Which Automatic Curtain System Do You Need? A Practical Decision Guide

Already decided you want motorised curtains? Good. The harder question is which system actually suits your windows, your home, and how you want to control them. This guide cuts through the options so you can pick the right track without overbuying or underspending.

If you want a broader introduction to how these systems work, read our complete guide to automatic curtain openers first. This guide assumes you know what you want and just need help choosing.

Standard Windows in a Flat or House: The 5100 B

For most UK homes with standard straight windows, the Silent Gliss Autoglide 5100 is the right starting point. The B variant comes with a simple wall-mounted push button. Press once to open, press again to close. No remote, no app, no complexity.

It runs off a standard 13A plug socket, takes curtains up to 50kg, and covers spans up to 6 metres. That handles the vast majority of living rooms, bedrooms, and bay-windowed reception rooms in the UK. If your curtains are on a straight track and you want them to move at the press of a button, this is it.

Bay Windows: The 5100 is Still Your Answer

The 5100 is one of the only motorised curtain tracks that can be bent to follow the angle of a bay window. The aluminium track is flexible enough to curve at the joins, so a single motor drives curtains all the way across the bay in one smooth movement.

Most cheaper alternatives are rigid. If you have a bay, check that any track you're considering is explicitly bendable -- the 5100 is, and it's a genuine differentiator. See our accessories section for the bending tools and brackets used in bay window installations.

Want to Set a Schedule: Choose the T or TC Variant

If you want your curtains to open automatically at 7am and close at dusk, you need a timer-enabled variant. The 5100 T includes a built-in 24-hour timer. The TC adds a 6-channel remote on top of that.

This is the most common upgrade from the B. You set the open and close times once, and the track handles it. Useful for early starts, for managing light in a bedroom, or for making the house look occupied when you're away.

Multiple Rooms: The R or TC Variants with a 6-Channel Remote

The 5100 R and 5100 TC come with a 6-channel handset. Each channel controls one track independently. So if you're motorising the living room, master bedroom, and a spare room at the same time, one remote handles all three -- open room one, close room two, stop room three mid-movement.

You don't need separate remotes per room. If you're doing multiple windows in one go, this is the more sensible setup and doesn't cost significantly more than buying individual B units.

Smart Home, App Control, or Voice: You Need the 5600

The 5100 is not a smart home device. It does not connect to Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google Home, or any app. If that's what you want, you need the Silent Gliss 5600 paired with the Move Server hub.

The 5600 handles spans up to 25 metres and curtain weights up to 150kg, which also makes it the right choice for large, heavy, or hotel-style drapes where the 5100 would be underpowered. It connects to the Move Server via the track bus, and the server bridges it to your Wi-Fi network for app and voice control.

• Standard home curtains, straight or bay windows: 5100
• Large windows, heavy fabric, or smart home integration: 5600 + Move Server

Don't spend money on the 5600 if you just want a schedule or a remote. The 5100 T or TC does that at a lower price point.

Tight Budget or Renting: Consider the 4955 Battery Roller Blind

If you want automation but aren't ready to commit to a full motorised curtain track, the Silent Gliss 4955 battery-operated roller blind is a sensible entry point. No wiring, no electrician, and it can be taken with you if you move.

It won't replicate the look or feel of motorised curtains, but it gives you remote-controlled window coverings at lower upfront cost and without any installation commitment. Worth considering for rental properties or secondary rooms where full curtain automation is overkill.

Summary: Which One?

• Standard windows, push button only: 5100 B
• Bay windows: 5100 (any variant)
• Want open/close on a schedule: 5100 T or TC
• Multiple rooms, one remote: 5100 R or TC
• App/voice control or heavy/long spans: 5600 + Move Server
• Budget-friendly entry point: 4955 battery roller blind

If you're still not sure which variant fits your windows, browse our accessories section for the mounting and installation options that affect which track will work in your space, or get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.