I’m overwhelmed by all the universal TV remote options and can’t tell which ones actually work well across different brands and streaming devices. I’d love recommendations based on real experience, especially something easy to set up for a mixed-brand setup at home.
Hi all, dumping my notes on this because I went way too deep into “phone as TV remote” apps.
Short version: I got sick of chasing two different remotes around the living room (Samsung and LG), so I started using my phone instead. Then I went overboard and tried a bunch of apps on iPhone, Android, and Mac.
Sharing what worked, what annoyed me, and what I’d skip next time.
TV remote apps for iPhone
I tried these on an iPhone, same Wi‑Fi as the TVs. Apps I tested:
TVRem Universal TV Remote
TV Remote – Universal Control
Universal Remote TV Smart
TV Remote – Universal
TVRem Universal TV Remote – my main pick on iPhone
This one surprised me. I expected some “free but not really free” trap, but it stayed free.
What I tried it on
• Samsung TV
• LG TV
• Friend’s Sony and an Android TV box
It also lists Roku and a bunch of other stuff as supported.
What worked for me
• Connection took maybe 5–10 seconds the first time
• After that, it auto‑reconnected when I opened the app
• The touchpad feels close to using a laptop trackpad
• On‑screen keyboard for searches and passwords
• Voice stuff worked when the TV supported it (Google Assistant / Alexa style voice control and text input)
Pros
• Simple to figure out without reading anything
• Connect flow is straightforward
• Free, no subscriptions, no paywall popups
• Covered every TV in my apartment except one
• Has all the basics: volume, channels, apps, navigation, mute, input
Cons
• No Vizio support, so my friend’s Vizio was a no‑go
Price
• Free
Link
My take
If your TV is supported and you do not own a Vizio, this is the one I would install first. It did everything I needed without asking for money every other tap.
There is also a Reddit thread where people compare universal TV remote apps vs physical remotes:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DataRecoveryHelp/comments/1qqa2bh/best_universal_tv_remote/
Product page:
Product video:
TV Remote – Universal Control
I tried this one after TVRem because it looked popular in the App Store.
What it does
• Universal remote over Wi‑Fi
• Supports a bunch of TV brands and platforms
• Has touchpad, voice control, app launcher, keyboard, and media casting
Reality when I used it
I had to start a trial to test everything. Without the trial, most things nag you to pay. The features themselves were fine, but every second tap felt like “start subscription.”
Pros
• The features you likely want are present
• Works with most mainstream TV brands
Cons
• Ads inside the app
• Many basic actions sit behind paywalls
• A few crashes when I opened the menu
Price
• From 4.99 and up
Link
My take
It works, but the paywall pressure is strong. I did not buy it because there are cheaper or free options that are less in my face about subscriptions.
Universal Remote TV Smart
This one lost me on layout. It felt like someone scattered buttons on the screen without thinking how an actual hand uses a remote.
What I saw using it
• Supports a lot of brands
• Has keyboard, volume, channel switching, app navigation
• No voice control in my tests
The layout slowed me down. It did not feel like a remote, more like a random control board.
The ads are rough. Example: I hit the arrow to move to YouTube, pressed OK, and before anything opened I got a purchase screen.
Pros
• Works with many brands
Cons
• Awkward interface
• No voice control
• Aggressive ads, including forced video ads
• Most useful stuff is paid
Price
• From 7.99 and up
Link
My take
This was my least favorite out of the iPhone apps. Even if it were cheaper, I would still avoid it because the layout slowed every action down.
TV Remote – Universal
This one is more traditional. It basically turns your iPhone or iPad into a remote for multiple brands, including LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Android TV, and others.
Connection
• Wi‑Fi only
• TV and iPhone must be on the same network
• Discovery worked fine for my TVs
Features I used
• App and channel switching
• Keyboard input
• Playback controls like pause, rewind, etc.
Pros
• TV discovery and pairing were quick
• UI is easy to understand
• All the main “remote stuff” is there
• Free trial is included if you want to see everything first
Cons
• Ads inside the app, removable with a subscription
• Most advanced buttons trigger an upsell screen
Price
• From 4.99 and up
Link
My take
I used the trial. Once unlocked, it worked fine, with minor lag on the main screen. But nearly every “extra” is locked behind a paywall, and the ads got to me pretty quick. If you do not mind paying, it is usable. I did not keep it.
TV remote apps for Android
My wife uses Android, so we tested a bunch on her phone. Most of them either go heavy on ads or on subscriptions.
Apps we tried:
Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
Remote Control For All TV | AI
Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
Universal TV Remote Control (by Uzeegar)
Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
This is the one my wife ended up using, even though I complain about it a lot.
What it supports
• Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, TCL, Hisense, Panasonic, and more
• Works via Wi‑Fi
• Also supports IR if your phone has an IR blaster
What features I noticed
• Trackpad / directional navigation
• Voice search
• App launching
• Keyboard input
All of that is free, which is the good part.
The bad part is the ads. There are many. At times, closing them felt impossible without waiting them out.
Pros
• Supports lots of TV brands
• Works as both Wi‑Fi remote and IR remote
• Core functions stay free
Cons
• Ads are heavy and frequent
• The app crashed more often than I liked, so reconnecting became routine
Price
• Free
Link
My take
Feature set is strong for a free app, but the ads broke the experience for me. My wife is more tolerant and kept it, so this comes down to your patience level with ads.
Remote Control For All TV | AI
This one tries to look smarter with the “AI” label, but under it, it is another universal remote for Android over Wi‑Fi.
Free version
• Gives you basic remote controls
• Has lots of ads
• Took a while to detect and connect to our TV
Paid version unlocks
• Ad removal
• AI assistant
• Keyboard with voice input
• Screen mirroring
Pros
• Has support for a broad list of TV brands
• Free tier works as a simple remote
Cons
• Heavy ad load in the free version
• Slow TV detection compared to others we tested
• Most “nice” features are paywalled
Price
• From 4.99 and up
Link
My take
Works as a basic remote if you do not mind waiting for the TV to be detected and sitting through ads. For daily use, the delay annoyed me.
Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
This one recognizes TVs fast but stumbles on connection stability.
How it connects
• Smart TVs via Wi‑Fi
• Older TVs via IR, if your phone supports IR
My experience
• TV popped up quickly in the list
• Getting a stable connection took several tries
• Full‑screen video ads kept appearing, which made even the volume buttons feel like a chore
Pros
• Clean, simple interface for basic use
• Works with both Wi‑Fi TVs and IR phones
Cons
• Full‑screen ads interrupt usage
• Many features locked in in‑app purchases
• Connection sometimes dropped and needed manual reconnect
Price
• From 5.99 and up
Link
My take
This is ok as a backup remote if you use it occasionally. For daily use in a living room, I got tired of the interruptions.
Universal TV Remote Control (by Uzeegar)
Another “universal” Android remote that supports LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, etc.
Features I used
• Standard remote layout
• Power on / off
• Home / Menu navigation
• Playback buttons like Play / Stop / Back / Forward
• Works over Wi‑Fi and IR
Pros
• Basic remote features are there
• Free trial offered
Cons
• Many ads
• Most things beyond the bare minimum are paid
Price
• From 3.99 and up
Link
My take
The app itself is decent, but the combination of ads plus paid locks on most functions makes it hard to recommend if you want a calm experience.
Mac apps to control your TV
This part surprised me. Controlling the TV from a Mac sounded like a gimmick, but it turned out to be useful when I was already working on the laptop.
Apps I tried on Mac:
TVRem Universal TV Remote
TV Remote, Universal Remote
TVRem Universal TV Remote (Mac)
Same name as the iPhone one, and it behaves similarly in terms of design.
What I tested it with
• Samsung TV as the main target
Connect experience
• Install from Mac App Store
• Open, pick the TV, confirm pairing on TV
• Took under a minute the first time
Features
• Trackpad‑style control from the Mac
• On‑screen keyboard
• App launcher
• Standard TV remote buttons
Pros
• Interface is simple and not cluttered
• No ads, no “upgrade” banners
• Works with multiple brands
• Has what you need to replace a physical remote for daily tasks
Cons
• No Vizio support again
Price
• Free
Link
My take
If you sit with your Mac open and the TV nearby, this feels natural. I used it a lot while working, especially for volume and app switching. The lack of ads makes it easy to keep installed.
TV Remote, Universal Remote (Mac)
This one looks fine on the surface. It paired easily, but then showed some cracks.
What I noticed
• Interface is ok, not confusing
• It supports a good range of TV brands
• Some of the controls I wanted were behind a paywall
• It crashed a few times randomly
Pros
• Decent UI
• Basic controls work across different TVs
Cons
• Many functions locked behind payments
• Occasional crashes
Price
• From 4.99 and up
Link
My take
Not terrible, but you pay and still deal with instability. If TVRem works with your TV, I would stick to that before paying for this one.
Physical TV remote vs remote app
Quick comparison from my own daily use.
What I mean by each
Physical remote
The usual remote that ships with the TV or that you buy on Amazon or in a store.
Remote app
An app on your phone or tablet that controls the TV over Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or IR.
Where remote apps felt better
-
Harder to lose
Our TV remotes keep disappearing under blankets or behind the couch. My phone is usually in my pocket or on the table. That alone reduced the “where is the remote” fights. -
Typing is less painful
Typing passwords or searching on Netflix with a physical remote is slow. On the apps, I used the on‑screen keyboard and sometimes voice input. This turned “typing a long password” from 30 seconds with errors into 5 seconds. -
Cost difference
Replacement remotes on Amazon for Samsung (rough range 2019–2025 models) sit around 15 to 20 dollars. LG ones I saw were roughly 13 to 35 dollars depending on the model and if it is a “smart” remote.
Most apps I used were either free or under 10 dollars. In many cases, a free app was enough. -
One phone, multiple TVs
My iPhone controlled both my Samsung and LG, plus my friend’s Sony and Android TV box when I visited. I did not need to swap physical remotes or remember which one was for which TV. -
Interface quality
Most apps I kept had a cleaner layout than the default TV remote. TV menus still feel clunky compared to phone UIs.
Where remote apps were worse
• You need network or Bluetooth
Most of the apps needed the TV and phone on the same Wi‑Fi, or Bluetooth enabled. If the TV was in some weird power state or Wi‑Fi was down, the app lost control. Physical remotes do not have this issue.
• You depend on your phone
If your phone is charging in another room or your battery is near zero, that is annoying. I had a few times where my phone was dead and I had to dig the physical remote out anyway.
• Limited support on some models
Older or cheaper TVs sometimes only expose power, volume, and basic navigation to apps. No advanced settings, no input switching, things like that.
My final setup and what I kept using
After a few weeks of bouncing between remotes and apps, here is where I ended up.
On my iPhone
• Main app: TVRem Universal TV Remote
It works with everything I own except Vizio, it is free, and it has the touchpad and keyboard features that save the most time for me.
Close second: TV Remote – Universal
The paid one. During the trial it behaved fine, and I would say it is worth it for people ok with subscription models, but for my use TVRem being free won.
On my wife’s Android
• She stuck with Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
I still do not like the ad volume, but feature‑wise it works, supports IR, and lets her control both our TVs and her parents’ older set.
On my Mac
• TVRem Universal TV Remote again
This turned into a small quality‑of‑life improvement while working. No ads, quick pairing, and enough control to avoid reaching for the physical remote.
If you hate losing remotes or have more than one TV, I would start with TVRem on iPhone or Mac from these links:
iPhone / iPad:
Mac:
On Android, I do not have a single “perfect” one to recommend. If you are tolerant of ads, Universal TV Remote Control from Codematics is functional:
Hopefully this saves you a few evenings of installing and uninstalling random remote apps.
2 Likes
Short version if you want something that works across brands and streaming boxes without a ton of fiddling:
- If you want a physical universal remote
- If you want to use your phone as the “universal”
I’ll split it that way.
- Physical universal remotes that do not suck
You said “different brands and streaming devices,” so I’m assuming stuff like:
• One or more TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, etc
• At least one streaming box like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Shield, etc
• Maybe a soundbar or AVR
Best options I recommend from real use:
Logitech Harmony (used market only now)
• Harmony Companion or Harmony Elite are still the gold standard. Logitech stopped making them, but they still work and the servers are still up.
• Works with multiple TVs plus Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Xbox, PS, AVRs, etc.
• Single “Activity” buttons: you press “Watch TV” and it powers TV, AVR, sets inputs. No juggling inputs.
• Phone app for setup, physical remote for daily use.
Downside
• You buy used or refurbished on eBay etc.
• Setup is a bit nerdy. First 30 minutes feel annoying, after that it runs itself.
If you do not want used gear:
SofaBaton U2
• IR based, works fine for TVs, soundbars, most cable boxes, some streamers.
• Not as smart as Harmony, but decent if you only need power, volume, inputs, and basic transport buttons.
• Good if your streaming is built into the TV and you only need to punch through volume and power.
SofaBaton X1
• More like a budget Harmony replacement.
• Supports Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, etc through IP or Bluetooth.
• Has “Activities” and a hub.
• App setup is rough but after you finish, it is mostly stable.
Eight‑year‑old me would say Harmony or nothing. Today, if you want new stock, I suggest:
• One TV and one soundbar, with built in apps: SofaBaton U2
• Multiple boxes and AVR: used Harmony Companion or SofaBaton X1
- Using phone as the universal remote
Here I disagree a bit with @mikeappsreviewer. Phone remotes are nice for typing passwords and quick control. For day to day channel flipping or volume while half asleep on the couch, a physical remote still wins.
That said, if you want to integrate phones as well:
iPhone / iPad
• TVRem is fine, and their notes match what I saw. No Vizio support is a real limit though.
• If you own Roku, do not underestimate the official Roku app. It controls all Roku TVs and sticks, gives keyboard and private listening.
• For Apple TV, the built in iOS “Apple TV Remote” in Control Center works better than most universal apps.
Android
• Codematics “Universal TV Remote Control” works, but I agree the ads are rough.
• If your phone has IR, a lot of the “ugly” older IR remote apps actually work better than the glossy ad heavy ones. Look for small APK size and older ratings. These tend to have fewer dynamic ad SDKs and more stable IR libraries.
How I would choose, step by step
-
List your gear
Example: LG TV, Vizio TV, Roku Ultra, Fire Stick, Denon AVR, soundbar. -
If you have 3 or more devices that you want on one remote
• Hunt a used Logitech Harmony Companion.
• Only skip this if the idea of used hardware bothers you. -
If you mostly watch on one smart TV plus one soundbar
• Get a SofaBaton U2.
• Add the official phone app for that TV brand only for typing and deep settings. -
If you want one thing to hand guests and kids
• Use a physical universal remote for the basics.
• Keep phone remotes as “maintenance tools” for logins and rare adjustments.
Real world example from my setup
Living room
• Sony TV, Apple TV 4K, Denon AVR, PS5.
• Harmony Companion runs “Watch Apple TV” and “PlayStation” activities.
• iPhone Apple TV Remote used only for typing and quick scrubbing.
Bedroom
• LG TV with apps, Sonos beam.
• SofaBaton U2 handles power, input, volume.
• LG phone app only when I need to rename inputs or change Wi‑Fi.
If you post your exact devices, people can tell you straight up: “go Harmony” or “U2 is enough.” Right now, the simplest solid bet for most mixed setups is still a used Harmony plus brand specific phone apps for text entry.
You’re not crazy, the “universal remote” world is a mess right now.
Since @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles already covered phone apps and Harmony/SofaBaton pretty well, I’ll hit it from a slightly different angle: what actually works with the least day‑to‑day drama.
1. Decide first: do you really need “universal”?
A lot of people think they do, but their setup is basically:
- 1 smart TV (Samsung / LG / TCL / Sony)
- 1 streamer (Roku / Fire / Apple TV) or just built‑in apps
- Maybe a soundbar
If that’s you, a brand‑specific + CEC combo is often smoother than a big universal:
- Use the TV remote as “master”
- Turn on HDMI‑CEC in the TV + soundbar/AVR + streamer
- The TV remote then controls basic playback on Roku/Fire/Apple TV and volume on the soundbar
It’s not fancy, but it’s rock solid and way less fiddly than some “universal” remotes that promise the moon.
2. Physical universal: my short, opinionated list
I partly agree with the Harmony / SofaBaton talk, but here’s where I differ:
-
Used Harmony is still king if you enjoy tinkering. If you hate setup wizards and “activities” logic, it will annoy you, even if everyone swears it’s amazing.
-
SofaBaton X1: decent, but I’ve seen more random Bluetooth drops with Apple TV and Fire TV than I like. If your priority is “press Watch TV and never think about it,” that can get old fast.
So I’d break it down like this:
-
You have AVR + multiple boxes + want one‑button activities
Try to snag a Harmony Companion or Elite used. If that idea makes you twitch, then yes, X1 is the only half‑sane new option, but expect to spend a bit of time babysitting it at first. -
You have a simple setup, mostly IR, no game consoles you care about integrating
Go with SofaBaton U2 or even a decent learning remote like:- One For All URC series
- A basic learning remote that can clone your TV + soundbar codes
This is boring, but boring is good when you just want the thing to work.
Hot take: “dumb” learning remotes are underrated. Learning power/volume/input from your existing remotes often beats fighting some half‑baked app‑driven config system.
3. Phone as universal: use it sparingly
I’m a bit less bullish on living in phone‑remote land than @mikeappsreviewer:
-
Phone remotes are fantastic for:
- Typing passwords and search terms
- Occasional control when the physical remote is lost under the couch
- Controlling one specific TV/box very well (Roku app, Apple TV remote, etc.)
-
They are annoying for:
- Quick volume changes in the dark
- Anyone in the house who is not you
- When Wi‑Fi is flaky or the TV is half‑asleep on the network
So my pattern is:
- Physical remote = daily driver
- Phone apps = “admin tool” for setup, passwords, deep settings
If you want one thing that feels “universal” on your phone:
- iPhone: I’d still lean on official apps first (Roku / Fire / Apple TV / brand‑specific TV app), then something like TVRem as @mikeappsreviewer described.
- Android: built‑in IR + a super simple IR app is often better than the ad‑soaked “AI universal” stuff. The Codematics app works, but the ad load would drive me nuts long‑term.
4. How I’d choose in your shoes
Since you mentioned “different brands and streaming devices” and “something easy”:
-
If you have 3+ devices you want on one remote
- Try to get a Harmony Companion used. It is still the least annoying “true universal” that covers TVs, streamers, AVRs.
- Set up 2 or 3 activities only: “Watch TV,” “Watch Streaming,” “Play Console.” Don’t overcomplicate it.
-
If you have 1 main TV + soundbar + one streamer
- Turn on HDMI‑CEC everywhere.
- Use the TV’s own remote.
- Keep phone apps around purely for typing & rare stuff.
-
If you have a mix of brands and guests/kids using it
- One simple physical universal (Harmony / U2 / decent learning remote).
- Phones only as backup. Otherwise you’ll become tech support every time someone’s phone dies.
If you list your exact TV brands + streaming boxes + soundbar/AVR, you’ll probably get a pretty blunt “go Harmony” / “U2 is enough” verdict from a few of us here. The “best” universal really changes a lot depending on whether you own, say, a Denon AVR and Apple TV versus just a TCL Roku TV and a cheap soundbar.