I’m looking for a free universal remote control app that works well on iPhone. I recently lost my TV remote and don’t want to buy a new one if I don’t have to. Most of the apps I found either don’t work or require a paid subscription. Can anyone recommend a totally free option that actually controls devices like TV from an iPhone?
Universal remote apps let you manage your Smart TV directly from your iPhone — no more hunting for lost remotes or juggling multiple controllers. With these apps, you can easily adjust volume, change channels, switch inputs, and even power your TV on or off - all from your phone.
They’re perfect when your physical remote is broken or just out of reach, and many support popular TV brands like Samsung, LG, Roku, and others. If you’re looking for a simple and convenient solution, read here about a free universal remote app for iPhone.
Universal Remote TV Control
Universal Remote TV Control turns your iPhone into a powerful remote for your Smart TV. Compatible with top brands like Samsung, LG, Roku, and others, it lets you manage volume, channels, inputs, and power—right from your phone.
Setup’s about as painless as it gets: the app sniffs out your TV(s), you confirm the connection, and you’re off to the races. The interface is uncluttered and just… works. No pop-up ads every ten seconds, no registration nags. Perfect when you’re tired, or the last thing you want is another tech headache.
Biggest surprise? You actually get near-instant feedback when you press a button—no more mashing “volume up” and wondering if it’ll spike suddenly and scare the cat.
TV Remote - Universal
I gave this one a spin out of pure annoyance with other bloated apps. Sometimes I just want a remote that… you know, acts like a remote. No unnecessary bells and whistles.
Right out of the gate, this thing shines for simplicity. Pairing is fast, the UI is clean, and you’re dealing with basics—power, inputs, volume, navigation, all there with no fluff.
It boasts coverage for big TV brands, but it’s the stability that really sells it. No dropped connections, no “is this thing on?” moments. If you just want to hit play and not think about it, this is the one.
Universal Remote TV Smart
Kind of the goldilocks pick for the feature-curious folks who get excited by “modern” apps, but still want reliability.
This one handled all the classics, plus a refreshingly quick interface. Brand coverage is broad, and the app detected my TV in seconds without fuss. Best part is, the controls actually feel responsive: when you tap, stuff happens now, not after a five-second delay. Makes it easy to jump into movie night or mute those aggressively loud commercials before someone launches into a speech about “how loud TV used to be.”
It didn’t ask me to register, bombard me with ads, or offer a million upgrades before letting me use basic functions. Sometimes, simple is smarter—and this one nails it.
The Bottom Line
Maybe you like variety, maybe your remotes are always going on vacation, or maybe you’re just ready to retire your ancient universal clicker. Whatever your deal, your iPhone is more than ready to take over duties—no batteries, tape, or remote-sized voids in the couch required.
Anybody else tried a different free remote app for iPhone and lived to tell the tale? Drop your experiences below.
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Honestly, “good” and “free” in the same breath is kinda asking for unicorns with iPhone universal remote apps. Most of ‘em suck you in, show you one or two shiny buttons, then throw up the paywall of doom. I’ve played digital whack-a-mole across the App Store looking for something that worked with my elderly Vizio, without spamming me or nagging for $5/month.
Of the ones listed by @mikeappsreviewer, yeah, I’ve tried “Universal Remote TV Control” and, cool, it does its job if your TV is WiFi-equipped and on the same network. But, and this is a planet-sized but, it usually can’t help if your TV is prehistoric (like, 2014-and-proud). Also, say bye to IR if you have a newer iPhone because…well, Apple never bothered with IR blasters. So if your TV doesn’t have a smart TV app or isn’t living that internet-connected life, you’re toast. No iPhone app will save you, sorry.
Not tryna be a hater, but unless you’ve got a pretty modern, network-friendly TV, these apps are hit or miss. If you must go free, look for “TV Remote” from Chouic or the Roku official remote if that’s your box. But brace for some limits—there’s a reason universal remotes still exist.
Wish Apple just built this junk into iOS, ya know? Maybe in iOS 27…
Not gonna sugarcoat it: the hunt for a truly good free universal remote app on iPhone will make you question your sanity. So @mikeappsreviewer and @caminantenocturno hit most of the real talk already—if your TV isn’t a WiFi-connected “smart” device made in the last 7-8 years, your chances are slim to none (thanks for nothing, Apple—putting IR blasters on iPhones is apparently an alien concept).
I’ve tried like half a dozen of these: “Universal Remote TV Control” does work, but only if your TV is icing that smart cake. Want to control a fossil TV or an orphaned Vizio that laughs in the face of technology? Yeah, no dice. The only free-without-gimmicks ones I found were “TV Remote – Universal” and the official manufacturer apps (think: Roku or Samsung), but even then, sometimes they’ll tease you with one or two working features before slapping a big “premium” sticker on the rest.
Personal pain: most free apps will either annoy you with ads, brick basic stuff behind a paywall, or want you to “subscribe” (like, who subscribes to a remote??). Oh, and some are just… ugly (and I know I shouldn’t care, but using a laggy, ad-plastered eyesore is peak frustration).
TL;DR — If your TV is smart, and you’re cool with basic controls, some of these (like the ones above) will scrape by. If it’s not, or you’re dreaming of full-on universal IR bliss, you’ll end up more annoyed than anything. Honestly, I spent less buying a dirt-cheap universal remote on Amazon than dealing with these apps.
Anyone lucky enough to find something actually free, usable, and not a minefield of ads? Or just me, crying over my TV and wishing Apple understood the pain of losing a remote?
Alright, real talk: if you want a free universal remote app for iPhone, lower those expectations—unless your TV is actually “smart” enough to speak WiFi. The ones getting tossed around here, like Universal Remote TV Control, do what you want if they find your TV on the network. It’s super fast at setup, doesn’t spam you with ads every tap, and its UI’s pretty sleek for a freebie. Pros? Clean interface, wide compatibility (Samsung, LG, Roku, etc.), and you can skip account creation. Cons? If your TV is dumb (no network), it’s dead weight—and if you crave advanced features, there may be paywalls lurking.
Compared to others (@caminantenocturno shouting at IR blasters not existing anymore, and @mikeappsreviewer nailing reality with the ad-plagued landscape), Universal Remote TV Control stands out by being simple and actually responsive—no five-second button lag like you’re playing a remote lottery. Still, almost every “universal” app these days stops short of actually replacing those old IR blaster remotes, and half the time official apps play nicer with their own ecosystems (Samsung’s SmartThings, Roku, LG ThinQ, whatever).