Compare your options
Universal TV remote app or the TV maker's app?
If you use one TV brand, start by considering its official app. If your household has several TV platforms, a multi-brand app can reduce app switching. The right answer also depends on whether your TV supports network control and whether you want brand-specific services.
Choose by the job you need done
| Situation | Good first choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| One Samsung TV and SmartThings devices | Samsung SmartThings | Samsung's integration includes its own device ecosystem; a generic remote does not replace it. |
| One LG TV and other LG appliances | LG ThinQ | LG's app combines TV control with LG-specific features and services. |
| One Roku TV or Roku player | Roku mobile app | Roku publishes its own free remote app and the applicable network-control settings. |
| Several TVs on different supported platforms | Multi-brand app | One interface may be simpler than switching among separate manufacturer apps, subject to model and command support. |
| TV is offline or has not approved phone control | Physical remote or TV buttons | Neither kind of network app can bypass a disconnected TV or its approval prompt. |
Samsung SmartThings vs TV Remotely
Samsung says SmartThings can adjust volume, launch apps and change inputs on compatible Samsung TVs. Its setup requires adding the TV to SmartThings and a Samsung Account and internet connection for its network-based smart services. Available remote controls vary by device. If you already use SmartThings, keep it for Samsung-specific functions.
TV Remotely is an independent local-network remote with no TV Remotely account. It is useful when you want the same basic remote interface across supported TV platforms. It does not supply Samsung’s smart-home integration, and Samsung TV approval and firmware support still apply. See the Samsung setup guide and Samsung’s SmartThings remote instructions.
Roku mobile app vs TV Remotely
Roku’s official mobile app is free and offers remote control for Roku TVs and players on the local network. Roku also lets you restrict control by mobile apps in the device’s settings. Roku recommends its own app for security; if you choose a third-party app, understand and keep the network access setting as restrictive as your needs permit.
TV Remotely can be an option when Roku is one of several supported TV platforms in your home. It does not make a Roku player into a controller for the TV’s separate audio hardware. See the Roku setup guide and Roku’s official mobile-app instructions.
LG ThinQ vs TV Remotely
LG says ThinQ can control compatible LG smart TVs, launch apps and share content. Its LG-specific services may be preferable if you already use ThinQ. A multi-brand app can make sense for a household that also has Samsung, Roku or other supported TV platforms, but it still depends on the TV’s webOS version, pairing and reachable network. See LG TV Remotely setup and LG’s ThinQ setup guide.
A fair five-minute test
Connect the TV and phone to the same reachable local network. Test discovery, the TV’s approval step, navigation, volume and app launch separately in the app you choose. Write down which controls matter to you; a successful pairing does not mean every command works. If a TV is missing, use discovery troubleshooting. If it appears but rejects connection, use pairing troubleshooting. For supported TV families and limits, see compatibility.
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TV Remotely is not made by or affiliated with Samsung, LG or Roku. Product features and requirements can change; linked manufacturer instructions describe their apps, while TV Remotely capabilities depend on your specific TV.