I’m overwhelmed by all the universal TV remote options and can’t tell which ones actually work well across multiple brands and streaming devices. My current remotes are failing or lost, and I’d like a single, reliable solution that’s easy to set up for my family. What universal TV remotes do you recommend and what features should I look for?
Hi all
I got sick of playing “where’s the remote” every night. We have two TVs at home, Samsung in the living room and LG in the bedroom, and both remotes disappear into the couch like they are paid to do it. At some point I realized my phone is always on me, so I went down the rabbit hole of universal TV remote apps.
I tested a bunch on iPhone, Android, and Mac and kept notes as I went. Sharing everything here so you do not have to install 15 different apps and rage-uninstall half of them like I did.
TV remote apps for iPhone
I went through four popular ones from the App Store:
• TVRem Universal TV Remote
• TV Remote – Universal Control
• Universal Remote TV Smart
• TV Remote – Universal
Each of these works differently once you get past the “universal” label.
TVRem Universal TV Remote
I started with this one and kept coming back to it.
What I used it with: Samsung and LG TVs. It also lists Sony, Android TV, Roku and a bunch of others.
Setup
• Open the app
• It scans your network
• Tap the TV, confirm on the TV, done
No weird pairing hoops, no account signups.
Features I used a lot
• Touchpad area for moving around menus
• Keyboard for search fields and passwords
• Basic playback and volume controls
• App switching / channel navigation
• Voice input through Google Assistant / Alexa on supported TVs
Pricing
• Free
• No subscription screen popping up every two taps
• No forced “watch this video to continue” stuff
Pros I noticed
• Interface is simple and obvious
• Connections to both TVs worked first try
• Nothing paywalled
• Covers most of the big TV brands
• Replaces all the basic functions of a real remote
Cons
• No Vizio support, so if you have Vizio you are out of luck here
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
Someone on Reddit did a bigger comparison here if you want more opinions:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DataRecoveryHelp/comments/1qqa2bh/best_universal_tv_remote/
Head to the product page to explore more about the universal TV remote app:
My verdict
For an iPhone user who wants something that works and costs nothing, this one felt like the best pick. No drama, does what a remote should do.
TV Remote – Universal Control
This one looks polished at first glance, but I hit the paywall wall pretty fast.
How it connects
• Wi‑Fi only
• TV and phone must be on the same network
• Connection itself was fine, no big issues
Features I tried
• Touchpad
• Voice control
• Channel launcher
• Keyboard
• Media casting feature I did not care about much
The catch
To test the full set I had to start a free trial. Without paying, you bump into locked stuff constantly.
Pros
• Has the functions you expect from a modern remote app
• Works with most mainstream TV brands
Cons
• Ads sprinkled inside the app
• Many basic actions redirect you to a subscription offer
• The app crashed on me a few times when opening menus
Price
• Starts from about $4.99
Link: TV Remote - Universal Control App - App Store
My verdict
Usable, but every time I tapped something I half-expected a paywall. If you dislike nagging offers, this gets old fast. I skipped paying for it.
Universal Remote TV Smart
This one felt like someone tried to reinvent what a remote should look like and missed.
UI and layout
• Button placement felt strange
• Did not resemble a normal physical remote
• Took longer to do simple actions compared to other apps
Features
• Keyboard
• App navigation
• Volume and channel controls
It technically does the bare minimum.
Pros
• Supports a lot of brands
Cons
• Interface feels clumsy to use
• No voice control
• Aggressive ads, including forced video ads
• Many actions trigger paywall screens, even something simple like trying to open YouTube
Price
• From $7.99 and up
Link: Universal remote tv smart App - App Store
My verdict
Out of the iOS apps I tried, this one was at the bottom. Feels slow and cramped, and the monetization on top of that makes it worse.
TV Remote – Universal
This one sits in the middle for me. Not terrible, not great.
Support
• Works with LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Android TV and more
• Good option if you have Vizio and cannot use TVRem
Connection
• Wi‑Fi only
• TV and iPhone have to be on the same network
• Detection was quick and straightforward
Features
• Switching channels and apps
• Keyboard input
• Basic playback controls, pause / rewind etc.
Pros
• Finds and connects to the TV easily
• Interface is easy to understand
• Has the core remote functions
• Comes with a free trial
Cons
• Ads in the app, removable only if you pay
• Anything beyond basics tries to push you into buying a plan
Price
• From $4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote - Universal App - App Store
My verdict
I did the free trial, tested everything. It worked, but the main screen lagged a bit on my phone. Nothing broke, but constant upsells plus ads made it tiring to use long term.
TV remote apps for Android
My wife uses Android, so we went through a bunch on her phone too. Here is what we saw.
Universal TV Remote Control
This one is everywhere on Google Play, so I tried it first.
Supported brands
Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, TCL, Hisense, Panasonic, and quite a few others.
Connection options
• Wi‑Fi control for smart TVs
• IR mode for phones with infrared hardware
This is useful if you have an older TV and a phone with IR.
Features
• Trackpad navigation
• Voice search
• App navigation
• Keyboard input
Most of what you expect from a universal remote.
Ads, and this is the big problem
• Ads popped up constantly
• Some ad screens were hard to close or confusing on purpose
• A few times the app crashed and I had to reconnect
Pros
• Works with a long list of TV models
• Supports both IR and Wi‑Fi
• All core features available without paying
Cons
• Ads are excessive and break the flow
• Crashes and reconnects are frequent
Price
• Free, no mandatory subscription, but heavy ad load
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=codematics.universal.tv.remote.control&hl=en
My verdict
At first I thought “nice, everything is free.” After 15 minutes of random full-screen ads, I closed it and did not go back. Too annoying for daily use.
Remote Control For All TV | AI
Another popular Android option built around Wi‑Fi remotes.
What it does
• Turns your phone into a universal remote for smart TVs using Wi‑Fi
• Supports a bunch of brands, similar list to the others
Free version
• Gives you basic buttons, enough to change channels and volume
• Has a lot of ads
• Took a while to find and connect to our TV compared to other apps
Paid features
• Removes ads
• Adds an “AI assistant”
• Unlocks a keyboard with voice input
• Screen mirroring
Pros
• Broad brand support
• Basic remote functions without paying
Cons
• Many ads in the free tier
• Slow TV detection in my tests
• Helpful tools sit behind a subscription
Price
• From $4.99 and up
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sensustech.universal.remote.control.ai
My verdict
If you only need basic controls and you tolerate ads, it works. For everyday heavy use I found the delays and locked features annoying.
Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
This one looked simple at first and then drowned me in ads.
Connection
• Found the TV quickly
• Needed a few attempts to finish the pairing
• Sometimes dropped connection during use
Features
• Standard navigation
• Works both over IR (if the phone supports it) and Wi‑Fi
Pros
• Straightforward remote layout
• IR + Wi‑Fi support gives flexibility
Cons
• Full-screen video ads came up all the time
• Many controls are locked behind in-app purchases
• Connection to the TV was not stable
Price
• From $5.99 and up
My verdict
Looks like a decent backup remote if nothing else works, but the combination of unstable connection and constant ads made it hard to recommend to anyone who cares about smooth control.
Universal TV Remote Control (another one)
Yes, the names all start to blend together at this point. This is a different app with the same name pattern.
Supported brands
LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and similar.
Connection types
• Wi‑Fi
• IR if the phone has an IR blaster
Features
• One main screen for basic controls
• Power on / off
• Home / Menu button
• Playback buttons, play, stop, back, forward
Pros
• Covers the core features
• Free trial is available
Cons
• Many ads
• Most of the interesting functions require payment
Price
• Starts around 3.99
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uzeegar.universal.smart.tv.remote.control&hl=uk
My verdict
It does the job but expects you to pay if you want convenience without ad spam. I would not pick this as a main remote if ads irritate you easily.
Mac apps to control your TV
This was a bit of a surprise for me. Controlling a TV from a Mac sounded strange at first, then I tried it and it was comfortable when working on the laptop on the couch.
TVRem Universal TV Remote (Mac)
Same brand as the iPhone one, but for Mac. I installed it from the Mac App Store and tested it with a Samsung TV.
Setup
• Install
• Make sure Mac and TV are on the same Wi‑Fi
• Select TV from the list
• Done in under a minute
Impressions
• Interface is clean
• No extra fluff or weird windows
• Easy enough for non-tech people
Features
• Touchpad for navigating TV menus
• Built-in keyboard for searches and logins
• App launcher and basic controls
• No ads, no “upgrade to premium” stuff
Pros
• Simple layout
• No ads at all
• Works with many TV brands
• Has all the stuff you would expect in a remote
Cons
• No Vizio support here either
Price
• Free
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
My verdict
If you sit with your Mac open a lot and your TV is near, this is handy. I kept it installed. The fact it is free and clean is rare in this category.
TV Remote, Universal Remote (Mac)
Another Mac remote from the App Store.
What worked
• Connection to the TV was straightforward
• Supported popular brands
• Interface looked decent
What annoyed me
• Many functions I wanted were behind a paywall
• It crashed randomly a few times when I was testing settings
Pros
• UI is ok
• Has basic controls and brand support
Cons
• Paywalls all over the place
• Occasional crashes, which is not ideal for something meant to be your “remote”
Price
• From around $4.99
Link: TV Remote, Universal Remote App - App Store
My verdict
If you are fine paying and the crashes get fixed, it becomes usable. For me it was not worth spending money when TVRem on Mac does what I need for free.
Physical TV remote vs phone / Mac remote app
Quick definitions
Physical remote
The plastic thing that ships with your TV or you buy on Amazon.
Remote app
Software on your phone or computer that sends commands over Wi‑Fi or IR.
Where app remotes win
-
Harder to lose
Your phone is usually within reach. Our physical remotes, on the other hand, spend half their lives under pillows. -
Text entry does not suck
Typing passwords or searching Netflix using arrow keys is a pain. On an app, you have a real keyboard, sometimes voice typing, and it is a lot faster. -
Cost
At the time I checked, replacement Samsung remotes from 2019 to 2025 on Amazon hover around 15 to 20 dollars. LG replacements were roughly 13 to 35. A lot of remote apps are free or cheaper than that over a year, even the paid ones. -
One remote for many devices
One app can often control multiple TVs and some other smart devices. If you have a living room TV, bedroom TV, maybe a streaming box, using one interface is easier. -
Interface quality
Phone UIs get more design love than cheap plastic remotes. Scrolling through apps, picking inputs, and searching feels faster on a screen than tapping a cluster of similar buttons.
Where apps fall short
• Depend on Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth
If your network is flaky or the TV is in some weird mode, the app might not see it. Physical IR remotes do not care about your router.
• Depend on your phone
If your phone is in the other room, dead, or in someone else’s hand, you are stuck.
• Limited support on some TVs
Older or cheaper models might only support simple commands. You might not get access to advanced controls or deep settings through an app.
What I ended up using
After a few evenings of testing, here is how things shook out at home.
On my iPhone
• Main pick: TVRem Universal TV Remote
• Free
• No ads
• Has touchpad and keyboard, which changed how I search on the TV
• Works fine with our Samsung and LG
• Vizio users are out, but we do not have Vizio
• Backup pick: TV Remote – Universal
• Paid, but functional
• If I needed Vizio support, I would look at this one seriously and see whether the subscription feels worth the hassle
On my wife’s Android
She ended up using Universal TV Remote Control, the ad-heavy one from Google Play:
Her argument was simple, it controls the TV reliably and has all features free, and she ignores the ads. I hate the frequency of those ads, but from a pure functionality perspective it does what it promises.
If you want fewer ads on Android, you might need to accept paying a few dollars for any of the other apps mentioned.
If you want a quick shortlist
If you do not want to read all of this and you are choosing right now:
• iPhone
• First try: TVRem Universal TV Remote
• If you have Vizio: TV Remote – Universal
• Android
• Function over comfort, and you are ok with ads: Universal TV Remote Control
• If you prefer fewer ads, look for a paid option and avoid free-only ones
• Mac
• TVRem Universal TV Remote is the one I kept installed
Hope this helps you avoid half the random installs I went through.
1 Like
Short version: pick your “one remote to rule them all” based on what you actually want to control and how much nagging you can tolerate.
I’ll lean a bit different than @mikeappsreviewer, since they focused heavily on phone/Mac apps.
1. Decide first: Phone app vs physical remote
If your remotes are dying or gone and you want one thing that talks to:
- multiple TV brands
- streaming sticks / boxes (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.)
- maybe soundbar / AVR
then you really have two sane paths:
- Physical universal remote (works even if Wi‑Fi is acting dumb)
- Phone / tablet remote apps (cheaper, easier text entry, but network‑dependent)
Honestly, if you regularly lose remotes in the couch, a phone app is nice, but if your Wi‑Fi is flaky or you want to control “dumb” devices (old cable box, Blu‑ray player), a real remote wins.
2. Physical universal remote picks
This is where I’ll kind of disagree with the heavy app-focus.
If you want one reliable remote that just works across brands and streaming stuff:
-
Sofabaton U2 (budget)
- Controls TVs, soundbars, AVRs, streaming boxes via IR
- Good for multiple brands in one room
- Programming is a bit fiddly but you do it once and forget it
- Not perfect, but miles better than juggling 3 remotes
-
Sofabaton X1 (if you want “Harmony‑like”)
- Controls devices via IR, Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi
- Works with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, game consoles, etc.
- Has “Activities” like “Watch TV” that power everything and set inputs
- Closer to old Logitech Harmony experience
- Costs more, but if you have a bunch of gear it actually simplifies life
-
Brand‑agnostic IR remotes on Amazon (the $10–$20 kind)
- Look for ones that specifically list your TV brands plus Roku / Fire / etc.
- These are not as slick as Sofabaton, but fine if you only need volume/power/input and basic nav
- Avoid the super generic $5 ones with awful reviews, they miss key buttons constantly
If you want absolute minimum brain usage:
- Make a shortlist of your exact devices (TV brands/models + streaming sticks + sound system)
- Check Sofabaton’s compatibility list
- If 90% of your stuff is supported, go X1 and be done with it
3. App remotes: where I agree and slightly disagree
@mikappsreviewer did a nice deep dive on TVRem and the other phone apps. I mostly agree on which ones are tolerable vs ad‑infested nightmares, but a couple extra notes:
-
For iPhone / Mac
- TVRem is solid for direct TV control, especially if you just want to stop losing remotes and don’t care about IR‑only devices.
- The missing Vizio support is a hard stop for some people though. If you have Vizio, you really might be better with either:
- TV Remote – Universal (as they mentioned)
- Or a physical universal remote that treats Vizio like any other IR TV
-
For Android
- Those Play Store “Universal TV Remote Control” clones are all… usable but very ad‑heavy.
- Personally, I think if you’re installing one of these and planning to use it every day, just budget a few bucks and pay to remove ads. Using a remote that interrupts you with full‑screen video is more annoying than having two separate physical remotes on the table.
Also: if you use Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, do not sleep on the official apps:
- Roku app
- Amazon Fire TV app
- Apple TV Remote built into iOS Control Center
They’re usually way more stable and less scammy than “universal” third party ones, and handle search/password entry way better.
4. What I’d actually do in your shoes
Since you said:
multiple brands and streaming devices
current remotes failing or lost
want a single, reliable solution
I’d structure it like this:
-
If you want one remote that works even if Wi‑Fi is down
- Get Sofabaton U2 or X1
- Set it up once for all TVs + streaming boxes + soundbar
- Keep phone apps as backup only
-
If you’re fine relying on your phone and Wi‑Fi
- iPhone:
- Try TVRem Universal TV Remote first if you don’t have Vizio
- If you do have Vizio, try TV Remote – Universal and see if you can live with the upsell/ads
- Android:
- If you can tolerate ads: Universal TV Remote Control (same one @mikeappsreviewer’s wife uses)
- If ads drive you insane: pay for one of the less spammy ones or just go physical remote
- iPhone:
-
Combine both if you want “belt and suspenders”:
- Physical universal remote for everyday watching
- Phone app for quick keyboard / voice search when typing passwords
If you list your exact TV brands + which streaming devices you have (Roku / Fire / Apple TV / built‑in apps), I can be more specific and tell you straight up “yes, this single model will cover everything” instead of you gambling on a random “universal” listing.