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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

myQ Garage & Access Control vs Google Photos

myQ Garage & Access Control 4.8★ · Free to download 45
Winner Google Photos
Google Photos 4.8★ · Free to download 65

Google Photos is the better choice for photo management due to its robust backup features and memory creation, despite recent performance and UI complaints, while myQ Garage & Access Control struggles with fundamental app usability issues and intrusive advertising.

Full reviews: myQ Garage & Access Control · Google Photos

Google Photos excels at automatic photo backup and creating memories, though recent updates have introduced performance issues and UI frustrations. myQ Garage & Access Control, while functional for its core purpose, is plagued by audio hijacking, slow loading, frequent review prompts, and intrusive ads.

Head to head

Features edge: Google PhotosR1R9R12R21
myQ Garage & Access Control myQ Garage & Access Control allows users to open and close garage doors remotely and receive notifications, with some users appreciating the ability to control access for guests . However, many users desire integration with Apple CarPlay, Siri, and iOS Shortcuts for hands-free operation R1R9R27R35. There are also complaints about the inability to independently manage notification settings for garage door open/closed states and difficulty finding or modifying schedules R12R21.
Google Photos Google Photos is praised for its automatic backup, video creation from photos, and memory features . Users appreciate its ability to free up phone storage by backing up photos . However, recent updates have broken features like photo-to-video creation and Magic Eraser . Users also report issues with facial recognition in shared albums and the inability to correct wrongly tagged people .
Ease of Use tieR6R7R9R13
myQ Garage & Access Control myQ Garage & Access Control is generally straightforward for its core function of opening and closing doors R6R15. However, users find the setup process can be difficult, sometimes requiring a factory reset of the opener R9. The app is criticized for being slow to load R13R15R31, and its interface is cluttered with frequent, annoying review prompts and promotional ads that hinder quick access to controls R7R13.
Google Photos Google Photos is generally easy to use for automatic backups and finding photos . However, many users find the app's UX frustrating, especially for manual uploads or when trying to manage photos without automatic backup . Recent UI changes, such as the new photo grid and the removal of monthly view, have made navigation more difficult and are disliked by many .
Reliability tieR1R3R4R6
myQ Garage & Access Control myQ Garage & Access Control users report significant reliability issues, including the app frequently pausing or hijacking audio playback when opened R1R3R4R6. The app is also described as unreliable for opening and closing the garage door, sometimes failing to respond or showing incorrect door status R31. Connectivity problems, such as going offline or failing to connect to new routers, are also common .
Google Photos Google Photos users experience various reliability problems, including photos not deleting properly, requiring multiple attempts R63. Uploads, especially on iOS, are often incomplete or fail, particularly for videos . The app is frequently slow, freezes, or crashes, making it difficult to use . Some users also report the app losing access to photos, showing blank spaces, or having albums disappear .
Price/Value tieR15R25R28R31
myQ Garage & Access Control myQ Garage & Access Control is free to download, but users report intrusive ads and promotional content within the app R15R25R28R31. Some users also mention a subscription fee required to access recorded camera videos, despite having paid for the equipment . The overall value is diminished by the app's unreliability and frustrating user experience R31.
Google Photos Google Photos is free to download, but users frequently encounter situations where they are forced to buy more storage space, often due to automatic backups they didn't intend R63R64R97R115. This perceived 'shady practice' leads to frustration and a feeling of being tricked into paying R64R115. The app's large size also consumes significant phone storage, which can be a concern for users .
Support tieR1R3R4R7
myQ Garage & Access Control Reviews for myQ Garage & Access Control do not directly mention customer support experiences, but issues like the persistent audio hijacking and review prompts suggest a lack of responsiveness to user feedback R1R3R4R7.
Google Photos Google Photos users report that developer responses to issues, such as photos being deleted from devices, do not always address the core problem, suggesting a lack of effective support R76. Users also note that reported bugs, like the broken photo-to-video feature, persist through multiple updates .
Pick myQ Garage & Access Control if

you prioritize remote garage door control and are willing to tolerate frequent app annoyances like audio hijacking, slow loading, and intrusive ads R1R3R13R15.

Pick Google Photos if

you need robust photo backup and enjoy features like automatic memory creation, and are prepared to manage storage costs and deal with occasional performance issues and UI changes R63.

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, and much of the negativity for both stems from user experience friction rather than direct payment issues, though Google Photos users frequently complain about being pushed to pay for storage R64R115. myQ's issues are more about fundamental app functionality and intrusive design choices R1R15.

Frequently asked

Does myQ Garage & Access Control work with Apple CarPlay or Siri?
No, myQ Garage & Access Control does not currently work with Apple CarPlay, Siri, or iOS Shortcuts, which is a frequent complaint from users who desire hands-free control R1R9R27R35.
Why does myQ Garage & Access Control pause my music?
myQ Garage & Access Control frequently pauses or hijacks audio playback (music, podcasts, audiobooks) when the app is opened or returns to the foreground, even when no garage operation is initiated R1R3R4R6.
Does Google Photos delete photos from my device?
Some Google Photos users report that the app deletes photos from their device, often without explicit user intent, which can be a concern for new users if backup settings are not carefully managed R76.
Is Google Photos truly free?
While Google Photos is free to download and offers some free storage, many users report being pushed to buy more storage space, often due to automatic backups that quickly consume the free allowance R63R64R97R115.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Frustrated: Why in the world does it pause my music in Apple CarPlay when I load the app and why don’t you figure out to put the app as usable in CarPlay?
  2. [R9] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US Needs Apple CarPlay: It needs to add the troubleshooting step of factory resetting the garage door opener. It took me way too long to set this up after searching the internet for that easy solution. I was setting it up after someone else had previously used it. It also desperately needs to work with Apple CarPlay. Seems like an obvious feature but having to get my phone out and waiting for the a
  3. [R12] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US Nice but ……: The app works nicely but, it would be nice to have a feature that allows a notification that garage door remains open for an certain amount of time without having to also be notified that it was closed for the same time. The notices don’t work independently.
  4. [R21] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US schedules not visible: schedules for automatic closing are not visible in app.. a feature which alerts garage is open after custome set time is very beneficial.
  5. [R6] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US It works: It works, but why does this app stops my media when I open it to open my garage
  6. [R7] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Review spam: App keeps asking me to review it with a review button that comes up maybe 10 times in a row. So. Fine.
  7. [R13] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Slow app: Slow to load and force prompts to enter rating and feedback
  8. [R3] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US App hijacking audio: The app works fine, but it's recently started highjacking my audio when I open it. I get in my car, get my music going, open the app.. my music stops. Close the app, music didn't start back up I have to hit play again. What is the reason a GARAGE DOOR app needs to shut down my audio?
  9. [R4] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Bug hasn’t been fixed: The myQ iOS app sends a media pause command every time it opens or returns to the foreground. Spotify playback is paused even when no garage operation is initiated. This happens after reinstall and with all audio outputs. If MyQ is left open and the user returns to Spotify to resume, then switching to MyQ pauses the output even without actions being requested. The app is cal
  10. [R15] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US Good app: It’s fine for opening and closing the doors but holy cow there are a lot of ads. I figured they were best just ignored until I accidentally clicked on one and not realizing what I had done I thought I was completing a purchase through kickstarter earlier in the day with Apple Pay and bought something from the app. Grrr. Add to that the time it takes to load I’m usually waiting outside my
  11. [R25] myQ Garage & Access Control 2/5 · US If you like Ads: I just want to close my garage door. Stop pushing your ads that slow the process. Enough already. I already have your product… but of you keep it up, will look for a different one.
  12. [R28] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Add: Tired of the add popping up
  13. [R31] myQ Garage & Access Control 1/5 · US Unreliable: Refuses to open or close my garage door, app takes forever to load. Not using the camera but the app keeps trying to load it. But ads seem to work no problem, they like to pop them up when I’m trying to get in. Much more a burden than a convenience. Only useful part is knowing when the door is opened or closed. Everything else is unreliable or unnecessary.
  14. [R27] myQ Garage & Access Control 3/5 · US Add CarPlay: Add the option to open via CarPlay.
  15. [R35] myQ Garage & Access Control 5/5 · US MyQ is great: I love using MyQ. The only thing missing is a CarPlay app. After all, the main reason to open your garage is to pull your car out or put it away. A CarPlay app would allow you to do this without pulling your phone out.
  16. [R76] Google Photos 2/5 · US Deletes photos from your device.: Update to review: I got a response from the developer with links about my issues and how to resolve it, and typical of developers they did not read my review. They skimmed it to look for key words or used an AI to "read" it. The link they gave me was what I suggested in my review to new users. I had already read through their help section and it is the same as th
  17. [R63] Google Photos 3/5 · US Photos won’t delete: I have been a longtime Google Photos user. We’re talking years!!! In the past 6 months I have noticed when I press delete on photos, it doesn’t actually delete. I will have to delete the same photo 3x sometimes Prior to it actually deleting and stop taking up my storage quota. Also, now that it’s not free, there’s little difference between paying here and paying for extra iClo
  18. [R64] Google Photos 1/5 · US shady practice: This app keeps tricking me into enabling photo backup, forcing me to buy more space without understanding how I ran out in the first place. I just had to spend an hour undoing it manually because I’m worried the bulk undo option will erase photos I manually added to shared albums. You have lost my trust and I will be migrating to a different app.
  19. [R97] Google Photos 1/5 · US Took up all my Google storage, and I cannot unlink it from my Google account: I don’t even remember creating a Google Photos account and linking it to my iPhone camera roll, but somehow it has access to every single photo and video, and is taking up all my Google storage. I never use this app for anything, but there is no way to unlink it to free up more storage for my Google account (Gmail, drive
  20. [R115] Google Photos 1/5 · US Stolen photos - unable to delete: I downloaded Google Photos to upload photos to a friend’s wedding album. I did not turn on backups from my device and it stole every photo from my iPhone library and had the GALL to request money for “too much storage” without giving me the option to delete all the photos. It would take me hours to do this manually, and thus cannot access my Google budget without

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store