SmartThings vs TV Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartThings
Unify and manage all your smart home devices from a single application. Connect hundreds of brands, create custom scenes and routines, and control your home remotely. Monitor energy usage and even get meal planning assistance.
- Connect and control devices from multiple brands
- Create custom scenes and routines
- Remote home monitoring and control
- Automated notifications and status updates
- Voice control with Google Assistant
- Energy tracking and saving features
- Smart cooking and meal planning assistance
Read full descriptionHide full description
Quickly and easily connect and control your smart home devices through SmartThings. SmartThings is compatible with 100s of smart home brands. So, you can control all of your smart home gadgets in one place, including your Samsung Smart TV and smart home appliances. With SmartThings, you can connect, monitor and control multiple smart home devices quicker and easier. Connect your Samsung smart TVs, smart appliances, smart speakers and brands like Ring, Nest and Philips Hue - all from one app. Then control your smart devices using voice assistants including Google Assistant [Key Features] - Control and check in on your home from wherever you are - Connect your smart devices across many different brands to work together by setting ‘scenes’ - Build routines that are set on time, weather, and device status, so your home runs smoothly in the background - Allow shared control by giving access to other users - Receive status updates about your devices with automated notifications - Talk to your devices using Google Assistant - Track, monitor and save money on energy with SmartThings Energy. See how much your home and compatible Samsung devices cost to run, and try various energy saving features, such as AI saving mode, or schedule devices to run during off peak hours. - Receive recipe recommendations by scanning meal kits, wine, and meat. Plan, shop and prep meals with the help of SmartThings Cooking ※ Some features may not be available in all countries. [App requirements] Some mobile devices may not be supported. - iOS 17.0 or later / iPhone XR or later / iPad 6 or later ※ App permissions The following permissions are required for the app service. For optional permissions, the default functionality of the service is turned on, but not allowed. [Optional access permissions] • Apple Health : Used to sync with Apple Health data to give you better Family Care insights • Apple Music : Used to read music album information • Bluetooth : Used to scan for nearby devices using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) • Camera: Used to scan QR codes so you can easily add members and devices to SmartThings • Contacts : Used to get phone numbers of your contacts to send text message notifications • Location : Used to locate your devices, create routines based on your location, and scan for nearby devices using Wi-Fi • Local Network : Used to find Wi-Fi connected devices • Microphone: Used to add certain devices to SmartThings using high-frequency sounds • Notification : Used to provide notifications about SmartThings devices and features • NFC : Used to check information about devices that you intend to connect • Photos : Used to play photos and videos on SmartThings devices • Voice recognition : Used to convert voice to text
TV Remote
Transform your iPhone into a universal remote for smart TVs and streaming devices. Effortlessly control multiple devices, navigate with a touchpad, and use smart text input for searches. Enjoy quick app access and full playback control from your wrist or phone.
- Multi-device control
- Smart Wi-Fi detection and pairing
- Touchpad navigation
- Smart text and voice input
- Apple Watch control
- One-tap app launching
- Full playback control
Read full descriptionHide full description
TV Remote: Control Smart TV transforms your iPhone into a powerful universal remote, allowing you to effortlessly control a wide range of smart TVs and streaming devices. No more juggling multiple physical remotes – one app is all you need to manage all your streaming equipment. ## KEY FEATURES ### Multi-Device Control Supports a full range of mainstream streaming devices and smart TVs, with more compatible devices coming soon. ### Smart Detection Auto-discovers all compatible devices on your home Wi-Fi network. Instant pairing is available with no complicated setup steps. ### Multi-Room Management Switch seamlessly between devices in different rooms. You can instantly control streaming devices in the living room and smart TVs in the bedroom with just one tap. ### Touch Interface A large, responsive touchpad provides precise navigation. Enjoy smooth scrolling and quick launching of various video and audio apps. ### Smart Text Input Type with your iOS keyboard or issue voice commands – ideal for content searches and account logins. ### Apple Watch Support Take control of your devices right from your wrist. Adjust volume, navigate menus, and play/pause content effortlessly via Apple Watch. ### Quick App Access One-tap launch for popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video and more, instantly starting your viewing experience. ### Full Playback Control Achieve full playback control across all controlled devices, including play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and volume adjustment. ## WHY CHOOSE TV REMOTE: CONTROL SMART TV? This app breaks down ecosystem barriers with a unified interface for cross-platform control. It is fast, reliable, and constantly expanding with new features. Perfect for: • Households with multiple smart devices • Users wanting to replace multiple remote apps with just one • Anyone looking to reduce clutter from physical remotes • Cord-cutters seeking simplified control over their streaming setup ## COMPATIBILITY • Mainstream streaming devices • Smart TVs of various brands • iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch ## REQUIREMENTS • Streaming devices connected to your home Wi-Fi • iPhone/iPad on the same Wi-Fi network as the controlled devices ## MEMBERSHIP (Optional) • Monthly: $1.99/month • Annual: $9.99/year Premium Benefits: Ad-free experience and priority customer support. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscription via App Store settings. Privacy Policy: https://funnstudio.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/154000105273-privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://funnstudio.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/154000105637-terms-of-use Disclaimer: Funnstudio is an independent entity and is not affiliated with any device manufacturers. TV Remote: Control Smart TV is third-party software and not an official product of any device brand. Download TV Remote: Control Smart TV now for true universal control of your smart entertainment devices!
Screenshots
Verdict
SmartThings and TV Remote both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 93% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 31% of SmartThings's. TV Remote also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). SmartThings's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (809K vs 15K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SmartThings asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SmartThings against 4.7 for TV Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartThings has 809K ratings behind it against 15K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of SmartThings's written reviews are positive against 93% of TV Remote's.
SmartThings ships an update monthly, TV Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartThings | TV Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (809K ratings) | 4.7 (15K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.1% of reviews | 92.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 809K — better | 15K |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #8 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 961 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 君瑛 高 |
Customer experience
SmartThings
TV Remote
User reviews
SmartThings
From 809K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Remote control functionality
- 📚 Laundry cycle recommendations
- 🤖 Automation and scheduling capabilities
- 🔧 Customizable settings
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting and configuring devices
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking
TV Remote
From 15K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well even when remote is lost
- 👍 Convenient remote control on phone
- 🔒 Connects easily to TV
- 💡 Useful backup remote option
- 👍 Free to use all features
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 💸 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔍 Difficulty switching between TVs
Bugs and requests
SmartThings
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to add or remove devices
- Inconsistent device status updates
- Notifications not working as expected
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to control TV without remote
- Improved photo/artwork management for Frame TV
- More advanced automation and scheduling options
- Better integration with other smart home platforms
TV Remote
Reported bugs
2 issues- Volume controls not working for some users
- App crashing on certain devices
Requested features
3 requests- Add support for Fire TV remote
- Improve TV switching functionality
- Reduce ad frequency
In-app purchases
SmartThings
No in-app purchases
TV Remote
- Monthly2 Months trial$2.991 Month
- Annually7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Croissant$1.99
- Coffee$2.99
- Pizza$3.99
Questions
Is SmartThings free?
Is TV Remote free?
Which has better reviews, SmartThings or TV Remote?
Do SmartThings or TV Remote have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartThings or TV Remote?
Other comparisons















