# Universal TV Remote · vs SmartRemote

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote · | SmartRemote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (89K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1439422220/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **89K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **33.8% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 91 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KRAFTWERK 9 LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637070162) | [MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577973502) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV Remote ·

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1439422220)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Utilities, #38 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly universal TV remote | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly universal TV remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly universal TV remote | $6.99 | per month |
| Year subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Year | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime universal TV remote | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost
- 🚀 Connects easily
- 👍 Provides basic TV controls for free

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💸 Paywall for advanced features
- 📺 Doesn't work with all TV models
- 📢 Excessive ads
- 🔌 Requires TV remote for initial setup

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't detect TV
- Frequent disconnections
- Unresponsive controls
- Billing issues

**Requested features**

- Volume control
- More TV button options
- Tutorials or instructions
- Ability to save TV connections


### SmartRemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*