Universal TV Remote · vs SmartRemote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Universal TV Remote ·
Control your smart TV with your phone. Navigate menus using a touchpad, and access advanced features like Wake-on-LAN. Supports a wide range of TV models and operating systems.
- Smart TV remote control
- Touchpad navigation
- Wake-on-LAN support
- Wide model compatibility
- Supports various OS
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Universal Remote supports hundreds of models with various operating systems and screen resolutions, ranging from basic models no longer in manufacture to 2021 novelties with the most powerful hardware. The remote differs depending on not only the Smart TV manufacturer but also the type of operating system. Touchpad Instead of Buttons. We are confident that navigation with swipe gestures is much more convenient than by pressing regular "down" or "right" buttons, not distracting you from the most important thing: searching for your favorite movie or series on the TV. Still Can’t Turn the TV On? In a word, you can, but under one condition. Most new Smart TV models support the Wake-on-LAN function. It is possible only if you had already been connected to the TV earlier. Therefore, when using the application for the first time, you will need a hardware remote control. After that, you can use your Universal Remote. Premium Subscription You can subscribe for unlimited access to Premium features. Subscription is $19.99 yearly. Prices are equal to the value that "Apple's App Store Matrix" determines is the equivalent of the subscription price in USD. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. For details please visit the link https://support.apple.com/HT202039. When your current trial/subscription period expires, you will be unsubscribed. The current active subscription period can not be canceled. After your subscription expires, you will no longer be able to use pictures marked as Premium. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of Use: https://kraftwerk9.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://kraftwerk9.com/privacy
SmartRemote
Control all your Smart TVs from a single app, eliminating the need for multiple remotes. Seamlessly mirror content from your phone and navigate your TV with a touchpad and convenient text entry.
- Effortless Smart TV Control
- Mirror Videos, Photos, and Music
- Easy Mouse Control with Touchpad
- Convenient Text Entry
- Volume and Channel Control
- Player Controls
- Abundance of Menu Options
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Control your Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, Xiaomi and Hisense Smart TVs — plus Apple TV, soundbars, set-top boxes and projectors — from one app. No more juggling multiple remotes. TV Remote turns your iPhone or iPad into a powerful universal remote. Discover your TVs automatically on Wi-Fi, tap to connect, and start controlling instantly. NEW IN 3.0: APPLE TV, HOMEKIT & MATTER + A dedicated Apple TV remote with a clean, Apple-style clickpad + Control Apple TV and HomeKit-enabled TVs set up in Apple's Home app + Works with Matter accessories you've added to Apple Home + No IP addresses or pairing codes needed — your devices just appear MORE THAN JUST TVs + Dedicated remotes for soundbars, set-top & cable boxes, and projectors + Organize every device by room and open the right remote in a tap SUPPORTED BRANDS + Samsung Smart TV (2016+) + LG webOS TV + Sony Bravia + Roku TV & Roku players + Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick + Xiaomi Mi TV / Mi Box + Hisense VIDAA TV + Apple TV, HomeKit & Matter TVs FULL REMOTE CONTROL + D-pad navigation with OK/Select + Volume up/down and mute + Channel up/down + Power on/off with Wake-on-LAN + Home, Back, Menu, Source/Input + Number pad for direct channel entry + Media controls: Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, Stop SMART FEATURES + Touchpad with LG Magic Remote-style mouse control + Type on your phone, text appears on TV + Launch Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and more + Browse on your phone, watch on your TV + Mirror videos, photos and music to your TV EASY SETUP + Auto-discovers Smart TVs on your Wi-Fi network + Apple TV & HomeKit devices set up through Apple's Home app + Connect by IP address for manual setup + Wake powered-off TVs with Wake-on-LAN + No hub or extra hardware required Subscription Details: Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your Account Settings. Terms & Conditions: https://mobilealchemy.co/terms-of-service.html Privacy Policy: https://mobilealchemy.co/privacy-policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Universal TV Remote · at 4.6 against SmartRemote's 3.0. Universal TV Remote · also leads on ratings volume (89K vs 2) and review sentiment (34% vs 10%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Universal TV Remote · sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and SmartRemote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Universal TV Remote · holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote · has 89K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Universal TV Remote ·'s written reviews are positive against 10% of SmartRemote's.
Universal TV Remote · ships an update fortnightly, SmartRemote every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Universal TV Remote · | SmartRemote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (89K ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.8% of reviews — better | 10.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 89K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #12 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 91 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KRAFTWERK 9 LTD | MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD |
Customer experience
Universal TV Remote ·
SmartRemote
Bugs and requests
Universal TV Remote ·
Reported bugs
4 issues- Doesn't detect TV
- Frequent disconnections
- Unresponsive controls
- Billing issues
Requested features
4 requests- Volume control
- More TV button options
- Tutorials or instructions
- Ability to save TV connections
SmartRemote
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Universal TV Remote ·
- Weekly universal TV remote3 Days trial$2.997 Days
- Weekly universal TV remote3 Days trial$5.997 Days
- Monthly universal TV remote3 Days trial$6.991 Month
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- Year subscription3 Days trial$34.991 Year
- Year$34.991 Year
- Lifetime universal TV remote$14.99
SmartRemote
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$3.997 Days
- Annual Premium$29.991 Year
- Lifetime Premium$49.99
Questions
Is Universal TV Remote · free?
Is SmartRemote free?
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote?
Do Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote have ads?
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote?
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