# TouchControl Universal Remote — user reviews > 65 indexed App Store user reviews of TouchControl Universal Remote by Touch App Technologies, LLC, rated 4.22/5 from 37 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touchcontrol-universal-remote/id360139270/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touchcontrol-universal-remote/id360139270.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 24 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 6 ## Newest reviews (10 of 65) ### 3/5 — App crashes after update *2024-06-30, version 12.8.1* Applied the patch and the remote app crashes after. Tried restarting, deleted and re-installed Does the server have to updated too? ### 4/5 — A little confusing to connect exert A PC Renote *2022-05-22, version 11.7.2* Connects easy ### 5/5 — Another VERY satisfied convert from iRule *2018-10-28* As a long time iRule user, I was on a mission to find a remote replacement when I found out iRule had been sold and their servers would eventually be shut down. I tried many different apps prior to trying Touch Control and all lacked in some form compared to what I had been able to do with iRule. Also, many were clunky, had poor design interfaces or had problems with crashing, etc. After spending a couple hours with Touch Control, I knew this would be the perfect replacement. Not only does Touch Control do all that iRule does but it does a TON more and more often than not, in a much more straightforward way. The options with Touch Control are seemingly limitless and as I journey through designing my new remote, each day I discover new, neat features I want to add. Yes, there is a learning curve, and some of the more advanced features require some basic javascript programming, but I had absolutely NO javascript experience coming in and I feel I’ve made some pretty decent strides in getting things figured out. And the best part of the app hands down is the tech support. It is beyond amazing and always willing to help you figure something out when you get stuck. Plus there is a very nice companion manual which provides a great reference to all the features of the app and explains with examples how to set things up. I’ve got control and feedback set up for a bunch of different home theater and lighting devices and look forward to adding more. This is not a ‘set up in an hour or two’ kind of remote. It requires a fair amount of setup, layout and programming time, but it allows unlimited customization based solely on how you want to accomplish things and lay them out. If you’re a DIY’er and like to tinker, this is an amazing app. After several weeks working with it in my limited spare time, I’ve got nothing bad to say about. There are regular updates that keep adding cool new features and did I mention the tech support is awesome? A+++ **Developer response:** Hi goaudiomke. Thanks for the great review! Glad you are enjoying TouchControl! ### 5/5 — Way over my head :( *2018-01-17, version 9.8.1* I didn't think it would be so difficult. Going through all pages of instructions gave me a headache and some did not match up to what I was seeing in app installed on Mac. I'm very technical but not program savvy so had to give up. Was hoping for pre-configs to install. Needed a universal remote that did not require me to update my iOS (didn't want to break my perfectly working phone). Oh well back to my search. ### 5/5 — Better than iRule *2017-11-23, version 9.7* I was looking for something to replace a great remote I had worked on over the years, iRule, which was discontinued. Looked at a dozen options, finally settled on this app and very happy I did. This app does more than iRule ever did and is well supported. Many things are easier than was the case in iRule, and, it doesn’t rely on companies website to run. Like any good remote app, there are many things to learn. But the language is much better than iRules limited custom language. ### 5/5 — Easy to use quick to setup *2015-09-12, version 8.2* Ok. I've been setting up custom remotes with various apps for quite a few years now. My favourite one that cost a lot you could design the GUI right from the device and was really quick. Unfortunately a couple of years later it was pulled from the store as the developer stopped developing. Annoying!! Since then I have been struggling to find a simple alternative. I'm not a coder or a designer which makes alternatives hard for me to pick up. Touch Control was a bit different. My household is wired up with Global Cache devices. This app supports these really well. Including pulling of codes from a database if you don't want to learn them. You can if you want though directly from the app. Initially the interface is a bit confusing. Play with it for an hour and then you understand how rooms and layouts are setup. Once you have got this it really couldn't be simpler to setup all your devices. What used to be a painful on other more expensive apps ends up actually being quite fun. It's very intuitive once you understand the first screen. All in all I am happy with this app and no longer searching for an alternative. My home automation is now all in with this app. Compared to other apps this one is incredibly good value also. To the developers... Keep up the good work. I really don't want to have to search for another app and having to start all over again! Thank you. ### 5/5 — Love this app! *2015-07-12, version 8.1.1* Love everything about it but please work on a Apple Watch app. I'd like to create my own menus sliders buttons and swiped screens. ### 5/5 — Wonderful client server remote control *2015-07-03, version 8.1.1* Been using this app, and the associated server component, for years and it just keeps getting better and better. If you are expecting a plug and play remote - look elsewhere. If you are willing to spend a few hours designing your own remote on the server the benefits are huge. It offers ultimate flexibility and control and a price point others in this class can't touch. The developer is very customer focused and updates with new features frequently. I LOVE this app! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2015-06-07, version 8.1.1* Spent 6 hours trying to get app to find devices, but no avail. You have to download several other apps to tie I'm with this app, prior. I bought and installed the add on apps/upgrades and still not working! ### 5/5 — Best DIY Automation Software Avail. Bar None *2015-03-21, version 8* I used to use an IR Harmony remote for my main living area but once you go down the IP/WIFI control path, you’ll never look back… tech friends don’t let tech friends use infrared remotes. :-) I spent many weeks trying out different solutions to automate/control my entire house. Looked at all the popular ones out there as well as not so popular. I wanted something that was not limiting and would allow me to control devices in many different ways. I didn’t want to be reliant upon storing my configuration on someone else’s server. 4 years ago I chose this app and what I got was more than I had ever hoped for. My entire house is automated and impresses everyone who sees what I’ve done. I’ve even setup a couple friends’ homes with Touch Control along with the purchase of a Global Cache IP2IR device and they are blown away. The support is unbelievably amazing and the product is always being improved with more and more features allowing you to… well, the sky is the limit. Yes, it does require computer skills and depending on how far you want to go with this product can increase that demand, but hey, what doesn’t? Again, the support is stupendous so if you need it it’s there. If you can’t do it with this software, it can’t be done. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Worst app ever *2024-11-07, version 12.8.1* Such a terrible app. You cannot login to any new devices and pair it with the system. Nothing works. How can a state of the line theater system be run by this terrible app??!! ### 1/5 — Baffling *2023-04-29, version 12.3.1* Hugely complex and unusable ### 1/5 — Beware *2020-07-17, version 10.5* Requires server software to be loaded, and Wi-Fi. Bait and switch. Suckered again. ### 1/5 — Worst remote ever *2019-09-29, version 9.10.2* Spent 4.99 on remote and 1.99 for global cache upgrade. Can’t get the software out of demo mode. Seriously, i wish apple had a way to refund money from sketchy software developers. ### 1/5 — Touch remote *2017-05-31, version 9.6.1* Purchase but does not work with my devises and there is no support with compatibility. ### 1/5 — Don't get suckered in to this! *2017-01-30, version 9.5* Worst app ever! Cannot access server, find servers, or even figure out ANYTHING ON THIS AT ALL! save your time and pass on this thing! ### 1/5 — Don't *2016-12-27, version 9.4.4* Not worth it, very outdated and difficult to use. Save your money ### 1/5 — A complete waste... *2016-10-07, version 9.3.1* Don't waste your money. It does not work. ### 1/5 — ... *2016-07-11, version 9.2* I don't know what is wrong with this. It dos t work at all and a huge waste of time and money ### 1/5 — Don't be fooled, very, very un-user friendly *2015-09-26, version 8.3* Don't be fooled, very, very un-user friendly ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Another VERY satisfied convert from iRule *2026-04-20, version 13.3* As a long time iRule user, I was on a mission to find a remote replacement when I found out iRule had been sold and their servers would eventually be shut down. I tried many different apps prior to trying Touch Control and all lacked in some form compared to what I had been able to do with iRule. Also, many were clunky, had poor design interfaces or had problems with crashing, etc. After spending a couple hours with Touch Control, I knew this would be the perfect replacement. Not only does Touch Control do all that iRule does but it does a TON more and more often than not, in a much more straightforward way. The options with Touch Control are seemingly limitless and as I journey through designing my new remote, each day I discover new, neat features I want to add. Yes, there is a learning curve, and some of the more advanced features require some basic javascript programming, but I had absolutely NO javascript experience coming in and I feel I’ve made some pretty decent strides in getting things figured out. And the best part of the app hands down is the tech support. It is beyond amazing and always willing to help you figure something out when you get stuck. Plus there is a very nice companion manual which provides a great reference to all the features of the app and explains with examples how to set things up. I’ve got control and feedback set up for a bunch of different home theater and lighting devices and look forward to adding more. This is not a ‘set up in an hour or two’ kind of remote. It requires a fair amount of setup, layout and programming time, but it allows unlimited customization based solely on how you want to accomplish things and lay them out. If you’re a DIY’er and like to tinker, this is an amazing app. After several weeks working with it in my limited spare time, I’ve got nothing bad to say about. There are regular updates that keep adding cool new features and did I mention the tech support is awesome? A+++ ### 5/5 — Great remote program *2025-12-25, version 13.3* I am using it to control a device across a vpn. It is working great! Thankyou for a app that works exactly as described at a good price ### 5/5 — This is better than ice cream! *2025-10-16, version 12.8.1* I have tried out literally all of the apps for controlling various devices. This is by far the best! ### 5/5 — Brilliant app *2025-09-14, version 12.8.1* Takes some time & learning to configure but well worth the effort. So much functionality for very little outlay. Support seems very prompt too on the few times that I have needed it. ### 5/5 — Best 3rd-party app on my phone! *2024-07-03, version 12.8.1* I’ll admit I was upset when the makers of the iRule app I was using for home control sold out to Kramer Electronics. I chose TouchControl as a replacement and have no regrets. It is far more powerful than iRule ever was and has a much better model that uses locally built servers with which to edit configurations on devices. Well worth the time I invested to learn the basics I needed. One of the best features of this system is the tech support. Dave is incredibly helpful and responds within hours to push me over small bumps I’ve encountered. What’s really great is that fixes to minor bugs and even new features that I’ve suggested are implemented within days of my request! Never would have expected this from an app. The only feature missing is a timer that would execute commands on a schedule (like existed in dedicated remotes like ProntoPro NG 7000, e.g.)—but Dave even suggested a workaround for that. Overall, considering the power, price and current level of support, you can’t go wrong with this app. ### 5/5 — Great !!! *2022-12-15, version 12.1.1* As a long-time user of TouchControl I would just like to say this is the most wonderful software I have ever used. If you're looking for something that is turnkey this might not be for you. But if you are a DIY enthusiast then you found the right software. I challenge anyone to find a company that supports a product better than Dave does.Simply email him and he will help. I have done this many times and not once has he ever failed me. I highly recommend Touch Control. Al Wassmer ### 5/5 — Best Remote Control App *2022-09-26, version 12.0.1* After having to replace my iPad, I noticed I could no longer download my iRule app which I had invested a lot of time with over the years. Attempting to contact both iRule (which no longer supports the App) and Apple resulted in no progress. So I resigned myself, to having to find an alternative. I tried out several Apps (some a great deal more expensive), in much frustration. The Apps simply did not have the capability and flexibility I had come to expect from using iRule. Fortunately I stumbled upon this App and am so very happy I did. There is a bit of experience required to get up to speed, but not any more than iRule required. In addition Dave is always readily available to provide A++ support with getting over the learning curve, helping with any desired Java scripts, etc. He has spent thousands of hours developing and perfecting the app and documentation and it shows. In comparison to iRule, l believe the TC app has equivalent if not more flexibility and capability and is more user friendly and straight forward than iRule. The instruction manual is approximately 200 pages, well written, and is useful for explaining basic functionality for the novice, as well as more complicated versatile implementations for the advanced users. I can highly recommend this App for all users and you will not find a better Remote Control for IR, IP, Serial (RS232) and other communications in the App Store that is better designed, functions great, and has great versatility. The fact that this app is dirt cheap and has great support makes it a no brainer. ### 5/5 — TRULY AN AMAZING AND POWERFUL APP!!! *2022-09-08, version 11.8* OK I have tried literally every single app on the market for home automation and infrared control of devices. No joke! I have talked to the developers of the apps and the tech-support extensively so I have gotten to know the apps very well. This app is BY FAR THE VERY BEST!! There is a big learning curve that will take you some time BUT it is SO WORTH IT! I am paralyzed from the neck down and require a lot of customization in order for everything to work to control my environment and this app does everything and beyond! Incredibly grateful for the app and all of the tech-support. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ### 5/5 — Excellent Value! *2021-01-24, version 11.1* Bought this a fair while ago and is my default IPad app for remote control. It is very powerful but easy to set up for both new and advanced users. There are many equivalent apps available but they cost much more with some confined to hardware integrators and not general public. For the money you cannot find a better tool which is supported by a very informative website and a developer who is constantly upgrading the function. Must buy for anyone looking to upgrade from Harmony control. 2021 update. I am still using the Touch control app after all these years and can say it is one of the best supported apps I know. I now use it through My Apple Watch and with Shortcuts, gives me access to my equipment that is not possible with say HomeKit or other voice assistants. Dave, whose app this is, is very helpful too if there is a problem so again fully recommended!! ### 5/5 — Total customization *2021-01-09, version 11* If your willing to invest a little time you can have the most customizable remote available PERIOD Use Siri and Shortcuts to control anything. The best I have come across. --- *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 2026-08-02.*