Universal TV Remote Control vs Phil
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Universal TV Remote Control
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.
- Control 100+ TV brands
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Automatic TV discovery
- Power, volume, input controls
- App access and media playback
- Navigation and directional controls
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Want to use or Turn Your iPhone Into a Universal TV Remote? Lost your TV remote or tired of battery issues? Control your TV directly from your iPhone with ease — no physical remote needed. **Fast & Simple Setup** - Connect your iPhone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network - Automatic discovery lists your TVs instantly - Start controlling immediately — no pairing codes required **Intuitive TV Controls** - Power on/off, Mute & Volume - Input selection, Home & Menu navigation - Access apps installed on your TV - Channel Up/Down, Media Playback (Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Fast Forward) - Directional navigation: Up, Down, Left, Right ** Works With All TV Brands** Top Brands: Samsung TV Remote, LG, Sony, TCL TV Remote, Roku, Fire TV Remote, Vizio Other Brands: RCA TV Remote, Element, Sceptre TV Remote, Insignia, Toshiba, Hisense TV, Sharp, Panasonic, Philips TV Remote, Skyworth, Onn, Sanyo TV Remote, Westinghouse and Android TV Remote. Supports TVs running Roku OS, Fire TV OS, Android TV OS, Samsung Tizen OS, Viziacast OS, Vidaa OS. No matter the brand, the Universal TV Remote app simplifies your entertainment experience. ** Continuous Updates & Support** - New brands and features added regularly - Dedicated support team ready to help with any issues ** Disclaimer** Codematics is not affiliated with Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Vizio, or any other TV brand. This app is not an official product of any brand. Download now and turn your iPhone into a Universal TV Remote for all your devices! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Phil
Transform your phone into a smart TV remote with a variety of models. Enjoy a fast touchpad, keyboard, and an intuitive interface for seamless control. Your last used remote is saved for instant access.
- Multiple remote models supported
- Quick access to last used remote
- Fast touchpad and keyboard
- Easy-to-use interface
- No installation required
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This app contains the remote models: RM-D1000 RM-627C RC3000E02 RM-L1030 and more Features: * Your last remote will be saved for quick and easy access next time you'll open the app * NO installation, just click and play * FAST touch pad and keyboard for quick swipes and typing * AMAZING design with cool and easy interface Have questions? remote isn't working? Please feel free to contact us on support@os-apps.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Phil at 4.7 against Universal TV Remote Control's 3.6. Phil also leads on iOS requirement (13.1 vs 15.0). Universal TV Remote Control's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 48%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Universal TV Remote Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Phil sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Phil holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 5.1K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 48% of Phil's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, Phil fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Universal TV Remote Control | Phil |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (4.1K ratings) | 4.7 (5.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.1% of reviews — better | 47.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4.1K | 5.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Codematics Services | Oz Shabbatth |
Customer experience
Universal TV Remote Control
Phil
User reviews
Universal TV Remote Control
From 4.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 🚀 Convenient remote alternative
Room to improve
- 🐛 Doesn't work for some TV brands
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 💸 Too many ads
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
Phil
From 5.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Works perfectly
- 🚀 Connects quickly
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔍 Requires location access
- 💸 Too many ads
Bugs and requests
Universal TV Remote Control
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent crashes
- Buttons don't respond
- Incompatible with certain TV models
Requested features
3 requests- Support for more TV brands
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Ad-free version
Phil
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unable to connect to TV
- Keeps asking for updated version
- Functionality issues after WiFi disconnect
Requested features
2 requests- Paid ad-free version
- Improved connection stability
In-app purchases
Universal TV Remote Control
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$19.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$89.991 Year
- Remove Full Screen Ads$24.99
- Ad Free Version$99.99
Phil
- No Ads$3.99
Questions
Is Universal TV Remote Control free?
Is Phil free?
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote Control or Phil?
Do Universal TV Remote Control or Phil have ads?
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote Control or Phil?
Other comparisons
