# Phil vs Universal TV Remote Control・

The clearest difference is ads: Universal TV Remote Control・ at none against Phil's shown. Universal TV Remote Control・ also leads on ratings volume (84K vs 5.1K) and review sentiment (61% vs 48%). Phil's advantage is iOS requirement (13.1 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phil sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Universal TV Remote Control・ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 — 4.7 for Phil against 4.8 for Universal TV Remote Control・. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote Control・ has 84K ratings behind it against 5.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of Phil's written reviews are positive against 61% of Universal TV Remote Control・'s.

Phil ships an update fortnightly, Universal TV Remote Control・ weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phil | Universal TV Remote Control・ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340/reviews) | **[4.8 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6443877058/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.1K | **84K** |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **61.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#27** |
| Size | 98 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) | [toggle apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782091955) |

## What reviewers say

### Phil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340)

Transform your phone into a smart TV remote with a variety of models. Enjoy a fast touchpad, keyboard, and an intuitive interface for seamless control. Your last used remote is saved for instant access.

**Highlights:** Multiple remote models supported, Quick access to last used remote, Fast touchpad and keyboard, Easy-to-use interface, No installation required

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works perfectly
- 🚀 Connects quickly
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔍 Requires location access
- 💸 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to TV
- Keeps asking for updated version
- Functionality issues after WiFi disconnect

**Requested features**

- Paid ad-free version
- Improved connection stability


### Universal TV Remote Control・

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6443877058)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Grossing · Utilities, #34 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your TV, streaming device, soundbar, and more from your smartphone. Offers a touchpad, D-pad, keyboard, and media controls for easy device management. Includes step-by-step guides and 24/7 support.

**Highlights:** Power On/Off, Touchpad and D-Pad, Keyboard input, TV Apps Management, Media Player Control, Sound Regulation, Numpad for Channels

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote Control PRO | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Control PRO | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Control PRO | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Individual Weekly Pro Plan | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Family Weekly Pro Plan | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Control PRO | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote Control PRO | $29.99 | per year |
| Individual Yearly Pro Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote for Mobile | Free | one-time |
| Individual Lifetime - Pro Plan | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection and pairing
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 💡 Works with various TV models
- 🙌 Helpful when remote is lost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription required for basic features
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data collection
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance, random disconnections
- 🙄 Aggressive upselling of premium version

**Reported bugs**

- TV not detected or recognized
- Buttons not functioning as expected
- App crashes or freezes during use

**Requested features**

- Volume control without subscription
- One-time purchase option instead of subscription
- More transparent pricing and feature details


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phil free?

Phil 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, Phil or Universal TV Remote Control・?

Universal TV Remote Control・ is rated higher. Phil averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Universal TV Remote Control・ averages 4.8 from 84K ratings.

### Do Phil or Universal TV Remote Control・ have ads?

Phil shows ads; Universal TV Remote Control・ does not.

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

Phil ships an update fortnightly, and Universal TV Remote Control・ weekly. Most recently, Phil was updated on November 7, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Control・ on November 10, 2026.

---

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