# Universal Remote vs Remote control for Mi Box

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Remote control for Mi Box at 43% against Universal Remote's 18%. Remote control for Mi Box also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and iOS requirement (13.1 vs 15.6). Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 1.3K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Remote control for Mi Box sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Remote control for Mi Box holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 13K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 43% of Remote control for Mi Box's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, Remote control for Mi Box monthly. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Remote control for Mi Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-mi-box/id1568456430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 17.8% of reviews | **42.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start Free Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Pro Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Pro Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Go Pro Universal Remote TV | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Remote control for Mi Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-mi-box/id1568456430)

Control your Mi Box device with your smartphone. Offers a fast touchpad, keyboard for easy typing, and saves your last remote for quick access. Enjoy a user-friendly interface designed for an improved experience.

**Highlights:** Last remote saved for quick access, No installation required, Fast touchpad, Keyboard for typing, Easy-to-use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Works well with Mi Box
- 💡 Useful alternative to physical remote
- 👍 Functional remote control
- 🚀 Fast connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 📺 Can't turn on TV
- 🔊 Volume control issues
- 🔍 Slow connection
- 📢 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't work after updates
- Can't connect to device
- Remote buttons not responsive
- Keyboard issues

**Requested features**

- Add keyboard support
- Reduce ad frequency
- Improve remote UI/UX
- Add ability to power on TV


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Remote control for Mi Box free?

Remote control for Mi Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Remote control for Mi Box?

Remote control for Mi Box is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Remote control for Mi Box averages 4.6 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Remote control for Mi Box have ads?

Both Universal Remote and Remote control for Mi Box show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Remote control for Mi Box?

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, and Remote control for Mi Box monthly. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 22, 2026 and Remote control for Mi Box on October 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*