# SmartRemote vs Universal Remote TV Control

The clearest difference is rating: Universal Remote TV Control at 4.3 against SmartRemote's 3.0. Universal Remote TV Control also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (50K vs 2). SmartRemote's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartRemote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote TV Control sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote TV Control holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote TV Control has 50K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of SmartRemote's written reviews are positive against 28% of Universal Remote TV Control's.

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, Universal Remote TV Control monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartRemote | Universal Remote TV Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736/reviews) | **[4.3 (50K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1591238748/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **50K** |
| Positive reviews | 10.0% of reviews | **27.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#85** |
| Size | 17 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577973502) | [Desidari Holding Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1576843270) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartRemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736)

Control all your Smart TVs from a single app, eliminating the need for multiple remotes. Seamlessly mirror content from your phone and navigate your TV with a touchpad and convenient text entry.

**Highlights:** Effortless Smart TV Control, Mirror Videos, Photos, and Music, Easy Mouse Control with Touchpad, Convenient Text Entry, Volume and Channel Control, Player Controls, Abundance of Menu Options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $49.99 | one-time |


### Universal Remote TV Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1591238748)

**Currently charting:** #85 Top Grossing · Utilities, #131 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your smart TV from your phone with this app. It offers a full-featured remote experience, allowing you to change channels, adjust volume, navigate menus, and more. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control.

**Highlights:** Control TV from iPhone, Channel and volume control, Menu and playback functions, Works with popular brands, Wi-Fi connectivity, Keyboard input, Haptic feedback

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control - Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control -1  Week Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote: 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Universal TV Remote - Pro Pack | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Universal TV Remote App | $14.99 | per month |
| Smart TV Remote Control: 1Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Control－1Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote－1 Time Payment | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Helpful for lost remotes
- 👍 Works well with TVs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unresponsive buttons
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 💰 Charges during free trial

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after free trial ends
- Unable to connect to certain TV models
- Inconsistent performance, often disconnecting

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn on TV without physical remote
- Keyboard support for text input
- Option to switch between multiple TVs
- Ability to cancel subscription easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartRemote free?

SmartRemote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Universal Remote TV Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartRemote or Universal Remote TV Control?

Universal Remote TV Control is rated higher. SmartRemote averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Universal Remote TV Control averages 4.3 from 50K ratings.

### Do SmartRemote or Universal Remote TV Control have ads?

SmartRemote shows ads; Universal Remote TV Control does not.

### Which is updated more often, SmartRemote or Universal Remote TV Control?

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, and Universal Remote TV Control monthly. Most recently, SmartRemote was updated on September 3, 2026 and Universal Remote TV Control on September 28, 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.*