# Universal Smart Remote for TV vs TV Remote

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Smart Remote for TV | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (580 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-remote-for-tv/id1449395090/reviews) | **[4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 580 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **37.5% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 24 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TINAC Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/539875795) | [SECURE SOFT LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585537099) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Smart Remote for TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-remote-for-tv/id1449395090)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access(Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Full Access(Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Full Access(Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro Features | $4.99 | one-time |
| Full Access(Lifetime) | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Add volume control
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Allow full functionality without payment


### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Pairing device code not working
- Doesn't connect to multiple TVs

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription
- More features like casting and touch calibration


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*