# Universal Remote vs Remote for Android Smart TV

The clearest difference is ads: Remote for Android Smart TV at none against Universal Remote's shown. Remote for Android Smart TV also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and iOS requirement (13.1 vs 15.0). Universal Remote's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and ratings volume (7.8K vs 14). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Remote for Android Smart TV sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Remote for Android Smart TV holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 7.8K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 0% of Remote for Android Smart 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, Remote for Android Smart TV fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Remote for Android Smart TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382/reviews) | **[4.6 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-android-smart-tv/id1659282481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.8K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **32.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 173 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UNIVERSAL REMOTE LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524909391) | [Anh Nguyen Ba](https://appshunter.io/developer/1523625974) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

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

Control all your smart TVs and streaming devices from your phone. Offers quick navigation, app access, and gesture controls for a seamless remote experience. Compatible with major brands.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs and streaming devices, Full-featured remote with essential buttons, Channel and volume control, One-tap access to popular apps, Swipe-based gesture controls, Quick WiFi pairing

**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


### Remote for Android Smart TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-android-smart-tv/id1659282481)

Control your Android Smart TV with your iPhone or iPad. This app offers basic TV functions like volume and channel control, plus a virtual touchpad and keyboard for easy navigation and text input. Connect wirelessly to your TV on the same network.

**Highlights:** Basic TV control (volume, channel, media), Virtual touchpad navigation, Text and number keyboard input, Automatic and manual TV scanning, Vibration feedback on button press

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription with Trial | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Buy One Time | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Remote for Android Smart TV free?

Remote for Android Smart TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Remote for Android Smart TV?

Remote for Android Smart TV is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7.8K ratings, while Remote for Android Smart TV averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Remote for Android Smart TV have ads?

Universal Remote shows ads; Remote for Android Smart TV does not.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Remote for Android Smart TV?

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and Remote for Android Smart TV fortnightly. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 21, 2026 and Remote for Android Smart TV on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*