# Universal TV Remote Control vs Universal Remote for Smart TV+

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal TV Remote Control at 65% against Universal Remote for Smart TV+'s 17%. Universal Remote for Smart TV+'s advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.6) and chart position (#182 vs unranked). 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 Universal Remote for Smart TV+ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote for Smart TV+ holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 2.5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 17% of Universal Remote for Smart TV+'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, Universal Remote for Smart TV+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Control | Universal Remote for Smart TV+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1492122256/reviews) | **[4.4 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-smart-tv-plus/id6670310164/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.1K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | **65.1% of reviews** | 17.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#182** |
| Size | 24 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Codematics Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225541389) | [Delta Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676377811) |

## 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 Remote for Smart TV+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-smart-tv-plus/id6670310164)

**Currently charting:** #182 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your smart TVs with your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. This app offers a user-friendly interface to manage power, volume, channels, and even cast content from your device to the big screen. It's a perfect replacement for misplaced physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Power, volume, and channel control, Keyboard and touchpad for navigation, Screen mirroring and casting, YouTube and IPTV casting, Playback controls, Apple Watch support, Dynamic Island integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Yearly Plan | $19.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Yearly Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Paloma mía
- 💎 El tablas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Fee not optional
- 🚫 Have to pay to use
- 🚫 Whoever thought that making a remote a paid subscription was a good idea deserves to be eaten alive by dogs like game of thrones
- 🚫 The app is impossible to use unless you agree to pay
- 🚫 Wow you can't even use the app unless you pay. You can't hit the volume up or down without being sent to the subscription page. You really want 6.99 a week? If anything it should be a 1 & done thing, the app should just cost money to download. What a joke

**Reported bugs**

- Funcionó al principio pero luego dejó de conectarse
- Wont mirror to my tv. Just keeps saying format not supported
- Don't waste your time on the trial. Doesn't cast or mirror. Remote function & settings option at bottom of screen are the only 2 out of 5 that operate

**Requested features**

- None


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is Universal Remote for Smart TV+ free?

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

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

Universal Remote for Smart TV+ is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Control averages 3.6 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Universal Remote for Smart TV+ averages 4.4 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do Universal TV Remote Control or Universal Remote for Smart TV+ have ads?

Both Universal TV Remote Control and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Control was updated on November 7, 2026 and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ 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.*