# TV Remote vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is monetization model: TV Remote at freemium against Universal Remote's subscription. TV Remote also leads on ratings volume (630K vs 13K) and chart position (#3 vs unranked). Universal Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 630K ratings behind it against 13K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 21% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 18% of Universal Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TV Remote ships an update monthly, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (630K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879/reviews) | **[4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **630K** | 13K |
| Positive reviews | **20.7% of reviews** | 17.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 188 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [EVOLLY.APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422593523) | [Node Excellence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756942328) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Utilities, #4 Top Free · Utilities, #119 Top Free, #145 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Control your smart TV directly from your phone. Connect via WIFI to manage volume, channels, and navigation with a touchpad and keyboard. Supports major brands like Samsung, Roku, and LG.

**Highlights:** WIFI TV connection, Smart TV detection, Touchpad navigation, Keyboard input, Channel launching, Voice search

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium. | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Connects easily
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🔒 Works with multiple TVs
- 👍 Helpful when remote is lost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires original remote for setup
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔋 Drains phone battery

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't recognize TV
- Power button doesn't work
- Volume controls not functioning

**Requested features**

- Allow remote control without original remote
- Offer more free features
- Improve reliability and stability


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709)

Easily control your smart TV from your iPhone. Adjust volume, switch channels, and launch streaming apps with a beautiful, fast interface. Connects automatically over Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs, Adjust volume and channels, Access streaming apps, Launch channels directly, Automatic Wi-Fi detection, Fast response time, Beautiful remote interface

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Seamless connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues
- 💰 Paid subscription required
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading about free features
- 💰 Expensive for a remote app

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work as advertised
- Fails to connect to Roku devices
- Continues to charge even after cancellation

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Free version with basic functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 630K ratings, while Universal Remote averages 4.6 from 13K ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update monthly, and Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on October 31, 2026 and Universal Remote on October 31, 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.*