# Universal Remote vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TV Remote at 56% against Universal Remote's 18%. TV Remote also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). 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 sells 3 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, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 60K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 56% of TV Remote's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, TV Remote every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765/reviews) | **[4.6 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13K | **60K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.8% of reviews | **56.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#202** |
| Size | 24 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) |

## 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189)

**Currently charting:** #202 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote control for your smart TV. This app supports a wide variety of popular TV brands, consolidating all your remotes into one convenient device. Enjoy a simplified TV-watching experience.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs with phone, Supports wide range of brands, Eliminates multiple remotes, LG, Roku, Samsung, Sony, Philips support, Simplified TV experience

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost
- 🔒 No ads or subscriptions
- 🚀 Quick connection to TV

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with some TV models
- 🐛 Keyboard not working on some TVs
- 🐛 Disconnects frequently

**Reported bugs**

- App force closes when connecting to certain TVs
- Volume controls not working on some TVs
- Remote buttons not responding consistently

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn TV on/off
- Improve keyboard functionality
- Expand TV brand compatibility
- Add option to save connected TV


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

Universal Remote 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 Remote or TV Remote?

TV Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.6 from 60K ratings.

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

Both Universal Remote and TV Remote show ads.

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

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

---

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