Unified Remote review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Phone app that works as a remote control for a computer
Black Friday: is there a Unified Remote sale?
Unified Remote report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a phone as a couch remote for your PC
Unified Remote turns your phone into a remote for your computer, with mouse, keyboard, media and power controls. The free app has 18 remotes and Full is $4.99 once per platform, but out of the box it works only on your home network.
Who Unified Remote is for
- Fits if you control a media or presentation PC from across the room
- Works for people who would rather pay once than subscribe
Who Unified Remote is not for
- Tight if you want it away from home, since mobile data means configuring your router
- Pricey if you use both iOS and Android, as Full is $4.99 for each platform
- Watch out: Screen Viewer, custom remotes and more than 40 remotes need Full
- Watch out: the phone app can't work alone, so a server must run on the computer
Why Unified Remote gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFull is $4.99 once, per platform, against $100 a year for the category's middle subscription. A free tier with 18 remotes sits beside it.
- BFree plan and trialThe free app has 18 essential remotes, including mouse, keyboard, media, Wake on LAN and power, with password protection. One person could live on it, though Screen Viewer and custom remotes are Full.
- CFeaturesIt does the remote-control job, not screen-sharing for support. Network use is local only by default, and the FAQ says controlling another phone and Chrome OS are not supported.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. You install a server program on the computer and pair it before the phone does anything.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, so phone and computer. Each phone platform's Full is bought separately.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Unified Remote's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/unified-remote#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/unified-remote.svg" alt="Unified Remote: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Unified Remote stands among remote desktop apps
Unified Remote's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 69 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 63 of 85) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Unified Remote’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 63 of 85, level with 22
- BFree plan and trialAbove 48 of 85, level with 22
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 85, level with 53
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 85, level with 48
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85, level with 50
Keep Unified Remote, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Unified Remote you would be making a fast, secure link to another computer through any network. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 69 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade. It costs $4.99, paid once.
What you could not
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Spotify, VLC and Netflix among them.
What this rests on. Unified Remote’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Unified Remote?
Unified Remote turns an Android or iOS phone into a mouse, keyboard and remote for a computer on the same network, using small per-program remotes for media players, presentations and power control. The app is free with 18 remotes, and a one-time purchase per platform unlocks the rest.
Worth knowing
- By default it works only on the local network; using it over mobile data means configuring your router.
- The Full version is bought separately for each platform, so Android and iOS cost $4.99 each.
- The FAQ says controlling another Android or iOS device from the phone is not supported, and Chrome OS is not supported.
- A server program must be installed on the computer; the phone app cannot control a computer on its own.
Key features
- Mouse and keyboard
- The phone works as a single or multi-touch mouse and a keyboard, including third-party keyboards and modifier keys such as Ctrl and Alt.
- Per-program remotes
- The vendor lists 100+ remotes for media players, presentations and other desktop programs; 18 are free and 40+ more unlock with the Full version.
- Screen Viewer
- Part of the Full version: shows the computer screen on the phone. The vendor lists it as working with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
- Wake on LAN and power
- A Power remote can turn off, lock or wake a computer using Wake on LAN.
- Custom remotes
- The Full version lets you create and use custom remotes, and the vendor has a developers page for writing them.
- Password protection and encryption
- Both are in the free app. The FAQ advises turning them on if you open the server to the internet to use it over mobile data.
Unified Remote pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Unified Remote has a free plan, and paid plans start at $4.99 one-time, per platform.
- Starts at
- $4.99 one-time, per platform
- Free plan
- Free app with 18 essential remotes: mouse, keyboard, media, Wake on LAN and power control, with password protection and encryption.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 18 essential remotes, mouse and keyboard input, Wake on LAN and power control, password protection and encryption. |
| Full | $4.99one-time, per platform (iOS and Android bought separately) | 40+ extra remotes, custom remotes, Screen Viewer, and widgets, voice, NFC and Siri Shortcuts. |
Read from unifiedremote.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Unified Remote before you buy.
Works with
- Spotify
- VLC
- Netflix
- Tasker
- Siri Shortcuts
Unified Remote alternatives
- Unified Remote vs Remote Mouse
Free plan · from $1.49/mo
- Unified Remote vs Jump Desktop
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
- Unified Remote vs Splashtop
Free plan · from $23.99/yr
- Unified Remote vs TeamViewer
Free plan · from $619.99/yr
Common questions
Is Unified Remote open source?
Unified Remote is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.