Are you tired of switching between remotes and also having to find it hidden between your couch? Tracking the various remotes that come with your Blu-ray/DVD player, cable box/DVR, game console, soundbar, and TV. Finding and managing these remotes is like managing a bunch of cats. Now imagine you have just one remote to control all of your electronic equipment in your home. It’s called a “Universal Remote Control” and they’ve been around for a long, long time. They can control all your entertainment devices. Here are the best Universal remote 2020-2021 that are ideal for full-on control.
Best Universal Remote Controls
| Model | Price | No. Of Devices | Voice Control | Touch Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logitech Harmony Elite | $269.99 | 15 | Alexa or Google Home | Yes |
| Logitech Harmony Companion | $99.00 | 8 | Alexa or Google Home | Yes |
| Caavo Control Center Smart | $83.48/ $159.99 | 4 | Alexa or Google Home (Caavo subscription required) | Yes |
| Logitech Harmony Hub | $79.99 | 8 | Alexa or Google Home | Yes |
| Inteset 4 in 1 Universal Remote | $25.95 | 4 | N/A | N/A |
Best Universal Remote With Voice Control
There are a lot of Logitech Universal remotes in our list of best universal remote 2020-2021. The reason is simple, Logitech Harmony line of universal remote controls is one of the best universal remote with voice controls. Let’s go through the detailed review of the best universal remote controls.
1. Logitech Harmony Elite
Logitech’s flagship universal remote, the Harmony Elite, comes in a set of two devices. One is the Harmony Elite remote control, the other one is the Harmony Hub that routes the remote’s signal to your Blu-ray/DVD player, Cable box/DVR, game console, Sound system, TV, or smart home devices.
The Harmony Hub is the best thing about the Harmony Elite. It doubles as a full home automation hub with support for a variety of smart devices. If you ever lose the actual remote, you can use the Harmony application on your smartphone. The Logitech harmony elite remote & the Logitech harmony hub remote control come with Alexa and Google Home integration for hands-free voice control. All of us need remote control with voice controls, pushing buttons is so old school.
Features
- Alexa & Google home integration
- Capable to set up 50 favorite channels
- One-touch activities (multicommand macros)
- Motion sensing, backlit buttons with vibration haptics
- Included charging dock
- Compatible with over 270,000 devices
2. Inteset 4 in 1 Learning Remote
If you’re a cord-cutter or love to stream TV, you may not need one of these extra fancy universal remotes with their touch screens. If you need a simple universal remote that can control your TV, streaming device, and cable player then the Inteset 4-in-1 universal remote is the one for you. You can get the Inteset 4 in 1 remote for just $25.
Inteset designed its learning remote keeping consumers in mind. It operates all of the devices stacked in your entertainment center. The Inteset 4-in-1 universal remote has pre-programmed buttons for Apple TV, Kodi Media Center, Roku, and Xbox One. It has basic features and an easy setup can help you start watching sooner without losing your whole evening in the setting up procedure.
Features
- Cheaper than other universal remotes
- Pre-programmed buttons for top streaming devices
- Infrared based transmitter
3. Logitech Harmony Companion
Logitech prepares some of the best universal remotes with Google home. Just like the Logitech Elite, the Logitech Harmony Companion remote comes with the Harmony Hub so you can control your smart home devices. The Companion also works with Logitech harmony hub remote control and Harmony app so you can manage your home even while you’re away.
The main difference between the remote is that the Companion controls up to 8 devices while the Elite can control 15 devices. Also, the companion doesn’t have a touch screen. Most people don’t have 15 devices that they need to control, and while the Touch screen is super handy, it is not something that you can’t live without. Despite its limited features, the Logitech Harmony Companion remote is definitely one of the best universal remote with Alexa.
Logitech harmony companion remote is basically for those people who need a lot of features that are offered by Elite. Features like smart home integration, without the heavy price of the Elite remote.
Features
- Alexa and Google Home integration
- Ability to set up at least 50 channels
- Motion sensing, backlit buttons with vibration haptic
- Multi command micro activities
- Compatible with up to 270,000 devices.
4. Caavo Central Center
The Caavo control center universal remote allows you to control everything connected to your TV – Cable boxes/ DVRs, disc players, gaming consoles, smart speakers, some projectors, sound systems, soundbars, and TVs, all with a single remote.
Except instead of programming a remote to control your devices, you plug everything into a box. The Caavo central center then controls your devices with the help of the Caavo remote. The remote basically looks like Amazon Fire Stick with extra buttons.
The voice command functionality is what makes the Caavo control center universal remote. It allows you to control all four connected devices with your voice and search across multiple TV apps. The remote comes with Google Home and Alexa voice control. Don’t get too excited, to get access to the amazing voice control system, you must subscribe to the Caavo service plan, which comes at $3.99 per month or $99.99 for a lifetime opportunity.
Caavo control center universal remote has some interesting features, like smart-home control through IFTTT. Once Caavo fixes most of its problems it will be great.
Features
- Alexa and Google Home integration (requires subscription)
- Smart-home control via IFTTT
- Support for 4K UHD, HDR, and Dolby Atoms (Doesn’t supports Dolby vision)
- Ability to view and control Sonos on your screen
- Caavo mobile app for on the go control (available on iOS only right now)
- Social features: List creation and sharing.
5. Logitech Harmony Hub
As we mentioned above, if you lose your Harmony Companion or Harmony Elite remote, you can control all of your devices with your smartphone application via the Harmony Hub and Harmony App. You can also forget about the remote part and buy the Logitech Harmony Hub separately.
Like the companion, the Hub controls only 8 devices in comparison to Logitech Elite 15 devices. Unlike the companion, the Hub does offer a touch screen control through your smartphone. The price of the Hub is what makes it one of the best universal remote with voice control. It comes at $69.99, the Hub is $200 cheaper than the Elite, and $40 less than the companion.
Features
- Compatible with 270,00 devices
- Alexa and Google Home integration
- Ability to set up to 50 favorite channels
- One-touch activities.
What To Look For In a Universal Remote Control?
We have done a lot of research to find the best universal remote 2020-2021. if you wish to do your own research on the best universal remote with Google home and similar features then here’s what to look for in a universal remote.
1. How Many Devices It Can Control?
You would think that the more devices a universal remote control can control the better. The average needs at least 4 remotes to control a disc player, soundbar, streaming box, and TV. They will be fine with a lower-end universal remote like the Inteset 4-in-1.
If you have a lot of streaming devices in your house then you need a remote that can control more than 4 devices.
2. Touch Screen
While most of the affordable universal remotes still come with soft, spongy rubber buttons. The ones that have touch screens are a bit on the expensive end. A touch screen remote provides you with more functionality such as setting your favorite channels and custom, one-touch macros that will activate devices. They are cool features, but they aren’t essential, you can work without them.
3. Compatibility
Imagine you brought a remote and it doesn’t work with the devices you have on your entertainment center. Before buying any Universal remote, you need to check whether or not it is compatible with your devices. Our list of best universal remote 2020-2021 is compatible with over 270,000. Most devices should work fine with most of the universal remotes, but it’s a good idea to double-check before spending your hard-earned money.
Final Take: Best Universal Remote Controls
Whether you’re looking for the best universal remote that’s affordable or a premium universal remote that is ideal to do the trick. Choose any one remote from our list of best universal remote 2020-2021 and quit juggling between tons of remotes.