# TV Remote vs Universal Remote for Smart TV+

The clearest difference is ratings volume: TV Remote at 633K against Universal Remote for Smart TV+'s 2.5K. TV Remote also leads on chart position (#4 vs #189). 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 for Smart TV+ sells 8 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 4.4 for Universal Remote for Smart TV+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 633K ratings behind it against 2.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 21% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 17% of Universal Remote for Smart TV+'s.

TV Remote ships an update monthly, Universal Remote for Smart TV+ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote for Smart TV+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (633K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879/reviews)** | [4.4 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-smart-tv-plus/id6670310164/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **633K** | 2.5K |
| Positive reviews | **20.8% of reviews** | 17.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | #189 |
| Size | 188 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [EVOLLY.APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422593523) | [Delta Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676377811) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

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

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Free · Utilities, #4 Top Grossing · Utilities, #95 Top Free, #166 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 for Smart TV+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-smart-tv-plus/id6670310164)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your smart TVs with your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. This app offers a user-friendly interface to manage power, volume, channels, and even cast content from your device to the big screen. It's a perfect replacement for misplaced physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Power, volume, and channel control, Keyboard and touchpad for navigation, Screen mirroring and casting, YouTube and IPTV casting, Playback controls, Apple Watch support, Dynamic Island integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Yearly Plan | $19.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Yearly Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Paloma mía
- 💎 El tablas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Fee not optional
- 🚫 Have to pay to use
- 🚫 Whoever thought that making a remote a paid subscription was a good idea deserves to be eaten alive by dogs like game of thrones
- 🚫 The app is impossible to use unless you agree to pay
- 🚫 Wow you can't even use the app unless you pay. You can't hit the volume up or down without being sent to the subscription page. You really want 6.99 a week? If anything it should be a 1 & done thing, the app should just cost money to download. What a joke

**Reported bugs**

- Funcionó al principio pero luego dejó de conectarse
- Wont mirror to my tv. Just keeps saying format not supported
- Don't waste your time on the trial. Doesn't cast or mirror. Remote function & settings option at bottom of screen are the only 2 out of 5 that operate

**Requested features**

- None


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal Remote for Smart TV+ free?

Universal Remote for Smart TV+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TV Remote or Universal Remote for Smart TV+?

TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 633K ratings, while Universal Remote for Smart TV+ averages 4.4 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do TV Remote or Universal Remote for Smart TV+ have ads?

Both TV Remote and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ show ads.

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

TV Remote ships an update monthly, and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on November 8, 2026 and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ on November 8, 2026.

### Which is more popular, TV Remote or Universal Remote for Smart TV+?

TV Remote currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Universal Remote for Smart TV+ at #189. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*