The Best Google TV Remote App for iPhone: Top Picks in 2026
1. TVRem – Best Overall Google TV Remote App for iPhone
TVRem is the strongest pick here, and the reason isn’t complicated. It’s a true universal remote app that supports Google TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung, LG, and more – all from a single app. Whether you have a Sony Google TV, a TCL Google TV, or a Hisense Google TV, TVRem handles all of it without requiring separate downloads for each brand.
⭐️ Rated 4.8 stars and completely free with no paywalled features. ⭐️
Pros
- Works with every major Google TV brand – Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, Element, and more
- Full touchpad navigation – smooth, natural, no lag
- Smart keyboard – type from your iPhone instead of the painful on-screen keyboard
- Quick-launch buttons for Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+
- Voice control via Google Assistant and Alexa on supported models
- Auto-detects your TV over Wi-Fi
- No account required, no subscription, no trial period
Cons
- Requires Wi-Fi – won't work if your TV isn't connected to the same network
- No IR (infrared) support – older non-smart TVs aren't compatible
How to set up TVRem with your Google TV
1. Download TVRem from the App Store.
2. Connect your iPhone and Google TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open TVRem – it will scan the network and detect your TV automatically.
4. Tap your TV from the list and enter the code displayed on your TV.
5. Start controlling immediately.
2. Google TV App (Official) – The Platform App That Does Remote Too
The official Google TV app is primarily a content discovery platform – it aggregates movies and TV shows from across your streaming subscriptions, manages a Watchlist, and syncs recommendations across devices. The remote control feature is secondary, tucked into the app rather than being its main purpose.
That said, the remote does work for Google TV and Android TV OS devices. It connects over Wi-Fi and lets you use your phone’s keyboard for text input, which is genuinely useful.
Pros
- Official Google app – reliable integration with Google TV OS
- Keyboard support for typing on the TV
- Content discovery and Watchlist sync across devices
- Free
Cons
- The remote is a side feature, not the main focus – the interface reflects this
- Requires a Google account to use
- Remote functionality is limited to Google TV and Android TV OS only – doesn't work with Roku, Samsung, LG, or any non-Google platform
- No touchpad navigation – D-pad only
- No quick-launch streaming shortcuts
- Bulky app at 86MB for what is largely a content browsing tool; if you only want a remote, it's a lot to install
3. Universal Remote TV Smart – Wide Brand Coverage, But With a Catch
Universal Remote TV Smart by Yohan Teixeira is a broad-coverage remote app supporting Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, TCL, Roku, Hitachi, and others. With a 4.2-star rating, it has the largest review base of the three apps here, which indicates it has been around and has a real user base.
For Google TV users with Sony, TCL, or Philips sets, it will detect and connect to the TV. Basic controls – volume, channels, navigation, power – work in the free tier.
Pros
- Very large brand compatibility list
- Realistic remote interface design
- Automatic TV detection
Cons
- Core features are locked behind a subscription – the app offers weekly, monthly, and yearly plans, and the free tier is noticeably limited
- 193MB install size – the heaviest app on this list by far
- No touchpad navigation in the free tier
- No voice control
- Subscription model can feel aggressive for what's essentially a remote replacement
