Comparison

Smart TV Remote Universal vs Phil

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Smart TV Remote Universal

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
Read full description

Lost the remote again? Your phone is now the only remote you need. Smart TV Remote Universal turns your iPhone or iPad into a fast, reliable remote for nearly any smart TV — no infrared, no extra hardware, and no digging through couch cushions. Pair once over Wi-Fi and take control in seconds. ONE APP FOR EVERY TV IN YOUR HOME Pair multiple TVs and switch between rooms instantly — no re-pairing, no setup every time. Living room to bedroom in one tap. CONTROL EVERYTHING Power, volume, channels, inputs, playback and a full D-pad — every button from your physical remote, right on your screen, with real haptic feedback on every press. TYPE INSTEAD OF HUNTING LETTERS Stop picking letters one at a time on the TV screen. Use your phone's keyboard — or the numeric pad — to search shows, sign in to apps and enter passwords in a fraction of the time. SWIPE TO NAVIGATE A smooth trackpad lets you glide through menus with your thumb — faster and more natural than pressing arrow keys. SPEAK INSTEAD OF SCROLLING Use voice input to search and navigate on supported TVs — completely hands-free. LAUNCH YOUR APPS IN ONE TAP The apps grid takes you straight to your favorite streaming apps without hunting around the home screen. CONTROL FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN & LOCK SCREEN This is where Smart TV Remote Universal goes beyond any ordinary remote app: - Home Screen widgets: a quick D-pad + volume widget and an app-launcher grid, one tap from anywhere - Live Activity with Dynamic Island support — compact controls while you do other things - Siri & Shortcuts support through App Intents: automate your TV or ask Siri WORKS WITH YOUR TV Compatible with Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Hisense, Philips, Roku and Roku devices, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Google TV, Android TV and many more. If your smart TV is on your Wi-Fi, chances are we support it. MAKE IT YOURS Per-brand accent colors (Roku purple, Samsung blue, LG red and more), plus light, dark and system appearance. READY IN UNDER A MINUTE Connect your iPhone or iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV and follow the on-screen steps. That's it — no pairing codes, no cables. GO PRO Upgrade to Pro for the complete, ad-free experience with unlimited paired devices and all widgets unlocked. Choose a yearly plan with a 3-day free trial, a monthly plan, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase, after any free trial period. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://tvremoteapp.art.blog/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Disclaimer: This app is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Hisense, Philips, Roku, Amazon, Google or any other TV brand mentioned. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

About

Phil

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
Read full description

This app contains the remote models: RM-D1000 RM-627C RC3000E02 RM-L1030 and more Features: * Your last remote will be saved for quick and easy access next time you'll open the app * NO installation, just click and play * FAST touch pad and keyboard for quick swipes and typing * AMAZING design with cool and easy interface Have questions? remote isn't working? Please feel free to contact us on support@os-apps.com

Screenshots

Smart TV Remote Universal4 screens
Phil4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Phil at 4.7 against Smart TV Remote Universal's 3.8. Phil also leads on review sentiment (48% vs 18%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Smart TV Remote Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Phil sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Phil holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phil has 5.1K ratings behind it against 891, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Smart TV Remote Universal's written reviews are positive against 48% of Phil's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smart TV Remote Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, Phil fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Smart TV Remote Universal versus Phil: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmart TV Remote UniversalPhil
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (891 ratings)4.7 (5.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.6% of reviews47.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8915.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1713.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB98 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJenni ParkkonenOz Shabbatth

Customer experience

Smart TV Remote Universal

All ratings891 ratings
Positive68.6%
Neutral4.2%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews420 reviews
Positive17.6%
Neutral1.9%
Negative80.5%

Phil

All ratings4,666 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews120 reviews
Positive47.5%
Neutral5.8%
Negative46.7%

User reviews

Smart TV Remote Universal

From 891 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Phil

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

Smart TV Remote Universal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on device scan
  • Volume controls not working
  • Navigation issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Support for more TV brands
  • Improve device detection
  • Reduce ads

Phil

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

2 requests
  • Paid ad-free version
  • Improved connection stability

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Smart TV Remote Universal

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$3.991 Month
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time2
  • Premium Version$4.99
  • Lifetime premium$24.99
1 purchases

Phil

One-time1
  • No Ads$3.99

Questions

Is Smart TV Remote Universal free?
Smart TV Remote Universal 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, Smart TV Remote Universal or Phil?
Phil is rated higher. Smart TV Remote Universal averages 3.8 out of 5 from 891 ratings, while Phil averages 4.7 from 5.1K ratings.
Do Smart TV Remote Universal or Phil have ads?
Both Smart TV Remote Universal and Phil show ads.
Which is updated more often, Smart TV Remote Universal or Phil?
Smart TV Remote Universal ships an update every 6 weeks, and Phil fortnightly. Most recently, Smart TV Remote Universal was updated on November 7, 2026 and Phil on November 7, 2026.

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