Yes—cheap third-party wireless remotes can work well, but the trade-offs are usually build quality, consistency, and sometimes response lag.

From user experience shared here, third-party units such as Phottix, Hähnel, and Pixel can be perfectly usable on pro Canon/Nikon bodies. Some include both wireless and wired operation, and higher-feature models may add timer, bulb, delay, and interval shooting functions.

The main downside versus first-party gear is quality control and ruggedness. One user reported needing a minor adjustment to get a reliable connector fit, and another noted slightly more lag than with Canon’s own remote. These issues may be acceptable for casual use but are worth considering if you need absolute reliability for professional work.

So the practical summary is:

• pros: much lower cost, often good functionality, sometimes wired + wireless in one kit
• cons: less robust construction, possible connector/fit issues, possible extra lag, less confidence for critical jobs

If wired backup and advanced timing features matter, some third-party models offer those and may be a better value than the simplest cheap remotes.