Our top pick for the best TV remote app is Remote.com, which offers a variety of features and options to make your TV control experience more efficient and fun.
A Note On Phones With IR Remote Blasters
There are two main types of TV remote controls: infrared and radio. IR remotes use infrared signals to communicate with TVs, while radio remotes use radio waves. If you want to use an app to control a TV that uses IR signals, you’ll need a model that can send IR signals. However, if you want to use an app to control a TV that uses radio waves, you’ll need a model that can also send RF signals. ..
A recent trend on smart TVs is to be able to accept remote commands over WiFi or Bluetooth, which is great if you have an IR blaster on your phone. However, if your TV doesn’t have an IR blaster, you’ll need to check with your manufacturer to see if they offer a way for you to connect through WiFi or Bluetooth.
A more practical solution is to use a device like an Android TV or Apple TV, which can be controlled via an app. Using HDCP, that device can also control your television set. Switching it on and off, changing its volume and more.
If you want to use your phone as a universal remote and have devices that will only work with infrared, you can buy an IR blaster and attach it to compatible phones. This isn’t an elegant solution at all, especially not for your main phone. However, if you have an old smartphone no one uses, this is actually a great solution, since you can just leave the IR blaster permanently attached.
Another alternative is to use a WiFi to IR converter. This is a device that speaks to a smart app, receives its commands over the network and then generates IR signals. This is a good solution if you want multiple people to use their phones to control devices or if you want to use your main phone, sans IR blaster, to control all the IR gear in your home entertainment system.
Official Smart TV Apps
Many brands of smart TVs offer in-house solutions to use your phone as a remote control. Whether this is possible (or works well) is entirely dependent on the brand of phone you have. Since there are hundreds of brands, we can’t list them all, but companies like Sony, Samsung and LG all have remote control apps for their various TVs and sometimes even other devices you might use alongside them, such as sound bars and AV receivers. ..
If you’re looking for an official TV remote app, it’s always worth checking out the official solution first. Additionally, it’s less likely that future app updates will suddenly break compatibility with your devices. As a reference point, here are some of the best TV remote apps available. ..
Official Apps For IR Blaster Phones
The Huawei P30 Pro includes a built-in IR blaster that allows you to easily control your TV or other devices with your voice.
If you have a phone with a built-in IR blaster, there is almost certainly an app from your phone maker for remote control functionality. You should check if the app is preloaded on your phone or whether it’s available from an app store as a free download. Remember that some phone makers also have their own app stores in addition to the Play Store (or instead of it) so also check there for value-added software.
However, if you’re looking for an app that will work with your phone and is reliable, then the app designed to work with your phone is usually the better choice.
App-Specific Remote Controls
The smart TV remote app story has another wrinkle: smartphone apps that can control smart TV apps. The best example is YouTube.
If you’re logged into YouTube on your phone and smart TV, you can search, play and otherwise control content using the phone app. This is especially useful for doing text searches and using more advanced YouTube features.
If your smart TV has an app that’s also available on your phone, it’s worth checking to see if the developers offer any sort of remote control interaction between the two. This way, you can use your phone’s touchscreen to control the TV’s functions. ..
Official Set-Top Box Apps
Most smart TV devices come with their own in-house remote control application. These applications vary in quality, but all allow you to control the smart TV device and are guaranteed to work perfectly with it. The app is written by the same people who make the hardware, so you can be sure it will work perfectly. An example of a high-quality app is the Apple TV remote app. ..
There are many third-party applications for many of these devices, in case you don’t like the official apps. However, all bets are off if you’re using a third-party solution.
AnyMote Universal (Android & iOS)
Anymote is a great universal remote control app that supports both IR and WiFi-based device control. This makes it great for Galaxy Note 10+ users who don’t have an IR remote blaster, as well as many other smart devices and apps.
The app is great for basic functions, but you’ll need to pay to unlock its full potential. Also, be sure to check the compatibility list in the app description to make sure your device is compatible.
Lean Remote (Android & iOS)
Lean Remote is a new app that lets you control your devices with infrared remote control. You can use it to control your air conditioner, smart set-top boxes, Roku and Android TV devices, and Sony and LG TVs. Chromecast devices are also included. ..
The WiFi and IR remotes are separated into different sections on the Lean Home platform, making it easy to keep them all straight. The interface is also uncluttered and pretty easy to use. It may not be the most polished interface, but when all you want is to find the right buttons quickly, this approach has a lot going for it.
Unified TV
Unified TV is a TV remote app that is free to download and use, but it can also be a bit expensive. The developers reportedly have no issue refunding users who find it doesn’t work with their handsets. In any event, Unified TV is only about $1 and if it does work for you that’s worth way more than the asking price.
This app has a wide range of remotes that are specific to certain devices. The app supports a variety of phones with built-in IR blasters, as well as two specific WiFi IR blasters. Before you buy the app, make sure that the brands or devices that you have are listed under supported hardware.
The remote interface is minimal, but if you’re using officially supported devices with it, Unified seems to offer one of the smoothest experiences. That is, judging by user feedback and reviews.
Twinone Universal TV Remote (Android)
Twinone’s Universal Remote is a great free remote that doesn’t use annoying ads.
This app only supports IR blaster devices. This means that it won’t work with any other phones.
Twinone is a remote control app that seems to be working for most people. If no other apps have remotes that work, it’s definitely worth a try. ..
Unified Remote (Android)
This app should not be on this list because it is not an app that can control your TV or smart TV set top box. Instead, it is an app that acts as a remote controller for your PC.
Unified Remote is a TV remote app that lets you take control of your computers without having to use a mouse and keyboard.
Unified is a powerful and essential application for anyone who wants to run their HTPC from a single location. With its specialized remotes, it makes managing devices easy and convenient.
