Best Universal Remote 2026: Life After Harmony
Logitech killed Harmony, leaving a gap for one-tap activity remotes. Here are the real replacements that still power on the whole rack with a single button.
For a decade, the answer to "what universal remote should I buy" was simply "a Logitech Harmony." Then Logitech discontinued the line in 2021 and wound down the supporting software in 2025, orphaning the remotes that made a home theater feel effortless. The good news for 2026 is that a clear successor has emerged.
Quick answer
The best Harmony replacement in 2026 is the SofaBaton line, because it is the only mainstream brand that still does one-tap Activity macros across multiple devices. Buy the SofaBaton X2 or X1S if you want a true Harmony Elite replacement with a hub for IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi control of hidden gear, or the SofaBaton U2 (around 15 devices) for a typical living room. Skip IR-only budget remotes unless your setup is simple and everything sits in the open.
Key takeaways
- Logitech Harmony is dead: production stopped in 2021 and the cloud software that programmed the remotes shut down in 2025.
- SofaBaton is now the consensus replacement, offering the one-tap Activity macros Harmony owners miss.
- The SofaBaton X2 and X1S are the closest true Harmony replacements, with a hub for IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi control.
- The SofaBaton U2 is the mid-range pick for around 15 devices, comparable to the old Harmony Companion.
- Budget IR-only remotes like the Inteset cover simpler setups without activities.
Why Harmony's death matters
The genius of Harmony was never the remote itself; it was Activities. Press "Watch Movie" and the remote powered on the TV, flipped the soundbar on, switched to the right HDMI input, and handed navigation to the streaming box, all in one tap. That orchestration is what turned a coffee table full of remotes into a single button.
When Logitech shut down the Harmony software, existing remotes kept working but could no longer be reprogrammed, and there were no new units. That left a real hole in the market, because almost nothing else did one-tap activities as cleanly.
The consensus replacement: SofaBaton
SofaBaton has stepped into the gap and is now the brand Harmony refugees point each other toward. Crucially, it replicates the Activity concept: macros that fire a sequence of commands across multiple devices from a single press.
- SofaBaton X2: The closest thing to a true Harmony Elite replacement. One-touch activities behave as Harmony users expect, powering on the TV, switching inputs, setting soundbar volume, and handing control to the streaming box in a single tap. It includes a hub so it can control gear over IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, even devices hidden in a cabinet.
- SofaBaton X1S: The other top-tier pick, driving up to around 60 devices through its included hub and running one-touch Activity macros, the feature most former Harmony Elite owners care about.
Note
A hub matters more than people expect. Infrared needs line of sight, so an IR-only remote cannot control a console or streaming box tucked inside a closed media cabinet. A hub adds Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control so hidden gear still responds.
The mid-range and budget options
Not everyone needs to control sixty devices.
- SofaBaton U2: The best balance of features and value for most people. It supports up to about 15 devices, programmed easily through the SofaBaton app, and lands roughly where the old Harmony Companion sat. For a typical living room of TV, soundbar, streaming box, and console, it is plenty.
- Inteset 4-in-1: A budget IR remote for simpler setups. It controls basic IR devices like TVs, set-top boxes, and players without the activity orchestration, but at a fraction of the price. Good when you just want one remote for the basics.
Here is how the main picks stack up so you can match one to your rack:
| Remote | Best for | Device limit | Hub | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SofaBaton X1S | Large, complex AV racks | Around 60 | Yes (IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) | Yes |
| SofaBaton X2 | Closest Harmony Elite replacement | Around 15 to 60 | Yes (IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) | Yes |
| SofaBaton U2 | Typical living room (the value pick) | Around 15 | No (IR plus app) | Yes |
| Inteset 4-in-1 | Simple IR-only setups on a budget | 4 | No | No |
What to look for when choosing
When you compare options, weigh these factors:
- Activities / macros: The headline feature. If you want one tap to start a whole watching session, this is non-negotiable.
- Hub vs IR-only: A hub controls hidden and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi devices; IR-only needs line of sight.
- Device limit: Count your real gear (TV, soundbar, receiver, streaming box, console) and pick a remote that exceeds it.
- App programming: Setup happens in a phone app, so check that it supports your specific devices.
- Build and battery: Rechargeable batteries and a comfortable layout matter for something you hold every day.
Where a universal remote fits
A good universal remote shines when your setup has multiple boxes that need coordinating. If your pain point is just that the TV remote will not control the soundbar, you may not even need a universal remote; that is usually an HDMI-CEC handshake issue, and our soundbar HDMI-CEC fix covers it. But for a rack with a receiver, players, and consoles, an activity remote is still the cleanest way to drive it all. If you are building that rack out, our AV receiver vs soundbar guide covers the centerpiece a universal remote then ties together.
Frequently asked questions
Is Logitech Harmony discontinued?
Yes. Logitech stopped making Harmony remotes in 2021 and shut down the cloud software that programmed them in 2025. Existing units may still work but can no longer be reprogrammed or set up fresh.
What is the best Harmony replacement in 2026?
SofaBaton is the consensus choice. The X2 and X1S are the closest true Harmony replacements, offering one-tap Activity macros and a hub for IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi control. The U2 is the value pick for smaller setups.
Do I need a hub with my universal remote?
You do if any of your devices are hidden in a cabinet or use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi rather than infrared. A hub removes the line-of-sight requirement so it can control gear behind closed doors. IR-only remotes need a clear path.
What is an Activity on a universal remote?
An Activity is a macro that fires a sequence of commands across several devices with one button press, such as turning on the TV, switching the input, and powering the soundbar. It is the feature that made Harmony popular and that SofaBaton replicates.
