Best TV Remote Apps for Android, by What You Own

One disclosure first: we make A Decent Remote, one of the apps below. That is a reason to check what we say, so this page explains how to check it. It also starts with the apps that are not ours, because for many people those are the right answer. The Android version is being built now. Leave your email and you get one message the day it is on Google Play.

Which app is best if you only own one kind of TV?

The free official app. It comes from the company behind the TV software, it costs nothing, and it gets fixed when the TV changes.

All of these do the job. Their common weakness is that the remote is rarely the main point of the app, so it can be a few taps away, and each one needs its own account or setup.

On 31 October 2026, Google TV, SmartThings, LG ThinQ and Fire TV carried no Contains ads label on Google Play. The Roku app did.

When is a universal app worth it?

Three situations make it worthwhile:

• A mixed home. A Samsung in the living room, a Fire Stick in the bedroom and a Google TV in the kitchen means three apps and three layouts. One app gives you one habit.
• No accounts. You do not want to sign in to something just to change the volume, or you are using a TV that is not yours.
• Typing and layout. You want a real keyboard for searches and passwords, or you want the buttons arranged your way.

If none of those applies, stick with the official app.

What do the biggest universal apps look like on Google Play?

On 31 October 2026 we read the Google Play listings of the ten biggest universal remote apps, in the US store, and ranked them by downloads. Universal here means the app says so in its name, or names at least four TV brands in its listing.

Nine of the ten carry the Contains ads label, and all ten sell in-app purchases. Google Play only shows the cheapest and the most expensive item, which runs from $0.99 to $99.99 across these ten. That does not tell you what a plan costs over a year, so open the purchase list before you start a trial.

Two of the ten come from BoostVision, and none of these numbers says whether an app works with your TV. A Decent Remote is not in the table, because it is not on Google Play yet.

What should you check on a Play Store listing?

This takes about two minutes, and it works for any remote app, including ours.

1. The labels under the app name. “Contains ads” and “In-app purchases” appear there. A free remote with ads may show them between button presses.
2. The price of each plan. Open the in-app purchases list. A short billing period hides a big annual cost, and a weekly plan adds up to a lot more than a yearly one.
3. Recent reviews. Sort by newest rather than most helpful, and search for your TV brand. Older praise may be for an older version.
4. Data safety. A remote needs your local network. It has no obvious need for your contacts, your precise location or your microphone.
5. Whether it needs IR. Many universal apps are infrared apps that do nothing on a phone with no IR blaster. This guide explains how to tell.

Where does A Decent Remote fit?

It is a Wi-Fi app for mixed homes. It works with Samsung, LG, Sony, Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Hisense, Philips, Panasonic and others. It has no ads and needs no account. You get your first 50 button presses free, and after that it is paid, with a one-time option so you do not need a subscription.

There are honest limits too. It cannot run an old TV with no network, because it does not use IR. On Android, it cannot always wake a TV from off. On Roku, the free official app is the better choice. If the official app already covers you, use that.