# TV Remote vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Remote at 81% against TV Remote's 31%. Universal Remote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.2K and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 81% of Universal Remote's.

TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1661904719/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 123 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fire Technologies Hong Kong Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871390749) | [Gentlemen's s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664064879) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1661904719)

Control your TV and streaming devices with your phone. Easily navigate channels, cast media, and search for content using your device's keyboard or voice. Enjoy a simplified entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Universal TV remote control, Touchpad or button navigation, Screen mirroring, Channel access, Wireless WiFi/IR control, Voice and keyboard search, Cast photos and videos

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version by week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Full version by month | $9.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription With Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Lite Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Full version by year 7D trial | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription With Trial | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Useful features like keyboard and touch control
- 👍 Works well with Roku devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based model
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting to TV
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive for a remote app

**Reported bugs**

- Volume controls not working
- App unable to find TV
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to use
- Improve connection reliability
- Add more device compatibility


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215)

Transform your phone into a powerful TV controller. Manage channels, volume, menus, and use keyboard input for seamless navigation. Compatible with major smart TV brands over Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Control channels and volume, Access TV menus and info, Keyboard input for searches, Haptic feedback, Responsive touchpad interface, Wi-Fi network connectivity

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote control for TV | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote | $8.99 | per month |
| Remote Control for TV | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Remote Control for TV | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Quick response time and responsiveness
- 📱 Transforms phone into functional remote
- 🔄 Automatic detection and customization
- ✨ Works across multiple TV brands (LG, Samsung, Sony, Roku)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive subscription model and paywalls
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with some TVs
- 📺 Inconsistent compatibility across devices
- ⚠️ Unreliable connection reliability

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to TV
- Subscription popup blocks basic functionality
- Connectivity drops and unreliable connections

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription requirements
- Improved TV compatibility and connection stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Universal Remote averages 4.6 from 1.1K ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal Remote fortnightly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on October 24, 2026 and Universal Remote on October 25, 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.*