Most people buying an automatic gate stop thinking once they get to “it opens by itself.” Fair enough. But the way you actually open it is where the daily convenience is won or lost, and it is the part worth getting right before you buy.
Here is a plain comparison of your options, so you can pick the one that fits how your household really runs.
The main ways to open an automatic gate
There are five to know about:
- A remote control in the car
- A keypad you enter a code into
- An intercom so visitors can buzz you
- A phone app to open it from anywhere
- A vehicle tag the gate reads as you pull up
Most systems let you combine a few of these, so this is not a one-or-the-other decision. Let us break them down.
Remote control
The classic in-car clicker. Press the button, the gate opens. It is simple, reliable and cheap to add spare remotes for other drivers.
The limit is obvious. It only works if you have the remote on you, and a visitor at the gate has no way to use it. Most owners still want a remote or two, but rarely as their only option.
Keypad
A keypad mounts on a post or wall and opens the gate when you tap in a code. No phone, no remote, nothing to carry, which makes it perfect for kids getting home from school or letting a tradie in with a temporary code you can change afterwards.
One habit worth keeping: change the code every so often, especially if you have handed it out. A keypad is the workhorse for simple, everyday household access.
Intercom, audio or video
An intercom lets a visitor buzz the house so you can talk to them and release the gate without walking down the driveway. Add a video intercom and you get a camera too, so you can see who is there before you let them in. That is a genuine plus for deliveries and for anyone who is home on their own.
If your place sees a steady flow of visitors, guests and couriers who do not have a code, an intercom earns its keep fast.
Phone app
An app puts the gate on your phone. Open it as you arrive, open it remotely when you are not home, and grant someone temporary access without handing over a code or a remote. Some setups will even open automatically as you approach, using your phone’s location.
This is the pick for people who travel a lot, run a rental, or need to let others in while they are out. It is the most flexible option and the one that keeps growing on you.
Vehicle and tag readers
A small tag or sticker on your windscreen that the gate reads as you roll up, so it opens with no button at all. Handy on a busy driveway where you are in and out all day. Think of it as an upgrade on top of the basics rather than a standalone choice.
Which one is right for you?
Match it to how you actually live:
- Simple daily family use, and you want the kids and tradies to get in: a keypad, plus a remote.
- Lots of visitors or deliveries: a video intercom.
- Away often, a rental, or granting access remotely: the app.
- Busy driveway, constant in and out: add a vehicle tag.
And remember, these combine. Plenty of homes run a remote, a keypad and an app together and use whichever suits the moment.
What happens in a power cut?
A common worry, and an easy one to put to rest. Automatic gates have a manual release, so you are never locked in or out during an outage. Some setups also run battery or solar backup so the gate keeps working through a blackout without you lifting a finger.
Adding entry options to your gate
All of these are accessories you spec with the gate up front, or add later as your needs change. At Premier Gates we fit keypads, intercoms, cameras, lighting and access control as part of the build, so the way you open your gate suits your household rather than the other way around.
If you are still weighing up the gate itself, start with choosing the right automatic gate for your driveway, then come back to entry options.
FAQs
Can you open an automatic gate with your phone? Yes. With an app-based system you can open the gate, including remotely, and grant temporary access to visitors.
What is better, a keypad or an intercom? A keypad suits daily household access. An intercom suits homes with frequent visitors or deliveries. Many owners use both.
How do you get in if the power goes out? Automatic gates have a manual release, and some have battery or solar backup so they keep running.
Can you have more than one way to open the gate? Yes. Most systems combine a remote, keypad, intercom and app, and you use whichever suits the moment.