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. I’ve tried a couple cheap ones from big-box stores, but they only partly control my TV and soundbar and don’t handle my streaming box at all. Can anyone recommend a reliable universal remote that’s easy to program, works with modern smart TVs and streaming devices, and won’t break the bank?
Hi all,
I hit the point where I was done chasing TV remotes around the house. We have two TVs at home, Samsung in the living room and LG in the bedroom, and I was constantly doing that thing where you grab the wrong remote, point it at the wrong TV, get annoyed, then start hunting under cushions.
My phone, on the other hand, is always either in my pocket or right next to me. So I went down the universal remote app rabbit hole and tried a bunch of apps on iPhone, Android, and even on my Mac.
Below is how it went, what broke, what worked, and what I’d actually use long term.
Part 1: iPhone TV remote apps I tried
I pulled four popular iOS remote apps from the App Store:
TVRem Universal TV Remote
TV Remote – Universal Control
Universal Remote TV Smart
TV Remote – Universal
I use an iPhone every day, so I spent the most time here.
TVRem Universal TV Remote – my main iPhone pick
I’ll start with the one I ended up keeping installed: TVRem Universal TV Remote.
I tested it on a Samsung and an LG. It also claims support for Sony, Android TV, Roku, and a bunch of other brands. On my network it picked up both TVs without any drama. No weird pairing rituals.
What stood out first: no paywall. No “3-day free trial then surprise yearly plan”. No locked buttons. I kept waiting for some upgrade pop-up and it never appeared.
What I used most:
• Touchpad style navigation instead of fake plastic buttons
• Keyboard for entering passwords and search terms
• Voice input
• Channel switching and app launching
Pros
- Straightforward interface, nothing confusing
- TV detection and connection was quick on my Wi-Fi
- Fully free, no subscriptions
- Worked with both my Samsung and LG
- Covers all the “normal remote” actions
Cons
- No support for Vizio TVs, which is annoying if you have one
Price: free
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
If you want to compare other opinions, there is a thread here that helped me check I was not totally off:
Product page I ran into while browsing around:
Product video:
Verdict
For iPhone, this is the only remote app I kept. It gives the basics, doesn’t nag, and I did not feel like I was being steered into a subscription funnel.
TV Remote – Universal Control
This one also works as a universal Wi-Fi remote for a bunch of brands. It connected fine, nothing exotic there. The feature list looks good on paper.
Stuff I liked technically:
• Touchpad
• Voice control
• Channel launcher
• Keyboard input
• Casting features, although I personally do that from native apps
The issue hit as soon as I started tapping things. Almost every “useful” button was paywalled. To test properly, I had to start a free trial. Without it you are basically running a demo.
Pros
- Features you would expect from a modern remote
- Wide brand support
Cons
- Ads inside the app
- Most basic things want a subscription
- I had a couple of crashes when opening the menu
Price: from $4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote - Universal Control App - App Store
Verdict
Technically fine, but way too aggressive on monetization. I did not buy it. If you hate free apps with limits and prefer to pay for a polished tool, maybe it is acceptable, but I was specifically looking for something cheap or free.
Universal Remote TV Smart
This one felt like using a remote that someone rearranged blindfolded. It supports a long list of brands, so on that side it is okay.
Functionally it gives:
• Keyboard
• App navigation
• Volume
• Channel control
The problem is the layout. The buttons did not match where my fingers expected them to be. It did not feel like any physical remote I have used.
Pros
- Covers many TV brands
Cons
- Awkward UI and button placement
- No voice control
- Ads that interrupt and force video watching
- Most actions trigger some kind of paywall or offer
Price: from $7.99 and up
Link: Universal remote tv smart App - App Store
Verdict
Out of the four iPhone apps, this was my least favorite. Paid features, clunky interface, and constant interruptions. I uninstalled it fast.
TV Remote – Universal
Another universal iOS remote. It supports LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Android TV, and others. So if you have Vizio, this at least sees it.
Your iPhone and TV need to be on the same Wi-Fi network or it will not show anything.
Features:
• Channel and app switching
• Keyboard
• Play, pause, rewind
Pros
- TV detection worked without fiddling
- Interface is simple to understand
- Core controls are present
- Has a free trial
Cons
- Ads unless you pay
- Advanced stuff is behind a paywall, and a lot of buttons lead to upgrade screens
Price: from $4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote - Universal App - App Store
Verdict
I used the trial and gave it a proper run. It worked, but the main screen had some lag on my phone. Most extra features trying to upsell made it feel cramped. I would still pick TVRem over this unless you need Vizio support.
Part 2: Android TV remote apps I tried
My wife is on Android, so we grabbed a few options from Google Play and abused them across a couple of evenings.
Universal TV Remote Control
This one pops up a lot in Play Store searches.
It supports a lot of TVs: Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, TCL, Hisense, Panasonic, and more. You get Wi-Fi control and also IR mode if your phone has an infrared blaster.
Features that looked promising:
• Trackpad navigation
• Voice search
• App control
• Keyboard
Everything I wanted was present and free.
Then the ads started.
Pros
- Broad device support
- Works over Wi-Fi and IR
- Essential features unlocked without paying
Cons
- The ad volume is insane, some stuck without a close button
- The app crashed often and I had to reconnect to the TV multiple times
Price: free
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=codematics.universal.tv.remote.control&hl=en
Verdict
On paper this should have been a keeper: free, rich features, IR support. In practice, the ads and instability killed it for me. My wife kept it a few days then removed it too.
Remote Control For All TV | AI
This one also uses Wi-Fi and supports many brands.
Free version:
• Basic remote controls
• But a lot of ads
• Slow TV discovery, it took much longer than others to spot our Samsung
Paid version:
• No ads
• “AI assistant”
• Keyboard with voice input
• Screen mirroring
Pros
- Wide brand support
- Simple actions available for free
Cons
- Ad-heavy free mode
- Slow TV discovery on my network
- Most useful features paywalled
Price: from $4.99 and up
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sensustech.universal.remote.control.ai
Verdict
Okay if you only care about volume, play, pause, and channel up/down and you have patience. Once you want mirroring or smarter controls, you hit a paywall fast. The long detection time annoyed me more than I expected.
Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
This app supports both Wi-Fi and IR, similar to the first Android option.
Good part: it found my TV quickly. Less good part: connection succeeded only after a few attempts. Once you think it is stable, an ad jumps in.
Pros
- Simple layout for core actions
- Works with both IR phones and Wi-Fi smart TVs
Cons
- Full-screen video ads that break flow constantly
- Many features require in-app purchases
- Connection drops sometimes without clear reason
Price: from $5.99 and up
Verdict
This is something I would keep only as a backup when nothing else works. It’s fast to find TVs but annoying to keep using over time.
Universal TV Remote Control (another one)
Last Android app I tried had the same “Universal TV Remote Control” naming pattern but a different developer.
Supports:
• LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and more
• Wi-Fi and IR
Core features:
• Standard remote layout
• Power on/off
• Home/Menu buttons
• Simple playback controls
Pros
- Gives you the basics
- Has a free trial
Cons
- Ad-heavy experience
- Most of the more advanced or convenient stuff is locked behind pay
Price: from 3.99 and up
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uzeegar.universal.smart.tv.remote.control&hl=uk
Verdict
It covers the essentials on paper, but those essentials sit inside a paywall. The ad situation is about as bad as the others. If you hate ads, this one will wear you down quickly.
The Android choice in my house
My wife ended up sticking with the first “Universal TV Remote Control” for a while, mainly because it did IR and Wi-Fi and was familiar. I kept telling her the ads were over the top, but she did not seem as annoyed as me. Eventually she also started looking for alternatives.
Part 3: Mac apps to control your TV
This part surprised me. I did not expect to like controlling the TV from my Mac as much as I did.
TVRem Universal TV Remote for Mac
Yes, same name as the iOS app. You grab it from the Mac App Store, launch it, and it scans for TVs.
I tested it with the same Samsung. Pairing was quick. Interface is clean, nothing bloated.
Features I used:
• Touchpad
• Keyboard
• App launcher
No paywalls, no ads, no random “upgrade” popups.
Pros
- Simple UI, easy to get used to
- No ads
- Support for popular TV brands
- Enough features for daily use
Cons
- No Vizio support here either
Price: free
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
Verdict
If you sit at a Mac a lot and your TV is nearby, this works well as a second remote. It felt stable and light.
TV Remote, Universal Remote for Mac
Another Mac App Store remote.
Connecting to my TV was straightforward. It recognized it quickly.
Interface looked fine, maybe a bit more cluttered than TVRem, but still usable. The problem came when I tried to touch anything slightly advanced. Plenty of “pay to unlock” screens.
I also had a couple of app crashes over two evenings of use.
Pros
- Decent layout
- Supports common TV brands and basic actions
Cons
- Many useful things are paid
- Occasional crashes
Price: from $4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote, Universal Remote App - App Store
Verdict
Usable if you pay and if they fix the stability issues. For free usage, it feels limited. I did not keep it installed.
Part 4: Physical remote vs phone remote app
Let me break down how this felt day to day.
Physical TV remote
The usual plastic remote that arrives with the TV or bought later. Battery powered, lives on the coffee table until it disappears into thin air.
Remote app
A phone or tablet app that sends commands to your TV over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or IR.
Why I started leaning toward remote apps
-
Harder to lose
My phone is either in my pocket or near me. The TV remote often ends up under a pillow or in another room. Since installing the app I stopped doing the couch cushion excavation. -
Typing does not suck as much
Using arrow keys to enter a 16-character Wi-Fi password on a physical remote feels dated. With the app keyboard I typed passwords and search queries in seconds. That alone saved a lot of time. -
Cost difference
Quick price check on Amazon:
• Replacement Samsung TV remotes (roughly 2019–2025 models): around $15–20
• Replacement LG remotes: roughly $13–35
Most of the apps I tried either had a free tier or a trial. TVRem is entirely free. If you are replacing or adding remotes in multiple rooms, an app is cheaper.
-
One app for several devices
I control both our Samsung and LG from one place on my phone instead of juggling two physical remotes. That helped in the bedroom where the wrong remote always ended up there. -
Interface is more flexible
Some apps have touchpads, quick app shortcuts, and easy volume sliders. Compared to the generic black plastic remotes, navigating the TV menus felt less clunky.
Limitations I hit with remote apps
• Need network or Bluetooth
If the TV is not on the same Wi-Fi or is asleep in a deeper mode, some apps fail to connect. Physical remotes do not care.
• You depend on your phone
If your phone battery is low or charging in another room, you will feel dumb staring at the screen with no way to pause.
• TV model differences
Older or budget TVs sometimes expose fewer controls to apps. For example, some settings still require the original remote.
Where I landed after testing all this
I tried a bunch of apps across three platforms and noticed a pattern:
iPhone
I stuck with TVRem Universal TV Remote as my main choice. It is free, stable, and I use the touchpad and keyboard constantly. The missing Vizio support is the only thing I would complain about if I owned a Vizio.
If you are fine paying, TV Remote – Universal Control felt like a decent paid option, but it did not offer enough extra for me personally.
Android
My wife chose “Universal TV Remote Control” on Android for a while. It worked, both with Wi-Fi and IR, and covered her needs. I was more bothered by the ad spam than she was. Functionally it is okay, but if you are sensitive to interruptions you might want to look elsewhere or pay to remove ads where possible.
Mac
On Mac, TVRem Universal TV Remote was the standout. Free, no ads, simple. It became my “I am already on the laptop and do not want to reach for the remote” tool.
If you are trying to replace remotes at home, here is what I would do:
• Start with whatever free universal app supports your TV brands.
• Check if it supports both your living room and bedroom TVs before paying for anything.
• Use it for a few evenings to see if the ads or connection delays annoy you.
• If you are on iPhone and do not own a Vizio, try TVRem first:
TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
Hope this helps you avoid installing 10 different remote apps like I did.
1 Like
Short version. Since you already tried cheap big box remotes and got only partial control, you need to be a bit more strategic.
You have 3 main paths:
- Phone / app remotes
- A real universal remote with a hub
- HDMI‑CEC plus a simple remote
I will keep it practical.
- Phone / app remotes
@mikappsreviewer covered the TVRem iPhone / Mac angle well. I agree apps are great for typing, search, and “I lost the remote again” moments.
Where I disagree a bit. I would not use a phone app as the only remote if you use streaming boxes, soundbars, game consoles. Most TV apps only control the TV itself. They often do not handle AVR volume or input switching cleanly.
Phone remotes are best as:
• Backup when a physical remote vanishes
• Keyboard for logins and searches
• Occasional control, not your main driver
If you go the app route, pick one that:
• Supports all your TV brands on Wi‑Fi
• Has no aggressive paywall
• Shows your devices instantly on your network
If you are on iPhone and do not own Vizio, TVRem is fine. If you own Vizio or older sets, you might need one of the paid ones @mikeappsreviewer tried or your TV vendor’s own app.
- “Real” universal remotes that work
This is where most of the cheap remotes failed you. They usually:
• Only control 1 or 2 things well
• Struggle with streaming devices
• Have poor button layouts or no backlight
If you want one remote for TV, streaming box, and audio, these are the types that tend to work:
a) Sofabaton U2 or X1
• U2 is cheaper, IR only
• X1 has a hub and Bluetooth for Apple TV, Fire TV, etc
• Good if you have multiple devices and want activities like “Watch TV” that turn on TV, set input, set AVR
b) OEM‑style “smart” remotes
• Some Samsung and LG “magic” remotes can be programmed to control a cable box or soundbar
• Works ok if most of your stuff is on HDMI‑CEC and you do not have many boxes
Short list of what to look for:
• Hub + IR blasters if your gear is in a cabinet
• Bluetooth support if you use Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick
• Backlit buttons
• Activity macros, so you press 1 button for a whole setup
If you tell me your brands and exact devices, the pick gets easy. For most mixed setups, Sofabaton X1 is the sweet spot right now. Not perfect, but better than the $15 “universal” specials.
- HDMI‑CEC plus a simple remote
This works better than people expect if your gear supports CEC:
• Turn on CEC in TV and all HDMI devices
• Use your TV remote to control basic playback and volume of the streaming stick / box
• Then buy a simple replacement remote for the TV only, not a “universal”
Pros:
• Less setup
• Fewer points of failure
• TV remote controls most stuff through CEC
Cons:
• CEC names differ by brand and sometimes bug out
• Limited to basic commands
• Some soundbars or older receivers ignore CEC
If you mostly stream from one device like Apple TV or Roku and you do not care about advanced macros, this route is painless.
What I would do in your place
-
List your exact devices
• TV brands and models
• Streaming boxes or sticks
• Soundbar or AVR brand -
Decide your priority
• One physical remote that always works
• Or keep your existing remotes and add a phone app for convenience -
Concrete picks:
If you want one remote to rule everything:
• Sofabaton X1 if you have mixed HDMI + Bluetooth gear
• Sofabaton U2 if you are mostly IR and want cheaper
If you are okay keeping the TV remote and just want backup and easier typing:
• Use a phone app like TVRem or your TV brand’s own app
If you hate spending more money:
• Turn on HDMI‑CEC on all devices
• Use the TV remote as the primary
• Keep a phone app for worst case
Post your gear list and people here will tell you very quickly if you need something like an X1 or if CEC plus a free app is enough.
Short version: you’re not crazy, most “universal” remotes and apps are hot garbage once you go beyond 1 TV and 1 box. The trick is matching the type of remote to how complicated your setup really is.
I’ll try not to repeat what @mikeappsreviewer and @espritlibre already covered with TVRem, Sofabaton, etc., and come at it from a slightly different angle.
1. Figure out your real problem first
There are 3 typical pain points:
- Too many remotes
- Too many steps (TV on, soundbar on, right input, right app)
- Too many devices (TV + soundbar/AVR + streaming box + maybe console)
Cheap big‑box “universal” remotes rarely fix #2 and #3. They just mash multiple remotes into one piece of plastic and then fail half the buttons.
Before buying anything else, literally write down:
- TV brand(s) + year / model if you know it
- Streaming gear (Roku / Fire TV / Apple TV / built‑in apps / cable box)
- Audio (soundbar? AVR? just TV speakers?)
Because the “best” universal for:
- “Roku + soundbar + one TV”
is very different from - “LG + Samsung + Apple TV + AVR + console”
2. Physical universal: when it actually makes sense
I slightly disagree with the “just get a Sofabaton X1” reflex. It’s good, but if:
- You mostly use a single streaming box on 1 main TV
- Your sound is through a soundbar or the TV speakers
- You don’t care about fancy macros
Then paying X1 money is overkill.
In that simpler case, I’d look at:
-
Programmable IR remote with activity buttons
Something like the midrange One For All / GE remotes that support:- TV
- Audio device
- Streaming box as a “DVD” or “STB” device
- A couple of “macro” buttons you can program (e.g. power everything + choose input)
It’s boring, but boring in a good way. No hubs, no apps, it just works once set up.
-
Brand‑skewed remotes for your “main” TV brand
Example:- LG “Magic Remote” can usually learn a soundbar and cable box
- Samsung smart remotes can control HDMI devices via CEC surprisingly well
So you use:
- The smart TV remote as the “master”
- A cheap backup remote in the bedroom that only has to do power/volume/input
If you have multiple brands + external streamer + separate audio, then Sofabaton X1 or similar hub remotes start to make sense, like @espritlibre mentioned.
3. Streaming box priority: use its remote
Something a lot of people miss:
If you use one main streaming device, the cleanest “universal” is often:
- Let the streamer’s remote control TV power and volume
- Ignore most of the TV’s own apps and remote
Examples:
-
Roku Voice Remote Pro
- Controls TV power and volume
- Rechargeable, has a headphone jack on some models
- Pretty solid as a daily driver
-
Apple TV remote
- Controls TV power and volume
- Great if everyone is mostly living inside Apple TV anyway
-
Fire TV remote
- Same idea, power + volume on the TV
If any of those match what you actually use 80% of the time, that might be your simplest real “universal”: one small remote that secretly bosses the TV around.
This is where I slightly disagree with how app‑heavy @mikeappsreviewer went: if someone’s main use is “open Netflix and crank the volume,” I’d rather have the Roku/Apple TV/Fire remote than keep fishing out my phone.
4. Phone apps: treat them as helpers, not heroes
Remote apps are fantastic for:
- Logging into apps
- Searching titles
- Emergency backup when the sofa eats the remote
They’re less fantastic as the only remote for a multi‑device setup. Almost all of them:
- Talk mostly to the TV, not the AVR/soundbar/streamer
- Break the second your Wi‑Fi misbehaves
- Are slower to wake than grabbing a physical remote
If you do want an app:
- On iPhone, TVRem is good for what it is, as everyone already said
- On Android, nearly all the popular ones are ad‑hell; pick the one that:
- Connects reliably to your TV
- Doesn’t drown you in full‑screen video ads
But again, I’d keep the phone app as Plan B, not the primary control.
5. HDMI‑CEC: the free “semi‑universal”
This is the free trick that sometimes magically fixes everything:
-
Turn on CEC on your TV
- Samsung: Anynet+
- LG: Simplink
- Sony: Bravia Sync
- Etc.
-
Turn on CEC on:
- Roku / Apple TV / Fire TV / Blu‑ray / etc.
- Soundbar / AVR if supported
What you can get when it behaves:
- Turning on the streaming box powers on the TV and switches input
- TV remote controls play/pause and volume of the box or AVR
- Power off puts everything to sleep
What you won’t get:
- Fancy macros
- Deep AVR settings
- Perfect reliability every single day
So CEC is like a “free universal remote mode.” Combine that with:
- One physical remote (TV or streamer) as primary
- One phone app as backup
and a lot of people are actually done.
So what should you actually buy or do?
Based on “multiple brands + cheap universals failed + streaming devices,” I’d do this in order:
-
Turn on HDMI‑CEC everywhere
See how far that alone gets you with your existing main remote. -
Pick your “primary” device
- If you mostly use Roku / Fire / Apple TV, lean on its remote as the boss.
- If you mostly use built‑in TV apps, lean on the TV remote.
-
Add remote app as backup only
- TVRem or the official brand app for keyboard / emergencies.
-
If you still hate juggling stuff after that, then look at a real universal:
- Simple: a decent One For All with macros if your gear is mostly IR
- Complex: Sofabaton X1 if you have a mess of devices, Bluetooth streamers, cabinets, etc.
If you post the exact TVs + streaming box + audio gear, people here can pretty much tell you “you’re fine with CEC + Roku remote” or “you’re in full‑blown hub remote territory” in one reply. Right now you’re stuck in that useless middle ground of $15 “universal” remotes that try to do everything and end up halfway controlling everything instead.
Short version: if you’re overwhelmed by physical “universal” remotes, you’re looking in the wrong aisle. Go software first, hardware second.
What @espritlibre and @mikeappsreviewer did well is show that the cheap plastic universals are basically stuck in 2008, while phone / desktop remotes are finally usable. I agree with their general direction, but I’d tweak the strategy a bit.
1. Decide first: do you really need a physical universal remote?
Physical universal remotes are worth it only if:
- You have non‑smart gear (older receivers, DVD players, set‑top boxes)
- Other people in the house hate using phones as remotes
- You want “pick up & click” responsiveness without depending on Wi‑Fi
If all your stuff is smart TVs + streaming sticks, an app is usually cleaner.
2. Phone / Mac first: centralize control
Given your multiple brands + streaming boxes, I’d flip the order some people take:
- Primary control: phone / tablet remote app
- Backup: whichever basic physical remote came with the TV or streamer
The reasoning:
- Apps handle text input and app launching way better
- You don’t need one physical remote that “does everything” when your phone already can
Folks already pointed out TVRem Universal TV Remote on iPhone and Mac as a solid pick, and I mostly agree. It hits the sweet spot of “works with many brands” without walling everything behind subscriptions.
Pros for TVRem Universal TV Remote:
- Free to use, no surprise trials
- Clean UI with touchpad and keyboard
- Works nicely with mainstream brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Android TV
- Good for households with more than one TV brand
Cons:
- No Vizio support
- Depends on your network being sane
- Not ideal if you have lots of older HDMI devices that are not smart at all
Compared to what @mikeappsreviewer tested on Android, TVRem’s free‑without‑insane‑ads model is honestly a big deal. I slightly disagree with the idea of just tolerating ad‑heavy Android remotes long term; in practice, the interruptions become more annoying than juggling two manufacturer remotes.
3. What about your streaming boxes?
Two tricks that cut down remote clutter without buying anything:
- Use the TV remote’s HDMI‑CEC to control your streaming box (Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku) from the TV’s own remote. Many universals ignore this but TV + box combos often do it out of the box once CEC is enabled.
- Use each box’s official app as a secondary “remote”:
- Apple TV Remote in Control Center (iOS)
- Fire TV app
- Roku app
That way you do not need a universal to handle the “apps on top of apps” layer.
4. If you still want one physical universal
If after playing with apps you still want a “king remote” for the coffee table, here is a practical checklist so you don’t buy another useless brick:
Look for:
- Activity macros like “Watch TV” that power on TV + receiver + box together
- Backlit buttons so it is usable in the dark
- Learning mode for oddball devices
- Clear support list that actually includes your exact TV models and streaming boxes
Avoid:
- Remotes that are IR only if your setup is mostly smart TVs that can be handled over Wi‑Fi by an app instead
- Models that require a paid cloud account to even sync basic settings
The combo that tends to work best in practice:
- Phone app like TVRem Universal TV Remote for 90 % of your use
- A mid‑range physical universal for non‑smart / legacy gear or other family members
That set up usually kills the “pile of six remotes” problem without forcing you into another subscription or ad‑slammed app.