Genie vs Chamberlain Garage Door Openers – Which Is Better?

Genie and Chamberlain are amongst the top five most used garage door openers in the US. With home security systems getting smarter with AI and Smart Voice assistant, choosing the right garage door opener has become a little taxing.

You may find your door opener fascinating with a smart voice assistant, for instance, but it might not be compatible with your old car. 

In other cases, some garage door openers may charge you extra for using them on a pay-as-you-go basis though they come with smart features.

Despite being on top of the market, you can’t help but wonder: do Genie and Chamberlain have any such weak links?

There are a lot of garage door opener reviews out there, but before you decide to go with any particular brand, it’s important to first understand the basics. Having a good foundation will help you select the right model for your home, especially when choosing between two brands that will require you to invest hefty sums. From types to installation, there’s plenty to learn and scrutinize.

By knowing the basics, you can then compare similar models of the two brands based on their price, features, and customer reviews to purchase the best one for your garage.  

Without further ado, let’s get down to the basics!

Types of Garage Door Openers

There are three types of garage door openers, all of which are available under any brand you choose.

Chain Drive Opener

A chain drive opener is one of the most commonly available and used garage door openers. It operates with a chain connecting to a motor and a trolley. Due to this simple operating technique, this type of door opener is quite inexpensive and fits everyone’s budget. However, given the metal-to-metal contact during operation, the chain and trolley lead to loud noise and occasional vibration. 

Belt Drive Opener

Belt-drive openers function the same way as a chain-drive opener, except that they use a rubber belt in place of the metal chain. This brings down any noise or vibrations during the operation. Although a bit more expensive, the belt-drive openers are a smooth alternative to chain-drive openers. 

Jackshaft Door Opener 

The Jackshift Door Openers are installed at the door edges. A 24v DC motor drives the pulleys and cables to raise the door. Those who have tall door frames or want their ceiling free for overhead storage prefer the Jackshaft door opener over the others. However, due to the DC motor inside, they are expensive. 

How Much Horsepower Does A Garage Door Opener Need?

From what has been discussed so far, a garage door opener has been designed to provide you an easy and illuminated access to your home. That said, it can improve your home security by a lot. These devices are also smart compatible, meaning that they can easily be integrated into your existing home security systems.

However, they rely on electricity to work, measured by horsepower (HP). Residential garage door openers usually range from ½ to 1-½ HP, but will still depend on the type of garage door you have.

A higher HP model may be needed to operate if you have a double-car garage door, as anything less will cause it to operate with more effort and cause wear and tear on the motor prematurely.

Genie vs Chamberlain Garage Door Opener – Differences and Similarities  

Now that you know the common types of garage door openers let’s see what Chamberlain and Genie have to offer with each of these varieties. 

First, it’s important to remember that both brands produce good quality garage door openers and have carried on their respective legacy forward for years to be fair.

They also offer openers from all the above-mentioned categories with a few similarities and differences to outsmart each other.

Let’s start with the similarities first. 

How much horsepower does a garage door opener need?

From what has been discussed so far, a garage door opener has been designed to provide you an easy and illuminated access to your home. That said, it can improve your home security by a lot. These devices are also smart compatible, meaning that they can easily be integrated into your existing home security systems.

However, they rely on electricity to work, measured by horsepower (HP). Residential garage door openers usually range from ½ to 1-½ HP, but will still depend on the type of garage door you have.

A higher HP model may be needed to operate if you have a double-car garage door, as anything less will cause it to operate with more effort and cause wear and tear on the motor prematurely.

 Chamberlain vs Genie Garage Door Openers: The Similarities

DC Belt Drive System with 3/4 HPS

Both the Chamberlain B970-T and Genie model 3053 use smart and efficient belt-drive systems to amplify their performance. The ¾ HPS DC belt drive system is robust and sturdy enough to lift the heaviest doors (up to 500 lbs and towering up to 8ft) quite effortlessly.

The DC motor is smaller in size and quieter in performance than AC motors. More importantly, it uses the soft start and stop technique to draw less starting current than usual methods. That said, both Genie and Chamberlain score equal marks for their choice of motors. 

Noise-Free Operation 

If your garage is attached to your living space, its sound and vibration during operation can disturb housemates more often. That’s why it’s best to invest in the quietest garage door opener. However, both Genie and Chamberlain openers provide “ultra-quiet” or “noiseless” models to eliminate that problem in the first place. 

The Chamberlain garage door openers, such as the Chamberlain B4643T, usually combine a steel-reinforced belt-drive with Chamberlain’s patent “Motor Vibration Isolation System” to easily bring down the powerhead vibration and noise. 

On the other hand, Genie products, such as the Genie 1.25-HP Ultra Quiet model, make use of a 140V DC motor with a built-in soft start and stop feature. It guarantees a smoother and quieter operation, making it a valuable add-on to the DC motor. 

Safety Sensors

When it comes to garage door openers, safety sensors bears should be part of your top priority. It stops the door from shutting on objects, people, or vehicles coming in between the door and the floor.

Luckily, both the brands use sensors of the highest standard keeping their users’ safety in concern. 

Genie uses an invisible beam across the door opening to alert users and reverse the door if the beam detects any blockage in the path.

At the same time, Chamberlain garage doors come with built-in safety sensors to stop the door from closing on obstructions. 

Chamberlain vs Genie Garage Door Openers: The Differences

Compatibility with Wireless Control Systems

HomeLink and Car2U are the two most commonly used Wireless Control Systems for garage door openers. If your garage door is compatible with them, you find it convenient to use without much hassle. 

In this regard, Genie has the upper hand as all its models readily sync with HomeLink and Car2U control systems. You don’t need any external tool like a compatibility bridge or a repeater box to connect your vehicle to the opener. 

However, Chamberlain door openers have limited compatibility with these control systems. In other words, only new models are compatible, not the old ones. Plus, they only work if your vehicle runs on HomeLink 3.0 or above. If your vehicle is too old, you will have to invest in a repeater box to sync your car to the system. 

If you have a brand new car with the latest tech, there should be no compatibility issue with your wireless control system from either Genie or Chamberlain. 

Smart Control

With the numerous technological advancements we see nowadays, it’s not too much to ask for a smart garage door opener. In this regard, both brands offer garage door openers with several smart features.  

Chamberlain’s MyQ Smartphone Control Technology allows you to monitor and control the opener from anywhere. You can give access to anyone from miles away using its native Android or iOS mobile application. 

Similarly, Genie uses its proprietary Aladdin Connect application to turn its garage door openers smart. Unlike MyQ, Aladdin connect comes as an additional purchase to buyers, but its features are worth the money. 

You might be wondering, “Does MyQ work with Genie?” Fortunately, many Genie models, such as the Genie Pro Max PMX500IC/B, are compatible with the technology.

Those applications can check your garage door from the remote, set timers, and fetch you real-time notifications against any tamper. You can also authorize access to unlimited users and monitor their history of access as well. 

Considering the above technical details, it boils down to your needs and future expectations out of a garage door opener.

If you do not mind shedding a few extra bucks for elite smart features, Genie’s Aladdin Connect could be your ideal bet.If you’re more comfortable with basic smart controls, however, Chamberlain has a plethora of options to choose from.

Battery Backup

Battery backup is one of the primary deciding factors while choosing any garage door opener. You wouldn’t want to end being stuck inside or locked from outside the garage if the power goes off. So the smartest decision would be to go for models with battery backup. 

Chamberlain models come with built-in battery backup. The unit automatically charges itself 24/7 from a power outlet. Whenever you face a power outage, the backup automatically kicks in to resume the operation, ensuring that you never get stuck inside or locked out.

Genie garage door openers do support battery backup as well. However, you will have to purchase the unit separately. This also adds to the overall cost of the opener system. 

Durability Of Motor

Ideally, the motor for a garage door opener should have a lifespan of about 10-15 years, even though companies might provide a standard warranty for 3-5 years (Source). In the case of Chamberlain, the company provides a warranty for five years, but Genie extends the same to 10 years. 

Both Chamberlain and Genie have their pros and cons, and you will have to look at their products closely and see which particular products meet the specifications you have in your mind.

Although designed to help you out, the similarities and differences that are listed above can only be used as your guide. The ultimate decision will come down to you!

Do keep this in mind, however: choosing a garage door opener on the basis brand name alone is both unwise and unadvisable!

Our Genie Garage Door Opener Recommendation

Genie 7155 TKV 

For easy garage door opener installation from Genie, the Genie 7155 TKV is the best choice. It features a strong 5-piece rail system, which essentially snaps together for your convenience. You no longer need to work with or purchase additional hardware, as it is lightweight and only requires the snapping assembly before use. Moreover, it’s also pre-programmed, meaning that you no longer need to configure it!

Our Chamberlain Garage Door Opener Recommendation

Chamberlain Group B550 

If you’re a fan of innovation, there’s no need to look farther from the Chamberlain Group B550. You don’t need to worry if your myq garage door opens on its own, as this smart feature makes sure that you’re always updated on the current status of your garage door from anywhere and at all times. You only need to download the myq app and you’re good to go! What’s more is that it comes with a strong belt drive that remains reliable, quiet, and powerful, even as the years pass by. This one is also highly compatible with the Chamberlain whisper drive, which can be installed using the quick-install rail system.

Our Verdict 

Both Chamberlain and Genie have their own pros and cons. It all depends on how much ease of use you want and that too on what level. However, there are two particular cases to take into consideration.

In case you have an old model car, go for Genie Garage door opener to bypass any compatibility issue. However, if you don’t want to spare extra money on battery backup, go for any Chamberlain model as the garage door opener is usually included with the purchase.

If none of these two factors are your concern, you can go with any of the two without giving any second thoughts.

Conclusion

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We hope this “Genie vs Chamberlain” review article helped you choose the best garage door opener for your needs!