lubricants
Different parts of your garage door or opener may need to be lubricated with products specifically designed for that moving part. For example, coiled springs that help to lift the garage door are sometimes sealed with a special powder coating when they come from the factory. Other springs may need to be sprayed with a product made just for these types of parts.
Lithium grease is often used to coat ball bearings in door track rollers, while silicone spray may be utilized on garage door tracks. Using some garage door lubricants on certain parts can cause the part to collect dirt and dust and work improperly. So know which lubricant to use for a certain application.
Compact
When it comes to the size of this garage door opener, it has got the best in the market. It comes in a comfortable, compact size that easily fits in with the busy and swift life of users. It can be easily carried along with while you are going for a jog or taking your dog out for a walk or riding a bike and much more. Its compact size makes it the perfect device to open your garage door automatically. Moreover, due to its simple interface and compact size, kids also find it very easy to operate.
Durable
As far as durability is concerned, this garage door opener is amongst the best that you can find in the market at present. It comes with one year warranty period and only requires the replacement of batteries to keep going on and on till you want. It is highly durable and promises to be with you until you want to get rid of it.
The Chamberlain KLIK1U Clicker Universal Remote Control is a highly compatible and easy-to-program remote control. It is amongst the best garage door openers available in the market at present. It is the best choice to replace your damaged old remote or lost remote for it is compatible with all the main garage door manufacturers. It is amazingly user-friendly and provides you with convenient and secure access to your garage.
Easy To Program
The KLIK1U Clicker comes with clear and easy-to-follow instructions so that you can smoothly program your new remote to match the settings on the one that you want to replace or the one you lost. To program your new remote, all you have to do is simply remove the front panel and get started by pushing the Smart/Learn program button. They also have a programming instructional video on their official website to help you through the process. Being easy to program, this garage remote control is amongst the best solutions that you could have for your lost or damaged garage remote controls. Apart from easy programming, this remote comes with quick programming. You would need only a few seconds to program the remote and start using the same.
Operates Two Doors For Added Convenience
The Chamberlain KLIK1U Clicker Universal Remote Control features two buttons that can be used to operate two different frequencies at the same time, so it is like having two remote controls in one. With this remote, you can control up to gate systems or garage door openers simultaneously. Depending on your requirements, you can program the two buttons available on KLIK1U Clicker to be used with any of the compatible garage door manufacturer brands.
Features
KLIK1U Clicker possesses a large number of features. It is light weight and comes with a user-friendly interface. Being compatible with a broad range of garage door system manufacturer brands, this remote control is the best solution in case you have lost your old remote or have a damaged one. With it, you can control two different garage door manufacturer systems at once and thus it works as a two-in-one remote control. It runs on a single battery that needs to be replaced at regular intervals. It carries a 1-year warranty and is highly durable.
Genie G3T-R Intellicode3-Button Remote
Genie G3T-R is easy to program garage door remote control that comes with LED indicators. LED indicators impart easy and user-friendly interface to this remote control system. It is compatible with all Genie garage door opener products that arrived in the market from 199till date. It features large buttons and user can easily program the functionality of each of these buttons. It is one of the best garage door openers out there in the market currently and is incredibly user-friendly and ensures you with a convenient and secure access to your garage.
Compatible
Genie G3T-R is amongst the best garage door openers available in markets at present, and its high compatibility is one of the major reasons behind its status as a leading variant. It comes with all possible programming modes that can be found in Genie garage door opener products released in the market from 199to the present. It is programmable for all Genie products that were available in the market during and after 199when new Safe-T-Beam and safety features were added. This remote control is compatible with all Genie 9/1units, and Genie gated community receivers.
Craftsman Garage Door Opener 3049Remote Control
Craftsman is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to garage door systems including the openers. This brand provides high-quality products that come with long life and amazing functionality. Craftsman Garage Door Opener 3-Function Remote Control is a compact, single body remote control system to operate your garage doors as per your needs. It can function from long range that allows you to open your garage door from greater distances.
Greater Range
Garage Door Opener 3-Function Remote Control comes with wider range allowing you to operate your garage door from long distances. With this remote system, you can have your garage door already open when you reach your home to park your vehicle. This saves you from waiting for your garage door to get open. You can always activate your garage door’s sensors using this remote control before you pull into the driveway and get safely and quickly parked without any wait.
Linear 308Compatible Visor Remote Opener
Linear 308911, a multi-code garage door opener remote control, is amongst one of the best remote controls available at present. It acts as a replacement for many older versions of remote controls used for controlling and operating the garage door. This is compact and easy to use garage door opener remote control ensure full safety and security of your garage.
For complex setups and non-IR devices
More elaborate and a little harder to set up, the Harmony Companion doesn’t require line-of-sight to your gear, is able to control Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, and can even run your smart home.
The Harmony Companion is able to integrate with several do-it-yourself home automation hubs and smart devices, such as lights, locks, thermostats, and motorized shades, which is something few other universal remote controls can do. Further, the Harmony mobile app on a smartphone or tablet provides remote control and access to your system and smart devices from anywhere via the internet. No other remote control we can find offers this much control, connectivity, and compatibility for the money.
However, the Companion is more difficult to setup and program; it is made for tech-savvy people.
If you need the Companion’s level of control, ease of programming, vast control database and smart activity-based systems but still want a touchscreen or want to add even more devices to better integrate your smarthome into your system, the Harmony Elite is your remote. Another Hub-based Harmony, it adds a touchscreen and support for up to 1devices to the Companion’s specifications, giving home theater enthusiasts and smart home experimenters maximum flexibility.
If a color LCD screen doesn’t impress you, and you want to save about two plain pizza’s worth of money, the Logitech Harmony 350 is your remote. It can control all the same devices with the same amount of skill as the 650, but it’s not backlit, and it lacks the handy help feature built into the 650. If it weren’t for the lack of a backlight, this would make an economical remote for bedroom TVs (where you are almost certainly in the dark).
Sixty-five years after Zenith introduced the first TV remote control, it seems we’re still waiting for someone to perfect one, but the 650 and Companion are as close as you can get today without spending several hundred dollars.
Pull Quote
These days, selecting the best universal remote is largely a matter of selecting the best Logitech Harmony device.
And then there’s Logitech. These days, selecting the best universal remote is largely a matter of selecting the best Logitech Harmony device.
A few new options have emerged, some of which we’ll discuss in the What to look forward to section below. And if you don’t mind using your smartphone or tablet as a remote, here are several app-based remote systems. Usually these system require some separate hardware that take a Bluetooth signal from your phone or tablet and send out an IR signal to your AV components. Logitech, of course, offers a system like this, as does Peel. We tried out both of those to see if an app alone can be good substitute for a handheld remote.
The Logitech Harmony 650 is the best universal remote for most people because it can coordinate the functions of up to eight components, is relatively simple to program with its MyHarmony software, and uses a smart, activity-based interface that simplifies control of your whole home theater. It can only control IR (infrared) devices—that’s most audio, video, and home theater gear—but it can’t communicate over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so it isn’t compatible with some recent devices (Logitech’s Hub-based devices, which we’ll discuss below, are a better option if you need more than IR control).
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The most egregious design flaw in the Harmony Companion is that the buttons on the handheld remote are not backlit. While it’s true that the raised buttons and intuitively organized layout makes it easy to use by feel only, that only applies if you know what each button is supposed to do. For example, if you can never remember which is the DVR button and which is the Guide button, you’ll struggle to operate the remote in the dark.
The Harmony Companion doesn’t have a display like the Harmony 650 does. That means many of the less-often used functions, such as changing the surround mode or subwoofer level, won’t be accessible through the Companion’s remote. Nor is the Help function available from the handheld remote, since there’s no way for the remote to interact with the user. The Harmony App offers a “FIX” feature that allows the user to directly access incorrect settings (power and input for components, for example). It’s faster but less intuitive to use than the Harmony 650’s Help function, since it doesn’t provide visual prompts.
If the relative ease of programming, vast control database and smart activities of the Companion just isn’t enough for you, and what you really want is a cool touchscreen to let you tap your home theater into action, and you’d like to integrate even more of your smarthome devices into your system, then you’ll want to investigate the Harmony Elite, the top dog remote in the Logitech lineup.
The Elite is Harmony’s flagship remote, replacing the Ultimate Home. The standout feature of the Elite is the color touchscreen built into the remote. Instead of pressing hard buttons for Movie, TV, or Music, for instance, you scroll up and down on the screen for your activity and tap that. The screen then switches to pages customized for that activity, and the control options can go satisfyingly deep. All the activity names can be customized, or you can create your own. This is also the remote if you have a lot of gear—it can control up to 1devices (up from the Companion’s eight-device limit) so it potentially replaces up to 1other remotes (or lets you add control for more smart home gear, as we’ll discuss below).
Like the Harmony Companion, the Elite also allows you to hide your home theater gear in a cabinet or gear closet. It comes with two IR blasters you can position in front of the cabinet doors that keep your gear out of sight.
Like all the other Hub-based Harmony remotes, the Elite also allows you to use the Harmony app in addition to the actual remote.
The app option
What if you don’t want another handheld device but the idea of universal remote control does appeal to you? An app may well do the job. We’re particularly fond of the Logitech Harmony app, which as noted, comes with any of the Hub-based remotes. You can also purchase the Harmony Home Hub as a standalone unit (it’s available without a remote) and just use the app. But that’s still around a hundred dollars—more than you’d spend for our top pick, the Harmony 650, and not so much a savings over the Companion that we’d recommend you give up the option of having a hardware remote altogether.
The Pronto Peel is a good app remote for people who don’t have overly complicated systems. The product is in two parts: a hardware module that connects to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and beams out IR commands to your home theater gear, and an iOS or Android app for you to poke at. It also comes with a corded IR blaster for getting the command signals to hard-to-reach devices. Like the Harmony, it can control components in a cabinet or closet as long as the Pronto module isn’t outside of Bluetooth range from your mobile devices.
Setting up the Pronto Peel started off easy. The app walks the user through a few simple steps to add a TV (projectors too), receiver, DVD/Blu-ray player, streaming media player, cable/satellite set-top-box, HTiB or soundbar. After that it guides you through creating activities based around your source components. It all was working well for us until time came to create an activity for watching streaming video. The IR codeset Peel found for one AV receiver didn’t include all the receiver’s video inputs, so to make the Roku work, we had to move some of the HDMI cables around until we found ones that corresponded to the five HDMI inputs the Peel said the receiver had (our receiver actually has HDMI inputs). Another work-around was to teach the correct input code to the Pronto Peel, but the learned input couldn’t be added in the activity creation step, so that solution wasn’t perfect.
The Peel app is also more limited in what kinds of devices it can control. For instance, it can’t control any game system, while the Harmony will control most game systems as well as several smart home devices.
The Peel app is not quite as intuitive as the Harmony app, but we were able to get it to do everything we needed with a little finagling. If your AV system doesn’t go beyond the basic components and you want to be able to hide your gear and control it all cheaply, the Pronto Peel will have you covered. However, if you’re not committed to the idea of an app for your home theater, we still think you’ll be happier with the Harmony 650 handheld remote.
We also tried out the Nevo Portal from Universal Electronics. Like the Pronto Peel, the Nevo system includes an app and a Bluetooth module. One difference is that the Bluetooth module with the Nevo includes some fixed buttons itself, such as power and volume, so you can keep it on your coffee table to reach out and tap the volume up without opening the app. That’s a great feature, but the greatness ends there. The activity macros are difficult to set up and don’t always work, and the fixed buttons on the module were about as unreliable. Since it’s almost the same price as the Pronto Peel, you’re better off with the Peel.
The competition
About the only competition a Harmony remote has is another Harmony remote. There’s not a lot of competition in good universal remote controls.
The Wayne-Dalton WDHC-20 HomeSettings Controls Teleport Universal A/V Remote is unusual among the universal remotes available today in that it’s a combination of a universal IR remote and a Z-Wave controller. Compared with the more capable Home Control, though, the WDHC-20 is limited: it can control only four IR devices, has a much smaller database of IR codes, does not include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or USB connectivity, and only controls Z-Wave smart home devices—so unless you own some Z-Wave devices, this probably isn’t for you.
Universal Remote Control (the company) used to offer a range of good remotes, but the only URC model you can currently buy off the shelf is the clunky and difficult-to-program SR3, which only controls three devices. It’s more of a replacement remote than an universal remote.
RCA offers an eight-device capable “universal” replacement remote, along with two-, three-, four-, and six-device versions. The bigger RC remotes even have programmable macros that let you power up several devices with one button press, but they aren’t capable of the kind of switching or complex control the Harmony devices can accomplish.
Like RCA, One for All has several universal remotes in their lineup (at least those for sale in the United States), including the Simple 4; these have similarly limited programmability and only support three or four devices.
What to look forward to
Another newcomer, the Ray Super Remote, looks like a smartphone, but it’s a dedicated touchscreen remote. Currently the Super Remote can only be used in systems with a cable subscription, but as soon as that changes, we’ll add it to this guide.
Wrapping it up
The Harmony Companion and the Harmony 650 both offer control of up to eight devices, but that’s where the similarities end. The Companion’s separate Hub uses a combination of IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi to extend its control capabilities beyond that of the IR-only 650. Not only can it control Sonos speakers, the Companion integrates with a variety of smart home systems, and the Harmony mobile app gives you the options of using a smartphone or tablet as a remote as well as control of your home from anywhere you have internet access.
The 650 is still our favorite for systems with components using only IR remotes. The Companion, on the other hand, is the best value for the money you can find in a remote that can let you integrate control of your AV and home automation systems.
Sources
This universal remote control links to one or two garage doors or gate systems. It’s compatible with most other brands apart from Chamberlain. This remote control is very easy to program and operate. It can be easily programmed into older door or gate mechanisms. You can operate the doors or gates with one simple click of the buttons.
It only works across a short range
Buying a new remote control for your garage door opener is a time-consuming process. There are so many new aspects and features out on the market to consider when purchasing one. Most of all, upon first viewing them, you wouldn’t know exactly the benefits these features will bring.
This value selection provides all the information you need to know when out shopping for a new universal garage door opener.
Universal visors
These are types of universal remote controls that can be left in your car. They are attached to the car’s sun visors. This adds convenience if you don’t want to carry the remote around with you and your car is left without unnecessary clutter.
Garage Door Openers
Have you ever left your house and wondered if you left your garage door open? Or wanted to let someone into the house while you were away? Would you worry less if you knew the kids came home from school safely? With a smartphone connected garage door opener, you can do all of this and more at any time, from anywhere.
Choosing the right connected garage door opener product is important. There are many types to choose from. Look for products that are safe, have the features you want, and are compatible with your garage door and opener.
Common Features
Control away from home: Connected garage door openers and accessories that connect to the internet (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet Router) allow you to operate the door when you are away from home. These products typically have a gateway, hub, or bridge that connects to your router. Wi-Fi products do not typically require a wired connection to the router.
Control while at home: Connected garage door openers and accessories that do not connect to the internet allow for control when you are close to home. You typically have to be in range for features such as Bluetooth to work with your smartphone and garage door opener.
Alerts and notifications: Some connected garage door openers and accessories provide notifications when the door opens and closes. The alerts will let you know if you left the garage door open when you pulled away. They will also let you know if the garage door opens while you are on vacation, or otherwise away from your home.
Depending on the universal remote that you select, there will be different options for how to set up the remote so that it is compatible with all of your devices. Some universal remotes can be set up manually while others are set up automatically by linking them with software online. Make sure to consider what type of setup works best for you.
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the universal garage door remote by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your universal garage door remote wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of universal garage door remote
- №1 — Chamberlain Group KLIK3U-BK Clicker Universal 2-Button Garage Door Opener Remote with Visor Clip
- №2 — Chamberlain Smart Garage Hub MYQ-G0301 Upgrade your Existing Garage Door Opener with MyQ Smart Phone Control
- №3 — Clicker Universal Garage Door Opener Keyless Entry Keypad KLIK2U
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