Best Universal Remote App in 2026

Google Home is the most useful universal remote app for households built around Google devices. It controls Chromecast and Google TV playback, volume and power where supported, and it also controls lights, speakers and other smart home devices from the same app. Voice commands through Google Assistant add hands free control for common tasks.

The limit is brand coverage. Google Home works best with Google TV, Chromecast and Matter or Google compatible devices, and it will not replace a dedicated remote for every Samsung, LG or older infrared TV. If your living room already uses Google devices, though, Google Home is the simplest free starting point.

SmartThings is Samsung's official smart home and TV app, and it is the best free remote for Samsung TV owners. It connects over Wi-Fi, controls power, volume, channels, inputs and apps, and it can include the TV in automations with lights, sensors and appliances. Connection is usually fast when phone and TV share the same network.

For non Samsung TVs, SmartThings is less useful as a universal remote, because its TV control is built for Samsung models. Owners of mixed brand homes may need a second app for other TVs. For a Samsung centered home, SmartThings covers TV and smart home control in one free app.

The Roku app is the official remote for Roku TVs and streaming players, and it works better than most third party TV remotes because it uses Roku's own Wi-Fi protocol. It offers playback, volume, channel shortcuts, voice search and a keyboard for typing searches, which is far easier than typing with arrow keys on a physical remote.

It only controls Roku devices, so it is not universal across brands. If your main TV or player is Roku, though, the app is free, reliable and worth installing as a backup to the physical remote. Keep phone and Roku on the same Wi-Fi network for the fastest response.

BroadLink pairs a free app with a small hub, such as the RM4 Pro, that sends infrared and radio signals to TVs, air conditioners, fans and other devices. That hub approach solves the main phone problem: most modern phones have no infrared blaster, so the hub does the infrared work while the phone sends commands over Wi-Fi. Scenes, timers and voice assistant support add useful automation.

The catch is hardware and setup. You must buy a hub, place it where it can reach your devices, and teach it your device codes, which can take patience for older models. Bluetooth devices are not covered by the main hub models. For homes with many older infrared devices, BroadLink is still one of the best universal options.

SofaBaton is a physical universal remote system with an app for setup and customization, and it covers more device types than a phone app alone. Its hub supports infrared, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and radio connections across thousands of brands, and activities such as Movie Night can power on a TV, soundbar and player with one tap. The app lets you customize buttons and layouts.

SofaBaton is not a free app remote, because you must buy the remote and hub hardware, and prices vary by model, so check the official site. Setup also takes longer than a Wi-Fi TV app. For a complex home theater with several brands, that investment buys control that phone only apps cannot match.

LG ThinQ is LG's official app for TVs and smart appliances, and it works well as a remote for LG webOS TVs. It controls power, volume, channels and apps over Wi-Fi, and it can also manage LG washers, refrigerators and air conditioners from the same app. That breadth helps LG households reduce the number of apps they open daily.

As with other brand apps, ThinQ is not a universal remote for Samsung, Sony or other TV brands. If your TV is LG and you already use LG appliances, ThinQ is a strong free choice. For mixed brand homes, pair it with Google Home or a hub based system for other devices.

The Google TV app includes a remote for Google TV and Android TV devices, with voice search, a keyboard and a touchpad for navigation. It connects over Wi-Fi and is the official remote path for many Android TV sets and streaming devices. On Android phones, the remote can also appear in quick settings, which makes it fast to open when the physical remote is lost.

It does not control non Android TVs, so it is not universal across all brands. For Google TV households, though, it is the most reliable free remote, with better compatibility than third party apps that rely on unofficial protocols. Use it as your main remote for Google TV, and keep a brand app for other TVs.

The Amazon Alexa app is a useful remote for Fire TV owners, especially for voice control. You can open apps, search for shows, control playback and volume by voice, and control Alexa compatible lights and plugs from the same app. Fire TV devices integrate tightly with Alexa, so voice commands feel natural in the living room.

The Alexa app is less of a button by button universal remote than a brand TV app, and it works best inside the Amazon ecosystem. For homes with Fire TV, Echo speakers and Alexa smart home devices, it is a strong free addition. For other TV brands, a brand app or hub system will give better button control.