# Universal Remote vs TV Remote, Universal Remote

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote, Universal Remote at 4.8 against Universal Remote's 4.3. TV Remote, Universal Remote also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (26% vs 18%). Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 2.9K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 TV Remote, Universal Remote sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote, Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 2.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 26% of TV Remote, Universal Remote's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | TV Remote, Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-remote/id1660719609/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 2.9K |
| Positive reviews | 17.8% of reviews | **25.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [Inston](https://appshunter.io/developer/1660719611) |

## 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


### TV Remote, Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-remote/id1660719609)

Transform your smartphone into a universal TV remote. Control power, volume, channels, and menus for over 1000 TV models worldwide. Simplify your entertainment setup and eliminate the need for multiple physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Universal TV control, Power on/off, Volume adjustment, Channel navigation, Menu access, Simple setup, Wide compatibility

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Access IPTV Channels - Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro: Unlock All | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro: Full Access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro: Ultimate Access | $12.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Access IPTV Channels - Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Pro: Unlimited Access | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $6.99 | one-time |
| Access All Features | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $27.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $32.99 | one-time |
| Access IPTV Channel - Lifetime | $32.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🙌 Helpful for finding lost remote
- 💡 Allows room/location customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Excessive paid features
- 🚫 Limited functionality in free version
- 📺 Compatibility issues with some TV models
- 💤 Frequent ads interrupting usage

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to TV
- Buttons not responding as expected
- Subscription not canceling properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to control more TV functions without subscription
- Option to disable ads in free version
- Support for more TV brands and models


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is TV Remote, Universal Remote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or TV Remote, Universal Remote?

TV Remote, Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while TV Remote, Universal Remote averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or TV Remote, Universal Remote have ads?

Both Universal Remote and TV Remote, Universal Remote show ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, and TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 31, 2026 and TV Remote, Universal Remote on October 30, 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.*