# Universal Remote vs Ruko

The clearest difference is ads: Ruko at none against Universal Remote's shown. Ruko also leads on update cadence (daily vs monthly) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). Universal Remote's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 0%) and ratings volume (7.8K vs 137). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Ruko sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ruko holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 7.8K ratings behind it against 137, 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 Ruko's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, Ruko daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Ruko |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382/reviews) | **[4.7 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruko-smart-tv-remote-control/id6743108878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.8K** | 137 |
| Positive reviews | **33.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 221 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UNIVERSAL REMOTE LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524909391) | [Anush Aghajanyan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821162219) |

## 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


### Ruko

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruko-smart-tv-remote-control/id6743108878)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful TV remote. Effortlessly switch channels, adjust volume, and access streaming services with a single click. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network for instant control.

**Highlights:** Switch channels instantly, Adjust volume with ease, Access streaming services, Simple Wi-Fi setup, Control TV from iPhone/iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart TV Remote Control 1 Week | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote Control Month | $16.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Ruko free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Ruko?

Ruko is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7.8K ratings, while Ruko averages 4.7 from 137 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Ruko have ads?

Universal Remote shows ads; Ruko does not.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Ruko?

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and Ruko daily. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 30, 2026 and Ruko on October 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.*