# SmartRemote vs Universal Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Control at 100% against SmartRemote's 10%. Universal Control also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and ads (none vs shown). SmartRemote's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of SmartRemote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Universal Control's.

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, Universal Control every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartRemote | Universal Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartremote-tv-controller/id1508991736/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6739201253/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 10.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577973502) | [Anwar Kamal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710877432) |

## 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 Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6739201253)

Control your smart TV directly from your iPhone or iPad. This app offers seamless navigation, media casting, and screen mirroring without needing extra hardware. It's a convenient solution for managing your TV experience.

**Highlights:** Smart Auto-Detection, Smooth Navigation Touchpad, Quick Channel Access, On-Screen Keyboard, Media Casting, Screen Mirroring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Premium (Weekly) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium (Monthly) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartRemote free?

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

### Is Universal Control free?

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

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

Universal Control is rated higher. SmartRemote averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Universal Control averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SmartRemote or Universal Control have ads?

SmartRemote shows ads; Universal Control does not.

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

SmartRemote ships an update every 8 days, and Universal Control every 2 months. Most recently, SmartRemote was updated on October 12, 2026 and Universal Control on October 1, 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.*