· Firestick.io Team · Deals · 6 min read
Roku TVs Owners Can Now Get a New Larger & Easier to Use Remote At Its Lowest Price Ever of Just $16.99
A third-party Roku TV remote just dropped to $16.99 — its lowest price ever. But it won't work on Fire TV. Here's what Fire TV users actually need to know about their own remote options.
A new third-party replacement remote designed for Roku TVs just hit $16.99 — reportedly its lowest price ever. Cheap remotes are always worth a look, and it’s a solid deal if you’re on Team Roku. But if you landed here because your Firestick remote is giving you grief? I’ve got bad news and good news. Bad news: that Roku remote won’t do a thing on your Fire TV. Good news: you’ve got options — including a free one you might not know about.
The $16.99 Roku TV remote is a third-party replacement designed exclusively for Roku TVs — it is not compatible with Amazon Fire TV or Firestick devices. If you need a remote solution for your Firestick, the free Amazon Fire TV Remote app works on any iOS or Android phone, or you can pick up an official Amazon replacement remote directly from Amazon. Both options work without any extra setup hassle.
Why This Roku Deal Doesn’t Help Fire TV Users
The $16.99 remote that’s been making the rounds is a third-party replacement designed only for Roku TVs. Roku and Amazon Fire TV run entirely different operating systems and use different infrared and wireless protocols for their remotes. A Roku remote — even a good one at a great price — is a paperweight on a Firestick.
This isn’t a knock on the deal itself. For Roku owners, $16.99 for a larger, easier-to-grip replacement remote is genuinely good value. But if you’re here because your Fire TV remote stopped working, got lost behind the couch, or you just want a better experience, you need Fire TV-specific solutions.
What Fire TV Users Should Do Instead
Here’s what actually works when your Firestick remote situation goes sideways.
Option 1: The Free Fire TV Remote App
Amazon’s own Fire TV Remote app — available for both iOS and Android — turns your phone into a full-featured Firestick remote. It uses your home Wi-Fi, so there’s no pairing required beyond being on the same network as your Fire TV. Navigation, voice search, the whole deal. It’s free, it works, and it’s the first thing I recommend to anyone whose physical remote gives out.
The catch: your phone needs to be charged and in reach. But as a backup? Unbeatable price.
Option 2: Official Amazon Replacement Remotes
Amazon sells official replacement remotes for Fire TV devices directly through the Amazon store. These are the real deal — same functionality as what came in the box, and they pair in seconds. Pricing varies by model (standard vs. enhanced with TV controls), so check the current listing for whatever generation Firestick you’re running.
If you’ve lost your remote or it’s genuinely broken — not just out of battery — this is the cleanest fix.
Option 3: HDMI-CEC / Your TV Remote
Depending on your TV, you might already have a backup remote you haven’t tried. Most modern TVs support HDMI-CEC, which lets your TV’s own remote control basic Fire TV navigation — volume, directional pad, select, back. It won’t give you Alexa or microphone features, but it’ll get you through a setup screen in a pinch.
On most Fire TV devices, HDMI-CEC is enabled by default. If yours isn’t responding, go to Settings → Display & Sounds → HDMI CEC Device Control and toggle it on.
Fire TV Remote App
- Free on iOS and Android — no purchase required
- Works over Wi-Fi — no line of sight needed
- Includes voice search and keyboard input
- Pairs automatically if you’re on the same network
✓ Pros
- Completely free — no hardware cost
- Voice search works just like the physical remote
- Keyboard input makes typing passwords dramatically less painful
- No pairing process — connects via local Wi-Fi automatically
✕ Cons
- Requires a charged phone within reach
- Slight input lag compared to the physical remote
- Won't work if your Wi-Fi is down
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→The Bigger Picture: Fire TV vs. Roku Remotes
This whole situation is a good reminder of something worth understanding: Fire TV and Roku are fundamentally separate ecosystems. Accessories, remotes, and even some apps don’t cross over. If you’re deciding between the two platforms — or trying to figure out which is the better fit — we’ve done a full side-by-side breakdown.
For a deep dive on how the platforms actually compare in day-to-day use, check out our Firestick vs Roku vs Chromecast comparison.
If your Fire TV remote is giving you trouble beyond just being lost — not pairing, buttons not responding, or the device not seeing it — we’ve got a dedicated troubleshooting guide at Firestick Remote Not Working that covers every fix I’ve actually used.
And if you want to see the full landscape of third-party remote apps and accessories purpose-built for Fire TV, the Best Firestick Remote Apps roundup covers five tested options ranked by how well they actually work from the couch.
Bottom Line
The $16.99 Roku TV remote is a legitimately good deal — for Roku TV owners. If that’s not you, file it under “interesting but irrelevant” and focus on what works for Fire TV: the free Amazon Fire TV Remote app is the fastest fix with zero cost, and an official Amazon replacement remote is the cleanest hardware solution if you need a physical option.
Don’t buy a Roku remote hoping it’ll work. It won’t.
Explore Unify IPTV for Firestick
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Last updated: March 2026
