# Smart TV Remote Universal vs Universal TV Remote ◆

The clearest difference is monetization model: Smart TV Remote Universal at free with in-app purchases against Universal TV Remote ◆'s subscription. Universal TV Remote ◆'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.1 vs 3.8). On price, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart TV Remote Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Universal TV Remote ◆ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV Remote ◆ holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote ◆ has 8.4K ratings behind it against 890, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 18% and 17% positive.

Smart TV Remote Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, Universal TV Remote ◆ every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart TV Remote Universal | Universal TV Remote ◆ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (890 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-universal/id1494893176/reviews) | **[4.1 (8.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1527843569/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 890 | **8.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **17.6% of reviews** | 16.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 32 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jenni Parkkonen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494893175) | [Vinh Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893574532) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart TV Remote Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-universal/id1494893176)

Transform your iOS device into a universal TV remote. Control multiple brands like Samsung, LG, and Roku seamlessly over WiFi. Manage power, volume, channels, and more without the clutter of physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Universal remote control, Supports major TV brands, WiFi connectivity, Power, volume, and channel control, Ad-free premium option, Multiple subscription plans

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Version | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime premium | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great remote app
- 💖 Love this remote
- 👍 Works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Doesn't work
- 📺 Won't connect to TV
- 🙄 Too many ads
- 💩 Terrible app
- 🤬 Waste of time

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on device scan
- Volume controls not working
- Navigation issues

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Improve device detection
- Reduce ads


### Universal TV Remote ◆

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1527843569)

Control your smart TV using your iPhone or iPad. Connect to the same WiFi network for automatic detection and use features like a built-in keyboard, voice commands, and media casting. Offers a fully functional remote experience with motion control and Apple Watch support.

**Highlights:** Fully functional remote control, Built-in keyboard for searches, Mouse Air motion control, Voice commands, Cast photos, videos, and audios, Apple Watch and Widgets support

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Upgrade TV Remote | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works with TVs
- 👍 Apple Watch compatible
- ⭐️ Great app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work
- 💰 Requires subscription
- 🔍 Difficult to use
- 🤖 Buggy
- 🚫 Doesn't connect to TV

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't recognize subscription
- Keeps asking to upgrade
- Crashes frequently

**Requested features**

- Add Back and Home buttons to Apple Watch app
- Improve TV compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart TV Remote Universal free?

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

### Is Universal TV Remote ◆ free?

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

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

Universal TV Remote ◆ is rated higher. Smart TV Remote Universal averages 3.8 out of 5 from 890 ratings, while Universal TV Remote ◆ averages 4.1 from 8.4K ratings.

### Do Smart TV Remote Universal or Universal TV Remote ◆ have ads?

Smart TV Remote Universal shows ads; Universal TV Remote ◆ does not.

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

Smart TV Remote Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, and Universal TV Remote ◆ every 2 weeks. Most recently, Smart TV Remote Universal was updated on November 3, 2026 and Universal TV Remote ◆ on November 3, 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.*