# Universal Remote vs Smart TV Remote Control Plus

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smart TV Remote Control Plus at every 2 weeks against Universal Remote's every 2 months. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 Smart TV Remote Control Plus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart TV Remote Control Plus holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 20K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 25% of Smart TV Remote Control Plus's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, Smart TV Remote Control Plus every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Smart TV Remote Control Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765/reviews) | **[4.5 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-control-plus/id1570275114/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13K | **20K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.8% of reviews | **24.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [DREAMTEAM APPS sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626812597) |

## 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


### Smart TV Remote Control Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-control-plus/id1570275114)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful remote control for your smart TV. Easily navigate menus, adjust volume, and change channels using your mobile device over Wi-Fi. Supports a wide range of popular smart TV operating systems and brands.

**Highlights:** Use iPhone/iPad as TV remote, Supports popular smart TV OS, Works with 100+ brands, Auto-detects smart TVs, Wi-Fi connectivity, All common remote commands

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Control Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| 1 Week Premium with Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Premium with Trial | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Premium Access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Premium with Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Premium with Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Premium Access | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Premium with Trial | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium with Trial | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Works well with various TVs
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔒 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to enter TV PIN
- Incompatible with certain TV models
- Buttons not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improve connection stability
- Offer free version with limited features
- Add support for more TV brands


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Smart TV Remote Control Plus free?

Smart TV Remote Control Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Smart TV Remote Control Plus?

Smart TV Remote Control Plus is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Smart TV Remote Control Plus averages 4.5 from 20K ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Smart TV Remote Control Plus have ads?

Both Universal Remote and Smart TV Remote Control Plus show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Smart TV Remote Control Plus?

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, and Smart TV Remote Control Plus every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 31, 2026 and Smart TV Remote Control Plus on October 31, 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.*