What are the alternatives to the traditional garage remote?
Published 11 June 2026
The main alternative to the traditional garage remote is opening the door from your phone via an app connected to the automatism. Unlike the radio-frequency remote, which gets lost, copied and leaves no record, the app lets you open from anywhere, grant and revoke access without collecting remotes, and know who opened. PuertApp also adds a widget, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Siri shortcuts to open without even taking out your phone.
The limits of the remote control
The remote control has worked for decades, but it carries well-known problems in communities: it is easily lost, can be copied without control, opens anonymously, and when a resident leaves, recovering their remote is difficult. You also cannot open remotely to let in a family member or a delivery driver.
Modern alternatives address exactly those weak points, keeping (in PuertApp's case) the physical remote as a backup.
Open from your phone and hands-free
The most direct alternative is the mobile app: you open with a tap from anywhere with Internet. But PuertApp goes beyond the button in the app. It includes a home-screen widget (Android and iOS) that opens without entering the app, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration to open from the car screen, and Siri shortcuts to open by voice.
For moments without coverage, Bluetooth mode opens when you are near the garage without depending on the Internet. And if all else fails, the physical remote is still there.
Advantages for the community over the remote
Beyond individual convenience, the big difference for the community is management. Access is granted and revoked from a panel, without collecting remotes; every opening is logged; and a single administrator can manage several communities. The problem of lost or uncontrollably copied remotes is gone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to throw away my garage remote?
No. The physical remote keeps working as a backup. PuertApp adds itself as a more convenient alternative, it does not force you to give up the remote.
What advantages does the app have over the remote?
Open from anywhere, grant and revoke access without collecting remotes, know who opened, and hands-free options like widget, CarPlay, Android Auto and Siri.
Can I open from the car?
Yes. PuertApp integrates with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the widget and Siri shortcuts.
Is it more secure than a remote?
Yes. Communications are encrypted and every opening is logged, versus a remote that opens anonymously and can be cloned.
Want to see it in your community?
Request a demo and we'll check compatibility with your garage, with no commitment.
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