# Universal Remote vs Sababa

The clearest difference is ads: Sababa at none against Universal Remote's shown. Sababa also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Sababa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, Sababa every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Sababa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (7.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 173 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [UNIVERSAL REMOTE LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524909391) | [Evgenii Valdman](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780524255) |

## 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


### Sababa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sababa-chat/id6799848776)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sababa Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Sababa Yearly | $17.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Sababa free?

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

### Do Universal Remote or Sababa have ads?

Universal Remote shows ads; Sababa does not.

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

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and Sababa every 5 days. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 25, 2026 and Sababa on October 25, 2026.

---

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