# TV Remote Universal vs Connect TV Remote

The clearest difference is rating: Connect TV Remote at 4.6 against TV Remote Universal's 3.4. Connect TV Remote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#122 vs unranked). TV Remote Universal's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (12K vs 2.3K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 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.

Connect TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote Universal has 12K ratings behind it against 2.3K, 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 9% of Connect TV Remote'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, Connect TV Remote monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Universal | Connect TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1447773150/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-tv-remote/id6474351038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12K** | 2.3K |
| Positive reviews | **13.6% of reviews** | 8.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#122** |
| Size | 36 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Real Vision Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447773149) | [East End Technologies Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1627256488) |

## 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


### Connect TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-tv-remote/id6474351038)

**Currently charting:** #122 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $8.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $9.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $11.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $14.95 | per month |
| Unlock all features | $14.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Amazing

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Universal free?

TV Remote Universal 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, TV Remote Universal or Connect TV Remote?

Connect TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote Universal averages 3.4 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Connect TV Remote averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.

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

TV Remote Universal shows ads; Connect TV Remote does not.

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

TV Remote Universal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Connect TV Remote monthly. Most recently, TV Remote Universal was updated on November 5, 2026 and Connect TV Remote on November 4, 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.*