# SmartCast TV Remote Control. — user reviews > 55 indexed App Store user reviews of SmartCast TV Remote Control. by Phuong Le, rated 4.55/5 from 18,923 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcast-tv-remote-control/id1585471219/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcast-tv-remote-control/id1585471219.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 15,359 · 4★ 1,335 · 3★ 677 · 2★ 286 · 1★ 1,264 ## What do users think of SmartCast TV Remote Control.? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Works great as a remote - 👍 Convenient for lost remotes - 👍 Easy to set up and use **Cons** - 💰 Paid app with limited free features - 🔁 Frequent prompts to upgrade to premium - 🐛 Connectivity issues, app not working as expected **Commonly reported bugs** - App freezing or crashing - Inability to connect to TV - Unexpected behavior after updates **Most requested features** - Free or trial version - More customization options - Improved compatibility with different TV models ## Newest reviews (11 of 55) ### 2/5 — Needs to be free to use or 7day trial *2023-07-23* Its annoying when apps that should be free are instead have a system that forces you to pay for something that you already bought honestly if i have to pay to hundreds of bucks for a tv atleast make the app free to use for users of tv. Also im only trying to use this cause we had guest over who lost our tv remote and im not trying to look for it at 4:00am in the the morning so please make it free or a 3-7 day trial 🙏 ### 2/5 — Paid for it now not working *2023-02-24, version 2.0* Been using for a long time. Most of the features worked so I was happy enough and paid for the app no problem. Now it’s not working. Did the developer give up on updates and bug fixes? I can’t adjust volume or use any shortcut or menu items anymore. ### 4/5 — Glitches but still useful *2023-01-13, version 2.0* I have to uninstall it and reinstall it to get to it to connect with my tv occasionally. I’m on fiber, so I don’t think it’s a network connectivity issue. Still a good enough app for controlling your smart tv ### 4/5 — So far so good *2022-11-26, version 2.0* Last time I used this app it stopped working with my tv after a while. However I bought the premium this time and it’s working really well so far. 4 stars only bc it lags a little and my previous experience. ### 3/5 — Not the best, I deleted the app *2022-11-24, version 2.0* Whenever I click a button ANY button it asks me to buy premium. I’t is just annoying, so whenever I want to change the “Channel” to Watch free, or air play, or smart cast I have to get up and do it and I also have to get up and turn on/turn off the TV and to change the volume?! ### 3/5 — The Premium pop-up *2022-11-22, version 2.0* “UPGRADE” is spelled as “UPRADE” on the always there pop for PREMIUM that I don’t even understand what I am getting? $9.99 for no ads - ads on the app, ads in the daily circular, ads on the Smartcast? “Thrown me a freakin bone”. Oh, it will never ever pair to you Soundbar so don’t try. PS: if you’re hiring, I’ll tell you everything is consumers hate. ### 3/5 — Tried to get a refund right after install *2022-11-18, version 2.0* For Wi-Fi only, my Vizio is Ethernet connected. Went to request a refund right away but was unable to. Vizio does not allow Wi-Fi once Ethernet is connected. You can’t just switch between the 2. Giving 3 stars as I could not use it and due to no refund. ### 5/5 — Works great *2022-11-02, version 2.0* I have a Ruku tv and I didn’t feel like getting batteries for the remote then I got this app after trying 6 others. It great it’s like an actual remote and work amazing! ### 2/5 — Premium option keeps popping up *2022-11-01, version 2.0* At first it was working well, but after a few clicks whenever I pressed the ok button or really any button It would ask me to pay for premium. And I can’t press any button now at all because it keeps asking me for the premium option. Even when it asks me to pay for premium it also gives me adds to watch when I can’t even use the remote itself. ### 5/5 — Convenient *2022-10-31, version 2.0* Good app…could be FREE, but a $9.99 one time fee is ok. I like it for when I can’t find my remote or I don’t want to put my phone down to use it. It’s a good first world tool to keep us all glued to Dr. Mind bender. ### 3/5 — Good idea but need to pay to use *2022-10-16, version 2.0* Can’t comment on usability or function. Downloaded cause it was a good idea as my kids lose the remote all the time. Was trying to browse the apps on the TV, when the pop up wants me to pay to be able to continue to use it. I will take my chances on trying to find the remote. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Dystopian *2023-02-22, version 2.0* I bought my TV years ago and the original remote doesn’t feature a menu button (crazy right?). So I downloaded this app to adjust my picture settings and such. I go so far as to change my picture mode and now the app is prompting me to pay a subscription fee to use its buttons. This is something straight out of Idiocracy. I can’t believe I’m about to spend $10 just to use my TV’s basic functionality but here we are. Never buying Vizio again. ### 1/5 — Shouldn’t have updated now it’s trash *2023-01-05, version 2.0* The old app let you use way more not even features but just usual buttons on the remote such as the home button which I don’t understand having to pay $10 to use at all or even the back button or exit button to get out of the menu/settings if you use the real remote to get there complete garbage. ### 1/5 — I hate when it does this *2022-12-07, version 2.0* It always keeps asking to play when I first got it it was alright and then like two days later it kept asking me to pay and I did then a couple mins later it kept asking me to pay I payed it then it did the same thing over and over again I tried to press the x but when I did and press one of the buttons it would just ask me to pay again ### 1/5 — Please fix *2022-12-05, version 2.0* Some options not working until newest iOS update. Now the display is completely different, it locks up on CAST input and will not allow me to change away from that, it now automatically is using my phones volume buttons to change the tv volume but the problem with that is if I’m on the phone and need to turn down the TV, I end up turning down the phone volume at the same time. What good is that? Why did they remove the volume buttons off of the front of the remote display? I’m so frustrated with these constant updates that ruin something that was working and noone ever allows these updates to be reverted back to previous versions in case there is a problem. What is wrong with these people 🤦🏽 ### 1/5 — Will not connect anymore *2022-11-19, version 2.0* I paid for this remote and it used to connect all the time. Then, it stopped connecting automatically so I had to manually set it up each time. Now it doesn’t even connect when I do it manually with the IP address. I have a brand new Vizio TV and my boyfriend downloaded a different Vizio remote app that works just fine that was FREE. This app is garbage and a waste of money ### 1/5 — Unable to connect *2022-11-10, version 2.0* I unfortunately downloaded this app to work my Vizio tv and have not had any success. I have emailed the appropriate parties to fix the issue and or receive my $ back but have not been successful with that either. It is super disheartening to not receive help after seeking it. Wish it worked or someone could help or at the least return my money if the remote will not connect to my tv. ### 1/5 — Misleading *2022-10-25, version 2.0* Awful!! It was advertised to be able to connect to a Vizio smart tv without wifi but it doesn’t. It still requires the tv to be connected to the wifi just like all the other apps. Also, there were THREE other pyme t options, weekly monthly and lifetime but when I went to download it the ONLY option it was allowing me to select was lifetime. WASTE OF MY MONEY AND I WANT IT BACK. ### 1/5 — Annoying *2022-10-15, version 2.0* Downloaded not even 5 minutes ago. Every 10 seconds it asks if I want to rate the app or to purchase. I already bought your tv, I don’t feel like I should be required to spend more money to watch it. Wanted the app for the convenience of it. Immediately deleting the app because I can’t do anything on it now without making a purchase. ### 1/5 — Leave me alone *2022-10-13, version 2.0* The reason I rating this one star is that I’ve had the app downloaded for approximately four minutes and I’ve already been interrupted three time to rate the stupid app. So here you go: one star. That’s all you get. I’m sure the app is great; I’m sure it’s intuitive, but you only get one star rating when you’re so concerned about getting people to pad you’re rating instead of actually using and exploring the app. ### 1/5 — Waste of Money *2022-10-09, version 2.0* Just get the free Vizio Mobile app. I tried to use this app to adjust my tvs brightness from my phone and it met me adjust the brightness 3 “degrees” before prompting me to buy the premium package. I once again opted not to but realized that it would not let me adjust the brightness back to what it was nor lower unless I bought a subscription. I downloaded the Vizio official app and it let me have full access to the remote for free. Essentially this “free” app is good for changing the volume of your tv only. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Remote app *2023-07-09* The remote app works great, my kids lost the remote to our tv so I decided to try this app and it works really well, all the functions you need are there, connecting your phone to your tv was really simple, definitely recommend this app if you lost your remote💯🤙🏻 ### 5/5 — Helped me so much *2023-06-03* When my remote stopped working for my tv, I didn’t want to spend the money on one right this second. This app has been a life saver and I am so grateful that my phone has the power to control my tv. I would definitely recommend this app if it works with your tv. ### 5/5 — Works well for lost remote *2023-05-26* I set this app up when I had my remote and now I’ve lost it so this app has been a life saver for that. Works well no issues that I have run in to yet. Only thing is I had to manually connect the tv and the app but it still worked and functioned well. ### 5/5 — Easiest pairing ever *2023-05-21* I’ve purchased “universal TV remotes” at least a few times in the past. Let’s face it … remotes tend to get lost or broken with time and we can’t live without them (at least not comfortably). In the past, getting one of these to function properly with the TV has been a daunting task. Not with this app. I was reluctant to pay the one-time purchase. I was skeptical. I had my doubts. But, in less than one minute after my restrained purchase, viola … my iPhone was converted to the perfect Vizio TV remote! Super proved-my-reluctance wrong!! Super easy … amazing!! ### 5/5 — Confused *2023-02-02, version 2.0* Great App!!! I like being able to jump directly to another streaming service. Is their a way to change the 3 buttons at the top of the remote screen? ### 5/5 — Just Started Using *2023-02-02, version 2.0* My initial impression is - Wow! I have needed this for so long! It really simplifies the remote for the TV and since I’m on my phone anyway why not have an app that provides great control. Now, if I could move my favorites to the top of the list, that would be the cream. But all in all, I am very happy. ### 5/5 — Nice *2023-01-14, version 2.0* Spending $10 for an app just to get my TV to switch seems ridiculous but at least this way when my children lose the remote I can still watch what I want without stressing out for seven hours until I find the controller again. ### 5/5 — Best 10 dollars spent *2023-01-12, version 2.0* I lost my tv remote and a lot of apps have subscriptions and charge too much money for a remote. Except this app had a one time purchase of 10 dollars. I have never been happier. The app automatically connects to my tv and it’s like just picking up a regular remote with how fast everything reacts and connects. I love this app. ### 5/5 — Everything in one! *2022-12-05, version 2.0* No more looking for a remote or batteries! After a manually set up, my phone works even better than the remote did. Smooth streaming from Netflix to fubo to HBO max this app has it all for your Vizio needs. ### 5/5 — Works *2022-11-16, version 2.0* Used the free version of this app a couple of times and so far so good. It connects to the tv fast with a password that pops up on the screen and if it won’t connect to the tv just make sure your tv is on, connected to the same WiFi as your phone, and restart the app. Very convenient for when you lose the remote or are in another room and forget to turn it off! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*