Best Remote TV App: Top Apps for iPhone, Android & Smart TVs

The best remote TV app depends on your setup. Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is a strong option if you want one app for multiple compatible TV brands, while Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinQ, Google TV, Apple TV Remote, Roku and Amazon Fire TV are usually better suited to their own ecosystems.

If you have several televisions from different manufacturers, a universal remote can reduce the need to install and switch between multiple apps. If your home uses only one TV platform, however, the manufacturer’s official app may provide deeper device-specific integration.

The most important factors are compatibility, connection method, volume and power control, text input, streaming app shortcuts, casting and multi-TV support.

If multi-brand control is your priority, compare the best universal tv remote options before choosing.

1. Best Remote TV App: Quick Answer & In-Depth Comparison

There is no single best remote TV app for every television. The right choice depends primarily on whether you need universal multi-brand control or deeper integration with one specific ecosystem.

For users with different TVs around the home, Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is one of the most practical options because it combines standard remote functions, streaming shortcuts, phone keyboard input, media casting and support for multiple compatible TVs inside one interface.

For single-brand setups, official apps remain strong alternatives.

Quick recommendations

• Best for multiple TV brands: Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob
• Best for Samsung TVs: Samsung SmartThings
• Best for LG TVs: LG ThinQ
• Best for Android TV / Google TV: Google TV
• Best for Apple TV: Apple TV Remote
• Best for Roku: Roku Mobile App
• Best for Fire TV: Amazon Fire TV

The differences become clearer when the apps are compared feature by feature.

Best Remote TV Apps: Feature Comparison

Begamob has the broadest role in this comparison. Instead of being tied to one TV operating system, the app is designed for users who want to replace several physical and digital remotes with one smartphone interface.

However, support for features such as power-on, channel switching, input control or streaming shortcuts can still vary by television model.

That distinction is important when evaluating the best remote TV app: universal compatibility and ecosystem depth are not the same thing.

Which App Is Better for Each Type of User?

This is why the best remote TV app for a Samsung-only household can be completely different from the right app for someone with Samsung, LG and Roku TVs in different rooms.

2. Best Remote TV App Recommendations by Use Case

Rather than choosing one app purely by ratings, match the application to the way you actually use your television.

Best for multiple TV brands: Begamob

Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is the most relevant option when your priority is managing several compatible televisions from one phone.

It is designed to let users control common functions including:

• Power on/off on supported TVs
• Volume adjustment
• Channel switching
• Menu navigation
• Streaming app launching
• Phone keyboard input
• Photo and video casting
• Multiple TV management

The app also uses Wi-Fi discovery to find compatible TVs connected to the same network.

This makes Begamob particularly useful in a home where one room has Samsung, another has LG and another uses a different smart TV platform.

Best for Samsung TV

Samsung users should start with SmartThings.

Because SmartThings belongs to Samsung’s wider smart-home ecosystem, it can provide deeper integration with compatible Samsung televisions than a general universal remote.

Read the full best samsung tv remote app guide for more options.

Best for LG TV

LG ThinQ is the natural first-party choice for compatible LG televisions.

It can provide basic remote functions as well as LG-specific controls that universal alternatives may not expose on every model.

Compare it with third-party choices in our best lg tv remote app guide.

Best for Android

Google TV is an excellent starting point for Android TV and Google TV devices.

Users who want broader TV-brand support should instead compare the best tv remote app for android options.

Best for iPhone

Apple TV users already have Apple’s integrated remote in Control Center.

However, iPhone users who own Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL or several different televisions may benefit more from a universal remote.

See our best tv remote app for iphone guide for the full comparison.

3. Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob

Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob deserves a separate place in this best remote TV app comparison because it solves a different problem from manufacturer apps.

SmartThings is designed around Samsung. ThinQ focuses on LG. Roku serves Roku.

Begamob instead aims to provide one consistent remote interface across multiple compatible TV brands.

One app for everyday controls

Once the phone and television are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the app can automatically search for compatible devices.

Users can then access common remote controls such as:

• Volume Up / Down
• Channel Up / Down
• Power
• Home
• Back
• Directional navigation
• Playback controls
• Streaming shortcuts
• Keyboard input

That makes the best remote TV app useful as more than an emergency replacement for a lost remote.

It can become the primary controller for everyday viewing.

Faster searching with your phone keyboard

Typing with a standard TV remote is slow.

Searching for a long movie title or entering an email address can require dozens of directional clicks.

A smartphone keyboard removes much of that friction. Instead of moving across an on-screen keyboard letter by letter, you can type directly from your phone on supported televisions.

Launch streaming services faster

Begamob can also provide quicker access to common streaming services on compatible televisions.

Instead of navigating several levels through the TV menu, users may be able to open apps such as Netflix or YouTube directly from the remote interface.

Cast photos and videos

Another differentiator is media casting.

Begamob’s app is designed not only for remote control but also for sending compatible photos and videos from the phone to the television.

That gives it a broader role than a simple collection of remote buttons.

Designed for multi-TV households

The strongest reason to choose Begamob is still multi-brand convenience.

Imagine a home with:

• Samsung TV in the living room
• LG TV in the bedroom
• Sony TV in another room

Using manufacturer apps could mean switching between several separate applications.

A universal remote reduces that friction.

For users who value one consistent interface across different TVs, Begamob is one of the strongest candidates in this comparison.

4. Samsung SmartThings

SmartThings is one of the strongest choices for users searching for the best remote TV app specifically for Samsung televisions.

Its advantage is not universal compatibility. Its advantage is integration.

Samsung-focused controls

On compatible TVs, SmartThings can provide controls including:

• Power
• Volume
• Channels
• Home
• Back
• Navigation
• Input switching
• App access

For users already using Samsung appliances or SmartThings-compatible devices, controlling the television from the same ecosystem can be especially convenient.

Who should choose SmartThings?

Choose SmartThings if Samsung is your main television brand and you value manufacturer-specific integration over universal control.

Choose a universal alternative if you frequently need to control televisions from several manufacturers.

5. LG ThinQ

LG ThinQ performs a similar role for LG owners.

For a compatible LG television, ThinQ can work as a phone-based replacement for many common physical remote functions.

Strong LG integration

Depending on the TV model, users may have access to:

• Power
• Volume
• Channels
• Inputs
• Directional navigation
• Pointer-style navigation
• Application controls

This makes ThinQ a strong candidate for the best remote TV app when every important TV in the household is from LG.

Its weakness appears when users add televisions from other brands.

A Samsung or Roku device may require another application, which is where a universal remote starts to become more convenient.

6. Google TV App

Google TV is one of the best choices for televisions and streaming devices built around Google TV or Android TV.

Once paired, the phone becomes a virtual remote that can be used for navigation, content selection and text input.

Why text input matters

Phone keyboard support is one of the most practical advantages.

Entering:

• Wi-Fi passwords
• Movie titles
• YouTube searches
• Account information

is significantly easier from a touchscreen keyboard than from a directional remote.

Google TV therefore works extremely well inside its own ecosystem.

It should not, however, be confused with a universal TV remote capable of controlling every television platform.

7. Apple TV Remote

Apple users may not need to download another app at all.

Apple TV Remote is integrated directly into Control Center on compatible iPhones and iPads.

That makes it one of the most convenient options in this best remote TV app comparison.

Advantages for Apple users

The remote provides quick access to Apple TV navigation and text input while keeping the controls inside iOS.

For users who primarily watch content through Apple TV, this level of integration is hard to beat.

The limitation is scope.

Apple TV Remote is designed for Apple’s ecosystem rather than multi-brand universal control.

For a deeper comparison between phone control and physical remotes, see the best apple tv remote guide.

8. Roku Mobile App

The official Roku app is another strong platform-specific choice.

For Roku TVs and Roku streaming players, the mobile app can offer features beyond simple directional control.

Depending on the device and configuration, users may access:

• Remote navigation
• Search
• App launching
• Text input
• Private listening
• Media sharing

Private listening is particularly useful because supported setups can route TV audio through headphones connected to your smartphone.

That is a type of ecosystem-specific feature that a general universal remote may not replicate.

9. Amazon Fire TV App

The Amazon Fire TV app turns a smartphone into a remote for compatible Fire TV devices.

It provides the controls most users need for everyday Fire TV navigation, including:

• Navigation
• Home
• Back
• Menu
• Playback
• Content selection

It is especially useful when the physical Fire TV remote is temporarily missing.

Like Roku and Apple TV Remote, however, its strength comes from specialization rather than universality.

10. How to Choose the Best Remote TV App

Choosing the best remote TV app starts with understanding what problem you are trying to solve.

Do you need a replacement for one Samsung TV?

Or do you want one phone to control every TV in the house?

Those are two very different requirements.

Choose universal control if you have multiple brands

A universal remote makes the most sense when your household contains several different television brands.

Instead of maintaining separate apps for Samsung, LG and other TVs, you can use one familiar interface whenever the television is compatible.

This is where Begamob has the clearest advantage.

Choose an official app for deeper ecosystem integration

Manufacturer apps may provide functions that depend specifically on their operating systems.

Examples include smart-home integration, ecosystem-specific audio functions or brand-specific device management.

If you use only one television ecosystem, that deeper integration may matter more than universal compatibility.

Check connection requirements

Most modern TV remote apps communicate through Wi-Fi.

Usually, the phone and television must be connected to the same local network, especially during initial pairing.

Older TVs may instead rely on infrared.

Many modern smartphones do not contain an IR blaster, meaning a Wi-Fi remote app cannot automatically control every old television.

Test the functions you use every day

Do not judge the best remote TV app only by whether it successfully connects.

After pairing, test:

• Power
• Volume
• Navigation
• Home
• Back
• Input
• Keyboard
• Streaming app access

A remote that connects but cannot handle your most-used controls is not the right remote for your setup.

11. Compatibility: iPhone, Android & Smart TVs

Compatibility should always be checked before paying for any remote application.

iPhone

iPhone users have access to Apple’s built-in Apple TV Remote plus manufacturer and universal remote apps.

For users with several smart TV brands, universal control may be more valuable than installing several individual applications.

Explore more options in our best tv remote app for iphone comparison.

Android

Android users have access to Google TV as well as Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV and universal remote applications.

A dedicated guide to the best tv remote app for android can help you compare them by device type.

Smart TVs

For Wi-Fi control, the television normally needs:

1. A compatible smart TV platform
2. An active network connection
3. Phone and TV connected to the appropriate local network
4. Permission to pair with the smartphone

Support can vary even between two televisions made by the same manufacturer.

Always check the model rather than relying only on the brand name.

12. Best Free TV Remote App vs Paid Options

The best remote TV app does not necessarily need to be paid.

Many manufacturer applications are free because they are designed as companion software for existing hardware.

SmartThings, ThinQ, Google TV, Roku and Fire TV are examples of ecosystem-focused approaches.

Universal remote apps have a different business model because their value comes from providing broader compatibility and additional convenience across multiple television brands.

When a free official app makes sense

Choose an official free app when:

• You have one main TV brand
• You do not need universal controls
• The manufacturer’s app includes everything you use
• You prefer ecosystem-specific functions

When a universal app makes sense

Consider a universal option when:

• You have multiple TV brands
• You want one familiar control interface
• You frequently switch between televisions
• You want additional convenience features
• You do not want to maintain several separate remote apps

Price should therefore be considered alongside how many physical and digital remotes the app can replace.

For more options, see the best free tv remote app guide.

13. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best remote TV app overall?

The best remote TV app depends on your devices. Begamob is a strong option for multi-brand households, while SmartThings, ThinQ, Google TV, Apple TV Remote, Roku and Fire TV are better suited to users who mainly stay within one ecosystem.

What is the best app for controlling multiple TVs?

A universal TV remote app is generally the better choice.

Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is designed to manage multiple compatible TVs from one phone instead of requiring separate apps for every brand.

Can I use my phone as a TV remote without the original remote?

Yes, in many cases. If the television is already connected to Wi-Fi and supports mobile remote control, your phone may be able to discover it.

If the television is offline and the original remote is required to configure Wi-Fi, additional setup may be necessary.

What is the best Samsung TV remote app?

SmartThings is the primary first-party option for Samsung televisions.

However, users who own Samsung plus other TV brands may prefer a universal alternative.

See our best samsung tv remote app guide for the full comparison.

What is the best LG TV remote app?

LG ThinQ is the main manufacturer app for compatible LG televisions.

A universal app may be more convenient when LG is only one of several television brands you use.

Is a universal remote app better than an official TV app?

Neither approach is automatically better.

Official apps generally offer deeper brand-specific integration, while universal apps provide greater convenience across different television brands.

Your TV setup should determine which advantage matters more.

14. Final Thoughts

The best remote TV app should match the way your household actually watches TV.

Samsung SmartThings and LG ThinQ are strong choices for brand-specific control. Google TV, Apple TV Remote, Roku and Amazon Fire TV offer tightly integrated experiences inside their respective platforms.

Universal Remote TV Control by Begamob is more compelling when you want one app to manage several compatible televisions instead of maintaining a separate remote application for every ecosystem.

Its combination of phone-based navigation, volume and channel controls, streaming shortcuts, keyboard input, casting and multi-TV management makes it especially relevant for mixed-brand households.

If that is your main use case, continue with our guide to the best universal tv remote.

The key rule is simple: choose universal control for breadth and manufacturer apps for ecosystem depth. Then verify that your exact TV model supports the functions you use most.