# Universal TV Remote Controller vs Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl at 100% against Universal TV Remote Controller's 25%. Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Universal TV Remote Controller's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (637 vs 16). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal TV Remote Controller sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV Remote Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote Controller has 637 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's written reviews are positive against 100% of Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Controller | Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (637 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188/reviews)** | [3.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-plus-ctrl/id1643458167/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **637** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 35 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) | [AN VIET COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642433347) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV Remote Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188)

Control your smart TV with your phone. This app automatically scans for devices and offers features like channel switching, keyboard search, and voice control. A premium subscription unlocks all features and removes ads.

**Highlights:** Automatic TV device scanning, Single-tap channel switching, Keyboard and voice search, Swift navigation, Ad-free experience (premium)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION | $9.99 | per month |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $19.99 | per year |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $39.99 | per year |
| One-time Payment | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as a replacement when physical remote is lost
- ⭐ Effective for Samsung TV control
- ✅ Functional remote control capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive premium paywall and forced upgrades
- 🐛 Frequent connection failures and disconnections
- ❌ App stops working after initial period
- 😤 Excessive ads and harassment for premium
- 🔄 Requires constant app refreshing to function

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to TV devices
- Connection drops frequently
- Volume control unavailable or missing
- Stuck on guide screen unable to exit
- Repetitive TV selection prompts

**Requested features**

- Restore and improve volume control functionality
- Free access to basic remote functions without premium
- Keyboard and search functionality without paywall
- Home button access without premium upgrade


### Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-smart-tv-remote-plus-ctrl/id1643458167)

Control your smart TV with your phone. This app offers a full remote experience for various brands, connecting automatically without extra hardware. Enjoy easy access to all TV functions.

**Highlights:** Control Samsung, LG, TCL, Roku, Vizio, Fire TV, Sony, Full suite remote control with all buttons, No wires or additional hardware required, Automatic device connection, Easy access to all smart TV functions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Access all for weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Access all for yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Controller free?

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

### Is Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl free?

Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote Controller or Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl?

Universal TV Remote Controller is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Controller averages 4.1 out of 5 from 637 ratings, while Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl averages 3.6 from 16 ratings.

### Do Universal TV Remote Controller or Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl have ads?

Universal TV Remote Controller shows ads; Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl does not.

### Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote Controller or Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl?

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, and Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl every 3 days. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Controller was updated on October 8, 2026 and Universal Smart TV Remote+Ctrl on October 2, 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.*