How to Open Your Gate with Your Smartphone
You pull up to the gate and reach for the remote — and it's in the other car. Again. Controlling your gate from your phone is no longer complicated or expensive. Here's what actually works.
Why a Remote Is No Longer Enough
Physical remotes have served us well, but they were designed for a simpler world — one where you were always in your car, you never needed to let someone in while you were away, and nobody expected to know whether the gate had actually closed.
Today the expectations are different. You want to open the gate for a courier while you're at work. Your teenager needs their own access. You want to know the gate is closed before bed — without walking outside. And if a visitor arrives when you're not home, you want to let them in from your sofa.
- Remotes get lost, left in the other car or broken — at €15–50 to replace each
- Shared codes can't be revoked and have no expiry date
- No way to open for visitors when you're not at home
- No confirmation that the gate actually closed after you left
- No record of who came and went
What Are Your Options?
Several technologies connect a gate to a smartphone. Here's an honest comparison of what's available — and where each one falls short.
A small module connects to your gate controller and opens it when called from a whitelisted number. Works on any mobile signal, no internet required.
- No internet connection needed
- Very low hardware cost
- No position feedback — you don't know if the gate actually opened
- No time-limited access for visitors
- No action log
A video panel at the gate connects to an app. You see who's ringing and open from your phone — from anywhere in the world.
- Real-time video of the entrance
- Works remotely over internet
- Only responds when someone rings — no proactive access
- Requires a new panel at the entrance
- Professional installation typically required
DIY smart devices (Shelly, Sonoff, Home Assistant) can trigger a dry contact via Wi-Fi. Flexible for technical users who want full control.
- Highly flexible for experienced DIY users
- Low hardware cost
- No gate-specific features: no pedestrian mode, no IR monitoring
- Requires ongoing technical maintenance
- No built-in visitor access or action log
A system designed specifically for gate and door access — with position monitoring, IR cell safety, timed visitor access and a full action log. Installs on any controller.
- Works with any gate via dry contact — no vendor lock-in
- Position feedback and IR cell monitoring included
- Timed visitor access: send a link, no app needed
SmartGates: The Right Tool for the Job
SmartGates was built specifically for gate and door access — not adapted from a generic smart home system. Two products cover every installation scenario.
Connect to the dry contact terminals of virtually any existing gate controller. SG Anywhere adds smartphone control, position monitoring and guest access without replacing a single component of your current system.
Discover SG Anywhere
For new installations or replacing an ageing controller, SG Drive Anywhere drives motors directly (DC 12/24V or AC 110/240V), manages IR cells and has every command built-in — full open, pedestrian, leave open and close, each with adjustable timing.
Discover SG Drive AnywhereWhat Makes SmartGates Different
These are the features that matter when you're controlling a gate remotely — and where most alternatives fall short.
Any Gate, Any Brand
SmartGates connects via dry contact — the universal standard on virtually every gate controller. No proprietary hardware, no vendor lock-in.
Always Know the Gate's Status
Unlike GSM modules or generic IoT switches, SmartGates gives you real position feedback. You see whether the gate is open, closed or moving — live.
Visitor Access Without an Account
Send a timed access link by SMS or email. Your visitor opens the gate from their phone without downloading an app or creating an account. Access expires automatically.
IR Cell Monitoring
SmartGates monitors your IR safety cells in real time. If anything is blocking the closing path — a person, vehicle or overgrown plants — you'll see it before closing.
Full Action Log
Every open and close is logged with a timestamp and the account that triggered it. Know who came and went — and when.
Per-Command Adjustable Timing
SG Drive Anywhere lets you set the exact duration for each mode — how long the gate holds open for pedestrians, how long it stays open before auto-closing, independently.
Which Solution Is Right for You?
If you already have a working gate controller and just want to add smartphone control, SG Anywhere is the fastest path: plug it in, connect to the dry contact, and you're controlling your gate from anywhere in minutes.
If you're installing a new gate, replacing an old controller or building from scratch, SG Drive Anywhere gives you the complete system: motor drive, IR cell management, all commands and built-in monitoring — with nothing extra to add.
Explore the full SmartGates product range and find the right solution for your installation.