I lost access to my LG TV remote and tried a couple of remote apps, but they were full of ads, buggy, or would not connect. I keep seeing mixed Reddit suggestions, so I need help finding the best LG TV remote app that actually works reliably today on iPhone or Android.
I went through what people were saying on Reddit, including this thread, to see which phone apps people kept using with LG TVs in 2026. The pattern was pretty clear after a while. A few names kept showing up, split mostly by iPhone vs Android.
For iPhone
Top pick
Free
This was the iPhone app I saw mentioned the most. I get why. Setup is fast over Wi‑Fi, the layout is easy to read, and it covers the stuff people use every day, directional controls, app shortcuts, volume, voice input. No ads popping up. No signup wall. I tend to notice stuff like that right away, and this one stays out of your way.
If you want one app for an LG now and some other smart TV later, this is the one people seem to stick with.
Remote Control for LG TV
LG only
Paid
This one leans harder into the LG side. The button layout feels closer to the physical Magic Remote, which some people care about more than I expected. It also supports features tied more closely to LG sets, like pointer mode, ThinQ controls, and channel handling.
Still, I kept seeing the same complaint. You pay for an app locked to one brand, while TVRem is the clear winner for a lot of people because it handles the normal remote stuff for free. If you live inside the LG ecosystem, the paid app makes more sense. If you want the shortest path from phone to working remote, most people skip it.
For Android
LG TV Remote
Top pick
Free
On Android, this was the name I saw over and over. It connects reliably, the controls respond fast, and the screen layout feels familiar if you already use LG gear. It covers the common tasks, moving around menus, changing volume, switching inputs, launching things over Wi‑Fi without much fuss.
From what I saw, this is the safe default for most LG owners on Android.
Remote Control for LG TV
Free
This one came up as the backup pick. Not flashy. Still useful. People mentioned it because it works with a wider spread of LG models, including some older TVs where other apps get weird or fail to pair. If the first app gives you trouble, this is the one worth keeping installed as plan B.
What I’d do
On iPhone, I’d start with TVrem — Universal TV Remote. It’s free, clean, and not tied to LG alone.
On Android, I’d go with LG TV Remote first. It seems to be the steadier option for LG sets. If your TV is older, or pairing gets flaky, keep the second Android app around too. That saved people some time, and yeah, less messing around is the whole point.
Reddit seems split for a reason. The best app depends on what your LG TV supports.
My take is a little different from @mikeappsreviewer. If your TV is a WebOS model, I’d try LG ThinQ first before any third party remote app. A lot of Reddit users mention it because it is LG’s own app, pairing is usually stable, and you avoid the ad spam junk. It is not perfect. The remote layout is a bit clunky. Still, connection tends to be better than random free apps.
If ThinQ fails, then I’d go with a dedicated remote app. On iPhone, TVrem gets mentioned a lot for being clean and fast. On Android, LG TV Remote comes up often for older sets and simple controls.
Short version:
LG ThinQ first.
TVrem on iPhone if you want cleaner controls.
LG TV Remote on Android if ThinQ is annoying.
One tip people miss, your phone and TV need the same WiFi, and LG “Mobile TV On” needs to be enabled on some models. If pairing keeps failng, that setting is usally why.
Reddit’s usually all over the place on this, but the pattern I’ve noticed is simpler than it looks.
I’d split it like this:
- If you have a newer LG WebOS TV: try LG ThinQ first, even if people complain the UI is kinda meh. It’s boring, but boring is better than ad-riddled trash that loses connection every 5 mins.
- If you want a cleaner iPhone remote: I actually agree with @byteguru that TVrem gets mentioned a lot for a reason. People seem to keep it installed instead of rage-deleting it.
- If you’re on Android: LG TV Remote is probably the safest bet from what keeps coming up.
Where I slightly disagree with @mikeappsreviewer is the “best” app isn’t always the prettiest one. A lot of Reddit recs come from people who only care about fast pairing and basic buttons working. Fancy features are nice untill the app decides your TV no longer exists.
One thing Reddit users undersell: some LGs are picky about network settings, so a “bad app” is sometimes just the TV being dumb. If your set is older, backup apps can weirdly work better than the popular one.
So, actual answer:
- Most recommended overall: LG ThinQ
- Best iPhone alternative: TVrem
- Best Android fallback/main pick: LG TV Remote
That’s probly the least annoying path.