# TVMote vs Universal Smart TV Remote App

The clearest difference is ads: Universal Smart TV Remote App at none against TVMote's shown. Universal Smart TV Remote App also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (68% vs 56%). TVMote's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 months) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TVMote sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Universal Smart TV Remote App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Smart TV Remote App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 166 and 458 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of TVMote's written reviews are positive against 68% of Universal Smart TV Remote App's.

TVMote ships an update every 11 days, Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TVMote | Universal Smart TV Remote App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tvmote/id1041444282/reviews) | **[4.5 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 166 | **458** |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | **68.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jorge Miguel](https://appshunter.io/developer/650641107) | [Hemant Bhonsle](https://appshunter.io/developer/442878468) |

## What reviewers say

### TVMote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tvmote/id1041444282)

Control your Smart TV, MediaCenter, or Set-Top Box directly from your iOS or watchOS device. Offers channel lists, automatic device discovery, and multiple interaction layouts. Upgrade to PRO for advanced features like casting local media and Siri shortcuts.

**Highlights:** Channel list management, Automatic device discovery, Multiple interaction layouts, Keyboard support, Apple Watch support, iOS Widget remote, TrackPad control

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Version | $2.99 | one-time |
| PRO Version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best TV remote app
- 👍 Works great with Apple Watch
- 👍 Customizable UI
- 👍 No ads or invasive pop-ups
- 👍 Supports Siri shortcuts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and connectivity issues
- 🐛 Buttons/features not working as expected
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with certain TV models
- 🐛 Recent updates causing issues

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and connection losses
- Buttons not responding or working inconsistently
- Compatibility problems with newer TV OS versions
- Siri shortcuts not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add support for more TV brands and models
- Improve Apple Watch integration with more controls
- Implement dark mode/OLED-friendly UI
- Add support for input/source switching
- Enhance Kodi/media player controls


### Universal Smart TV Remote App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853)

Control your Samsung, Sony, Roku, or Vizio smart TV instantly without complex setup. This app eliminates the need for lost or broken physical remotes. It's compatible with Apple Watch and requires no subscription.

**Highlights:** Instant TV control, No settings required, Supports Apple Watch, No subscription needed, Control multiple brands

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium with Trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 👍 Works well with various TV brands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and app freezes
- 💰 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🚫 Limited functionality compared to physical remote
- 🐛 Issues with scanning and connecting to TVs

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes after TV scanning
- Unable to connect to certain TV models
- Ads not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV power on/off
- Option to customize ad frequency
- Support for more TV brands
- Improved stability and reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TVMote free?

TVMote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Universal Smart TV Remote App free?

Universal Smart TV Remote App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TVMote or Universal Smart TV Remote App?

Universal Smart TV Remote App is rated higher. TVMote averages 4.1 out of 5 from 166 ratings, while Universal Smart TV Remote App averages 4.5 from 458 ratings.

### Do TVMote or Universal Smart TV Remote App have ads?

TVMote shows ads; Universal Smart TV Remote App does not.

### Which is updated more often, TVMote or Universal Smart TV Remote App?

TVMote ships an update every 11 days, and Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. Most recently, TVMote was updated on October 23, 2026 and Universal Smart TV Remote App on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*