# Universal TV Remote® vs Remote Control for Roku Device

The clearest difference is update cadence: Universal TV Remote® at every 7 months against Remote Control for Roku Device's every 38 months. Universal TV Remote® also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 57) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal TV Remote® sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Remote Control for Roku Device sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV Remote® holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote® has 1.1K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Universal TV Remote® ships an update every 7 months, Remote Control for Roku Device every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote® | Remote Control for Roku Device |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1512756412/reviews)** | [4.4 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-roku-device/id1607485264/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 57 |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 38 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hanja Devi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453140968) | [Bhavik Savaliya](https://appshunter.io/developer/668085657) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV Remote®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1512756412)

Control your smart TV with your iPhone or iPad. This app functions like a physical remote, allowing you to change channels, adjust volume, and navigate menus. It requires your device and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

**Highlights:** Power ON/OFF, Volume control, Channel switching, Menu navigation, Video playback control, Touch bar navigation, Automatic Wi-Fi connection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Instant connection
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 📺 Incompatible with some TV models
- 📢 Excessive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Buttons not responding
- Frequent disconnections
- App freezing/crashing

**Requested features**

- Reset TV connection option
- Reduced ad frequency
- Support for more TV brands


### Remote Control for Roku Device

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-roku-device/id1607485264)

Control your Roku TV and streaming devices directly from your smartphone. Easily navigate channels, use a keyboard for text input, and access your favorite apps and content with an intuitive interface.

**Highlights:** Full remote control access, Network scanning for Roku devices, Swipe channel navigation, On-screen keyboard for text input, App launching from device, Private listening feature

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote For Roku One Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote For Roku One Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Remote Control for Roku Device | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote® free?

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

### Is Remote Control for Roku Device free?

Remote Control for Roku Device is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote® or Remote Control for Roku Device?

Universal TV Remote® is rated higher. Universal TV Remote® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Remote Control for Roku Device averages 4.4 from 57 ratings.

### Do Universal TV Remote® or Remote Control for Roku Device have ads?

Both Universal TV Remote® and Remote Control for Roku Device show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote® or Remote Control for Roku Device?

Universal TV Remote® ships an update every 7 months, and Remote Control for Roku Device every 38 months. Most recently, Universal TV Remote® was updated on October 29, 2026 and Remote Control for Roku Device on October 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.*