# Universal Smart TV Remote App vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Universal Remote at none against Universal Smart TV Remote App's 4. Universal Remote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). Universal Smart TV Remote App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (458 vs 5). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Smart TV Remote App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Universal Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Smart TV Remote App has 458 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Universal Smart TV Remote App ships an update every 3 months, Universal Remote every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Smart TV Remote App | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-no-sub/id6794811842/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **458** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 11 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hemant Bhonsle](https://appshunter.io/developer/442878468) | [ISAAC GREGORY FARR](https://appshunter.io/developer/6794811844) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Smart TV Remote App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-app/id1502206853)

Control your Samsung, Sony, Roku, or Vizio smart TV instantly without complex setup. This app eliminates the need for lost or broken physical remotes. It's compatible with Apple Watch and requires no subscription.

**Highlights:** Instant TV control, No settings required, Supports Apple Watch, No subscription needed, Control multiple brands

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium with Trial | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 👍 Works well with various TV brands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and app freezes
- 💰 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🚫 Limited functionality compared to physical remote
- 🐛 Issues with scanning and connecting to TVs

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes after TV scanning
- Unable to connect to certain TV models
- Ads not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV power on/off
- Option to customize ad frequency
- Support for more TV brands
- Improved stability and reliability


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-no-sub/id6794811842)

Transform your iPhone into a Wi-Fi remote for compatible smart TVs and streaming devices. Control navigation, volume, channels, and media playback with ease. Supports Siri commands for hands-free operation.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi TV discovery, Siri command support, Navigation and media controls, Volume and channel adjustment, On-device credential storage, Wake compatible TVs

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Smart TV Remote App free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

Universal Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Smart TV Remote App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 458 ratings, while Universal Remote averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

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

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

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

Universal Smart TV Remote App ships an update every 3 months, and Universal Remote every 2 days. Most recently, Universal Smart TV Remote App was updated on November 4, 2026 and Universal Remote on November 10, 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.*