# TV Remote Universal vs ESP Alexa

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote Universal at 3.4 against ESP Alexa's 2.3. TV Remote Universal also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). ESP Alexa's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. ESP Alexa asks for nothing beyond the download.

TV Remote Universal holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote Universal has 12K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of TV Remote Universal's written reviews are positive against 33% of ESP Alexa's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, ESP Alexa every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Universal | ESP Alexa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1447773150/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp-alexa/id1464127534/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 13.6% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 36 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Real Vision Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447773149) | [ESPRESSIF SYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071176699) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1447773150)

Control your smart TV directly from your iPhone or iPad. This app transforms your device into a universal remote, supporting major brands like Samsung, LG, and Roku. Enjoy seamless control over power, volume, channels, and smart TV features.

**Highlights:** Power ON / OFF, Volume control, Channel selection, Navigation pad, Media player functions, Smart TV features

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium version | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Amazing
- 👍 Good app
- 🚀 Works great

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Mediocre, only works half the time
- 🐛 Does not work
- 🐛 Connection issues, won't connect or show available TV
- 🐛 Reconnecting issues after disconnecting
- 🔋 Too many ads, makes it unusable

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to detect or connect to devices
- Constant ads interrupt usage
- Unreliable, frequently stops working

**Requested features**

- Better TV search and connection options
- Improved stability and reliability


### ESP Alexa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp-alexa/id1464127534)

This SDK enables developers to integrate Amazon's Alexa Voice Service and Google Voice Assistant into ESP32 microcontroller-based devices. It's designed for evaluating voice assistant integrations in smart speakers and IoT products.

**Highlights:** Alexa Voice Service integration, Google Voice Assistant integration, Dialogflow conversational interface, ESP32 microcontroller support, IoT device integration, Voice assistant evaluation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Universal free?

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

### Is ESP Alexa free?

ESP Alexa is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TV Remote Universal or ESP Alexa?

TV Remote Universal is rated higher. TV Remote Universal averages 3.4 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while ESP Alexa averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do TV Remote Universal or ESP Alexa have ads?

TV Remote Universal shows ads; ESP Alexa does not.

### Which is updated more often, TV Remote Universal or ESP Alexa?

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, and ESP Alexa every 2 months. Most recently, TV Remote Universal was updated on November 5, 2026 and ESP Alexa on November 5, 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.*