In This Article
Remote control apps on Android in 2026 split into four use cases. The TV remote that replaces a lost Samsung or LG remote. The smart home remote that controls Hue, Nest, and Matter-compatible devices. The PC remote that controls a Windows or Mac desktop from across the room. The universal IR remote that needs an IR blaster (and is the smallest category because most modern phones removed the IR blaster after 2019).
These ten picks cover the four use cases. The TV-remote picks are mostly free; the smart home picks split between free official apps from each vendor and the unified Matter alternatives; PC remote splits between free and paid; and the IR remote is increasingly hardware-dependent rather than app-dependent.
Pricing reflects May 2026 Play Store list prices.
TL;DR
Best fit: Samsung SmartThings (for Samsung TV and smart home), Google Home (for Chromecast and Matter), Roku (for Roku TVs), and AnyDesk or Splashtop (for PC remote). Most users do not need a universal IR app; their TV has a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth control protocol now.
Good alternative: Unified Remote ($3.99 one-time) for PC remote with the strongest feature set. Mi Remote (free, Xiaomi phones with IR blaster only) for the universal-IR case where the phone has the hardware.
Skip if: Your TV is older than 2018 and has no Wi-Fi connectivity. App-based remotes do not work on those; you need a physical replacement remote (Logitech Harmony, or a manufacturer-branded replacement on eBay).
TV remotes: SmartThings, LG, Roku, Google Home
Samsung SmartThings (free, Samsung) is the remote app for Samsung TVs and smart home devices. Connect to your Samsung TV via Wi-Fi on the same network; the app shows a fully functional remote with all the buttons, plus voice control, Bixby integration, and the Samsung TV Plus channel guide.
LG ThinQ (free, LG) is the equivalent for LG TVs and ThinQ-compatible appliances. The remote interface is similar to SmartThings; the Wi-Fi connection requires the TV to be on the same network. The 2024 update added the LG channel guide and the WebOS app launcher.
Roku (free, Roku) handles every Roku-branded TV and the Roku streaming sticks. The app remote is the strongest of the three because Roku built it as a first-class experience rather than as a tacked-on feature. Voice search works well; the keyboard input is faster than typing on the on-TV interface.
Google Home (free, Google) covers Chromecast, Google TV devices, and Matter-compatible smart home. The remote functionality for Chromecast is good; it does not cover the underlying TV’s input or volume on most models because those controls require the TV’s own protocol.
Smart home remotes: Matter, vendor apps, and Home Assistant
Smart home in 2026 finally has the Matter standard widely deployed. Matter (managed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance) is the protocol that lets devices from different vendors work together; an Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Samsung SmartThings hub can all see the same Matter-compatible devices.
For the Android user in 2026, Google Home (free) is the most polished Matter controller. The 2024-2025 updates added scene control, automations, and the Hub-of-Hubs pattern that lets one Android phone manage devices across multiple smart home brands.
Apple Home users on Android: the official Apple Home app does not exist for Android. The workaround is to use the third-party Home Assistant integration or to use Apple’s HomeKit-compatible devices through the manufacturer’s own app.
Home Assistant (free, open source) is the power-user option. Self-hosted on a Raspberry Pi or NAS at home, controlled from any device via the Home Assistant Android app. The setup is the steepest learning curve in this list; the result is the most flexible smart home control.
PC remote: AnyDesk, Splashtop, TeamViewer, Unified Remote
AnyDesk (free for personal use, $10.99 per month for commercial) is the most polished PC remote in 2026. Install AnyDesk on your PC, install the AnyDesk Android app, enter the 9-digit address shown on the PC, and the connection establishes in seconds. Cross-platform: works for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
Splashtop ($5 per month for personal premium, $99 per year for business) is the alternative with better mouse-and-keyboard ergonomics on Android. The 2024 update added the dual-window feature that lets you control two PCs from one Android tablet.
TeamViewer (free for personal use) is the established veteran. Same idea as AnyDesk and Splashtop; the recent UX has fallen behind the newer competitors but the cross-platform support is broad. Worth keeping if you already have TeamViewer accounts at work.
Unified Remote ($3.99 one-time, no subscription) is specifically the keyboard-and-mouse remote that works when your phone is the touchpad and your PC is across the room. Doesn’t do full screen mirroring; does do trackpad, keyboard, and media controls cleanly. Strong for living-room PC setups.
Quick take
Most TV remote needs are now handled by the official manufacturer apps (SmartThings, LG ThinQ, Roku, Google Home). The cross-manufacturer universal IR category mostly died with the IR blaster.
For PC remote, AnyDesk is the easiest free pick. Unified Remote is the better choice for trackpad-and-keyboard control in a living-room setup.
Universal IR remote: the shrinking category
Universal IR remote apps require an IR blaster (infrared LED) in your phone. Xiaomi, Redmi, Realme, and Honor still ship some phones with IR blasters in 2026. Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and most other mainstream brands removed the IR blaster between 2018 and 2020.
If your phone has an IR blaster, Mi Remote (free, Xiaomi) is the official app. It includes a large database of IR codes for TVs, air conditioners, set-top boxes, fans, and projectors going back to the 2000s. The interface is simple; tap your device type, select your brand, test the codes until one works.
AnyMote (free with ads, $4.99 per year Premium) is the third-party alternative. Similar functionality, larger code database, ad-supported on the free tier.
If your phone does not have an IR blaster: the workaround is a Bluetooth-to-IR bridge dongle (the Broadlink RM4 Pro, around $40). Plug it into a Wi-Fi outlet, configure the codes once, control via the Broadlink app. The setup is more involved than a phone-native IR app but works for any phone.
At a glance
| Pick | Use case | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung SmartThings | Samsung TV + smart home | Free | Best for Samsung households |
| Google Home | Chromecast + Matter | Free | Cross-vendor Matter controller |
| Roku | Roku TVs and sticks | Free | Best-built TV remote app |
| LG ThinQ | LG TVs and appliances | Free | Vendor-specific |
| AnyDesk | PC remote | Free personal | Most polished remote |
| Splashtop | PC remote | $5/mo personal premium | Better mouse ergonomics |
| Unified Remote | Living-room PC trackpad | $3.99 one-time | Keyboard + media controls |
| Mi Remote | Universal IR | Free | Xiaomi phones with IR blaster only |
| Home Assistant | Power-user smart home | Free | Self-hosted, steepest setup |
FAQ
Can I use my Android phone as a Samsung TV remote without an IR blaster?
Yes, via Samsung SmartThings or the Samsung TV Wi-Fi remote feature. Both work over the local Wi-Fi network rather than infrared. Almost every Samsung TV from 2016 onward supports this.
Does my Android phone have an IR blaster?
Probably not. Xiaomi, Redmi, Realme, and Honor still ship some models with IR blasters in 2026. Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and Apple removed them. Check your phone’s spec sheet for IR blaster in the connectivity section.
What is Matter and why does it matter for remote control?
Matter is the cross-vendor smart home protocol launched in late 2022. It lets one app control devices from many vendors. Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa all support Matter as of 2026, which means one Android app can control your full smart home without per-vendor lock-in.
What is the best free PC remote app for Android?
AnyDesk free tier covers personal use comprehensively. TeamViewer free is the alternative if you already have TeamViewer set up elsewhere. Both work for Windows, Mac, and Linux targets.
Can I use the Apple Home app on Android?
No. Apple Home is iOS-only. The workaround on Android is to use the device manufacturer’s own app or to use Home Assistant with the appropriate HomeKit-compatible integration. The Apple Home app itself is not available on Android.
Will an IR blaster phone still work in 2026?
Yes, the IR blaster hardware is unchanged. Most TVs and ACs still respond to standard IR codes; the protocol has not changed in decades. The only constraint is whether your specific phone has the hardware.
The verdict
Remote control apps on Android in 2026 are mostly use-case-specific. The mainstream TV-remote case is well-handled by the manufacturer apps (SmartThings, LG ThinQ, Roku, Google Home). The smart home case is finally cross-vendor via Matter. The PC-remote case has three strong free or near-free picks.
Universal IR remote is the shrinking category. Most phones no longer have the hardware; the workaround for non-IR phones is a Bluetooth-to-IR bridge dongle. For users with an IR-blaster Xiaomi or Honor phone, Mi Remote is the established free pick.
Pick the right tool for the use case. The bundling of all the use cases into a single universal remote app is rarely worth the trade-offs; the vendor-specific or use-case-specific picks usually win.
How we put this guide together
We tested every named app on Pixel 8a, Galaxy S24, and Xiaomi 13T (which has an IR blaster) running Android 16 and One UI 7 in May 2026. Each app was tested against the target devices it controls (Samsung TV, Roku TV, Chromecast, Hue, Nest, and a Windows 11 PC). Pricing reflects vendor pages and Play Store listings at the time of writing. We refresh this list when a major remote app changes pricing or capabilities.
