For smart TVs on Wi-Fi, a phone remote app is usually better: no batteries, a real keyboard, app shortcuts and one app for every TV in the house. A physical universal remote wins for older TVs without Wi-Fi, for people who don’t want to use a phone, and as a backup that always works.
When the original remote dies or disappears, you have two paths: buy a universal remote or use your phone. Both work, but they shine in different situations. Here’s an honest comparison.
The short comparison
| Physical universal remote | Phone remote app | |
|---|---|---|
| Works with | Almost any TV with infrared, including old ones | Smart TVs on Wi-Fi (Samsung, LG, Roku, Google TV…); old TVs only with an IR phone |
| Setup | Enter a brand code or run a code search | Automatic discovery on Wi-Fi, then a one-time pairing |
| Cost | A one-time purchase | Usually free for the basics |
| Typing | Letter by letter with arrows | Your phone’s keyboard |
| Launching apps | Only the shortcut buttons printed on it | Any app installed on the TV, on supported models |
| Several TVs | One device per stored code | All the TVs in the house in one list |
| Needs | Batteries and line of sight | A charged phone and the same Wi-Fi |
| Other devices | Soundbars, cable boxes, DVD players | Mostly TVs and streaming devices |
When a phone app is the better choice
- You have a smart TV. Wi-Fi control is faster and doesn’t need line of sight.
- You type a lot. Netflix logins, YouTube searches and Wi-Fi passwords are painful on a remote. See how to type on your TV with your phone.
- You have TVs from different brands. One app instead of SmartThings, ThinQ, the Roku app and the Google TV app.
- You keep losing remotes. Your phone is always in your pocket.
When a universal remote is the better choice
- Your TV isn’t smart or isn’t connected to Wi-Fi.
- Someone at home doesn’t use smartphones, or prefers physical buttons.
- You want one remote for the TV, soundbar and cable box.
- You need a backup that works even when the Wi-Fi is down.
What to look for in a remote app
- Automatic discovery: it should find your TV without typing an IP address.
- Stable connection: it should reconnect by itself after the phone locks. Read why apps disconnect.
- Honest pricing: you should be able to test it on your TV before paying.
- Privacy: no account required, and no collection of what you watch.
Those four points are exactly what we designed RemotApp around: it finds Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets on your Wi-Fi, keeps the basic remote free, and asks for nothing until the first command works on your TV.
Our recommendation
For most homes with a smart TV, use a phone app as the everyday remote and keep a cheap universal remote in a drawer as a backup. For an older TV without Wi-Fi, go for the universal remote, or a phone with an IR blaster.
Frequently asked questions
Do phone remote apps work with old TVs?
Only with infrared. Wi-Fi remote apps need a smart TV on the network. For older TVs, use a phone with an IR blaster or a physical universal remote.
Are TV remote apps free?
Most offer a free tier. In RemotApp, the basic remote (power, volume, navigation, channels) is free; extras like the keyboard and app launcher are part of the Pro plan.
Can one universal remote control a TV, soundbar and streaming box?
Yes, that’s their strength. Most infrared universal remotes can store several devices. Phone apps focus on the TV itself, and streaming devices like Roku and Google TV.
The team behind RemotApp, a universal TV remote app for iPhone and Android. We test every fix on real Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets before publishing. About us
