What is the best app to use my phone as a remote for my PC?
It depends on what you want to control. For big buttons and voice with nothing to install on the phone, SofaDeck (our app). For ready-made remotes for many programs, Unified Remote. For a free open-source trackpad and file sharing, KDE Connect. For the whole screen, including away from home, Chrome Remote Desktop. For deep streaming panels, Touch Portal or Stream Deck Mobile.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, so read this as the maker's comparison. Facts about Unified Remote, KDE Connect, Remote Mouse, Google, Touch Portal or Elgato were checked on their makers' own sites on 10 October 2026 and can change; confirm prices and features there before you buy. SofaDeck is not affiliated with or endorsed by Unified Remote, KDE Connect, Remote Mouse, Google, Touch Portal or Elgato. All trademarks belong to their owners.
"Best" depends on the job. A remote for the PC under the TV, a trackpad for a laptop across the room, and a streaming control panel are three different problems, and the app that's best at one is rarely best at the others. Below are the picks by job, a table to compare them, and a short note on each. We make SofaDeck and include it, marked as ours; there are no paid placements on this page.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | On the phone | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SofaDeck (ours) | Couch remote: big labeled buttons, trackpad and voice | Browser, no app | Free; Pro $9.99 once |
| Unified Remote | Ready-made remotes for many programs | App | Free; Full is a one-time purchase per platform |
| KDE Connect | Trackpad, files and clipboard, open source | App | Free |
| Remote Mouse | The nicest trackpad and keyboard | App | Free download, paid extras |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | The whole screen, including away from home | App or browser | Free |
| Touch Portal | Deep streaming and plugin panels | App | Free 4×2 grid; Pro one-time |
Facts about other apps checked on their makers' sites on 10 October 2026.
Best no-app couch remote: SofaDeck (ours)
SofaDeck runs on a Windows PC or Mac and serves a grid of big labeled buttons to the phone's browser: scan the QR code, type the PIN, done. Launch apps and websites, play/pause, set the volume, press keys, run macros (Pro), and tap the mic to say volume 30
or open Netflix
. On Windows the free version also has a trackpad and keyboard, file sending and live PC stats. It is LAN-only, with no account and no cloud relay.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getBest for ready-made remotes: Unified Remote
A phone app with remotes for many programs, a trackpad, Wake-on-LAN and power controls; the server runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Raspberry Pi. Free with 18 remotes; the Full version (one-time, per phone platform) adds premium and custom remotes and voice. Compared in detail: SofaDeck vs Unified Remote.
Best free open-source option: KDE Connect
Trackpad and keyboard, media control, custom commands, and file and clipboard sharing, free and open source. It is strongest on Linux and Android; Windows and macOS builds exist.
Best trackpad: Remote Mouse
Focused on the pointer and keyboard, with gestures and a gyroscope air mouse. Free to download with paid extras. See Unified Remote vs Remote Mouse.
Best for the whole screen and away from home: Chrome Remote Desktop
Free, and it shows and controls the entire screen from anywhere with an internet connection. It's the right tool for fixing something on the PC while you're out; from the sofa, steering a desktop on a small phone screen is slower than tapping a button.
Best for deep streaming panels: Touch Portal (or Stream Deck Mobile)
Touch Portal's states, events and plugins make it the tool for elaborate panels on a tablet; Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile fits people who already use Stream Deck software. See SofaDeck vs Touch Portal and Stream Deck Mobile vs SofaDeck.
How to choose in one minute
- Need to reach the PC from outside the house? Remote desktop.
- Mostly moving a pointer and typing? A trackpad app (Remote Mouse, KDE Connect, or SofaDeck's trackpad on Windows).
- Doing the same dozen things from the couch? A button remote with voice (SofaDeck).
- Running a stream with plugins and live states? Touch Portal or Stream Deck.
For a feature-by-feature table see PC remote apps compared, and for setup steps how to control your PC from your phone.
Sources
- Unified Remote — features
- KDE Connect
- Remote Mouse
- Chrome Remote Desktop
- Touch Portal — what is the Pro upgrade
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free phone remote for PC with no app on the phone?
Yes. SofaDeck opens in the phone's browser after a QR scan and PIN; its free version has one page of 12 buttons, a trackpad (Windows) and a voice remote. Chrome Remote Desktop also runs in a browser but shows the whole screen rather than remote buttons.
Which phone remote works with iPhone?
SofaDeck uses Safari on the iPhone, so nothing is installed. Unified Remote, Touch Portal and Stream Deck Mobile have iPhone apps. Check each maker's site for the current iPhone feature list, which can differ from Android.
Can I control my PC from my phone away from home?
Use a remote desktop tool such as Chrome Remote Desktop or Windows App for that. Button remotes like SofaDeck are LAN-only by design and need the phone on the same network as the PC.