MyQ has a free version, but the core garage door control features require a paid subscription

MyQ offers a free mobile app that lets you check whether your garage door is open or closed from anywhere. You can also receive notifications if the door opens unexpectedly. However, to actually open or close your garage door remotely, you need a MyQ Premium subscription, which costs money.

The free version is useful if you only want to monitor your door's status—say, checking from work whether you left it open. But if you want the remote operation that most people buy MyQ for, you'll need to pay for a subscription.

Key Takeaways

  • The MyQ app itself is free to read, but remote door control requires a paid Premium subscription.
  • MyQ Premium costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, with the annual plan offering better value.
  • The free version shows you whether your door is open or closed and sends alerts, but cannot open or close it.
  • You need a compatible garage door opener or a separate MyQ Smart Garage Hub to use any MyQ features.
  • Some garage door openers come with a year of MyQ Premium included, so check your opener's documentation first.

What the Free MyQ App Includes

The free MyQ app gives you read-only access to your garage door. You can open the app and see the current status—open, closed, or partially open. You also receive push notifications if the door opens when you're not expecting it, which can alert you to a break-in or remind you that someone else opened it.

This monitoring feature works on both iPhone and Android. You don't need to enter a credit card or create a paid account to use it. The app connects to your garage door opener through your home Wi-Fi network, so as long as your opener is compatible with MyQ and connected to the internet, the free status check will work.

The free version does not let you control the door. You cannot open it, close it, or schedule it to close at a certain time. Those features are locked behind the Premium subscription.

MyQ Premium Subscription Pricing

MyQ Premium costs $9.99 per month if you pay monthly, or $99.99 per year if you pay annually. The yearly plan works out to about $8.33 per month, so it saves you roughly $20 per year compared to paying month-to-month.

You can cancel your subscription at any time. There is no contract or cancellation fee. If you cancel, you lose access to remote control when ready, but your door status information is saved if you resubscribe later.

Some newer garage door openers sold by Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman include a one-year MyQ Premium subscription at no extra cost. Check the box or the manufacturer's website to see if your opener qualifies. After the first year, you'll need to pay the subscription fee to keep remote control active.

What MyQ Premium Includes

With a Premium subscription, you get remote open and close control through the app. You can open or close your door from anywhere—at work, on vacation, or from your car in the driveway. The door responds within a few seconds of tapping the button.

Premium also includes scheduling. You can set the door to close automatically at a specific time each day, which is useful if you want to may support it closes every evening without having to remember. You can also create custom automations—for example, close the door when you leave home or open it when you arrive.

Premium subscribers also get priority customer support and access to advanced features like guest access, where you can give temporary control to family members or service providers without sharing your main account password.

Hardware Requirements for MyQ

MyQ only works if your garage door opener is compatible. Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman openers made in the last several years typically have built-in MyQ capability. Older openers or openers from other manufacturers may not be compatible.

If your opener is not compatible, you can buy a separate MyQ Smart Garage Hub (sometimes called a MyQ Bridge). This device connects to your existing opener and adds MyQ control. The Hub costs around $30 to $50 and is a one-time purchase—it does not require a separate subscription beyond MyQ Premium.

Your home Wi-Fi network must be working for MyQ to function. The app communicates with your opener through your internet connection, so if your Wi-Fi goes down, you won't be able to control the door remotely until it's back online. You can still use the physical remote or wall button.

Comparing MyQ to Other Garage Door Apps

Other garage door opener manufacturers offer their own apps. Genie, for example, has the Genie Aladdin Connect app, which also charges a subscription for remote control. Meross makes a HomeKit-compatible garage door controller that integrates with Apple's ecosystem.

The main difference is ecosystem. If you already use Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa, MyQ integrates with all three, so you can control your door through voice commands or home automation routines. Some competitors integrate with fewer platforms or charge extra for smart home integration.

Most garage door control apps follow the same pricing model: free monitoring, paid remote control. MyQ's subscription cost is typical for the category.

How to Check If You Already Have Premium

If you installed a new garage door opener in the last year or two, it may have come with a free trial or included subscription. Open the MyQ app and look at the account settings or subscription status. If you see "Premium" listed with an expiration date, you have active Premium access.

If the app shows only the free status monitoring, you either don't have Premium or your trial period has ended. You can upgrade to Premium directly in the app by tapping the upgrade button and choosing your payment method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use MyQ without paying if I only want to check if my door is open?

Yes. The free MyQ app shows your door's status and sends notifications. You don't need Premium for monitoring. You only need to pay if you want to open or close the door remotely.

What happens if my MyQ Premium subscription expires?

You lose remote control access. The free monitoring features continue to work—you can still see whether your door is open or closed and receive alerts. To regain remote control, you need to renew your subscription.

Is there a way to get MyQ Premium for free?

Some new garage door openers include a year of MyQ Premium at no extra cost. After that year ends, you'll need to pay the subscription fee. There is no permanent free version of Premium.

Do I need MyQ Premium if I have a smart home system like Alexa?

Yes. Connecting MyQ to Alexa, Google Home, or HomeKit requires a Premium subscription. The free version does not integrate with smart home systems.

Can I share MyQ Premium with family members?

Yes, but only Premium subscribers can share access. You can invite family members to your account through the app, and they'll have the same control level as you. The subscription covers all users on that account.