# Universal TV Remote Control vs Smart TV Remote Control Plus

The clearest difference is rating: Smart TV Remote Control Plus at 4.5 against Universal TV Remote Control's 3.6. Smart TV Remote Control Plus also leads on ratings volume (20K vs 4.1K). Universal TV Remote Control's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Smart TV Remote Control Plus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart TV Remote Control Plus holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 20K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 25% of Smart TV Remote Control Plus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Control | Smart TV Remote Control Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256/reviews) | **[4.5 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-control-plus/id1570275114/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.1K | **20K** |
| Positive reviews | **65.1% of reviews** | 24.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 191 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codematics Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225541389) | [DREAMTEAM APPS sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626812597) |

## 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


### Smart TV Remote Control Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-control-plus/id1570275114)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful remote control for your smart TV. Easily navigate menus, adjust volume, and change channels using your mobile device over Wi-Fi. Supports a wide range of popular smart TV operating systems and brands.

**Highlights:** Use iPhone/iPad as TV remote, Supports popular smart TV OS, Works with 100+ brands, Auto-detects smart TVs, Wi-Fi connectivity, All common remote commands

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Control Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| 1 Week Premium with Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Premium with Trial | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Premium Access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Premium with Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Premium with Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Premium Access | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Premium with Trial | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium with Trial | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Works well with various TVs
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔒 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to enter TV PIN
- Incompatible with certain TV models
- Buttons not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Improve connection stability
- Offer free version with limited features
- Add support for more TV brands


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is Smart TV Remote Control Plus free?

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

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

Smart TV Remote Control Plus is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Smart TV Remote Control Plus averages 4.5 from 20K ratings.

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

Both Universal TV Remote Control and Smart TV Remote Control Plus show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Smart TV Remote Control Plus every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Control was updated on October 26, 2026 and Smart TV Remote Control Plus on October 28, 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.*