Best pick: use Roku if you want the easiest remote app, Google TV if your TV runs Google TV or Android TV, and Samsung SmartThings if your home already has Samsung gear. Google says the Google TV app can control Google TV and Android TV devices from your phone [source: Google].
TLDR: Roku is the simplest app for most people. Google TV is great for typing, voice search, and Chromecast-style homes. Samsung SmartThings is best if your TV sits inside a bigger smart home setup. For example, if it takes you 45 seconds to find a lost remote, using your phone instead can save you 5 minutes a week if you lose it 6 or 7 times.
The quick winner list
- Best overall: Roku app
- Best for Google TV: Google TV app
- Best for Samsung homes: Samsung SmartThings
- Best for voice search: Google TV
- Best for private listening: Roku
- Best for smart home control: SmartThings
1. Roku app: the “just works” choice
The Roku mobile app is the friend you want at movie night. It opens fast. It has big buttons. It feels like a real remote, not a science project.
You get the basics right away:
- Power
- Volume
- Home
- Back
- Search
- Keyboard typing
The best part is private listening. Plug headphones into your phone, or use wireless earbuds. The TV sound goes to you. Everyone else can sleep. This is perfect at 1 a.m. when one more episode somehow becomes four.
Roku also makes typing less painful. Searching for “The Lord of the Rings” with arrow buttons is a tiny punishment. With the app, you use your phone keyboard. Done in seconds.
What gets annoying? The app sometimes needs a moment to find the TV again. It drives me crazy when I tap “remote” and stare at a loading screen for 8 seconds. Not awful. Just rude.
Best for: families, casual users, bedrooms, guest rooms, and anyone who wants zero drama.
2. Google TV app: smart, fast, and search friendly
The Google TV app is best for people who already live in Google’s world. If you use Google Assistant, Chromecast, YouTube, or Android, it feels familiar.
The app remote is clean. You can use a swipe pad or classic buttons. Voice search is the star. Say “funny movies with Tom Hanks” and Google usually gets what you mean. That is much better than pecking one letter at a time like it is 2009.
It also works well with Google TV and many Android TV devices. That includes TVs from brands like Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Philips, depending on the model.
Google TV is also strong at content discovery. It pulls shows from many apps into one place. So you are not opening six apps just to remember where that one show lives.
The catch is… setup can feel picky. Your phone and TV need to be on the same Wi Fi. Your Google account may need to match. Permissions may pop up. If one small thing is off, pairing can take longer than it should.
Best for: Android users, Google TV owners, voice search fans, and people who cast a lot.
3. Samsung SmartThings: best for Samsung homes
Samsung SmartThings is more than a TV remote. It is a smart home control app. That is both good and bad.
If you own a Samsung TV, Galaxy phone, Samsung soundbar, smart lights, or smart plugs, SmartThings can be very useful. You can turn on the TV, change volume, switch inputs, and run routines.
For example, you can make a Movie Night routine:
- Turn on the Samsung TV
- Dim the lights
- Set the soundbar volume
- Switch to your streaming box
That feels cool. It also feels a bit fancy for people who just want to press play.
The remote screen is fine. The buttons are clear enough. But SmartThings can feel crowded. There are devices, rooms, scenes, services, and settings. Honestly, it feels like opening a toolbox when all you needed was one screwdriver.
Still, it has real power. If your TV is the center of a Samsung home, SmartThings makes sense. If not, it may feel like too much app for too little job.
Best for: Samsung TV owners, Galaxy phone users, and homes with smart lights or Samsung devices.
Side by side comparison
- Ease of use: Roku wins. Simple layout. Fewer taps.
- Voice control: Google TV wins. Search feels smarter.
- Smart home features: SmartThings wins. No surprise there.
- Typing searches: All three are better than a plastic remote.
- Private listening: Roku wins. This feature is gold.
- Best app design: Roku for simple use. Google TV for content finding.
Which one should you use?
Pick Roku if you want the least fuss. It is the easiest app to hand to a parent, roommate, or sleepy child. The private listening feature also makes it great for shared homes.
Pick Google TV if your TV runs Google TV or Android TV. It is better for search. It is also great if you use Google Assistant often.
Pick Samsung SmartThings if your Samsung TV is part of a smart home. It is not the fastest pure remote. But it can control more than the TV.
Final verdict
Roku is the best remote app for most people. It is clear, quick, and friendly. Google TV is the best choice for Google-powered TVs and strong voice search. Samsung SmartThings is best when your TV is only one piece of a smarter home.
If you hate hunting under couch cushions, install the matching app today. Your future self will thank you the next time the real remote vanishes into the snack dimension.
