# SmartThings vs Universal Remote－TV Control

The clearest difference is rating: SmartThings at 4.6 against Universal Remote－TV Control's 3.1. SmartThings also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (31% vs 0%). Universal Remote－TV Control's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote－TV Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. SmartThings asks for nothing beyond the download.

SmartThings holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartThings has 809K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of SmartThings's written reviews are positive against 0% of Universal Remote－TV Control's.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartThings | Universal Remote－TV Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (809K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904/reviews)** | [3.1 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remotetv-control/id6498713701/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **809K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **31.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 961 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/359580642) | [Martin Gerok](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741749496) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartThings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartthings/id1222822904)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Lifestyle, #155 Top Free (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Remote control functionality
- 📚 Laundry cycle recommendations
- 🤖 Automation and scheduling capabilities
- 🔧 Customizable settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting and configuring devices
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to add or remove devices
- Inconsistent device status updates
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- 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


### Universal Remote－TV Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remotetv-control/id6498713701)

Transform your phone into a smart TV remote. Control volume, channels, and apps with a touchpad, keyboard, and quick access to streaming services. Customize the interface for a seamless viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Smart TV compatibility, Full remote functionality, Numpad and touchpad controls, Integrated keyboard, Quick access to TV apps, Customizable interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote \| Smart TV | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote - TV Control | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote - TV Control | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartThings free?

SmartThings is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Universal Remote－TV Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartThings or Universal Remote－TV Control?

SmartThings is rated higher. SmartThings averages 4.6 out of 5 from 809K ratings, while Universal Remote－TV Control averages 3.1 from 8 ratings.

### Do SmartThings or Universal Remote－TV Control have ads?

Neither SmartThings nor Universal Remote－TV Control shows ads.

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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.*