# Universal TV Remote Control vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.5 against Universal TV Remote Control's 3.6. Universal TV Remote Control's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 53%) and ratings volume (4.1K vs 564). 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 TV Remote sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote Control has 4.1K ratings behind it against 564, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 53% of TV Remote'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 29, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Control | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256/reviews) | **[4.5 (564 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control-plus/id1663632832/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 564 |
| Positive reviews | **65.1% of reviews** | 53.4% 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 | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Codematics Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225541389) | [ZipoApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1671444635) |

## 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


### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control-plus/id1663632832)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for smart TVs and streaming devices. Control channels, volume, and apps with a familiar interface. Cast media and mirror your screen for a seamless entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV control, App launching and navigation, Media casting (photos, videos), Screen mirroring, Control soundbars and consoles, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote ◦ Universal Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote ◦ Universal Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $9.99 | per year |
| Smart, Universal TV Remote | $14.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $29.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Convenient to use
- ✨ Works well as a remote
- 💡 Useful when remote is broken

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Paywall restricts features
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Unclear free trial terms

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work with certain TV models
- Subscription issues (unable to cancel, etc.)
- Frequent crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add support for more TV brands
- Improve subscription management
- Provide a one-time purchase option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Control free?

Universal TV Remote Control 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 TV Remote Control or TV Remote?

TV Remote is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.5 from 564 ratings.

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

Both Universal TV Remote Control and TV Remote show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Control was updated on October 29, 2026 and TV Remote on October 22, 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.*