TV Remote Control vs SimpleLink™ Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TV Remote Control
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.
- 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
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Can't find the remote? Use your iPhone or iPad to control a compatible TV over WiFi. Start with free basic remote buttons, with companion controls on Apple Watch and Mac. CHECK COMPATIBILITY Supports compatible Apple TV, Samsung, LG, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, Roku, Hisense and Vizio devices. Your phone and TV must be on the same local network. Pairing or enabling network control on your TV may be required. Available buttons and features vary by model. FREE EVERYDAY CONTROL Use the basic keypad for volume, channels, navigation and playback where supported. Basic Apple Watch and widget buttons are also free. Save multiple TVs and organize them by room. TYPE, TAP AND WATCH Premium unlocks keyboard input, app launching, input switching, keypad customization, extended Apple Watch controls and additional Siri Shortcuts on supported devices. Touchpad navigation is available on supported Apple TV, Samsung and LG devices. DIRECT CONNECTION Remote commands are sent over your local network. No TV account is required. IN-APP PURCHASES Choose a lifetime purchase or an auto-renewing subscription where offered. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account when you confirm the purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. DISCLAIMER This is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Apple Inc., Samsung, LG, Google, Amazon, Roku, Hisense, Vizio or any other TV or device manufacturer. Product names, logos and brands belong to their owners and are used only to indicate compatibility. Privacy Policy: https://www.rs.ltd/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.rs.ltd/terms
SimpleLink™ Connect
Connect your SimpleLink Launchpads to your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy. This utility app enables over-the-air upgrades for your devices.
- Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity
- Connects to SimpleLink Launchpads
- Over-the-Air (OTA) upgrades
- Smartphone integration
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This app connects your Simplelink(TM) Launchpads to your smartphone with Bluetooth Low Energy support. Includes support for Over-the-Air upgrades.
Screenshots
Verdict
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.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
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.
| Parameter | TV Remote Control | SimpleLink™ Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (1.2K ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 140 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Remote Sunrise LTD | Texas Instruments |
Customer experience
TV Remote Control
SimpleLink™ Connect
Bugs and requests
TV Remote Control
Reported bugs
3 issues- Fails to connect to some TV models
- Loses connection randomly
- Volume controls not working properly
Requested features
5 requests- Add more TV brand support
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Customize button layout and colors
- Implement voice control
- Add keyboard functionality
SimpleLink™ Connect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TV Remote Control
- Unlock All Features7 Days trial$3.997 Days
- Smart TV Remote - 1 month$3.991 Month
- Universal TV Remote - 1 year7 Days trial$9.991 Year
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- Universal TV Remote - 1 month$9.991 Month
- Smart TV Remote - 1 year7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Universal TV Remote - lifetime$19.99
- Universal TV Remote - lifetime$39.99
SimpleLink™ Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is TV Remote Control free?
Is SimpleLink™ Connect free?
Which has better reviews, TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect?
Do TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, TV Remote Control or SimpleLink™ Connect?
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