Universal TV Remote Control by SensusTech does a lot with one app. It pairs with Smart TVs over Wi-Fi, drives older sets through the IR blaster on phones that still have one, and ships a screen-mirror module that lets you push the phone display onto the TV. The catch is the experience around that core. Full-screen interstitials show up on launch, several buttons such as keyboard input and number pads sit behind a subscription, and people on newer Pixel and Samsung phones see the IR features vanish because the hardware was removed years ago. The seven Universal TV Remote Control alternatives below cover the same job, control your TV from a phone, with cleaner trade-offs around ads, brand coverage, and how much you actually need to pay.
We grouped the picks by what people most often switch for: a brand-specific remote that always works on one set, a true universal Wi-Fi remote with stronger device discovery, a free option without the paywall, and one or two niche choices for households with mixed gear. None of them are perfect, but each one beats the default for at least one scenario.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | IR support | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Remote controller | Households with IR-equipped Xiaomi phones | Yes, no ads | Yes, on Xiaomi devices | Pre-loaded codebase for thousands of brands |
| AnyMote Smart Remote | Multi-device setups with macros | Limited free trial | Yes, on supported phones | Custom macro buttons across devices |
| SURE Universal Remote | Smart home plus TV control in one app | Yes, ad-supported | Yes | DLNA, Chromecast, and IR in one place |
| The Roku App | Roku TV and Roku stick owners | Yes, fully free | No, Wi-Fi only | Private listening through wired or Bluetooth headphones |
| Google Home | Google TV and Chromecast households | Yes, fully free | No, Wi-Fi only | Voice control and unified device hub |
| Smart TV Remote (Adiroid) | A clean free Wi-Fi remote with no paywall | Yes, ad-supported | No | Simple layout, brand selector on first launch |
| Android TV Remote | Any Android TV or Google TV | Yes, fully free | No, Wi-Fi only | D-pad and keyboard built into the phone |
Why people leave Universal TV Remote Control
The ads land at the worst moment. A full-screen ad on launch turns a one-second action, lower the volume, into five seconds of waiting. Reviewers on the Play Store call this out repeatedly, and it gets worse on slower phones.
Useful buttons sit behind a subscription. The keyboard, the number pad, and the screen-mirror feature prompt for the premium upgrade once you tap them. People who only wanted volume and channel controls feel pushed into a paid tier that they did not sign up to evaluate.
IR support depends on hardware most phones no longer ship. The IR blaster has been gone from flagship Samsung, Pixel, and most newer Motorola models for years. Without it, the app falls back to Wi-Fi, which only works on Smart TVs that are on the same network. Owners of older non-smart sets end up with a remote that controls nothing.
Device discovery is hit and miss. The Wi-Fi flow occasionally fails to find Smart TVs on dual-band routers or when the phone sits on a guest network. The app does not always explain why, which leads to repeat installs.
The best Universal TV Remote Control alternatives
Mi Remote controller, best when you have an IR-equipped Xiaomi phone
Mi Remote controller is the strongest like-for-like alternative for people whose phones still carry an IR blaster. Mi Remote vs Universal TV Remote Control trades the polished branding for a much larger pre-loaded codebase. The Xiaomi app covers TVs, set-top boxes, air conditioners, projectors, DVD players, fans, and cameras, with brand profiles for almost every manufacturer that shipped IR-controlled hardware in the last twenty years.
The interface keeps the basics on a single screen and pushes the rest into a long-press menu. Pairing is a guided flow: pick the device type, pick the brand, then test buttons until the right code set works. The app has no ads on Xiaomi devices and a quieter ad layer on non-Xiaomi installs.
Where it falls short: Outside the Xiaomi ecosystem, IR control depends on whether your phone has the hardware at all. On non-Xiaomi phones, several features such as Mi TV pairing only work if you also own a Xiaomi TV or Mi Box.
Pricing:
- Free: Full app, all device categories, all brand profiles
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free with no paywall around core buttons
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Nothing to import. Install Mi Remote, pick TV, pick your brand, and run through the test prompts until the volume button works. The whole pairing takes about a minute.
Bottom line: Pick Mi Remote if your phone has an IR blaster and you want the deepest brand support without nagware.
AnyMote Smart Remote, best for multi-device setups with macros
AnyMote Smart Remote is the power-user choice. AnyMote vs Universal TV Remote Control keeps the same multi-brand promise but adds custom macros: one tap to turn on the TV, switch to HDMI 2, open the soundbar, and set the volume to 18. The macro builder is the thing the SensusTech app does not have.
Device support spans TVs, AV receivers, cable boxes, projectors, fans, and air conditioners. The free build covers two devices and basic remote layouts. The paid upgrade unlocks unlimited devices, macro recording, and the widget layer that puts buttons on the home screen.
Where it falls short: The free tier hits the device cap quickly if you have more than a TV and a soundbar. The interface looks a little dated next to newer remote apps. IR-only households on phones without a blaster cannot use it at all.
Pricing:
- Free: Two devices, basic remote layouts, ad-supported
- Paid: A one-time unlock removes the device cap and unlocks macros and widgets
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free tier is more limited, paid tier is cheaper long-term than the SensusTech subscription
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: No bookmark import is needed for a remote app. Set up each device once in AnyMote, then build your first macro. Most households finish the setup inside ten minutes.
Bottom line: Pick AnyMote if you control three or more devices from the couch and want one button to chain them together.
SURE Universal Remote, best for smart-home and TV control in one app
SURE Universal Remote blends a traditional TV remote with the streaming and smart-home layer on top. SURE vs Universal TV Remote Control adds DLNA discovery, so the same app that controls the TV also pushes photos from your phone, browses a NAS, and casts to Chromecast targets on the network.
The remote layer supports Wi-Fi for Smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, TCL, and most major brands, plus IR for phones that still have a blaster. Smart-home control covers Philips Hue, Yamaha receivers, and a short list of other certified gear. The interface bundles all of this into one home tab, which takes a minute to get used to.
Where it falls short: Ads in the free tier interrupt the home tab between actions. The DLNA browser sometimes misses files that other DLNA apps find without trouble. The smart-home device list is shorter than dedicated apps for Hue or Sonos.
Pricing:
- Free: Full remote, DLNA, Chromecast, ad-supported
- Paid: A modest one-time upgrade removes ads and unlocks gesture controls and themes
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free tier is more capable, paid tier is a one-time fee rather than a subscription
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Open SURE, let it scan the network, and tap your TV when it appears. The Chromecast and DLNA layers self-detect at the same time.
Bottom line: Pick SURE if your TV, NAS, and a Hue bridge all need to live in the same app.
The Roku App, best for Roku TV and Roku stick owners
The Roku App is the official remote for any Roku-powered TV or streaming stick. The Roku App vs Universal TV Remote Control is no contest on a Roku device: the official app launches channels, syncs your watchlist, and supports voice search that actually finds the show you typed instead of the app you might have meant.
The standout is private listening. Plug a wired or Bluetooth headset into the phone and the TV's audio routes there. Late-night episodes stop waking the rest of the house. The app also handles software updates, channel installs, and screen mirroring from compatible Android devices.
Where it falls short: It only controls Roku devices. If you have one Roku stick and one Samsung TV, you still need a second app. There is no IR support since the Roku stack is Wi-Fi only.
Pricing:
- Free: Full remote, voice, private listening, mirroring
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free, no ads, no paywall
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Sign in with the Roku account that owns the TV or stick. The app finds the device on the same network within a few seconds.
Bottom line: Pick The Roku App if you own any Roku device, full stop.
Google Home, best for Google TV and Chromecast households
Google Home doubles as a remote for Google TV, the Chromecast with Google TV stick, and any TV that runs Android TV under the hood. Google Home vs Universal TV Remote Control wins on integration with the rest of the smart home: thermostats, doorbells, and the lights all live in the same app as the TV controls.
The remote view gives you a D-pad, a microphone for voice search, and a keyboard for typing into search boxes on the TV. The app sees Chromecast targets across the house and lets you start a cast from any compatible app in two taps. Voice control routes through Google Assistant.
Where it falls short: It only controls Google-flavored TVs and Chromecast targets. Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, and Roku sets need a different app. The remote view sometimes takes a few seconds to appear on networks with strict client isolation.
Pricing:
- Free: Remote, Chromecast control, smart-home hub
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free, no ads, no paywall
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Sign in with the Google account already linked to your Google TV. The remote tile shows up under the Devices tab the moment the TV is on the same network.
Bottom line: Pick Google Home if your TV runs Google TV or Android TV and you already use the app for other smart devices.
Smart TV Remote (Adiroid), best when you only want a clean free Wi-Fi remote
Smart TV Remote by Adiroid is the no-frills pick. Smart TV Remote vs Universal TV Remote Control drops the IR layer, the screen-mirror module, and the paywalled keys. What you get is a brand selector on first launch, a layout that matches the physical remote for that brand, and a button set that does not lock anything behind a subscription.
Brand coverage is the usual list: Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, TCL, Panasonic, Sharp, Roku TV, Fire TV, and a long tail of regional brands. Pairing is a one-shot prompt on the TV the first time you connect, after which the phone remembers the device.
Where it falls short: Banner ads sit at the bottom of the screen during use. No IR support, so it does not control older non-smart sets. The keyboard is functional but slower than the Google or Roku versions because it does not stream characters in real time.
Pricing:
- Free: Full remote, ad-supported
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: No premium upsell, fewer features overall
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Install, pick your brand, accept the pairing prompt on the TV, done.
Bottom line: Pick Smart TV Remote if you only need volume, channel, and source-switch buttons on a modern Smart TV.
Android TV Remote, best for any Android TV or Google TV set
Android TV Remote is the bundled remote that ships with most Android phones. On Pixel and recent Samsung devices it lives inside the Quick Settings tile labeled "TV remote". On other phones, it's a standalone install. Android TV Remote vs Universal TV Remote Control is a thin, focused tool: D-pad, keyboard, voice search, and that's it.
The keyboard is the reason to use it. Typing a search query on a TV with a virtual on-screen keyboard takes ten times longer than tapping it on the phone. Voice search routes through Google Assistant, which keeps the search results consistent with what you'd see on a Google speaker.
Where it falls short: It only controls Android TV and Google TV sets, including Sony, Hisense, TCL, and Nvidia Shield. Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, and older non-smart sets are out. There is no IR layer.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality, no ads, no upsell
- vs Universal TV Remote Control: Free, no paywall, narrower device support
Migrating from Universal TV Remote Control: Open the Quick Settings panel on a recent Android phone or install the standalone app. The remote shows up the moment your TV is on the network.
Bottom line: Pick Android TV Remote if your TV runs Android TV or Google TV and you mostly want a phone-based keyboard.
How to choose
Pick by the device, not the brand of the remote app. If your TV runs Google TV or Android TV, Google Home or the Android TV Remote covers the basics for free and integrates with the rest of the smart home. If your TV is a Roku set or has a Roku stick plugged in, The Roku App is the only remote you need, and private listening alone is worth the install.
For households with mixed gear, Mi Remote wins on phones that still ship an IR blaster and SURE wins on phones that do not. Both have wider brand coverage than the SensusTech app and neither hides the basics behind a paywall.
AnyMote earns the macro-builder slot. If you press the same five buttons in the same order every evening, a single macro tap is worth the one-time upgrade fee.
Stay on Universal TV Remote Control only if you have already paid for the premium tier and your phone has an IR blaster that actually controls your old AV gear. For anyone else, one of the seven options above does the same job without the ad layer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Universal TV Remote Control alternative without ads?
Yes. The Roku App, Google Home, and Android TV Remote are all free with no in-app ads. The trade-off is narrower device support: each one targets a specific TV platform rather than every brand at once.
Which alternative works on phones without an IR blaster?
Any Wi-Fi-only remote works. The Roku App, Google Home, Android TV Remote, SURE, and Smart TV Remote by Adiroid all communicate over the home network and need no IR hardware on the phone. Make sure the phone and the TV are on the same network and not on separate guest SSIDs.
What is the closest replacement for the screen-mirror feature in Universal TV Remote Control?
Google Home covers Chromecast targets and Google TV sets. The Roku App mirrors to Roku devices directly. For Samsung Tizen and LG webOS, the brand's own app (SmartThings or LG ThinQ) is usually a closer match than a generic mirror tool.
Can a single app control my TV, soundbar, and AC unit?
Mi Remote and AnyMote both cover TVs, AV receivers, and air conditioners as long as the phone has an IR blaster. SURE handles TVs over Wi-Fi and adds a smart-home layer, but its IR catalog is narrower than Mi Remote's.
Do these apps work with non-smart TVs?
Only the ones with IR support: Mi Remote, AnyMote, and SURE. The Wi-Fi-only apps need a TV that can join your network, which excludes older non-smart sets.
