Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is mentioned below. Facts about other products were checked on their makers' own sites on 10 October 2026 and can change — confirm before you buy.
Unified Remote has been the default answer to "how do I control my PC from my phone" for years: a server on the computer, an app on the phone, and a remote for nearly everything. It's still a good choice. People look elsewhere when they want something free without a per-platform purchase, something with less to navigate, or a remote that doesn't need an app installed on every phone in the house.
Unified Remote, briefly
- Free: 18 essential remotes, mouse and keyboard, media control, Wake-on-LAN and power, password and encryption.
- Full (one-time, per platform): the premium remotes, custom remotes, Screen Viewer, widgets, voice control, NFC and Siri shortcuts.
- Connects by: Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth on Windows.
The alternatives
- KDE Connect — free and open source. Trackpad and keyboard, media control, custom commands, file and clipboard sharing. Strongest on Linux and Android; Windows and macOS builds exist.
- Remote Mouse — focused on the trackpad and keyboard, with a gyroscope air mouse and media panels. Free download with paid extras.
- Chrome Remote Desktop — free; shows and controls the whole screen, including away from home. Fiddly from the sofa.
- SofaDeck (ours) — big labeled buttons and a voice remote in the phone's browser; no app on the phone. Free page of 12 buttons; Pro $9.99 once.
For a feature-by-feature table of these, see PC remote apps compared.
Trackpad remote or button remote?
Unified Remote, KDE Connect and Remote Mouse put a trackpad on your phone, which is right when you need to click arbitrary things. SofaDeck takes the other approach: you decide the dozen things you actually do — pause, volume, open Netflix, full screen, sleep — and each gets a big button you can hit without looking, or a voice command. On a TV across the room, that's usually faster than steering a pointer. If you need both, run both: they don't conflict.
Moving from Unified Remote to SofaDeck
- Note the remotes you actually use — most people use two or three.
- Install SofaDeck, scan the QR code and enter the PIN.
- Recreate those remotes as buttons: media play/pause, previous, next, volume, mute; launch buttons for your apps; keys like F11 and Escape.
- Use voice for the rest:
open Spotify
,volume 20
,lofi beats on YouTube
. - Optional: add the deck to your phone's home screen so it opens like an app.
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/getRelated: the best HTPC remote, PC media remote and use your phone as a mouse and keyboard.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is Unified Remote free?
There's a free version with 18 essential remotes, mouse/keyboard/media control, Wake-on-LAN and power control, and password protection with encryption. The Full version is a one-time purchase per phone platform and unlocks the premium remotes, custom remotes, Screen Viewer, widgets and voice control.
Is Unified Remote safe?
Unified Remote's server offers password protection and encryption. As with any remote-control server, turn the password on, keep the server updated, only allow it on private networks in your firewall, and never expose its port to the internet.
What's a Unified Remote alternative with no phone app?
SofaDeck runs in the phone's browser after a QR scan and PIN. Chrome Remote Desktop also works in a browser, but it shows the whole screen rather than a remote.