Report updated May 13, 2026
VLC Remote
For vLC Media Player users who want to control their desktop or laptop media playback from a mobile device while away from their computer.
VLC Remote is an established entertainment app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 3.5/5 rating from 5.9K reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate setup simplicity, though connectivity issues remains a common concern.
What is VLC Remote?
VLC Remote is a media control utility for iOS and Android that enables mobile-based management of VLC Media Player on desktop platforms.
Users hire this app to bridge the gap between desktop-bound media files and living-room comfort, removing the need for physical mouse interaction during playback.
Current Momentum
v10.70 · 9mo ago
Maintenance- Ships theme color selection updates.
- Improved search bar keyboard dismissal.
- Fixed skip distance selection menu.
Active Nemesis
Official Kodi Remote
By Kodi Foundation
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
EntertainmentNo ranking data
Rating Pulse 🇺🇸
Recent User MoodAI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Remote navigation and selection of media files stored on the host computer
Scans local network to identify and connect to active VLC instances
Standard transport controls including play, pause, stop, volume, and track navigation
How much does it cost?
- Free version with ads and limited browsing
- Annual subscription for full command access and unlimited device browsing
Freemium model uses file browsing as the primary feature gate to drive annual subscription conversion.
Who Built It?
Hobbyist Software
Bridging the gap between desktop environments and mobile devices through specialized remote control and system utilities.
Portfolio
13
Apps
Who is Hobbyist Software?
Hobbyist Software Limited has established a durable niche as a 'bridge' developer, focusing on cross-platform utilities that extend desktop functionality—specifically VLC Media Player and macOS—to mobile interfaces. Their strategic advantage lies in their early entry and long-term maintenance of the VLC remote ecosystem, creating a moat based on technical reliability rather than aggressive user acquisition. While the portfolio contains a high number of legacy titles, the publisher remains active in modernizing its core desktop-to-mobile streaming and automation tools.
Who is Hobbyist Software for?
- Desktop power users
- Media enthusiasts seeking remote control
- File management
- Or macOS system customization tools
Portfolio momentum
Maintains a core set of 7 active apps with 5 updates released in the last 6 months, focusing on established utility and entertainment titles.
What other apps does Hobbyist Software make?
What do users think recently?
Medium confidence · Latest 100 of 5.9K total reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate setup simplicity, but report connectivity issues.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
What is the competitive landscape for VLC Remote?
How's The Entertainment Market?
Market outlook for this category
Available very soon
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
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Official status provides deep API access to Kodi metadata that third-party apps cannot replicate.
- -
Maintains a massive, loyal user base through direct association with the open-source media center project.
Contenders
Emby
★3.6 (8K)Emby Media
🚀Directly competes for the media server remote control audience with a more modern, feature-rich ecosystem approach.
Offers a comprehensive media server experience that goes beyond simple remote control functionality.
High release velocity with six updates in six months ensures rapid adaptation to new OS features.
Peers
Delivers full-screen desktop mirroring and control, far exceeding the limited media-playback controls of the target.
Enterprise-grade security and cross-platform infrastructure create a significant barrier to entry for smaller developers.
Provides native playback capabilities on the mobile device, reducing the need for a separate remote control app.
Leverages the trusted VideoLAN brand to capture users looking for a comprehensive VLC mobile solution.
Plex: Find Movies and TV Shows
★4.6 (137.3K)Plex Inc.
⚡Represents the gold standard for media management, often rendering simple remote apps redundant for its users.
Integrates content discovery and streaming services directly into the remote control interface for a unified experience.
Aggressive update cadence with twelve releases in six months keeps the platform ahead of OS changes.
RemotePC Remote Desktop
★3.4 (54.6K)IDrive Incorporated
⚡Targets the productivity-focused remote desktop market, offering a robust alternative for general PC management.
Focuses on secure, persistent remote desktop access rather than transient media playback control.
Frequent updates and professional support infrastructure cater to business users rather than casual media consumers.
New Kids on the Block
Remote Mouse & Keyboard
★4.7 (59)ROXFERT OU
A recent market entrant focusing on input-device emulation, providing a specialized alternative to media-specific remotes.
Optimizes the mobile interface specifically for trackpad and keyboard input rather than media playback controls.
Targets users who need to control desktop applications beyond just media players, expanding the addressable use case.
The outtake for VLC Remote
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- 22-language translation support functions as a global distribution barrier
- Network auto-discovery reduces setup friction for new users
Critical Frictions
- 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap on majority Android base
- No major feature updates on iOS since 2021
Growth Levers
- Wearable integration untapped as a differentiator against desktop-only remotes
- B2B partnerships with media-center hardware providers
Market Threats
- Plex unified media management rendering simple remotes redundant
- Emby's six-release cadence outpacing maintenance-mode update schedules
What are the next best moves?
Audit Android connectivity logic because the 3.36 rating signals high churn → stabilize the Android user base
The rating gap between iOS and Android indicates a platform-specific technical failure.
Trade-off: Pause the iOS theme color updates — Android stability is the primary retention risk.
Ship wearable control support because it is a missing differentiator → capture the living-room convenience segment
Competitors like Plex and Kodi are moving toward integrated experiences; wearables extend the remote-control use case.
Trade-off: Deprioritize the search bar refinement — wearable utility provides higher competitive differentiation.
A counter-intuitive read
The app's maintenance-mode status is a strategic choice that avoids the feature-bloat of competitors like Plex, allowing it to serve a niche of users who prefer a dedicated, simple remote.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Unified content discovery (available in Plex but absent here)
- Full-screen desktop mirroring (available in TeamViewer but absent here)
Key Takeaways
VLC Remote retains value through its specialized focus on VLC control, but the lack of recent iOS updates and Android connectivity issues threaten its longevity, so the team must prioritize platform stability over minor UI tweaks to prevent further churn.
Where Is It Heading?
Mixed Signals
The media-remote market is consolidating around unified platforms that offer content discovery alongside control, leaving specialized apps like VLC Remote exposed. Without a shift toward modernizing the core connection logic, the app will likely see continued erosion of its Android user base as competitors with higher release velocities capture the market.
The lack of iOS updates since 2021 suggests a maintenance-only posture, which limits the app's ability to compete with high-cadence rivals.
Android connectivity complaints drive a 3.36 rating, creating a churn loop that prevents the app from scaling its user base.