# Universal TV Remote Controller vs Fonata

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fonata at none against Universal TV Remote Controller's 6. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Fonata asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, Fonata every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV Remote Controller | Fonata |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (636 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **636** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 35 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) | [Dat Nguyen Duc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882587110) |

## 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


### Fonata

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fonata-ocean-log/id6760089283)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV Remote Controller free?

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

### Is Fonata free?

Fonata is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Both Universal TV Remote Controller and Fonata show ads.

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

Universal TV Remote Controller ships an update every 2 months, and Fonata every 3 months. Most recently, Universal TV Remote Controller was updated on November 7, 2026 and Fonata on November 5, 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.*