# Widget Remote for Roku vs Universal TV Remote®

The clearest difference is rating: Universal TV Remote® at 4.5 against Widget Remote for Roku's 4.1. Universal TV Remote® also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 187). Widget Remote for Roku's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Widget Remote for Roku sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Universal TV Remote® sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV Remote® holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote® has 1.1K ratings behind it against 187, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of Widget Remote for Roku's written reviews are positive against 40% of Universal TV Remote®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Widget Remote for Roku ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal TV Remote® every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Widget Remote for Roku | Universal TV Remote® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-remote-for-roku/id1374909637/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1512756412/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 187 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **41.7% of reviews** | 40.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [John Benson](https://appshunter.io/developer/376644555) | [Hanja Devi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453140968) |

## What reviewers say

### Widget Remote for Roku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-remote-for-roku/id1374909637)

Control your Roku or NOW TV device directly from your iPhone or iPad with a convenient widget. Quickly play, pause, navigate, and launch your favorite channels. Easily input text and manage multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Widget control without opening app, Launch favorite channels instantly, Easy text input via device keyboard, Manage multiple Roku/NOW TV devices, Custom channel shortcuts for actions, Gesture-based navigation, Enhanced TV controls (Power, Volume, Input)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Adverts | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as a remote
- 👍 Helpful when remote is lost
- 👍 Great for messing with siblings
- 👍 Works perfectly
- 👍 Awesome

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buttons don't work
- 🐛 Widget buttons blank
- 🐛 No widget functionality
- 🐛 App crashes
- 🐛 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Widget buttons are blank and do not work
- Remote does not work at all, despite connection
- None of the buttons do anything
- No widgets present
- App crashes when loading shortcuts for Roku TVs 43 inch and up

**Requested features**

- Add volume control for largest widget
- Add headphone control feature


### Universal TV Remote®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1512756412)

Control your smart TV with your iPhone or iPad. This app functions like a physical remote, allowing you to change channels, adjust volume, and navigate menus. It requires your device and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

**Highlights:** Power ON/OFF, Volume control, Channel switching, Menu navigation, Video playback control, Touch bar navigation, Automatic Wi-Fi connection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Instant connection
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 📺 Incompatible with some TV models
- 📢 Excessive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Buttons not responding
- Frequent disconnections
- App freezing/crashing

**Requested features**

- Reset TV connection option
- Reduced ad frequency
- Support for more TV brands


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Widget Remote for Roku free?

Widget Remote for Roku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Universal TV Remote® free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Widget Remote for Roku or Universal TV Remote®?

Universal TV Remote® is rated higher. Widget Remote for Roku averages 4.1 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while Universal TV Remote® averages 4.5 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Widget Remote for Roku or Universal TV Remote® have ads?

Both Widget Remote for Roku and Universal TV Remote® show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Widget Remote for Roku or Universal TV Remote®?

Widget Remote for Roku ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal TV Remote® every 7 months. Most recently, Widget Remote for Roku was updated on November 2, 2026 and Universal TV Remote® on November 7, 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.*