# Universal Remote vs Universal AC Remote Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal AC Remote Control at 100% against Universal Remote's 9%. Universal AC Remote Control also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (284 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Universal AC Remote Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 284 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Universal AC Remote Control's.

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, Universal AC Remote Control every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Universal AC Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (284 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-ac-remote/id1658269407/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-ac-remote-control/id6477883059/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **284** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 9.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 37 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [玉 曹](https://appshunter.io/developer/1623313323) | [其能 任](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502346686) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-ac-remote/id1658269407)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for various home appliances. Supports infrared and Bluetooth modes, controlling TVs, air conditioners, projectors, and more. Offers broad compatibility with numerous brands and devices.

**Highlights:** Infrared and Bluetooth control modes, Supports TVs, air conditioners, projectors, TV boxes, Wide range of appliance brands supported, Simplified device operation, Multi-device saving and management, Accurate device identification

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good functionality (for some)
- 👍 App developed well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Mandatory ads everywhere
- 💸 Aggressive ad redirection
- 💸 Requires additional purchase (IR connector)
- 💸 Unusable without ads
- 💸 Misleading and deceptive practices

**Reported bugs**

- Ads cannot be closed
- App redirects unexpectedly
- Time freezes during use
- Some buttons do not match
- App is unusable on iOS

**Requested features**

- Fix button mapping issues
- Improve compatibility for all phone types
- Remove ads
- Make the app usable without ads
- Simplify the user interface


### Universal AC Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-ac-remote-control/id6477883059)

Control your TV and air conditioner with your smartphone. This app acts as a universal remote, eliminating the need for physical remotes. It supports a wide range of popular brands and models.

**Highlights:** Universal remote control for TVs and ACs, Control via smartphone, Supports major brands and models, Infrared remote functionality, No batteries required for infrared

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

Universal Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Universal AC Remote Control free?

Universal AC Remote Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Universal AC Remote Control is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 284 ratings, while Universal AC Remote Control averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Universal AC Remote Control have ads?

Both Universal Remote and Universal AC Remote Control show ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and Universal AC Remote Control every 2 months. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 25, 2026 and Universal AC Remote Control on October 24, 2026.

---

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