# Universal TV Remote® vs Roku・TV Remote Control

The clearest difference is ads: Roku・TV Remote Control at none against Universal TV Remote®'s shown. Roku・TV Remote Control also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 40%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). Universal TV Remote®'s advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume 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 Roku・TV Remote Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Universal TV Remote® against 4.6 for Roku・TV Remote Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 853 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of Universal TV Remote®'s written reviews are positive against 68% of Roku・TV Remote Control's.

Universal TV Remote® ships an update every 7 months, Roku・TV Remote Control every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote® | Roku・TV Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id1512756412/reviews) | **[4.6 (853 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rokutv-remote-control/id6478630710/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 853 |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **68.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hanja Devi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453140968) | [Liridon Cela](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852510561) |

## 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


### Roku・TV Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rokutv-remote-control/id6478630710)

This app turns your device into a comprehensive remote for Roku TVs and streaming devices. Easily navigate channels, control playback, launch apps, and manage inputs with a user-friendly interface. Enjoy features like private listening and a touchpad for seamless entertainment control.

**Highlights:** Full Roku remote functionality, Quick channel access, Launch streaming apps, Private listening via headphones, Touchpad navigation, Wi-Fi control, Keyboard input

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Roku TV Remote, Play Control | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Roku TV Universal・Smart Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Roku TV Universal・Smart Remote | $19.99 | per month |
| Roku TV Remote, Play Control | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote® free?

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

### Is Roku・TV Remote Control free?

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

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

Roku・TV Remote Control is rated higher. Universal TV Remote® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Roku・TV Remote Control averages 4.6 from 853 ratings.

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

Universal TV Remote® shows ads; Roku・TV Remote Control does not.

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

Universal TV Remote® ships an update every 7 months, and Roku・TV Remote Control every 6 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote® was updated on September 22, 2026 and Roku・TV Remote Control on September 25, 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.*