# Smart TV Remote Universal vs Phil

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart TV Remote Universal | Phil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (891 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tv-remote-universal/id1494893176/reviews) | **[4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 891 | **5.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | **47.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 32 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jenni Parkkonen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494893175) | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) |

## 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


### Phil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Paid ad-free version
- Improved connection stability


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*