# Phil vs TV Remote | Universal Control

Phil and TV Remote | Universal Control both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of TV Remote | Universal Control's written reviews are positive against 48% of Phil's. TV Remote | Universal Control also leads on ads (none vs shown). Phil's advantage is ratings volume (5.1K vs 89) and device support (3 vs 1). 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 TV Remote | Universal Control sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.6 for TV Remote | Universal Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phil has 5.1K ratings behind it against 89, 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 90% of TV Remote | Universal Control's.

Phil ships an update fortnightly, TV Remote | Universal Control every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phil | TV Remote | Universal Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-smart-tv-remote-control/id1570132340/reviews)** | [4.6 (89 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6747077228/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.1K** | 89 |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 98 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) | [CTMobi Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796116675) |

## 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


### TV Remote | Universal Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6747077228)

Transform your smartphone into a powerful universal TV remote. Effortlessly control your smart TV, streaming apps, volume, and channels with a user-friendly interface and advanced features like a touchpad and instant app access.

**Highlights:** Universal compatibility with major TV brands, One-tap phone-to-TV pairing, Full remote control functions (volume, channel, navigation), Touchpad and keyboard for easy input, Instant access to streaming apps, Power on/off TV, Customizable remote layout

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Your phone, your ultimate remote | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly trial subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime premium | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phil free?

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

### Is TV Remote | Universal Control free?

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

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

Phil is rated higher. Phil averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while TV Remote | Universal Control averages 4.6 from 89 ratings.

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

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

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

Phil ships an update fortnightly, and TV Remote | Universal Control every 9 days. Most recently, Phil was updated on October 30, 2026 and TV Remote | Universal Control on October 30, 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.*