The Best Universal Remote Controls of 2023

If you're willing to spend a little more dough for a more elevated experience, the Logitech Harmony Elite offers all of the functionality of the Harmony Companion with better hardware and a few added bonuses. Basically, if the Harmony Companion does it, the Harmony Elite can do it, too—and probably better.

The Harmony Elite—in conjunction with the included Harmony Hub—controls up to 15 devices in total, which is seven more than the Harmony Companion. Like the Companion, the Elite's supported devices cover everything from basic TV add-ons (like Blu-ray players) to smart home devices (like smart lights and smart appliances). It also supports Alexa integration—just like the Harmony Companion.

Unlike the replaceable-battery-powered Harmony Companion, the Elite is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and its upright in an included (but optional) charging dock, which is powered by a USB cable. The docked remote control can also be connected via USB to a computer for advanced configuration.

The remote itself feels sturdy and the buttons respond with assured clicks, but I must admit that I prefer the contours of the Harmony Companion. The first thing you're likely to notice about the Harmony Elite remote is that its top half is dominated by a full-color touch screen, making programming and day-to-day use a little easier, especially if you intend on adding more devices as time goes on. The touchscreen is especially effective when it comes to handling tasks that Harmony Companion users might otherwise rely on the Harmony mobile app for.

So why do we recommend the Harmony Companion over the Harmony Elite? It's simple: The Harmony Companion is significantly less expensive, and the difference in price is harder to justify for what we expect most people will ultimately need. The Elite's touchscreen expands the remote's functionality, but most people won't miss it.

I do feel more in control when I use the Elite, but its premium price tag makes it more suited for folks who are looking for the best universal remote for their home theater, as well as the rest their home, that allows the most amount of control..

The Caavo Control Center+ is an interesting entry in our universal remote round-up because, in addition to a universal remote control, the control center's hub and its software also functions as a media organizer. I promise this isn't as confusing as it sounds, so allow me to explain.

The Caavo Control center is a box that connects to your TV via HDMI cable. This box also includes four HDMI ports for your connected devices. This means if you own a Roku, a Playstation 4, an Apple TV, and a Blu-ray player, simply plug them into the Caavo Control Center instead of the TV itself. Caavo will then recognize each device and pair the Caavo remote with each one. The device supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos, so it's well-equipped to handle most of the highest-quality content available to consumers right now.

The Caavo Control Center's bread and butter, however, is its software, which allows users to control not only their physical devices, but also the apps and media found within. For example, if you use a Roku streaming box to access Netflix but you also own a library of media on Apple TV, the Caavo Control Center gives you the ability to search and access content from both platforms, provided you've paired your apps and devices ahead of time. Additionally, the Caavo Control Center can be paired with Amazon Alexa and Google Home for voice control.

First, let's talk about the remote itself: The Caavo remote is slender, sleek, and simplistic, looking quite modern next to traditional universal remote controls. Its buttons are well-spaced and organized neatly. Overall, the device feels durable despite its premium outfit, which should entice folks who might be searching for an aesthetically pleasing universal remote that'll stand up to kids, pets, and rowdy houseguests.

The control center itself is equally as chic. Its aesthetics match the remote and will probably blend in with just about everyone's home theater set-up without taking up too much space.

Setting up the Caavo Control Center is a complex affair. Some tasks, like pairing the remote to the TV, couldn't be easier—since the control center connects directly to the TV, you'll be able to follow along in real time with on-screen instructions that walk you through the process. Other tasks, like pairing your apps and smart home assistant, will add to the total setup time. Unfortunately, because the Caavo Control center is an advanced multimedia device, its setup process is equally as advanced.

Using the Caavo Control Center is mostly a breeze thanks to the clean user interface and snappy, responsive controls, but it wasn't without its drawbacks. For instance, because the control center "lives" on one of your TV's inputs, the Caavo universal remote has both TV-power-and-volume control, but no control over anything else until you switch over to the HDMI input that your control center is connected to. This shouldn't be much of an issue if your TV remembers which HDMI input it was tuned to when the TV last powered off, but if you have a TV that presents a default home screen when you power it on, you'll have to switch over to whichever HDMI input is home to your Caavo Control Center in order to take full advantage of the remote control.

I found that, for the most part, the Caavo Control Center's integrated search feature worked surprisingly well, but it often presents search results in a way that prioritizes rentable content over, say, the content you've got stowed away on a media server. That said, the remote control's voice recognition is a blessing.

Additionally, because the Caavo must pass through a TV's HDMI port in order to work, apps that are built into a smart TV's localized software cannot be incorporated into the control center. This means that the folks who stand to gain the most from the addition of a Caavo Control Center are people who access content from external devices, be them streaming boxes or video game consoles.

And then there's the fact that the Caavo Control Center requires either a recurring subscription plan or an additional surcharge, depending on what you choose. You can either pay a hefty "lifetime service fee" upon purchasing the Caavo Control Center and never worry about getting charged again, or you can opt into a recurring fee, which comes out to $2 a month indefinitely or $19.99 for a year.

Here's the bottom line: The Caavo Control Center is a media device first and foremost and a universal remote control second. While its base price is reasonable for what it does, the Caavo's total functionality will only appeal to people who have several external devices, a media server, and/or smart assistants. The added payment plan is a bummer, too.

All of this is to say that the Caavo Control Center is a solid device for what it does, but what it does is not for everyone. It is a media simplification device that is anything but "simple."

Unlike the aforementioned universal remotes, the GE 33709 is a traditional, run-of-the-mill universal remote control designed for basic AV devices capable of receiving an IR signal—there's no WiFi or Bluetooth functionality here. It runs on the back of two AAA batteries.

That said, for its intended purposes, the GE 33709 is a decent universal remote. You obviously won't be getting the expansive functionality of a Logitech Harmony remote or a Caavo Control Center, but it's capable of controlling up to four devices as long as those devices are equipped to receive an IR signal.

Programming this GE remote is as simple as inputting codes from a master code list included in the packaging. The process requires a little bit of concentration since there's no display offering real-time points of reference, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the button layout before typing the sequences required to set up the remote.

The GE 33709 is pleasantly thin and not particularly flashy, making it a sensible—albeit nondescript—candidate for coffee table domination. The buttons respond with a soft click, too, so there's never any doubt when about whether or not I've actually pressed a button all the way.

My biggest issue with the GE 33709 is its lack of illumination. Not only is there no backlight, but the buttons don't so much as glow in the dark. While it's true that most contemporary TVs don't even ship with self-illuminating remote controls, it is a feature I would appreciate seeing on a remote control that I've set out to buy of my own accord.

The GE 33709 is as simple as remote controls come—but that's exactly what I like about it. Its low price tag makes it a minor investment from a financial standpoint, but a relatively big investment when it comes to convenience. This is the best option for folks whose idea of a universal remote doesn't involve WiFi, smart home integration, or someone named "Alexa."

The RCA RCRN04GBE is a traditional, entry-level universal remote available at a very low cost. This particular version of this remote supports up to four external AV devices, but is limited to devices with an IR receiver, like DVD/Blu-ray players, satellite TV/cable boxes, and the TV itself.

This RCA remote relies on two AAA batteries. Programming the remote is relatively easy, but requires you to reference a list of manufacturing codes during the setup process.

Unfortunately, this is the worst universal remote we tested in terms of look, feel, and overall functionality. It's an unusually tall, chunky remote, and its buttons just don't feel right. Some of the buttons—like the volume and channel controls—feel sticky when pressed. Other buttons on the remote aren't sticky, and in fact, offer different tactile responses, as if they belong on a different remote altogether.

I did, however, appreciate this RCA remote's optional backlight. It's not very bright, to be clear, but it's a nice option to have if you find yourself in a dark living room.

The RCA RCRN04GBE is priced affordably, but we still prefer the GE 33709 when it comes to basic, entry-level universal remote controls.