# Universal remote tv smart vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.5 against Universal remote tv smart's 4.2. TV Remote also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 22%). Universal remote tv smart's advantage is ratings volume (43K vs 613) and iOS requirement (15 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal remote tv smart sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and TV Remote sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal remote tv smart has 43K ratings behind it against 613, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Universal remote tv smart's written reviews are positive against 38% of TV Remote's.

Universal remote tv smart ships an update every 4 weeks, TV Remote every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal remote tv smart | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (43K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-smart/id1401880138/reviews) | **[4.5 (613 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6444865789/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **43K** | 613 |
| Positive reviews | 22.4% of reviews | **38.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 184 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [App Rover](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448355489) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal remote tv smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-smart/id1401880138)

Control your smart TV from your iPhone using this virtual remote. It connects via Wi-Fi and supports major brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony, offering full remote functionality.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi connectivity, Supports major TV brands, Volume control, Channel changing, Navigation pad, Video playback controls, Menu and options access

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium version | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads (Discount) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $16.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient alternative to physical remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚨 Too many ads
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🐛 Buttons don't always work
- 💰 Paid version required to remove ads

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to detect or connect to TV
- Buttons/features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn on TV without physical remote
- Fewer ads in free version
- More reliable TV connection


### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6444865789)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful universal remote for over 10,000 TV models. Discover personalized show recommendations, manage watchlists, and track your viewing history all in one intuitive app.

**Highlights:** Universal remote for 10,000+ TV models, Wi-Fi connectivity (no extra hardware), Personalized recommendations, Watchlist management, Watch history tracking, Smart content filters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Plan Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Plan Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Pass | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium Pass | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Plan Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Pro Plan Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Pro Plan Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal remote tv smart free?

Universal remote tv smart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Universal remote tv smart or TV Remote?

TV Remote is rated higher. Universal remote tv smart averages 4.2 out of 5 from 43K ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.5 from 613 ratings.

### Do Universal remote tv smart or TV Remote have ads?

Both Universal remote tv smart and TV Remote show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal remote tv smart or TV Remote?

Universal remote tv smart ships an update every 4 weeks, and TV Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Universal remote tv smart was updated on October 30, 2026 and TV Remote on October 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.*