Comparison

Universal Smart Remote for TV vs 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 Smart Remote for TV

Transform your iPhone into a comprehensive smart TV remote. Easily control playback, navigate menus with a touchpad, and launch apps with a single tap. Stream content and mirror your screen wirelessly.

Highlights
  • Full D-pad, volume, channel, and playback controls
  • Touchpad navigation
  • Keyboard input for text entry
  • One-tap app launching
  • Screen mirroring and content sharing
  • Siri Shortcuts integration
Features
Read full description

Your iPhone is the only remote you need. Universal Smart Remote turns your phone into a full-featured TV controller — just connect to the same Wi-Fi and you're good to go. No dongles, no IR blasters, no setup headaches. Works with Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Roku, and Philips. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Use a full d-pad, volume, channel, and playback controls - Navigate with a touchpad — just like a laptop trackpad - Type with your keyboard instead of clicking one letter at a time - Launch Netflix, YouTube, and other apps in one tap WORKS WITH YOUR TV Samsung — Every Smart TV from 2010 to 2026. Crystal UHD, QLED, Neo QLED, The Frame — all supported. LG — All WebOS TVs and Netcast TVs (2012-2013). Sony — Android TV and Google TV models. TCL — All Roku-powered TCL TVs. Roku — All Roku TVs and streaming devices. Philips — Android TV models. HOW IT WORKS 1. Connect your iPhone and TV to the same Wi-Fi 2. Open the app — your TV shows up automatically 3. Tap to connect. Done. The app remembers your last TV and reconnects automatically next time. --- Requires iOS 18.0 or later. Universal Smart Remote is not affiliated with Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Roku, or Philips. Keyboard input may not work in some streaming apps. Subscription Information: Payment will be charged to your Apple Account within 24 hours prior to the end of the free trial period. Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage subscriptions in Account Settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited upon subscription. Privacy Policy: https://www.tinacinc.com/SmartRemote/privacy_policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.tinacinc.com/SmartRemote/terms_of_conditions.html

About

TV Remote

Control your smart TV directly from your smartphone. This app automatically detects compatible TVs on your Wi-Fi network and offers most of the key features found on a physical remote for a seamless viewing experience.

Highlights
  • Universal smart TV control
  • Auto-detect TV on Wi-Fi
  • Works with popular brands
  • Full remote key features
  • Subscription options
Features
Read full description

TV Remote - Universal Control• The Universal Remote - Control TV app is for all Brand Smart TV. The TV Remote Control app works to operate your Smart TV smoothly from your phone. Try it & enjoy a better TV experience. Features: - Auto detect smart TV on the same WIFI network. - Work with the most popular brand Smart TVs. - Maximum key features of a physical Remote available here Subscription details: Length of subscription: - 1 week - 1 Year - Life Time Subscription cost: - 1 week for 4.99 - 1 year for 19.99 (Including a three-day free trial) - Life Time for 29.99 • Payment will be charged to iTunes account at the confirmation of purchase. • Subscription will automatically renew unless auto renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of current period, and identify the cost of renewal. • Account will be the charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto renewal may be turned off by going to the users account settings after purchase. • Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Read our privacy policy: https://sites.google.com/view/securesoft/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://sites.google.com/view/securesoft/tnc

Screenshots

Universal Smart Remote for TV4 screens
TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.4 against Universal Smart Remote for TV's 3.5. TV Remote also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Universal Smart Remote for TV's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Smart Remote for TV sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and TV Remote sells 10 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

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 580 and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Universal Smart Remote for TV's written reviews are positive against 33% of TV Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal Smart Remote for TV ships an update every 6 weeks, TV Remote every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Universal Smart Remote for TV versus TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal Smart Remote for TVTV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (580 ratings)4.4 (1.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings5801.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTINAC Inc.SECURE SOFT LTD.

Customer experience

Universal Smart Remote for TV

All ratings579 ratings
Positive59.8%
Neutral6.0%
Negative34.2%
Written reviews144 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral9.7%
Negative52.8%

TV Remote

All ratings1,094 ratings
Positive84.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative11.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

User reviews

Universal Smart Remote for TV

From 580 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works well
  • 🚀 Cheap compared to other apps
  • 🚀 Convenient to have on phone

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections
  • 🐛 Glitchy/unreliable
  • 🔒 Requires payment for full functionality
  • 🐛 Buttons/navigation not working as expected

TV Remote

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Responsive app
  • 💡 Helpful when TV remote is not working

Room to improve

  • 💰 Requires paid subscription
  • 🔒 Bluetooth required for connection
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🚫 Doesn't work as expected

Bugs and requests

Universal Smart Remote for TV

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Doesn't connect to TV
  • Stops working after some time
  • Buttons/navigation not responsive

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add volume control
  • Improve app stability and reliability
  • Allow full functionality without payment

TV Remote

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Pairing device code not working
  • Doesn't connect to multiple TVs

Requested features

2 requests
  • Free version without subscription
  • More features like casting and touch calibration

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Universal Smart Remote for TV

Subscriptions3
  • Full Access(Weekly)$0.997 Days
  • Full Access(Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Full Access(Yearly)3 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features$4.99
  • Full Access(Lifetime)$24.99
10 purchases

TV Remote

Subscriptions9
  • TV Remote Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • TV Remote Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
  • TV Remote Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • TV Remote Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • TV Remote Lifetime Purchase$29.99

Questions

Is Universal Smart Remote for TV free?
Universal Smart Remote for TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote free?
TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal Smart Remote for TV or TV Remote?
TV Remote is rated higher. Universal Smart Remote for TV averages 3.5 out of 5 from 580 ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.4 from 1.1K ratings.
Do Universal Smart Remote for TV or TV Remote have ads?
Neither Universal Smart Remote for TV nor TV Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal Smart Remote for TV or TV Remote?
Universal Smart Remote for TV ships an update every 6 weeks, and TV Remote every 4 weeks. Most recently, Universal Smart Remote for TV was updated on November 2, 2026 and TV Remote on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons