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Garage Door Opener Reviews

"Finding the best garage door opener for your
situation isn't so hard once you determine your needs"

Our garage door opener reviews will help you find the right opener for your door size, garage type and location, and your personal preferences. Garage How To has buying advice to help you make smart shopping choices.

If you need a garage door opener, review the following information on brands, models and other helpful details before making your decision. Learn about screw drive, chain drive, belt drive and torsion drive models.

Follow this link if you need a garage door opener manual.

If you want to learn more about makes and models, read on.

Garage Door Opener Manufacturers and Brands

What about all the different brands? When you strip off all the private labels, there aren't so many to choose from. For example, Allstar is made by Linear, Craftsman is made by Chamberlain and Genie is made by the Overhead Door Corporation, etc. Finding the best garage door opener for your situation isn't so hard once you determine your needs. Click here to learn more about choosing wisely.

To learn more about specific garage door opener reviews, browse through the list below.

Allister Garage Door Openers / Allstar Garage Door Openers

Allister garage door openers are now known as Allstar garage door openers and include the Allister, Challenger, MVP and Pulsar lines of openers. Many, but not all parts are interchangeable between the different Allstar brands. For example, Allister/Allstar often used Linear receivers on their garage door openers, so you must contact a parts dealer to be certain you are ordering the correct parts.

Although parts are still available under the former brand names, the Allister and Allstar brands are no longer manufactured. Linear acquired Allstar and now makes all its openers under the Linear garage door opener brand. Linear has indicated that model numbers have not changed from those of its previous brand names.

Chamberlain Garage Door Openers (see Side-by-Side Comparison of models)

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Something to Know:
Most online garage door opener reviews rank the Chamberlain Whisper Drive® Plus Model WD962KD among the top garage door openers on the market today.
Chain Drive Garage Door Opener Models Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Craftsman Garage Door Opener Reviews

Belt Drive Garage Door Openers

Chain Drive Garage Door Openers Screw Drive Garage Door Openers

Genie Garage Door Openers

Screw Drive

Belt Drive Chain Drive
  • Genie Pro Max® - Dealer Installed
  • Chain Lift®– Dealer Installed
  • Genie Chain Glide (This model was manufactured for the do-it-yourself market for some time but has apparently been discontinued. Genie’s dealer installed line still offers the Chain Lift® and Chain Glide 2® models.)

Hormann Garage Door Opener Reviews (Hormann Gadco LLC)

Belt Drive

  • SilentDrive 5500 Series
  • SilentDrive 7500 Series
  • SilentDrive 8500 Series

Lift Master Garage Door Opener Reviews (see Side-by-Side Comparison)

Screw Drive

Belt Drive Chain Drive Jackshaft

WD962KD Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
Chamberlain 3/4 hp Whisper Drive Plus w/Battery
Back-up, Belt Drive - Model #WD962KD

Linear Garage Door Openers

Chain Drive Garage Door Opener Models

  • Challenger SE, 1/3 HP Chain-Drive Model 9300M
  • Challenger GLE, 1/2 HP Chain-Drive Model 9500M
  • MVP 1/2 HP Chain-Drive Garage Door Operator
  • MVP-SB 1/2 HP Super Belt Garage Door Operator

Operators for Chain or Belt Drive Garage Door Opener Rail Systems

Marantec Garage Door Opener Reviews

All Marantec Control Modules can be Coupled with a Belt Drive or Chain Drive System

Martin Garage Door Openers (see Side-by-Side Comparison of models)

Martin Garage Door openers are manufactured by Marantec America and use
chain, steel reinforced belt or torsion drive lifting mechanisms
, depending on the model.

*DC motor strength equivalent comparison to AC motor horsepower. DC strength is generally measured in Newtons.

Overhead Door Corporation (see Side-by-Side Comparison of models)

Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Chain Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Raynor Garage Door Openers (see Side-by-Side Comparison of models)

Screw Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Chain Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Belt Drive Garage Door Opener Models

Jackshaft Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener

Sears Garage Door Openers

Sears garage door openers bear the Craftsman® name and include a full line of screw drive, chain drive and belt drive garage door openers. Sears remains a trusted brand after more than 120 years.

All Sears Craftsman garage door openers are made by Chamberlain® and are some of the most popular among do-it-yourself homeowners. Despite the DIY popularity, Sears not only sells, but also installs and repairs garage door openers as well as steel and wooden garage doors..

Skylink Garage Door Opener Reviews

Standard Line

  • EQ-1511
  • EQ-1522
  • EQ-1722
  • IQ-1523
  • IQ-1723

Professional Line

  • EQ-2511
  • EQ-2522
  • EQ-2722
  • IQ-2523
  • IQ-2723

Stanley Garage Door Openers

Stanley garage door openers are a thing of the past. The Stanley Works company (the well-known tool brand) has not made or sold garage door openers or garage doors since 1997. When The Stanley Works did sell garage doors and openers, there were actually two companies with rights to use the Stanley name on products they manufactured. Both companies are bankrupt.

According to the Stanley website, The Stanley Works does not and cannot address complaints, warranty issues, parts requests, etc., on Stanley garage door openers. Although the garage door openers are no longer manufactured, some parts are still available with a bit of searching.

Some of the more common names associated with Stanley garage door openers include:

  • Vemco
  • Super Digital
  • Secure Code
  • Quiet Glide
  • LightMaker
  • Whistler
  • Popular Mechanics

Wayne Dalton Garage Door Openers

prorive™ Ceiling Mounted Garage Door Opener Models

  • prodrive™ with Chain Drive Rail
  • prodrive™ with Belt Drive Rail

idrive® Wall Mounted Garage Door Opener Models

  • idrive® for TorqueMaster® garage doors by Wayne-Dalton
  • idrive® for Torsion Springs on non-Wayne-Dalton garage doors

More Garage Door Opener Reviews

This page contains a lot of information, and links to even more information, on most of the major garage door opener manufacturers. By following these links you will be taken to detailed descriptions of each manufacturer, including links to the particular garage door opener models they make or sell.

While buying a garage door opener is not often considered a "major" purchase, unless coupled with a new garage door and professional installation, it is important to choose the right make and model for your specific needs. Take your time, do your home work, and spend a little time seeking further information from other garage door opener reviews you may find at online merchant sites.


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