Technology is getting smarter and we not only have smartphones but smart TVs and smartwatches as well these days. Thanks to multiple video streaming platforms, TV is still one of the best sources of entertainment. But the experience could get annoying if you lose or misplace the remote. In such instances, a smartphone comes in handy. Yes! You can easily control a smart TV right from your smartphone. In this post, we will share 5 of the best universal remote apps for Android in 2021. With that said, let us jump straight into the article.
Universal Remote Apps With Wi-Fi or Infrared
Many smartphones come with an IR blaster making it easy to operate products that ship with an IR receiver. However, modern-day smart TVs come with Wi-Fi built-in. So, you can make use of any universal remote app to control a TV with an Android smartphone where both the devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. That’s the only criteria.
1. Android TV Remote Control
Android TV Remote Control is a popular universal remote app on Google Play Store. I found the app to be simple and straight to the point. There are no unnecessary complicated features, and it just does the job it is meant for, and that is allowing users to control their smart TVs.
All you need to do is connect the Android smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network as your smart TV. Opening the app will ask for mic permission for using voice search and location access to search for nearby devices. It will automatically detect nearby devices and you simply need to tap on it to select.
It will show a pairing code on your smart TV’s screen that you need to enter in the app and bam! You are all set. The good thing about Android TV Remote Control is that it is free, does not clutter the screen with multiple options, and has a clean user interface. It works with all Android TVs. Overall, it is one of the best universal remote apps for Android.
Pros
- Works with all Android TVs
- Clean user interface
- No ads
Cons
- Some might find it featureless
- Keyboard function sometimes doesn’t work
Download: Android TV Remote Control
2. Lean Remote
Another clean Android universal remote app that you can use on your smartphone to control smart TV is Lean Remote. You can use this app to control devices such as smart TVs, IR devices, AC, DVD, BluRay, projector, home theatre, soundbar, and much more.
Any of the last used remotes is automatically saved in the Saved Remotes section in the main menu. Remote functionalities include controls such as power on/off, volume control, navigation, home button, fast forward, and reverse. The app does not feature any ads and is available free of cost.
If you want to control devices using the IR blaster (if it is available on the device), you can do that toot with the Lean Remote app. There is a huge list of companies that this app supports.
Pros
- Clean and simple to use interface
- No ads
- No signup or registration needed
- Supports IR blaster and Wi-Fi
Cons
- Did not find any
Download: Lean Remote
3. CodeMatics Remote App
Another popular contender for the best universal remote app for Android is CodeMatics Remote. You can control any Android TV if it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network. It provides features like voice search, all basic remote functionalities, access to apps installed on your TV, touch-pad navigation, and more.
CodeMatics remote app does not require any registration or sign-up. You simply install the app, open it, select your smart TV, and you are ready to go. However, note that there are ads that show up within the app. But they are not that annoying and do not come in between controls.
Once you have downloaded the universal remote app, it will automatically detect and display all the smart TVs in a list. You need to select the TV and enter the passcode shown on your TV screen. Ads can be removed with a one-time in-app purchase.
Pros
- Easy to use universal remote app
- Provides all controls for freemium users
- No registration or sign up needed
Cons
- It features ads
Download: CodeMatics Universal Remote
4. AnyMote Universal Remote
AnyMote is surely a decent pick for being the best universal remote control app for Android TV. It can control all of your smart devices. In fact, the list includes over 900,000 devices. There are dedicated buttons for streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Kodi, etc.
You can configure tasks on the app to chain commands to control multiple devices at once. It also comes with Tasker integration to trigger a Macro to perform tasks when conditions are met. So, the customization options are good with AnyMote.
Do note that AnyMote does not support Huawei, Vizio, or Sony phones. You can also make use of voice search, automated tasks, floating remotes, etc. The paid version of the app lets you add unlimited remotes, backup/restore remotes, priority customer support, and much more.
Pros
- Can control both Wi-Fi or IR supported TVs
- Huge library of supported devices
- Dedicated buttons for streaming platforms
Cons
- The free version of the app is limited
- The app hasn’t received an update since 2018
Download: AnyMote
5. CetusPlay
Last, but not least, the app in our list of the best universal remote app for Android is CetusPlay. It can be overwhelming for some but has plenty of features if you are looking for a powerful remote app. The app is available for free but comes with ads.
CetusPlay offers multiple navigation options such as D-Pad, TouchPad, keyboard mode, and Mouse mode. You can also use this app to cast your media files onto your Android TV. It automatically searches for the supported devices, and you just need to tap on it to control it.
The app interface is clean, but ads could be a bit annoying. You get all the basic controls right on the home screen. Overall, a nice app for controlling Android smart TVs.
Pros
- Offers multiple navigation options
- Supports a huge number of devices
- Offers tutorial videos within the app
Cons
- Annoying ads
Download: CetusPlay
Wrap Up: Universal Remote Apps
So, this concludes our list of the best universal remote app for Android in 2021. Note that I make use of the Android TV Remote Control app. It offers all the features that one would need to control their smart TV in absence of remote control. However, you can check out others as well.
Also Read: 5 Best Universal Remote for Roku Devices
