# TV Remote Universal vs Remote for Now

The clearest difference is ads: Remote for Now at none against TV Remote Universal's shown. Remote for Now also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17). TV Remote Universal's advantage is review sentiment (14% vs 0%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Remote for Now sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, Remote for Now fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Universal | Remote for Now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1447773150/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **13.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Real Vision Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447773149) | [Trademark Applications](https://appshunter.io/developer/493063248) |

## 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


### Remote for Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-now/id1598089882)

This app provides a convenient way to control your Now TV or Roku devices from your smartphone. It automatically scans for devices on your network and offers both trackpad and D-pad navigation options.

**Highlights:** Automatic device scanning, Trackpad and D-Pad navigation, Keypad controls, Supports multiple devices, Tablet support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Universal free?

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

### Is Remote for Now free?

Remote for Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do TV Remote Universal or Remote for Now have ads?

TV Remote Universal shows ads; Remote for Now does not.

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

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Remote for Now fortnightly. Most recently, TV Remote Universal was updated on September 18, 2026 and Remote for Now on September 10, 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.*