# Universal TV Remote Control vs Universal Smart TV Remote App

The clearest difference is rating: Universal Smart TV Remote App at 4.5 against Universal TV Remote Control's 3.6. Universal Smart TV Remote App also leads on ads (none vs shown). Universal TV Remote Control's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (4.1K vs 458). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal TV Remote Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Universal Smart TV Remote App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Smart TV Remote App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote Control has 4.1K ratings behind it against 458, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 68% of Universal Smart TV Remote App's.

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Control | Universal Smart TV Remote App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256/reviews) | **[4.5 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 458 |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews | **68.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codematics Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225541389) | [Hemant Bhonsle](https://appshunter.io/developer/442878468) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $89.99 | per year |
| Remove Full Screen Ads | $24.99 | one-time |
| Ad Free Version | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes
- Buttons don't respond
- Incompatible with certain TV models

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Ad-free version


### Universal Smart TV Remote App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853)

Control your Samsung, Sony, Roku, or Vizio smart TV instantly without complex setup. This app eliminates the need for lost or broken physical remotes. It's compatible with Apple Watch and requires no subscription.

**Highlights:** Instant TV control, No settings required, Supports Apple Watch, No subscription needed, Control multiple brands

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium with Trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 👍 Works well with various TV brands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and app freezes
- 💰 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🚫 Limited functionality compared to physical remote
- 🐛 Issues with scanning and connecting to TVs

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes after TV scanning
- Unable to connect to certain TV models
- Ads not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV power on/off
- Option to customize ad frequency
- Support for more TV brands
- Improved stability and reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is Universal Smart TV Remote App free?

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

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

Universal Smart TV Remote App is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Universal Smart TV Remote App averages 4.5 from 458 ratings.

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

Universal TV Remote Control shows ads; Universal Smart TV Remote App does not.

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

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Control was updated on November 3, 2026 and Universal Smart TV Remote App on November 4, 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.*