I’m looking for a reliable universal TV remote that works smoothly with multiple brands and streaming devices. My current remotes are either lost or partially broken, and juggling different ones for TV, soundbar, and streaming box is getting frustrating. What models or brands have worked best for you, especially for easy setup and long-term durability?
Hi all,
I got fed up with hunting for TV remotes in couch cushions, so over the last few weeks I tried replacing all of them with phone and Mac apps.
Context: one Samsung TV in the living room, one LG in the bedroom. Two brands, two remotes, constant “where did you put it?” arguments. My phone, on the other hand, is glued to me.
So I went down the rabbit hole of “universal TV remote” apps for iPhone, Android, and Mac. Below is how that went, including what worked, what broke, and what I’d actually keep installed.
PART 1. TV REMOTE APPS FOR IPHONE
On iOS I tried these from the App Store:
• TVRem Universal TV Remote
• TV Remote – Universal Control
• Universal Remote TV Smart
• TV Remote – Universal
Totally different approaches to pricing and annoyance levels.
TVRem Universal TV Remote
(best one I tried on iPhone so far)
I started with this one and honestly expected another “everything is paywalled” trap. It wasn’t.
What I used it with: Samsung and LG. It also lists Sony, Android TV, Roku, and others. No Vizio support though, I checked for a friend and it was a no-go.
What worked for me:
• Connected over Wi‑Fi in under a minute on both TVs
• Touchpad for navigation felt smoother than the arrow buttons on my physical remote
• Voice input worked fine, and there is support for Google Assistant and Alexa on compatible setups
• Built-in keyboard made Wi‑Fi passwords and app search way less painful
Pros
- Interface is clean and not bloated
- Setup was quick, no weird pairing rituals
- Fully free, I did not hit a single paywall
- Works with a bunch of brands and platforms
- Covers the usual remote stuff: power, volume, channels, apps
Cons
- No Vizio support at all
Price: free
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
There is also a related Reddit thread where people argue about universal TV remote apps vs physical ones:
The devs also have this product page:
My take
For iPhone, this is the one I kept. No ads, no “start trial to change volume” nonsense, and all the basics work. Lack of Vizio is the only real downside I hit.
TV Remote – Universal Control
This one looks good on the surface. It supports lots of brands, has a nice layout, and connects via Wi‑Fi.
Useful bits I tried:
• Touchpad
• Voice control
• Channel launcher
• Keyboard input
The catch: almost everything meaningful triggers an offer screen. To test it properly, I had to start the free trial. Ads show up too.
Pros
- Has all the features I personally need
- Brand and platform coverage is solid
Cons
- Ads in the interface
- Most basic things want payment
- The app froze or crashed a few times when I opened the menu
Price: from 4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote - Universal Control App - App Store
My take
It is usable if you are fine paying. I did not buy the full version, because I wanted something cheaper or free, and the constant upsell popups got on my nerves.
Universal Remote TV Smart
Feature-wise, this one has roughly the same abilities as the others: keyboard, app navigation, volume, channels. So far so good.
The dealbreaker for me was the interface. The layout feels thrown together, the remote view does not feel natural, and it slowed me down every time I tried to do something simple.
Pros
- Handles a lot of TV brands
Cons
- Layout is uncomfortable and confusing
- No voice control at all
- Aggressive ads, including forced video ads
- Many actions are paywalled, like trying to open YouTube and hitting an upgrade screen instead
Price: from 7.99 and up
Link: Universal remote tv smart App - App Store
My take
Out of all the iPhone apps I tried, this was the weakest. Interface problem, plus too many paywalls, plus intrusive ads. Did not keep it installed.
TV Remote – Universal
This turns an iPhone or iPad into a universal remote and supports LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Android TV, and others.
The pairing process was straightforward as long as the phone and TV were on the same Wi‑Fi.
Features I used:
• Switching apps and channels
• Keyboard input
• Basic transport controls like rewind and pause
Pros
- TV detection and setup were simple
- Interface is clear
- Core functions work without much fuss
- There is a free trial to test everything
Cons
- Ads appear unless you pay
- Almost any “extra” action throws a paywall in your face
Price: from 4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote - Universal App - App Store
My take
I activated the trial and played around for a while. It mostly worked, although the main screen stuttered a bit when opening. I dropped it in the end because of the paywalls and ads. It felt like the app was always pushing me to spend more for basic comfort.
PART 2. TV REMOTE APPS FOR ANDROID
My wife uses Android, so we tested a few on her phone. General pattern on Android: many apps pretend to be free, then bury you in ads.
We tried these:
• Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
• Remote Control For All TV | AI
• Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
• Another Universal TV Remote Control from Uzeegar
Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
This one is popular and supports a long list of brands: Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, TCL, Hisense, Panasonic, and others.
It works over Wi‑Fi and, on phones with IR blasters, it also works like a classic infrared remote. That IR mode is nice for older TVs that are not “smart”.
Features we used:
• Trackpad navigation
• Voice search
• App control
• On-screen keyboard
Everything we tried feature-wise was available free of charge, which sounded good at first.
Pros
- Works with many different TV models
- Supports Wi‑Fi and IR
- Key functions are free
Cons
- The ad load is extreme. Some ads did not even show a close button right away
- The app crashed multiple times, which forced reconnection
Price: free
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=codematics.universal.tv.remote.control&hl=en
My take
I liked the feature set, then the ads ruined it. It felt like a free remote wrapped inside an ad-watching machine. I would only keep it as a last-resort backup.
Remote Control For All TV | AI
This one supports many TV brands over Wi‑Fi. The free tier includes a basic remote with standard buttons.
Problems started right away:
• Slow to detect TVs on the network
• Ads stuffed into every step, from scanning to controlling
Paid version advertises:
• Ad removal
• AI assistant
• Keyboard with voice input
• Screen mirroring
Pros
- Multi-brand support looks decent
- Free tier gives you basic remote functions
Cons
- Lots of ads in the free version
- TV scan and connection felt slow
- Most higher-value features are locked behind payment
Price: from 4.99 and up
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sensustech.universal.remote.control.ai
My take
If you only need volume and power, and you have patience for ads and delays, it works. I would not use it as my primary remote because it takes too long to connect and hides everything useful behind a subscription.
Universal TV Remote Control (Unimote)
This one supports Smart TVs over Wi‑Fi and non-smart ones via IR if your phone has the hardware.
It found our Samsung TV quickly, but then:
• It needed several attempts to finish the connection
• Ads started showing up like a slot machine, with full-screen video spots
Pros
- Simple UI once you get past the popups
- Works for IR phones and Wi‑Fi TVs
Cons
- Heavy full-screen ads interrupt actual use
- Many features require in-app purchases
- The connection to the TV dropped from time to time
Price: from 5.99 and up
My take
This one is “ok if nothing else works”. It finds TVs fast, so it is not completely useless, but controlling anything with ads jumping in your face every few taps gets old fast.
Universal TV Remote Control (Uzeegar)
Last Android app we tried. Also claims compatibility with LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and others. Works over Wi‑Fi or IR.
Main features:
• Power on/off
• Home/Menu
• Basic playback controls like Play, Stop, Back, Forward
• General main screen that works as a universal layout
Pros
- Core remote features are present
- Free trial exists
Cons
- Many ads while using it
- Most features are not fully available without paying
Price: from 3.99 and up
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uzeegar.universal.smart.tv.remote.control&hl=uk
My take
Functionally it is alright, but the “pay or watch ads all the time” setup is tiring. I would not recommend it to anyone who is sensitive to ads. I got annoyed pretty fast.
PART 3. MAC APPS TO CONTROL YOUR TV
I was curious if I could control the TV from my MacBook on the couch. So I tried two Mac App Store options.
TVRem Universal TV Remote (Mac)
Same name as the iOS one, and looks like the same developers.
I installed it on my Mac, connected it to the Samsung TV, and it worked on the first attempt.
What I liked:
• Interface is minimal and clear
• Navigation did not feel laggy
• Touchpad and keyboard from the laptop are very comfortable for long YouTube sessions or logging into apps
• No paywalls, no subscription prompts, no ads
Pros
- Easy to use, low-friction interface
- Zero ads or hidden payment screens
- Works with multiple TV brands
- Covers all features I personally use on a daily basis
Cons
- No support for Vizio TVs, same limitation as the iOS version
Price: free
Link: TVRem Universal TV Remote App App - App Store
My take
This became my default on Mac. If you do not own a Vizio, it is straightforward and free, and I did not hit any weird limitations.
TV Remote, Universal Remote (Mac)
Also from the Mac App Store, also marketed as a universal remote.
It connects to popular TV brands and covers standard controls.
My experience:
• Connection to my Samsung was fine
• Interface is acceptable
• Several features I wanted were locked behind an upgrade
• The app crashed a couple of times during testing
Pros
- UI is okay, not confusing
- Supports multiple brands and basic functions are there
Cons
- Most interesting parts are part of the paid tier
- Unstable, with occasional crashes
Price: from 4.99 and up
Link: TV Remote, Universal Remote App - App Store
My take
I would not rely on this as my main Mac remote. If you are fine paying and the crashes get fixed, it might be acceptable, but for now the free alternative outperforms it.
PART 4. PHYSICAL TV REMOTE VS REMOTE APP
Quick breakdown from what I saw at home.
Physical remote
A plastic handheld device that ships with the TV or is bought separately.
Remote app
Software on your phone or tablet that sends commands to the TV over Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, or IR, depending on the model.
Why I started preferring apps
-
Harder to lose
My phone is almost always on me. The remote ends up under a blanket, under the kid’s toys, or in the kitchen because someone paused a show while cooking. -
Text entry is less painful
Most apps add a full keyboard and often a touchpad. Typing passwords, searching Netflix, or entering logins is faster than using four arrow buttons on a plastic remote. -
Cost
Replacement OEM remotes on Amazon are not cheap over time. Numbers I saw when I checked:
• Samsung TV remotes (roughly 2019–2025 models) around 15–20 dollars
• LG remotes around 13–35 dollars
A free phone app avoids all of that. Even a single paid app can still end up cheaper across several TVs.
-
Multi-device control
You can control more than one TV from the same app in many cases. Helpful if you have a living room TV and bedroom TV, or extra devices like streaming boxes. -
Interface
Some TV apps look and feel smoother than the stock TV remote menus. I noticed that especially with touchpad-based controls and quick app launch screens.
Where remote apps fall short
• Need Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth
If the TV and phone are not on the same network, or Wi‑Fi is down, the app becomes useless unless IR mode is supported.
• Phone dependent
Your phone must be nearby, awake, and not out of battery. If someone leaves with the phone, the “house remote” leaves too.
• Limited support per model
Some TV models only expose basic commands to apps. So you might not get advanced settings or some special buttons.
WHAT I ACTUALLY USE NOW
After all the messing around, here is what stayed installed in my house.
On my iPhone
• TVRem Universal TV Remote: the main one I use. Free, no ads, touchpad and keyboard work well. Only drawback is no Vizio, but we do not own one.
• TV Remote – Universal (paid one): I do not use it daily, but during the trial it felt decent. If someone is fine paying and wants Vizio support, this might be worth a look.
On my wife’s Android
She ended up picking:
• Universal TV Remote Control (Codematics)
I do not love that decision because the ads are everywhere, but to be fair:
• It supports many TVs
• It works over Wi‑Fi and IR
• Basic functions are free
So the app does its job, it is just noisy.
On my Mac
• TVRem Universal TV Remote: this is the one I kept. Works well with our Samsung, does not cost anything, no ads, and it is simple to use while working or watching something in the background.
If you are in the same situation, juggling several TV brands and tired of keeping track of physical remotes, I would start with:
• iPhone or Mac: TVRem Universal TV Remote
• Android: test Universal TV Remote Control first, and if the ads bother you, try alternatives and see which one annoys you the least
Hope this helps you avoid wasting as much time as I did installing and deleting remote apps.
1 Like
Short answer for physical universal remotes, not apps:
-
Top pick for most people
• Sofabaton U2
• Works with TV, soundbar, receiver, most streaming boxes that use IR
• Learns commands from your existing remotes
• Controls multiple devices with one remote and a device selector
• Around 50–60 USDWhy it fits your “multiple brands + soundbar + streaming” problem:
• You program each device in the Sofabaton app on your phone, then the remote sends IR
• No Wi‑Fi dependency once set up
• If a code set is missing, you point the old remote at the Sofabaton and it learns each keyDownsides:
• No fancy screen like old Logitech Harmony
• Setup takes 20–30 minutes if you have many devices -
If you want something closer to old Harmony
• Sofabaton X1
• Adds a hub and supports Bluetooth devices
Example: Apple TV, Fire TV, some game consoles
• Better for “press one button and everything turns on” activities
• More expensive, around 180 USDGood for you if:
• You want single button macros like “Watch TV” that power TV + soundbar + streaming box
• You have devices behind cabinet doors, since the hub sends IR inside the cabinet -
Cheap backup that still works
• GE Universal Remote (4 device or 6 device versions)
• Under 20 USD
• IR only, no Bluetooth
• Manual code entry, no appPros:
• Works for most big TV brands, soundbars, simple streaming boxes with IR
• Tough, low risk if it gets dropped or lostCons:
• No smart activity macros
• No Bluetooth, so not great for Apple TV or Fire TV sticks that use BT
Where I disagree a bit with @mikeappsreviewer
Phone and Mac remotes are nice, but I would not rely on apps as your only remote for a living room setup.
Reasons:
• Wi‑Fi issues stop the app instantly
• Guests and kids understand a physical remote faster
• Volume on a soundbar needs to respond with zero lag
Practical setup I use at home:
• Sofabaton U2 as main remote for TV + AVR + soundbar
• Original Apple TV remote only for quick Siri stuff
• Phone apps as backup if the remote is in another room
For your case, juggling broken and missing remotes:
• Get one Sofabaton U2 as your daily driver
• Keep at least one OEM remote for initial TV setup or deep settings menus
• Install a free phone remote app as an “oh no where is the remote” backup, like the ones @mikeappsreviewer tested
That mix keeps you from hunting 3 or 4 plastic sticks every night, without locking you into Wi‑Fi apps only.
If the goal is “one thing to rule TV + soundbar + streaming box” and your current remotes are MIA or half-dead, I’d split it into 3 real-world options, building on what @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles already covered.
They nailed apps and Sofabaton. I actually disagree a bit with how app‑centric the setup is though. In my house, pure phone-control was fun for a week, then annoying when Wi‑Fi hiccuped or my battery was at 2%.
Here’s what I’d look at:
- Workhorse pick: Sofabaton U2
- Handles TV, soundbar, most IR streaming boxes
- Learns from old remotes if the code isn’t in the database
- No Wi‑Fi or hub needed once programmed
- Around 50–60 bucks
Why it’s useful for you: once it’s set up, you press one button to switch “device” and it just works across brands. You stop caring who made what.
Downsie: setup is mildly tedious. Expect to spend an evening dialing in buttons and macros.
- Smarter / hub style: Sofabaton X1
- If you have Apple TV, Fire TV, Shield, consoles etc, this is closer to old Logitech Harmony
- Hub sits in the cabinet and sends IR, remote and app talk to the hub
- Great for “Watch TV” activities that power TV + soundbar + streaming box together
- Downside: price. Around 180. And it’s overkill if you only have basic gear.
- Cheap “I just need it to work” universal IR
- Think GE 4‑ or 6‑device universal remotes
- Under 20 bucks
- Manual code entry, limited fancy features
- Good if your setup is simple: TV + soundbar + maybe a cable box or a basic Roku with IR
This is the one people forget about, but it’s honestly fine if you’re not chasing scenes, macros, and Bluetooth devices.
Where I slightly disagree with both of them:
- I would not rely on phone apps as anything more than backup. They’re fantastic for one-off stuff like typing passwords or when the main remote is under the dog. Long-term primary control on Wi‑Fi feels fragile.
- I’d also avoid going all-in on the X1 hub route unless you actually use “activities.” If all you ever do is power on TV + soundbar and switch HDMI, a U2 or even a GE remote is less to babysit.
Practical combo that keeps you sane:
- One physical universal (Sofabaton U2 if budget allows, GE if not) as the main remote for everyone.
- Keep at least one original remote in a drawer for weird settings.
- Install a free app like TVRem on your phone purely as an emergency backup and for entering long passwords.
That way you’re not juggling 4 busted plastics, but you’re also not stuck screaming at your phone when the router decides to reboot mid‑episode.