Best Universal Remotes 2024
1. BEST OVERALL UNIVERSAL REMOTE
Logitech Harmony Companion
PROS
- Controls your entire smart home
- Syncs up to 8 devices
CONS
- No built-in voice control
- Setup is a bit tricky
Logitech is the first name in remote controls, and for many household the Harmony Companion will be the best option. The two-piece system consists of a remote and separate hub, enabling control of your home’s entertainment system (up to eight components), plus other smart home devices, from lights to the front lock.
The Harmony Companion is also fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so on movie night you can use voice control to switch streaming services, create the perfect lighting, adjust the sound, and even order a pizza. Our experts loved that the Harmony app lets you turn any smartphone or tablet into a universal remote, making it possible to control your entertainment system when you’re away from home (maybe when the in-laws are babysitting and they can’t seem to find their favorite cable news program).
2. BEST VALUE UNIVERSAL REMOTE
Logitech Harmony 665
PROS
- Great value
- Onboard help tool
- Backlit display
- Controls up to 10 devices
CONS
- Can’t control other smart home devices
You don’t need to live in a mansion to suffer from clicker overload. Kudos to Logitech for developing a streamlined universal remote for budget-minded households. It can control up to 10 electronics — say the TV, game console, surround system, media streamer, and more. Our experts found the bright, backlit display to be highly intuitive, but if you do lose your way with the controls, the on-screen help tool will quickly get you back on track.
Unlike the full-featured Companion, the Harmony 665 doesn’t come with a separate hub, so it can only control IR devices, or those that use infrared light signals; those IR devices must be in line of sight, meaning the 665 is really only designed for use in a single room.
3. BEST UNIVERSAL REMOTE FOR ALEXA
Amazon Fire TV Cube
PROS
- Excellent picture quality
- Compatible with most streaming services
CONS
- Doesn’t replace all your remotes
Think of the Fire TV Cube as a cross between a universal remote, smart speaker, and media streamer. It’s designed to sit near your home entertainment center, where it provides hand-free voice control via Alexa of all related electronics. The system includes a remote, in case you ever need to control devices silently.
Not surprisingly, the Fire TV Cube’s makes it easiest to stream Amazon Prime content, but it’s compatible with plenty of other binge-friendly apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, and HBO Max. And thanks to the 4K Ultra HD compatibility, plus support for Dolby Vision, the picture quality is superb. The big downside with the Fire TV Cube is you’ll still need another remote for certain tasks, like controlling your game console or cable DVR, so it’s not the silver-bullet solution that other truly universal remotes can be.
4. BEST UNIVERSAL REMOTE FOR SMART HOMES
Logitech Harmony Elite Remote Control
PROS
- Controls entire smart home
- Custom color touchscreen
- Integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant
CONS
- Pricey
Spending top dollar on the Harmony Elite gets you a fully-enhanced user experience, starting with a customizable color touchscreen. The remote also ties into your smart home ecosystem through the separate WiFi-connected hub, enabling control of locks, lighting, and more at your fingertips. If you prefer voice control, the Harmony Elite also integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Our experts like the ability to set up routines through the device, for example cuing the lighting and sound in the room to go to specific levels anytime a movie is played. Really, there’s no good reason not to choose the Harmony Elite, apart from the steep price tag.
5. BEST UNIVERSAL REMOTE FOR MANY DEVICES
Sevenhugs Smart Remote
PROS
- Controls up to 20 devices
- Customizable settings
- Built-in Sonos and Spotify
CONS
- Pricey
- Lacks Alexa and Google Assistant integration
Hard-core home entertainment enthusiasts, with equal passion for music, movies, sports, gaming, and more, can be too much for some universal remotes. Not the Smart Remote U, which controls an impressive 20 components, thanks to its compatibility with infrared (IR), WiFI, and Bluetooth. Sonos and Spotify are built-in, for music and podcast lovers.
Our experts found the setup to be intuitive, including the ability to create custom settings, important when juggling so much functionality. On the downside, the absence of physical buttons on the Smart Remote made it a little harder to operate, at least in the beginning, and it doesn’t work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, meaning no voice control.
