# Universal TV Remote Controller vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is monetization model: Universal TV Remote Controller at freemium against TV Remote's subscription. TV Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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 TV Remote sells 10 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, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 637 and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's written reviews are positive against 33% of TV Remote's.

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, TV Remote every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 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) | **[4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 637 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) | [SECURE SOFT LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585537099) |

## 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-control/id6443671916)

Control your smart TV directly from your smartphone. This app automatically detects compatible TVs on your Wi-Fi network and offers most of the key features found on a physical remote for a seamless viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV control, Auto-detect TV on Wi-Fi, Works with popular brands, Full remote key features, Subscription options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 💡 Helpful when TV remote is not working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🔒 Bluetooth required for connection
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Pairing device code not working
- Doesn't connect to multiple TVs

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription
- More features like casting and touch calibration


## 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 4.4 from 1.1K ratings.

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

Universal TV Remote Controller shows ads; TV Remote does not.

### 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 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Controller was updated on October 8, 2026 and TV Remote on October 15, 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.*