The 7 Best Roku Remotes
Updated by · How we research
Which remote works depends on your Roku. Seven official, clone and universal remotes compared for Roku TVs, sticks and boxes; the Roku Voice Remote Pro leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Roku makes two kinds of devices that need different remotes. Roku TVs and the simplest boxes answer plain infrared signals, while Roku sticks, most newer players and soundbars listen for a radio remote, so a cheap infrared copy can't run them. This list is for anyone replacing a lost or broken Roku remote, or adding a spare for another room.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Roku Voice Remote Pro now leads this list. It charges instead of eating batteries, its buttons light up, and it can ring when it slips between the couch cushions. The Roku Voice Remote and the plain Roku TV Remote follow for anyone who wants an official part for less.
Eight of the ten earlier picks are off. Logitech has ended its Harmony remotes, the Sideclick and the SofaBaton IR can't be bought new, and the RCA Big-Button and the Vinabty had no current listing. The older Roku voice remote has a newer replacement, and the TCL RC280 listing is now a generic copy. We also dropped the Inteset INT-422 to keep this list Roku-specific; our universal remotes list covers general-purpose models. The GE 33709 and the Philips SRP2024R stay.
The deciding evidence was Roku's own compatibility charts, which spell out which remote works with which TV, stick, box or soundbar. We added GearLab's test of universal remotes and recall checks for every brand. We found no test of the cheap copies, so we kept one pair for Roku TVs and one for older boxes rather than a pile of near-identical packs.
November 21, 2020:
Whether you have a Roku streaming box or stick, smart TV, or even the Streambar or Smart Soundbar, there's something for you on this list. We brought on the Official Roku for those who want properly sanctioned equipment with voice control and search functions, while the newly-added Logitech Harmony Companion is a truly comprehensive option ideal for controlling everything from your Nest thermostat to your PS3 or Xbox 360 and any other cord cutting tools you may be using.
We added the Harmony Companion to supplant the Logitech Harmony 650, which has a clumsier design but maintains a comparatively high price. If you're going to drop the money, it's better spent on the Companion. Just be aware that setting it up can get complicated, so be prepared to take your time and know that the app required can be tricky for some to navigate.
Also joining the ranks today is the Philips Companion, which is similar to the Sideclick Attachment in that it attaches to your Roku remote to add more functionality to it and help you consolidate. While the Sideclick is minimalist and adds just a few buttons to the mix, the Philips is a full-on universal remote that is large and easy to keep track of, with plenty of features to keep the modestly tech-savvy person happy. It also comes preprogrammed for immediate use with Samsung TVs and Roku boxes.
July 09, 2019:
We included a few universal remotes that control Rokus in addition to Roku-specific models, but we also have a more comprehensive list available if you're hoping to consolidate devices.
There's something of a divide between most of the options listed here, and that's the battle between simplicity and customization. The generic Roku remote is a marvel of simplicity and minimalism, and there are several devices above that retain those qualities. On the other hand, we also included remotes like the Inteset INT-422, which allows you to do just about anything short of land the space shuttle with it. If you're an absolute control freak (no pun intended), you'll love the power a remote like that gives you; however, if you're easily frustrated with complex technology, you may find yourself putting it through your TV.
One frustration that's commonly reported with universal remotes is the pairing process, as no one enjoys thumbing through a book of codes, then entering them one-by-one until your system accepts something. If that sounds familiar, then the SofaBaton IR will be a welcome change, as you can program it simply by putting it within a few inches of your existing remote. Of course, you'll still need to use the book if you've lost your other remote, but it's nice to know that capability is there regardless.
Special Honors
Roku Mobile App Roku's free app for iPhone and Android turns a phone into a remote over home Wi-Fi, with a keyboard for search boxes and a headphone mode for listening privately. It's a handy stand-in while you shop for a replacement, and it can't get lost in the couch. roku.com
Sofabaton Sofabaton makes app-programmed universal remotes, including the U2 that topped GearLab's universal remote test. They handle infrared and Bluetooth gear, so they can run a Roku TV, but not a Roku Streaming Stick, which pairs by radio. sofabaton.com
Check Which Roku You Have First
The basic Express and Premiere boxes and the older numbered Rokus take a different set of infrared codes, which is why there are separate copies made for them.
A Roku remote talks to its device in one of two ways. Roku TVs, made by TCL, Hisense, Onn, Sharp, Insignia and others, take infrared commands, so any remote that sends the right codes works the moment you point it. Roku Streaming Sticks, most current players and Roku's soundbars use a radio remote that has to be paired, and it works without line of sight (Wikipedia).
That split decides what you can buy. Roku's compatibility chart for the Roku TV Remote says it works only with Roku TVs and partner-brand TVs, not with Streaming Sticks, the Ultra or the Streambar. The cheap copies sold for Roku TVs carry the same limit. The basic Express and Premiere boxes and the older numbered Rokus take a different set of infrared codes, which is why there are separate copies made for them.
A quick test: open the battery door of your old remote. If there's a small pairing button inside, your Roku expects a radio remote, and only a Roku voice remote will replace it. If there's no button and you have a Roku TV, any Roku TV remote will do.
Voice, Backlight And Batteries
Roku sells three remotes of its own. The Roku TV Remote is the simple one: infrared, no microphone, Roku TVs only. The Roku Voice Remote adds a push-to-talk microphone and pairs by radio, so it covers Roku TVs, Roku audio and most players, and it runs on two AAA batteries.
The Roku Voice Remote Pro is the upgrade. Its second edition charges over USB-C, and Roku claims about three months per charge and half again the battery life of the first edition. It adds backlit buttons, hands-free "Hey Roku" voice control and a finder: ask your Roku where the remote is, or use the Roku phone app, and it plays a sound.
Voice only works on Roku devices that support it, and a few older players can't pair with either voice remote. Roku's compatibility notes call this out with the phrase "most Roku players", so check your model on Roku's accessories page before you buy.
Universal Remotes And Roku
Most universal remotes send infrared only. That means they can run a Roku TV and the infrared Roku boxes, but not a Roku Streaming Stick or any other Roku that depends on a radio remote. GearLab's universal remote test makes the same point, and a HighTechDad review of the Sofabaton U2 names the Roku stick as a device it can't control.
The Philips SRP2024R gets around this with a cradle on its back that holds your Roku remote, so the two travel together. The GE 33709 is the simpler choice when everything in the cabinet uses infrared: set it up with a code from its list, and it runs up to four devices.
If you mostly want one remote for a full home theater, our universal remotes list goes deeper into learning and app-programmed models. And if your Roku remote has simply vanished, Roku's free mobile app works as a remote over home Wi-Fi in the meantime.
How we researched this
We compared 17 remotes for Roku TVs, players and sticks, from Roku's own models to clone packs and universal remotes. We read Roku's compatibility charts and the makers' specs, used GearLab's test of universal remotes and a review of the Sofabaton U2, looked at owner feedback patterns, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Will a Roku TV remote work with a Roku Streaming Stick?
No. Roku TV remotes, official or not, send infrared codes meant for Roku TVs. Streaming Sticks need a paired radio remote, such as the Roku Voice Remote or the Voice Remote Pro.
Can a universal remote control a Roku?
Only Rokus that take infrared: Roku TVs and the basic boxes. Most universal remotes can't run a Roku Streaming Stick. The Philips SRP2024R works around this by holding your Roku remote in a cradle.
Is there a voice remote for a TCL or Hisense Roku TV?
Yes. Roku says its Voice Remote and Voice Remote Pro work with every Roku TV model, including those sold by TCL, Hisense and other partner brands.
What's new in the second-edition Roku Voice Remote Pro?
It charges over USB-C, and Roku claims about half again the battery life of the first edition, or about three months per charge. It keeps the backlit buttons, hands-free voice and lost-remote finder.
How can I control my Roku without a remote?
Install the free Roku mobile app on a phone on the same Wi-Fi network. It works as a remote and can type into search boxes until a new remote arrives.
