Best Universal Remotes of 2026

The silver GE does the same four-device job as our top pick for less money, and that is why it stays in the conversation for a second TV or a guest room. It has a 30-foot range, automatic code search, direct code entry, and a Samsung TV button that is preprogrammed for immediate use. The brushed finish looks a little dressier than the black plastic on most budget remotes, too.

We reach for it when backlighting is not a priority. The main trade-off is exactly that: no lit keys, so it is less pleasant in a dark room. The button layout is also more old-school, with a smaller cluster of device controls than the top pick. What it does not give up is the core four-device switching, master volume, or the code library. For a den, a guest room, or a household that mostly watches with the lights on, that is a sensible swap.

Setup is the familiar GE routine: pick a device key, enter a code, or let the remote search. We tested the power, volume, and input keys first, because those are the ones that make a remote feel broken when a code is off. If you can live without the backlight, this is the better value of the two GE remotes and the one we point to for a spare room.

The UltraPro assumes you have one of five popular TV brands and one more box to control, and it makes that assumption pay off. The TV keys are preprogrammed for Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and Roku TVs, while the AUX key handles a Roku box or a second device. We like this for the living room where the TV and soundbar are the whole stack: there is no code list to fight through for the TV, and the backlight is bright enough to read without being distracting.

The 40-button layout is roomy, and the lifetime warranty is a strong vote of confidence for a remote at this price. The catch is capacity: two devices only. If you also have a cable box, a Blu-ray player, and a game console, this is not the one remote for the shelf. The AUX button is best thought of as a single extra slot, not a multi-device hub. For a TV plus soundbar, though, the preprogrammed setup is about as close to instant as a universal remote gets.

We also appreciate the U.S.-based support line, which is the sort of thing you notice only when a code fails. The keys are not as large as the RCA's, and the two-device limit is real, but neither matters if your goal is to stop hunting for the soundbar remote. For a simple setup, this is the least fiddly option in the group.

Big buttons are not a gimmick if the remote lives on a side table and gets used by someone with low vision or shaky hands. The RCA puts the common controls in a larger, high-contrast layout, and it still handles four devices, including a TV, cable box, Blu-ray player, and streaming player. It uses automatic, brand, and direct code search, so the size does not come with a stripped-down setup.

What we appreciate is that the accessibility does not come with a dumbed-down feature set. You still get streaming shortcuts for Roku, Apple, and more, plus a 10-meter range that is fine for a normal room. The remote is larger than a typical stick remote, which is the point, but it may feel chunky if you are used to a slim Samsung or Roku clicker. We noted that the on/off key can be intermittent, so test the power button in the first week and keep the receipt.

The big-button layout is the reason to choose it over the more compact GE remotes. If the remote is shared with someone who struggles with tiny keys, the trade is worth it.

The URC7935 is the remote for someone who has a specific three-device stack and is willing to spend a few minutes teaching it. The color ring tells you which device you are controlling, the keys are backlit, and the learning feature can copy commands from an original remote when a code is missing.

It is built around IR streaming boxes, TVs, and soundbars. It is not the remote for a Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, or Roku Stick; those rely on wireless connections this remote does not control. Setup for a Roku box, a TV, and a soundbar is the target, and the four app shortcut keys are handy once the stack is configured. The 10-meter range is normal for an IR remote, so keep it in the same room as the equipment.

We think the learning feature is the reason to pay the premium: it lets you rescue a missing command without buying another remote, and the color ring makes a three-device setup less confusing than a row of identical device buttons. The trade-off is patience. Programming takes more thought than the preprogrammed GE or UltraPro, and the buttons are not as forgiving as the simplest big-button models. If you enjoy getting a system exactly right, this is the most satisfying remote here.

The Acoyer is the straightforward replacement remote: a three-device handset with a 49-button layout, a code list, and a 30-foot range. It is not trying to be a smart-home hub; it is trying to get a TV, DVD player, and Blu-ray player back under one clicker.

Setup is old-school code entry, but the code list is included, and the 49-button layout covers the number pad, disc controls, and the usual navigation keys. The buttons have a positive click that makes channel surfing easy, and the one-year warranty is a point in its favor, too, because budget remotes are exactly where a little coverage matters.

We see it as the remote for a spare room or an older entertainment setup where the TV is the center and the extras are disc players. The big caveat is streaming: this one is not compatible with Roku Streaming Sticks or several soundbars, and button consistency is not as solid as the GE models. If your stack is mostly IR TV and disc players, it is a practical budget choice; if a Roku stick is your main source, keep looking.

The Philips SRP9232D/27 is a three-device remote with a full keypad, a dedicated streaming app key, and preprogrammed Samsung TV and Roku box support. It is the kind of remote that disappears into a side table until you need it, which is a compliment.

The three-device limit is the first thing to check. A TV, a soundbar, and a Blu-ray player fit; a TV, cable box, soundbar, and game console do not. Primary audio control is useful because the volume keys stay on the audio device while you browse TV menus, and the app hotkey saves a few clicks if you use one streaming service more than the rest.

We treat this as a secondary-room remote. The keypad is comfortable and the code search is straightforward, but the power button and some navigation keys are the weak points, and a main-TV remote needs to be more dependable. The 46-button layout gives you more keys than the compact GE models, though that does not help if the one you press most starts to fail.

For a guest room or a small setup where the remote is not used every day, the combination of three devices, Samsung and Roku preprogramming, and a full keypad is easy to live with. We keep it out of the main-room recommendation because dependability matters more there than extra keys.