# Universal Remote vs FireStick Remote Control TV

The clearest difference is update cadence: FireStick Remote Control TV at every 4 days against Universal Remote's monthly. FireStick Remote Control TV also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Universal Remote's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 10%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and FireStick Remote Control TV sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

FireStick Remote Control TV holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.8K and 4K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 10% of FireStick Remote Control TV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, FireStick Remote Control TV every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | FireStick Remote Control TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382/reviews) | **[4.5 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firestick-remote-control-tv/id1581167776/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.8K** | 4K |
| Positive reviews | **33.0% of reviews** | 9.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 221 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UNIVERSAL REMOTE LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524909391) | [Mission Dynamic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525935583) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382)

Control your smart TVs and streaming devices wirelessly from your phone. Offers quick navigation, app access, and gesture controls. Seamlessly pair with major brands like Samsung, Roku, and LG.

**Highlights:** Full-featured remote control, Channel and volume control, One-tap app access, Swipe gesture navigation, Quick WiFi pairing, Control Smart TVs and streaming devices

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Access | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 🎨 Seamless pairing with devices
- 💡 Useful as a backup remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔌 Unreliable connection to devices
- 📢 Intrusive ads and constant upsells

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to find or connect to TV
- Purchased features not activating
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Restoration of purchases not working

**Requested features**

- Customizable button layout
- Support for more TV brands
- Ability to control smart home devices
- Improved Apple Watch integration


### FireStick Remote Control TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firestick-remote-control-tv/id1581167776)

Control your Fire TV device directly from your iPhone. This app offers intuitive swipe controls, seamless network connectivity, and quick access to apps and content. Simplify your TV experience with easy navigation and search.

**Highlights:** Remote control for Firestick TV, Cast photos & videos, Keyboard for text input and search, One-click access to apps and channels, User-friendly interface, Automatic device connection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Lifetime Access | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Can use as a remote when original is lost
- ⚡️ Fast and easy connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work, unable to connect
- 💰 Requires paid subscription to use
- 🔍 Inaccurate instructions
- 📺 Doesn't work with Fire TV, only Fire TV Stick
- 🛑 Glitchy, keeps disconnecting

**Reported bugs**

- Can't navigate settings without original remote
- Buttons don't work as expected
- Frequent crashes and disconnections

**Requested features**

- Ability to use without original remote
- Better compatibility with Fire TV devices
- More reliable and stable connection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is FireStick Remote Control TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or FireStick Remote Control TV?

FireStick Remote Control TV is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7.8K ratings, while FireStick Remote Control TV averages 4.5 from 4K ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or FireStick Remote Control TV have ads?

Both Universal Remote and FireStick Remote Control TV show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or FireStick Remote Control TV?

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and FireStick Remote Control TV every 4 days. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 30, 2026 and FireStick Remote Control TV on October 30, 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.*