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In this post, I explore the 11 best Logitech Harmony alternatives that you can get right now.
So as to not keep you in suspense, my top picks for Harmony alternatives are:
- #1 – Most Harmony-Like: Sofabaton X1
- #2 – Best App and Hub: Broadlink RM4 Pro
- #3 – Highly Rated: Sofabaton U1
- #4 – Best Voice Control: Fire TV Cube
- #5 – Budget Option: Inteset 4-in-1
- #6 – Best Add-On: Side-Click Remote
- #7 – Best for Gearheads: MX-990
We’ll also take a look at a few high-end options that require a systems integrator. Plus, I’ll tell you about a promising new remote that hasn’t hit the market quite yet.
But first, let me set the stage.
The Best Replacements for Harmony
Let, me start by saying there is no such thing as a perfect universal remote.
I’ll say it again: there is no such thing as the perfect universal remote. It doesn’t exist, never did—like unicorns and fairy dust.
After many years of development, Logitech Harmony came close… but many customers still complained about difficulty with setup, especially for the higher-end models like Elite and Companion.
Now, since Logitech announced last year that its popular line of Harmony remotes is being discontinued, several of you have reached out asking for recommendations about alternatives.
I’ve been a bit mystified as to why Harmony discontinued the line in the first place. According to the recent Smart Remotes Segment Study by Statista, the firm expects a steady growth rate of 5.94% CAGR year over year well into the future. I can’t help but wonder if the remotes were more trouble than they are worth from a support standpoint.
Ok, enough ranting about Harmony for now.
In this article, I provide a thorough analysis of some competing remotes along with the pros and cons. I will also give you my top picks for Harmony alternatives based on ease of use, ease of setup, ratings from several sources, and functionality.
Harmony Alternates Comparison Table
The following comparison table shows my top choices for the best Logitech Harmony alternatives side by side.
Last update on 09/28/2022 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#1 – Most Harmony-Like: Sofabaton X1
Brand new this year, the Sofabaton X1 Universal Remote comes closer to the Harmony paradigm than others on my list of best Logitech Harmony alternatives.
It is a powerful and easy-to-use remote control that supports IR & Bluetooth & Wireless devices. Similar to Harmony, one-click Activities let you select an activity such as “Watch Movie” to automatically turn on the power and switch the device to the correct input. While there is no docking station, the battery life is nothing short of amazing at three months. The customized APP Control with a Find Lost Remote feature makes it easy to locate your remote when it slides down into the bowels of your easy chair. Alexa integration was just added, and they are working on Google.
Here is my new-in-the-box X1.
My Sofabaton X1 Universal Remote
I am looking forward to getting under the hood and testing this. I will report back here very soon.
*Note: Based on my research, some earlier negative reviews on the first release version of the product brought down the overall rating. Most of the serious bugs have been addressed in recent weeks, and Sofabaton is continuing to upgrade the app and Hub.
Pros
Cons
Video Review
Here’s an unboxing I did of the x1 over on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe for more on all things tech.
#2 – Best App and Hub: Broadlink RM4 Pro
Broadlink even provides support for IFTTT (if this then that ) recipes allowing you to truly automate certain tasks, like turning on the lights at dusk, arming an alarm when you leave home, turning on an A/C unit when a room reaches a certain temperature or turning on the morning news shortly after you get out of bed. This is a bit tricky to set up for the less technical set but offers a lot of value for very little money.
Pros
Cons
Paul Hibbert gives his usual bang-up review of this hub. Ooh, the Zigbee!!
#3 – Highly Rated: Sofabaton U1
However, you can control both IR and Bluetooth devices with Sofabaton, and the device support is quite broad as well. The company claims its remote is compatible with 350,000 devices. I’m not wild about the look of the LCD compared to the others here, but it is also less money.
If you are looking for a well-rated functional universal remote and have a limited budget, the Sofabaton may be worth a look.
Pros
Cons
📚 Related: Sofabaton X1 vs U1: How They Measure Up
#4 – Best Voice Control: Fire TV Cube
I absolutely love my Fire TV Cube and I use my Harmony Elite remote far less since I bought this. Fire TV has become my go-to streaming service because of this device. I am currently using it as my launchpad for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Can literally just say to Alexa “Watch Mr. Beast on YouTube, and she opens up YouTube to Mr. Beast’s channel. If I say, “Alexa, Show me, Agents of Shield on Netflix,” she will open to the last episode I left off on in my Netflix account.
Very cool.
You can also use many of the smart home features of Alexa using the Cube. For example, you can dim lights and lower blinds, get news and weather updates right on the TV screen, and a whole lot more. It will be interesting to see if devices like this will ultimately replace physical remotes in the long term.
Not a substitute for a traditional remote, yet, but close….real close.
Pros
Cons
Video Review
Here is an unboxing that I did of my Fire TV Cube over on my YouTube channel.
#5 – Budget Option: Inteset 4-in-1
The Inteset 4-in-1 universal remote is a great budget remote if you looking to primarily control your entertainment experience. It will only do IR, but it does it well. All of the buttons are backlit (LED), and you can use it to control your favorite streaming devices like Apple TV and Roku, and Nvidia Shield, as well as many other A/V devices.
It will not control your smart home, however. And there is no voice control support with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Pros
Cons
#6 – Best Add-On: Side-Click Remote
The model of the Sideclick remote you buy is going to depend on your streaming media player. The name of this remote gives away what it does in terms of functionality. Sideclick was designed as an add-on to your existing remotes, giving them added functionality. Currently, there are models for Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Fire TV.
While this is not a direct universal remote, I still wanted it on my list of Logitech Harmony alternatives as you can use it to upgrade your existing streaming remotes.
Pros
Cons
Sideclick Remotes By Streaming Device
Last update on 09/28/2022 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#7 – Best for Gearheads: MX-990
The MX-990 also boasts compatibility with over 220,000 devices from 5,000 brands and six unique programmable buttons to make switching between modes easy. The remote feels solid in the hand, and the button layout is probably the best among all of the remotes that I have tested, including Harmony. The only drawback to this remote is that it requires a technical versed in the MX-990’S proprietary software in order to program the remote for your devices. This is not a DIY option, and that is not really clear from Amazon’s sales page.
Pros
Cons
#8 – Best Luxury Remote: Creston TSR-310
The TSR-310 Universal Remote Control from Creston is a sleek universal remote for the tech-savvy set looking for whole-home control.
The remote itself features a beautiful color LCD touchscreen. It also has integrated AV control, and customizable favorites, and it will even control your smart thermostat, lighting, and shades. So what’s the catch? This is not a DIY solution. The company requires that you subscribe to the Creston smart home ecosystem in order to fully leverage this remote. This includes having to pay a custom installer to set it up. If you’re looking for an advanced but expensive universal remote, the TSR-310 may be worth a look.
Pros
Cons
#9 – Luxury Runner Up: Savant Pro Remote X2
Next on my list of Harmony alternatives is this gem from Savant. The Savant Pro Remote X2 is the ultimate home automation control. Intelligent and beautiful, this is luxury control at its finest – just make sure you pick your favorite color! The remote is available in Space Gray, Jet Black, and Rose Gold.
I absolutely love the design of this remote. Unfortunately, it also falls into a similar class as Creston, requiring you to subscribe to Savant’s smart home system. Like Creston, it also requires a tech to come to your home to install the remote.
Key features include a color Apple Homekit-enabled LCD touch screen, voice commands via Siri, and the ability to create personalized remotes for household members. The X2s snazzy full-screen layouts can be customized as needed. And don’t worry about kids getting into mischief because there’s an optional pin protection feature that you use to childproof the remote. This is the ultimate solution for anyone subscribing to the Apple smart home.
Pros
Cons
TYM Smart Homes & Home Theaters does a nice job with this video review and demo of the Savant Pro X2 in under three minutes:
#10 – Another High-End Runner-Up: Neeo
I first tested the Neeo DIY remote a couple of years back, shortly after it just came out of Kickstarter funding. At the time, the remote really wasn’t ready for prime time. The setup process was overly complex and I don’t think I ever managed to get it working, so I reverted back to my Harmony Elite remote. Fast forward to today, and Control 4’s not-to-long ago acquisition of Neeo means that there is no longer a DIY option for this remote.
Like Creston and Savant, Control 4 requires that you subscribe to their smart home ecosystem in order to for the remote to work with your devices. This means that Control 4 handles the setup and configuration of your devices for you. It also means that this is a pricey option as well.
Pros
Cons
#11 – Bonus – One to Watch: Yio Remote 2
Rounding out my list of Logitech Harmony alternatives is a remote that is not yet available to the general public. However, the company does claim that it will be available this summer.
Kickstarter upstart Yio has plans to release a remote later this summer that is based on its “build it yourself” kit that it was selling through the Kickstarter website in return for donations. While not yet available, I wanted to include it on my list as this looks like a very promising product. No word yet as to exact availability and pricing, but there is a bit more info on the Yio sales page here.
This is a pretty slick-looking remote that seems to have all of the bells and whistles of the larger players. Hopefully, the company will make it available as an affordable DIY option that the market needs so badly right now with the departure of Harmony.
I plan to buy this and do a full review as soon as it is released.
Best Logitech Harmony Alternatives – Over to You
So what do you think about my picks for the best Logitech Harmony alternatives?
Were you as sad as I was when Logitech announced it is going to stop manufacturing Harmony remotes?
While the custom high-end systems listed here are pricey, it is pretty amazing what they can do to control your smart home as well as your entertainment devices.
There are still some neat DIY options too. My favorite new toy right now is the Amazon Fire TV Cube. Please let me a comment below and let me know your thoughts about your favorites or the future of universal remotes. Until next time, live long and prosper.
Also, if you are looking for a remote for your specific brand of TV, check out these posts I wrote on the best remotes for Emerson TVs, the best remotes for Element TVs, and the best remotes for Philips TVs. I cover just about every TV brand in this blog, so you can always use the search function in the header to locate recommendations for your specific TV brand. Cheers.
