Comparison

Universal TV Remote · vs Connect TV Remote

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, use a touchpad, and access basic functions for hundreds of TV models. Requires initial setup with a physical remote for some features.

Highlights
  • Smart TV control
  • Touchpad navigation
  • Supports hundreds of models
  • Wake-on-LAN function
  • Basic free controls
  • Premium features
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

Connect TV Remote

Control all your smart TVs from your phone with this universal remote app. It connects via Wi-Fi and offers features like streaming shortcuts and custom layouts.

Highlights
  • Universal smart TV control
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Streaming app shortcuts
  • Customizable remote layouts
  • Touch navigation
  • Multi-brand support
Features
Read full description

"Finally—a single remote that works with all my TVs!" "No more hunting for remotes—this app controls my Roku, Samsung, Vizio, and LG in seconds." Easily control your television from your iPhone — no matter where the remote went! Connect TV Remote supports the most popular smart TVs on the market: • Roku OS • Sony • Samsung • LG • TCL • Hisense • Vizio • Philips • Sharp • Panasonic • Xiaomi • JVC • RCA Say goodbye to remote clutter and hello to seamless control with Connect TV Remote—your all-in-one solution for smart TV control. Built for simplicity and power, this app connects to your favorite devices using Wi-Fi and gives you instant access to essential TV functions. Why You'll Love It: • Smart Setup for Roku, LG, Vizio & More: Connect in seconds—no codes or pairing issues. • Multi-Brand Support: Works with most popular TV devices and streaming platforms. • Streaming Shortcuts: Launch Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more right from your phone. • Custom Remote Layouts: Create personalized controls for each TV. • Touch Navigation: Use swipe gestures instead of clunky arrows. • Eco-Friendly & Hassle-Free: No batteries or physical remotes needed. Features at a Glance: • Full support for Roku, LG, Vizio, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and more • Works with Wi-Fi—no need for line-of-sight • Power, volume, keyboard, and input controls • Quick launch buttons for major streaming apps • Clean, customizable interface • No setup codes needed Easy Setup: Make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Launch the app, select your device, and you're ready to control. Whether you're streaming your favorite show or just changing the volume from the other room, Connect TV Remote App gives you full control—no remote required. Download now and experience the future of smart TV control. Subscription: You can subscribe to Connect TV Remote and get access to premium features, like the power, volume buttons and keyboard feature. 3-day free trial, then renews weekly for $9.99 Terms of Use: https://universaltvremoteapp.com/legal/terms Privacy: https://universaltvremoteapp.com/legal/privacy

Screenshots

Universal TV Remote ·4 screens
Connect TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Universal TV Remote · at free with in-app purchases against Connect TV Remote's subscription. Universal TV Remote · also leads on review sentiment (34% vs 9%) and ratings volume (95K vs 2.3K). Connect TV Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, update cadence 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 Connect TV Remote sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Universal TV Remote · against 4.6 for Connect TV Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote · has 95K ratings behind it against 2.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of Universal TV Remote ·'s written reviews are positive against 9% of Connect TV Remote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal TV Remote · ships an update fortnightly, Connect TV Remote monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Universal TV Remote · versus Connect TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal TV Remote ·Connect TV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (95K ratings) — better4.6 (2.3K ratings)
Positive reviews33.6% of reviews — better8.5% of reviews
Number of ratings95K — better2.3K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#24 — better#126
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB186 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperKRAFTWERK 9 LTDEast End Technologies Ltd.

Customer experience

Universal TV Remote ·

All ratings95,326 ratings
Positive89.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews1,266 reviews
Positive33.6%
Neutral5.6%
Negative60.8%

Connect TV Remote

All ratings2,247 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive8.5%
Neutral2.4%
Negative89.0%

User reviews

Universal TV Remote ·

From 95K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Connect TV Remote

From 2.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 😊 Amazing

Room to improve

  • 🚫 Did not work
  • 🚫 Terrible
  • 🚫 No Switching Back & Forth
  • 🚫 Free trial is a lie
  • 🚫 Scam

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

Connect TV Remote

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

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
9 purchases

Connect TV Remote

Subscriptions9
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Unlock All Features3 Days trial$8.957 Days
Show 6 more
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial$9.957 Days
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial2 variants$11.957 Days
  • Unlock All Features3 Days trial$14.951 Month
  • Unlock all features3 Days trial$14.957 Days
  • Unlock All Features3 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Universal TV Remote · free?
Universal TV Remote · is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Connect TV Remote free?
Connect TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote · or Connect TV Remote?
Universal TV Remote · is rated higher. Universal TV Remote · averages 4.6 out of 5 from 95K ratings, while Connect TV Remote averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.
Do Universal TV Remote · or Connect TV Remote have ads?
Universal TV Remote · shows ads; Connect TV Remote does not.
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote · or Connect TV Remote?
Universal TV Remote · ships an update fortnightly, and Connect TV Remote monthly. Most recently, Universal TV Remote · was updated on November 6, 2026 and Connect TV Remote on November 4, 2026.
Which is more popular, Universal TV Remote · or Connect TV Remote?
Universal TV Remote · currently peaks at #24 in the App Store charts, and Connect TV Remote at #126. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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