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In this article, I review the seven best DirecTV universal remote controls for 2024.
DirecTV is arguably the most popular satellite television service on the planet.
Based in El Segundo, California and a subsidiary of AT&T, the satellite television company gives customers a viable alternative to cable services like Fios and Xfinity.
DirecTV has a very loyal fan base of customers, and many of them rave about the service. Very few of them, however, rave about DirecTV’s remote control.
Sadly, it is cheaply made and the controls are quite limited. The remote also adds to the growing pile of remotes you already have for cable TV, audio equipment, Roku, DVR Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc.
Oh, and if it breaks—or you lose it, well, let’s just say you may miss the latest episode of Stranger Things. Fear not! I will have you back online and jumping out of your skin over the Demogorgon ASAP.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Here are the 7 best DirecTV universal remote controls for virtually any budget.” quote=”In this post, I review the 7 best DirecTV universal remote controls for virtually any budget.”]Some of these will allow you to control other devices in your media arsenal. Three of them will also let you control smart home devices and they even work with Alexa.
Do you want the very best universal remote for your DirecTV? Check this out 👉 Logitech Harmony Elite Review: 10 Reasons This Remote Rocks.
7. Under $10: DIRECTV RC73 IR/RF Remote Control Replacment [2 Pack]
Two remotes for under 10 bucks…really?? Really. While there are certainly better options as you will see below, this two-pack of the DirecTV’S official RC73 IR/RF Remote Control, will replace an existing DirecTV remote on the cheap, cheap, cheap.
The best thing about this remote it that it was designed to just work with your DirecTV television. There is no special pairing or setup required. For under $10, this might sound too good to be true. However, customers overwhelmingly give this an excellent rating on Amazon (no doubt for the surprisingly cheap price). You can see the latest Amazon customer reviews and additional specifications at the link below.
This will not work with your other entertainment or smart home devices but rather it will replace your DirecTV factory remote. Note that 2 AAA batteries and not included, but hey what do you want for $10!
6. Also Under $10: DirecTV RC66RX IR / RF Universal Remote Control [2 Pack]
It really is hard to believe that these replacement remotes come so cheap: It’s no wonder they break so easily! LOL. Anyhow, I am also begrudgingly including this replacement model here too.
Again, this will only control your DirecTV not your other devices, so it really isn’t a “universal remote” from that perspective. If you want a better choice for a true universal remote, see the rest of the items in this review.
A few customers have complained about the setup and pairing with a hub for TVs that are not compatible. However, most customers report that the remote “just worked” with their TV. Like with the Coolux, you need to buy your own batteries, so we suggest having them on hand before this arrives.
5. Under $30: Logitech Harmony 350 (Renewed)
While there are better Harmony remotes, this is the least expensive remote in the Harmony line. It will control your DirecTV it will also control the other devices in your entertainment center, including your DVR, soundbar, audio setup, Roku player, AppleTV players, and literally thousands of additional devices. You can check to see if your devices are compatible by searching Harmony’s device database.
The Harmony 350 will not control your smart home devices though. It will also not work with Alexa or Google Assistant or Apple Siri.
I chose the “renewed” version here because it does cost less and customers have had good success with renewed Harmony remotes on Amazon. Why pay more if you don’t have to, right?
4. Under $75: Logitech Harmony Hub
The Logitech Harmony Hub turns your iOS or Android smartphone into a full-featured remote that is 100% compatible with DirecTV. It works with all current DirecTV boxes and many older boxes as well. Additionally, it lets you consolidate remotes for up to eight home entertainment devices, and it also works with Alexa. It will even let you control smart home stuff such as Phillips Hue lights, smart blinds, smart locks, Sonos speakers, and more.
LifeHackster has a nice review and demo of the Harmony Hub’s Alexa features here:
Dig the accent, man.
Best of all, you can program activities like Movie Night. When you press the Movie Night button on your smartphone the Harmony Hub goes to work and fires up all required devices. This might include turning on the TV and soundbar, tuning to Netflix, and dimming your Phillips Hue smart bulbs. The intuitive phone app lets you swipe and tap to control channels, watch movies, and more. As a bonus, you get to set up to 50 of your Favorite channels with colorful display icons. This is a great option if you don’t need a physical remote and don’t mind controlling your DirecTV with your phone.
3. Under $100: Logitech Harmony 650
Next up in our review of the best DirecTV universal remote controls is the Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote Control. This is a great buy if you are looking to control your DirecTV AND consolidate up to to eight existing remotes. The 650 has a bright color screen shows your channel favorite icons plus commands for easy navigation. It also allows for one-touch activity buttons like “Watch DirecTV” to automatically switch the right devices to the right settings. It will not allow you to control your smart home devices, however. You can read our full review of the Harmony 650 vs 700 here. For a great physical smart TV remote control that will let you consolidate remotes, control entertainment devices, plus smart home stuff, see the last two items on our list.
Did you know that you can now control your entire home entertainment experience with your voice? Find out how here 👉 7 Best Universal Remotes with Voice Control
2. Under $200: Logitech Harmony Companion
The Harmony Companion is also compatible with all DirecTV’s. It also includes the Harmony Hub. In addition, it ships with an excellent Harmony hard button remote. It allows you to control up to eight devices and works with Alexa for voice control. The Companion also lets you do everything that the Hub can do. You get the smartphone app to boot! The main difference is that in addition to the smartphone capability, you also get the remote hardware.
Looking for some budget alternates to Harmony remotes? Check this out 👉 9 Best Logitech Harmony Alternatives Right Now
1. Under $300: Logitech Harmony Elite
Rounding out our list of best DirecTV universal remote controls is the Big Papi of universal remote controls. The Logitech Harmony Elite is one of the best universal remote controls you can buy today. You get all of the functionality of the Companion and Hub, plus a beautiful color touchscreen remote that gives you swipe and tab abilities, haptic feedback, and customizable touchscreen buttons for activities.
The Elite also adds seven additional devices for a total of 15 devices that you can control. All Harmony remotes are compatible with Logitech’s database of 275,000 [and growing] devices. Some setup is required. We recommend that you set this up using your PC and not the smartphone option.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell has a great video review of the Harmony Elite here:
You can read my full review of the Harmony Elite right here. A comparison of Harmony Elite versus the Harmony Hub is available here.
Prices of the Logitech Harmony have fallen dramatically in recent weeks due to increasing competition, making this a great time to buy this remote.
DirecTV Universal Remote Controls: What Do You Think?
So what do you think about our picks for your 7 Best DirecTV Universal Remote Controls for 2021?
Do you plan to purchase one of these remotes?
If so, which one? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.
Was this helpful?
I would love to get your feedback on this article.
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Best DirecTV Remotes:
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Tim Brennan is a technology blogger and hosts the @TecTimmy YouTube channel. He writes about smart homes at oneSmartcrib, home theaters at UniversalRemoteReviews, and AI in writing at Writeinteractive. A graduate of Northeastern University School of Journalism, he has written about technology for 30 years. Tim lives on the ocean in Nahant, Massachusetts.
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