# SmartRemote vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is rating: Universal Remote at 5.0 against SmartRemote's 3.0. Universal Remote also leads on ads (none vs shown). SmartRemote's advantage is review sentiment (10% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 10% of SmartRemote's written reviews are positive against 0% of Universal Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, Universal Remote every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartRemote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6711354085/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **10.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577973502) | [Son Nguyen Minh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1715119512) |

## 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6711354085)

Stream media and mirror your phone's screen to a larger display. Control your TV remotely with a simple interface. Enjoy a bigger, better viewing experience for videos and games.

**Highlights:** Cast media to TV, Real-time streaming, TV remote control, Share screen with 1 touch, Quick device search and connect

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $22.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $28.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| LifeTime | $12.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $41.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartRemote free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. SmartRemote averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Universal Remote averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do SmartRemote or Universal Remote have ads?

SmartRemote shows ads; Universal Remote does not.

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

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, and Universal Remote every 4 days. Most recently, SmartRemote was updated on October 12, 2026 and Universal Remote on September 24, 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.*