# TVMote vs Universal TV Remote Controller

TVMote and Universal TV Remote Controller both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 56% of TVMote's written reviews are positive against 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's. TVMote also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and device support (5 vs 2). Universal TV Remote Controller's advantage is ratings volume (637 vs 166). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TVMote sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Universal TV Remote Controller sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for TVMote against 4.1 for Universal TV Remote Controller. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 166 and 637 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of TVMote's written reviews are positive against 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's.

TVMote ships an update every 11 days, Universal TV Remote Controller every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TVMote | Universal TV Remote Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (166 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tvmote/id1041444282/reviews) | [4.1 (637 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 166 | **637** |
| Positive reviews | **56.3% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 80 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jorge Miguel](https://appshunter.io/developer/650641107) | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) |

## 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 TV Remote Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188)

Control your smart TV with your phone. This app automatically scans for devices and offers features like channel switching, keyboard search, and voice control. A premium subscription unlocks all features and removes ads.

**Highlights:** Automatic TV device scanning, Single-tap channel switching, Keyboard and voice search, Swift navigation, Ad-free experience (premium)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION | $9.99 | per month |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $19.99 | per year |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $39.99 | per year |
| One-time Payment | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as a replacement when physical remote is lost
- ⭐ Effective for Samsung TV control
- ✅ Functional remote control capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive premium paywall and forced upgrades
- 🐛 Frequent connection failures and disconnections
- ❌ App stops working after initial period
- 😤 Excessive ads and harassment for premium
- 🔄 Requires constant app refreshing to function

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to TV devices
- Connection drops frequently
- Volume control unavailable or missing
- Stuck on guide screen unable to exit
- Repetitive TV selection prompts

**Requested features**

- Restore and improve volume control functionality
- Free access to basic remote functions without premium
- Keyboard and search functionality without paywall
- Home button access without premium upgrade


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TVMote free?

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

### Is Universal TV Remote Controller free?

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

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

TVMote and Universal TV Remote Controller are both rated 4.1 out of 5 on the App Store, from 166 and 637 ratings respectively.

### Do TVMote or Universal TV Remote Controller have ads?

Both TVMote and Universal TV Remote Controller show ads.

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

TVMote ships an update every 11 days, and Universal TV Remote Controller every 2 months. Most recently, TVMote was updated on September 19, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Controller on August 30, 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.*