Comparison

Universal Remote vs Universal TV Remote Control

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Universal Remote

Transform your phone into a smart TV remote. Easily control volume, channels, power, and more for compatible Samsung and LG smart TVs over your WiFi network. Offers premium features through a subscription.

Highlights
  • Control smart TVs from your phone
  • WiFi network connection
  • Volume, channel, power control
  • Source and smart function control
  • Compatible with Samsung and LG TVs
Features
Read full description

Ξ Use your Phone to control your Smart TV easily. Ξ Compatible with Samsung, LG, and other Smart TV brands coming soon... "Control your Smart TV directly from your device! " Key Features: - Fully functional free virtual TV Remote control - Connect to your Smart TV on your WiFi Network - Control your TV: volume, source, power, channel, smart... Samsung Compatibility: C Series (2010), D Series (2011), E Series (2012), F Series (2013), H Series (2014), J Series (2015), K Series (2016), Q-M Series(2017), Q-N Series (2018) and R Series (2019). LG Compatibility: All WebOS TV series DISCLAIMER This app is not an official Samsung or LG product. We are not affiliated with the company Samsung or LG. SUBSCRIPTION: We offer auto-renewing subscription: - Length: weekly and yearly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - You will be able to access the Premium features of the app for the duration of the subscription - Subscription automatically renews for the same price and duration period as the original period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen package. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's iTunes Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period - You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription setting through your Apple account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 for more information on how to proceed. - You may turn off the auto-renewal of your subscription via your Apple Account Settings. However, you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period - Any unused portion of a free-trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://planecubes.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://planecubes.com/terms/

About

Universal TV Remote Control

Transform your iPhone into a powerful universal TV remote. Easily control over 100 TV brands without needing your physical remote or dealing with battery issues. Enjoy fast setup and intuitive controls for all your entertainment needs.

Highlights
  • Control 100+ TV brands
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Automatic TV discovery
  • Power, volume, input controls
  • App access and media playback
  • Navigation and directional controls
Features
Read full description

Want to use or Turn Your iPhone Into a Universal TV Remote? Lost your TV remote or tired of battery issues? Control your TV directly from your iPhone with ease — no physical remote needed. **Fast & Simple Setup** - Connect your iPhone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network - Automatic discovery lists your TVs instantly - Start controlling immediately — no pairing codes required **Intuitive TV Controls** - Power on/off, Mute & Volume - Input selection, Home & Menu navigation - Access apps installed on your TV - Channel Up/Down, Media Playback (Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Fast Forward) - Directional navigation: Up, Down, Left, Right ** Works With All TV Brands** Top Brands: Samsung TV Remote, LG, Sony, TCL TV Remote, Roku, Fire TV Remote, Vizio Other Brands: RCA TV Remote, Element, Sceptre TV Remote, Insignia, Toshiba, Hisense TV, Sharp, Panasonic, Philips TV Remote, Skyworth, Onn, Sanyo TV Remote, Westinghouse and Android TV Remote. Supports TVs running Roku OS, Fire TV OS, Android TV OS, Samsung Tizen OS, Viziacast OS, Vidaa OS. No matter the brand, the Universal TV Remote app simplifies your entertainment experience. ** Continuous Updates & Support** - New brands and features added regularly - Dedicated support team ready to help with any issues ** Disclaimer** Codematics is not affiliated with Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Vizio, or any other TV brand. This app is not an official product of any brand. Download now and turn your iPhone into a Universal TV Remote for all your devices! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Universal Remote3 screens
Universal TV Remote Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal TV Remote Control at 65% against Universal Remote's 18%. Universal TV Remote Control also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Universal Remote's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (13K vs 4.1K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 4.1K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, Universal TV Remote Control every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Universal Remote versus Universal TV Remote Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal RemoteUniversal TV Remote Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (13K ratings) — better3.6 (4.1K ratings)
Positive reviews17.8% of reviews65.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13K — better4.1K
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlane CubesCodematics Services

Customer experience

Universal Remote

All ratings12,865 ratings
Positive82.7%
Neutral3.5%
Negative13.8%
Written reviews461 reviews
Positive17.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative80.3%

Universal TV Remote Control

All ratings4,129 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative31.5%
Written reviews439 reviews
Positive65.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative32.8%

User reviews

Universal Remote

From 13K App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Universal remote control
  • 💯 Works as advertised
  • 🤩 Great app for managing TV

Room to improve

  • 💸 Expensive subscription
  • 🚫 Doesn't work with some TVs
  • 🔍 Requires original remote for setup
  • 🤬 Lots of ads
  • 🔒 Hard to cancel subscription

Universal TV Remote Control

From 4.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works well
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Useful for lost remotes
  • 🚀 Convenient remote alternative

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work for some TV brands
  • 🔋 Drains battery
  • 💸 Too many ads
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues

Bugs and requests

Universal Remote

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App keeps disconnecting from TV
  • Doesn't recognize TV or remote commands
  • Crashes or freezes during use

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add keyboard and mouse support for TV browser
  • Improve compatibility with more TV models
  • Provide better troubleshooting and support options

Universal TV Remote Control

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent crashes
  • Buttons don't respond
  • Incompatible with certain TV models

Requested features

3 requests
  • Support for more TV brands
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Ad-free version

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Universal Remote

Subscriptions3
  • Start Free Trial3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Universal Remote Pro Week3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Universal Remote Pro Year$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Go Pro Universal Remote TV$9.99
5 purchases

Universal TV Remote Control

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$19.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$89.991 Year
One-time2
  • Remove Full Screen Ads$24.99
  • Ad Free Version$99.99

Questions

Is Universal Remote free?
Universal Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Universal TV Remote Control free?
Universal TV Remote Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Universal TV Remote Control?
Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 from 4.1K ratings.
Do Universal Remote or Universal TV Remote Control have ads?
Both Universal Remote and Universal TV Remote Control show ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Universal TV Remote Control?
Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, and Universal TV Remote Control every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 25, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Control on October 25, 2026.

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