Best universal remote control
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There was a time when a single brand dominated the universe of universal remote controls: Logitech’s Harmony. That changed when Caavo shipped its second-generation Control Center, which is good enough that we can recommend it as the best mid-priced product in this category. Want something more powerful? That’ll be a Logitech Harmony Elite. Need something cheaper? Buy a Logitech Harmony 665.



Universal remote cheat sheet Our quick-hit recommendations:



Best universal remote: High end: Logitech Harmony Elite Best universal remote: Mid-range:Caavo Control Center + Universal Remote[caavo.com] Best universal remote: Budget: Logitech Harmony 665 Sure, you can still find a sub-$20 “universal remote” if your regular clicker breaks, but those are little more than cheapie replacements, not true universal remotes that live up to the name. There are also uber-expensive remote controls you can buy from customer installers, but TechHive focuses primarily on the DIY market, so we’ll ignore those in this story.



Here are our top picks in three categories, followed by links to all the rest of our reviews of universal remote controls (we’ll update this list as new models come to market).



[ Further reading: The best surge protectors for your costly electronics ]Best universal remote: High end Logitech Harmony Elite Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $349.99See itThe king of the hill. Remotes don’t get more powerful—or more complex—than this.



With a street price well north of $250, this remote might cost more than some of the components you’ll control with it. And while the learning curve is steep, you can’t argue with its power to up to 15 other devices. What’s more, its built-in touchscreen makes it more intuitive for new users than any other remote on the market.



Best universal remote: Mid-range Caavo Control Center (May 2019 update) Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $99.95See itThe Caavo Control Center gets a lower price tag and a higher subscription fee, plus a whole lot of compelling new features, but only a few worked properly when this review was wrapped.



The Caavo Control Center underwent a major update in May 2019 that added a host of new features, including new parental controls that let you monitor and control what your kids are watching on TV. We encountered a few bugs at launch and hope they’ll be squashed in short order. Caavo has also lopped 40 percent off the cost of the remote, but they’ll recoup that quickly through the increased cost of the optional subscription plan needed to take advantage of most of those new features. The hardware itself hasn’t changed and remains limited to controlling just four HDMI devices, so it’s still not the right pick if your home theater is packed to the gills with A/V components.



Best universal remote: Budget Logitech Harmony 665 Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $69.99See itArguably the most powerful all-in-one infrared remote on the market.



Just $50 will get you this incredibly capable remote, a standalone model that includes a small LCD that displays contextual information depending on what device you’re using. Can’t remember what you programmed a random button to do? This remote will clue you in.



How to pick the right universal remoteLogitech’s Harmony line can be divided into two camps: remotes that work with a bridge, and standalone remotes that don’t. The bridge–called the Harmony Hub–is a single device that is bundled with remotes across the high end of Logitech’s Harmony line. (Think of the remote as merely an accessory that makes working with the Hub easier.) The Hub plugs into wall power and works as a massive IR blaster. It also relays Wi-Fi and Bluetooth commands, which means you can use Hub-capable remotes to control more than just the gear under your TV. If you want to use your phone as a remote control, purchase a system that includes the Hub.



Caavo Caavo is the only other player besides Logitech making a great universal remote.



The standalone remotes are exactly that: You program them via your PC, but they’re just standard infrared remotes on steroids. There’s no way to use your phone or tablet with these remotes.



Note that, whichever of the Harmony remotes you choose, a learning curve will apply. Programming remotes via Logitech’s PC application (or mobile app, in the case of Hub-ready remotes) is easy to get started with, but mastering it isn’t terribly intuitive, and these apps can be slow and sometimes buggy. After changes are made via an app, your remote will then have to be synced with the app, a manual process that can be cumbersome. The bottom line: If a Harmony remote is in your future, be prepared to spend some time mastering it.



So, does a universal remote control really make sense? If your coffee table is littered with hardware for managing your entertainment center, it does—provided you’re ready to accept that no universal remote is truly universal. While almost any function can be mimicked by these systems, some are simply impossible to copy: They can’t fully replicate the Apple TV touchpad, for instance.



All our universal remote control reviews Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.