The 6 Best Universal Remotes on Amazon in 2026

Why it made the list

• Its listing describes a remote for all your devices, with a continuously updated code library of over 6,000 brands and 500,000 devices.
• The listing names backlit buttons and a macro button that can power up a TV, soundbar and streaming device at once, and setup in the SofaBaton app with infrared, Bluetooth or learning modes.
• Wirecutter’s top pick, and TechGearLab and CNET also name the U2 their best overall or best universal remote.

Drawbacks

• Amazon’s own summary lists button responsiveness as negative, and ease of use, connectivity, customizability and value as mixed.
• A 1-star critical review calls the software a disaster, and a 2-star review says its pre-programmed options were not enough to replace a Logitech Harmony.

Watch for this: Wirecutter’s page says it is no longer updating the article, and CNET lists the U2 as out of stock. Check the page for a new offer before you plan around it.

Skip it if you want a remote that works the minute you add batteries. The listing sets it up through an app, and critical reviews describe the app as the hard part.

Why it made the list

• Its listing says the buttons are fully backlit, with blue LED lighting that helps you see each button in a dim room.
• The listing says it operates up to four devices and that the TV and streaming buttons are preprogrammed for Samsung TVs and Roku streaming boxes.
• Amazon’s own summary lists ease of use, the backlight, ease of setup and universal compatibility as positives, and says some owners auto-programmed it in about four minutes.

Drawbacks

• Amazon’s own summary lists reliability and button responsiveness as negative, and compatibility as mixed, with some saying it does not work with Vizio smart TVs and Amazon Fire devices.
• A 3-star critical review says the light turns off quickly so you keep pressing a key, and a 1-star critical review says the number buttons do not work for streaming or auxiliary devices.

Watch for this: The listing says the remote is not for radio-frequency devices and not compatible with Roku streaming devices, and one critical review is from a UK buyer of a US item who says it was useless there.

Skip it if you want to control a Fire TV or a Vizio smart TV. Amazon’s own summary says some owners could not.

Why it made the list

• Its listing describes a large, simplified keyboard with big buttons that are easy to read, which it calls ideal for impaired vision or anyone who wants a simple remote.
• The listing says it controls up to two devices, such as a TV and a soundbar or cable box, with automatic code search, direct code entry and master volume control.
• Amazon’s own summary lists functionality, size, simplicity and suitability for seniors as positives.

Drawbacks

• Amazon’s own summary lists compatibility, button size, value and programming as mixed, with some saying it works with Samsung and Philips TVs and not with Comcast or Apple TV systems.
• A 1-star critical review says it worked with no new TVs, and a 3-star review says the rounded bottom does not sit flat.

Skip it if you need to control more than two devices. The listing names a limit of two.

Why it made the list

• Its listing describes one remote for three devices: a streaming box, a TV and a soundbar, with a color ring that shows which one you are controlling.
• The listing names four quick-access keys for streaming services and a learning feature that copies functions directly from your original remote.
• Amazon’s own summary lists functionality, ease of use, controls and versatility as positives, and says it controls both TVs and soundbars.

Drawbacks

• Amazon’s own summary lists button functionality as negative: several owners say only the power, volume and channel buttons work. It lists compatibility, usability and value as mixed.
• A 1-star critical review says manual programming did not work for keys such as back, menu and home, and a 3-star review says the navigation buttons take noticeably more pressure.

Watch for this: The listing says it is not compatible with Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Chromecast or the Roku Stick, and Amazon’s own summary says it does not work with Samsung Smart TVs for some owners.

Skip it if you use a Fire TV, Chromecast or Roku stick, or a Samsung smart TV. The listing and the summary both name these as problems.

Why it made the list

• Its listing describes a universal remote set with a 2.4 inch HD touchscreen, a hub and a charging dock.
• The listing says it controls devices over infrared, Bluetooth, RF and Wi-Fi, integrates with Home Assistant and can run one-touch activity sequences.
• Tom’s Guide names a SofaBaton X2 its best universal remote overall, and Amazon’s own summary lists functionality, build quality and battery life as positives.

Drawbacks

• Amazon’s own summary lists setup, reliability, button responsiveness, connectivity and value as mixed, and says the battery can last up to 4 days before recharging.
• Three critical reviews say it worked well over infrared but badly over Bluetooth or RF, and one says it disconnects from a Fire TV Cube constantly.

Watch for this: The page’s total is small and sits beside several other SofaBaton X2 listings with their own totals. Check that the set you buy is the one on this page: hub and dock.

Skip it if you use Bluetooth streaming devices such as a Fire TV Cube, or want a simple setup. Three critical reviews describe trouble with Bluetooth and RF, and Amazon’s own summary lists setup as mixed.