# Universal TV Remote Controller vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.6 against Universal TV Remote Controller's 4.1. TV Remote also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 58K ratings behind it against 637, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's written reviews are positive against 55% of TV Remote's.

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, TV Remote every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Controller | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (637 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188/reviews) | **[4.6 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 637 | **58K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **55.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#179** |
| Size | 35 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) |

## 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


### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote control for your smart TV. This app supports a wide variety of popular TV brands, consolidating all your remotes into one convenient device. Enjoy a simplified TV-watching experience.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs with phone, Supports wide range of brands, Eliminates multiple remotes, LG, Roku, Samsung, Sony, Philips support, Simplified TV experience

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost
- 🔒 No ads or subscriptions
- 🚀 Quick connection to TV

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with some TV models
- 🐛 Keyboard not working on some TVs
- 🐛 Disconnects frequently

**Reported bugs**

- App force closes when connecting to certain TVs
- Volume controls not working on some TVs
- Remote buttons not responding consistently

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn TV on/off
- Improve keyboard functionality
- Expand TV brand compatibility
- Add option to save connected TV


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Controller free?

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

### Is TV Remote free?

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

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

TV Remote is rated higher. Universal TV Remote Controller averages 4.1 out of 5 from 637 ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.6 from 58K ratings.

### Do Universal TV Remote Controller or TV Remote have ads?

Both Universal TV Remote Controller and TV Remote show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, and TV Remote every 4 days. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Controller was updated on August 30, 2026 and TV Remote on September 26, 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.*