# TV Remote vs Universal TV, Remote Control

The clearest difference is ads: Universal TV, Remote Control at none against TV Remote's shown. TV Remote's advantage is ratings volume (605K vs 1.3K) and chart position (#3 vs unranked). 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 TV, Remote Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for TV Remote against 4.3 for Universal TV, Remote Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 605K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 20% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 16% of Universal TV, Remote Control's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal TV, Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (605K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6476616222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **605K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | **20.4% of reviews** | 16.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 188 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EVOLLY.APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422593523) | [Arc Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664850643) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Utilities, #6 Top Grossing · Utilities, #113 Top Free, #181 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 TV, Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6476616222)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for all your smart TVs. Easily control volume, channels, inputs, and access smart TV apps from a single, intuitive interface. Never lose your remote again.

**Highlights:** Universal TV compatibility, Easy Wi-Fi setup, Full TV control (volume, channels, inputs), Smart TV app access, Multi-TV support, Sleek user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote PRO Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote Control Pro (Weekly) | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote PRO Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Remote PRO Annual | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Stable and functional
- 🤩 Perfect remote control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🚫 Difficult to use
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected
- 🚫 Scam/false charges

**Reported bugs**

- Can't connect to TV
- Subscription issues (unable to cancel, false charges)
- App freezes/crashes

**Requested features**

- Add streaming app icons to remote
- More robust features beyond basic navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal TV, Remote Control free?

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

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

TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 605K ratings, while Universal TV, Remote Control averages 4.3 from 1.3K ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal TV, Remote Control does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update monthly, and Universal TV, Remote Control monthly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on September 27, 2026 and Universal TV, Remote Control on September 21, 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.*