# TV Remote Control vs SimpleLink™ Connect

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TV Remote Control at 75% against SimpleLink™ Connect's 0%. TV Remote Control also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). SimpleLink™ Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote Control sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. SimpleLink™ Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

TV Remote Control holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote Control has 1.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of TV Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 0% of SimpleLink™ Connect's.

TV Remote Control ships an update every 5 days, SimpleLink™ Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Control | SimpleLink™ Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-universal/id1535056536/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplelink-connect/id6445892658/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 140 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Remote Sunrise LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/619088610) | [Texas Instruments](https://appshunter.io/developer/329739753) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-universal/id1535056536)

Transform your iPhone into a comprehensive smart TV remote. Control power, volume, navigation, and apps across a wide range of brands. Enjoy faster text input and touchpad control, all without needing your physical remote.

**Highlights:** Full-featured remote control (power, volume, navigation), Launch apps directly on supported TVs, Text input via iPhone keyboard, Touchpad navigation, Control from Apple Watch and Home Screen widgets, Supports multiple TV brands and streaming devices

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Features | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote - 1 month | $3.99 | per month |
| Universal TV Remote - 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote - 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart TV Remote - 1 year | $19.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote - lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| Universal TV Remote - lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 💡 Useful remote control features
- 🔒 Secure connection
- 🤖 Works with various TV brands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔍 Difficult to find specific TV models
- 💰 Paid subscription required for full functionality
- 🕰️ Slow response times on some devices
- 🔘 Confusing button layout

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to some TV models
- Loses connection randomly
- Volume controls not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add more TV brand support
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Customize button layout and colors
- Implement voice control
- Add keyboard functionality


### SimpleLink™ Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplelink-connect/id6445892658)

Connect your SimpleLink Launchpads to your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy. This utility app enables over-the-air upgrades for your devices.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, Connects to SimpleLink Launchpads, Over-the-Air (OTA) upgrades, Smartphone integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is SimpleLink™ Connect free?

SimpleLink™ Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect?

TV Remote Control is rated higher. TV Remote Control averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while SimpleLink™ Connect averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect have ads?

TV Remote Control shows ads; SimpleLink™ Connect does not.

### Which is updated more often, TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect?

TV Remote Control ships an update every 5 days, and SimpleLink™ Connect every 3 months. Most recently, TV Remote Control was updated on September 23, 2026 and SimpleLink™ Connect on August 13, 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.*