# Universal TV Remote Control vs Phil

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Control | Phil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256/reviews) | **[4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.1K | **5.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **65.1% of reviews** | 47.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codematics Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225541389) | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) |

## 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


### Phil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340)

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.

**Highlights:** Multiple remote models supported, Quick access to last used remote, Fast touchpad and keyboard, Easy-to-use interface, No installation required

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works perfectly
- 🚀 Connects quickly
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔍 Requires location access
- 💸 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to TV
- Keeps asking for updated version
- Functionality issues after WiFi disconnect

**Requested features**

- Paid ad-free version
- Improved connection stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is Phil free?

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

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

Phil is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Phil averages 4.7 from 5.1K ratings.

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

Both Universal TV Remote Control and Phil show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Phil fortnightly. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Control was updated on October 29, 2026 and Phil 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.*