Comparison

Universal TV Remote · vs SmartRemote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Smart TV remote control
  • Touchpad navigation
  • Wake-on-LAN support
  • Wide model compatibility
  • Supports various OS
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Universal TV Remote ·4 screens
SmartRemote4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Universal TV Remote · versus SmartRemote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal TV Remote ·SmartRemote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (89K ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews33.8% of reviews — better10.0% of reviews
Number of ratings89K — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKRAFTWERK 9 LTDMOBILE ALCHEMY LTD

Customer experience

Universal TV Remote ·

All ratings88,891 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews1,177 reviews
Positive33.8%
Neutral5.5%
Negative60.7%

SmartRemote

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive10.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative90.0%

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

6 purchases

Universal TV Remote ·

Subscriptions5
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • Year subscription3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Year$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime universal TV remote$14.99
3 purchases

SmartRemote

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Annual Premium$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$49.99

Questions

Is Universal TV Remote · free?
Universal TV Remote · is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SmartRemote free?
SmartRemote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote?
Universal TV Remote · is rated higher. Universal TV Remote · averages 4.6 out of 5 from 89K ratings, while SmartRemote averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote have ads?
Both Universal TV Remote · and SmartRemote show ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote · or SmartRemote?
Universal TV Remote · ships an update fortnightly, and SmartRemote every 8 days. Most recently, Universal TV Remote · was updated on September 28, 2026 and SmartRemote on September 3, 2026.

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