# TV Remote Universal vs Smart TV Remote Universal

The clearest difference is rating: Smart TV Remote Universal at 3.8 against TV Remote Universal's 3.4. TV Remote Universal's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 890). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Smart TV Remote Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart TV Remote Universal holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote Universal has 12K ratings behind it against 890, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of TV Remote Universal's written reviews are positive against 18% of Smart TV Remote Universal's.

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, Smart TV Remote Universal every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Universal | Smart TV Remote Universal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1447773150/reviews) | **[3.8 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-universal/id1494893176/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 890 |
| Positive reviews | 13.6% of reviews | **17.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Real Vision Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447773149) | [Jenni Parkkonen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494893175) |

## 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


### Smart TV Remote Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-universal/id1494893176)

Transform your iOS device into a universal TV remote. Control multiple brands like Samsung, LG, and Roku seamlessly over WiFi. Manage power, volume, channels, and more without the clutter of physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Universal remote control, Supports major TV brands, WiFi connectivity, Power, volume, and channel control, Ad-free premium option, Multiple subscription plans

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Version | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime premium | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great remote app
- 💖 Love this remote
- 👍 Works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Doesn't work
- 📺 Won't connect to TV
- 🙄 Too many ads
- 💩 Terrible app
- 🤬 Waste of time

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on device scan
- Volume controls not working
- Navigation issues

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Improve device detection
- Reduce ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Universal free?

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

### Is Smart TV Remote Universal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TV Remote Universal or Smart TV Remote Universal?

Smart TV Remote Universal is rated higher. TV Remote Universal averages 3.4 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Smart TV Remote Universal averages 3.8 from 890 ratings.

### Do TV Remote Universal or Smart TV Remote Universal have ads?

Both TV Remote Universal and Smart TV Remote Universal show ads.

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

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Smart TV Remote Universal every 6 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote Universal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Smart TV Remote Universal on October 29, 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.*