If you have a home theater system, you know how awkward it can be juggling multiple remotes. Yet, buying a universal remote can change that. The best universal remotes are easy to program without the need for codes, offering an easy-to-use app that connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Some TVs let you program your set-top box into the remote, while Roku and Amazon Fire TV clickers let you control both the TV and your streaming box. While brands like Logitech and Caavo bowed out, Sofabaton breathed new life into universal remotes, and its products control not only your TV but also gaming consoles, media players and more.
Read more: Best Nest and Google Assistant Devices
What is the best universal remote overall?
At half the price of its competitors, the SofaBaton U2 has been the best universal remote, but it's sadly now out of stock and has been replaced by the upgraded SofaBaton U3 (review shortly.) Be aware that the U3 costs twice the price of the old version, but it does add a lot of extra functionality.
Yet, even with the emergence of SofaBaton, the universal remote category is still less popular than before. Many entertainment systems today don't have as many separate devices as in the past, so you might not even need a universal remote. With a smart TV connected to a soundbar and a game console, for example, you can control streaming apps, audio and device switching from a single remote (the TV's), eliminating the need for a universal remote. If you have an AV receiver and multiple sources, however, it gets more complicated. For those remotes, the new Sideclick literally bolts on extra functionality.
So what's left? Not much, at least among remotes we can recommend based on hands-on testing. The Roku and Fire TV clickers, while great for controlling those streaming devices and TVs, don't really qualify as "universal" remotes in the classic sense. A number of cheap replacement clickers are available, too, but we can't recommend them because we haven't tested them yet.
With those caveats in mind, here are our current picks for the best universal remote of 2026.
Best universal remotes of 2026
If you use a streaming device like a Roku stick, Fire TV stick, Google TV or Apple TV, but you find those remotes don't control quite enough in your system, then the Sideclick is for you. The Sideclick is a bolt-on attachment for your existing streaming remote, which makes it universal. I have the Roku Sideclick and programmed the add-on's buttons to control input switching on my LG TV, volume and even a surround sound/stereo toggle on my Denon AV receiver. The Roku can't do any of that, so if it wasn't for the Sideclick I'd have to use my TV or receiver remote as well as the Roku.
Sideclicks for each streaming device work in the same way: Once a Sideclick is securely clipped on, it's basically a single remote. Each Sideclick has eight keys you can program, which works using the infrared method: point your existing remote at the Sideclick and the Sideclick "learns" the command. Like any IR clicker, the Sideclick requires a line of sight to your component, and it doesn't work with Bluetooth or other non-IR tech. I did find that the clips can be flimsy and break over time, as can the battery covers (it takes two AAAs, which last for months). The company sells clip adapters separately for Roku and Fire TV, however, so you don't need to replace the whole thing.
The best part about Sideclick is the price. If you're just a few simple commands away from full control and want to ease clutter, it's easily worth the $30, or $25 on sale.
The wacky Cube is a mashup of universal remote controls, the Fire TV 4K streamer and Amazon Echo speaker, making it the king of your smart home devices. It comes with a device but its buttons are sparse and rudimentary; real device control happens via your voice. The Cube has an IR emitter to control your gear and a mic sensitive enough to hear your commands over the blare of music. On the downside, you'll need to keep your old remotes (even ones that aren't smart) around for many functions.
If you have a handful of remotes you regularly juggle, and you have a smartphone, then the SofaBaton U2 has been the best way to tame them. The SofaBaton U2 picks up the mantle left by the Logitech Harmony remotes, pairing simple programming with excellent ease of use. While the Logitech remotes offered more power -- including the ability to program more sophisticated macros or "activities" -- the SofaBaton has been the best universal remote for most people. Until now.
The U2 has just been replaced with the U3, which now includes programmable macros like "Watch TV" or "Listen to Music," and so look out for a full review of that remote soon.