# TV Remote vs Roku Remote

TV Remote and Roku Remote both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 91% of Roku Remote's written reviews are positive against 55% of TV Remote's. Roku Remote also leads on ads (none vs shown). TV Remote's advantage is ratings volume (58K vs 650) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Roku Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for TV Remote against 4.6 for Roku Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 58K ratings behind it against 650, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 91% of Roku Remote's.

TV Remote ships an update every 4 days, Roku Remote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Roku Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews) | [4.6 (650 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roku-remote-universal-control/id6444084959/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **58K** | 650 |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | **91.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#137** | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) | [晓龙 金](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525056608) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189)

**Currently charting:** #137 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote control for your smart TV. This app supports a wide variety of popular TV brands, consolidating all your remotes into one convenient device. Enjoy a simplified TV-watching experience.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs with phone, Supports wide range of brands, Eliminates multiple remotes, LG, Roku, Samsung, Sony, Philips support, Simplified TV experience

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful when remote is lost
- 🔒 No ads or subscriptions
- 🚀 Quick connection to TV

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with some TV models
- 🐛 Keyboard not working on some TVs
- 🐛 Disconnects frequently

**Reported bugs**

- App force closes when connecting to certain TVs
- Volume controls not working on some TVs
- Remote buttons not responding consistently

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn TV on/off
- Improve keyboard functionality
- Expand TV brand compatibility
- Add option to save connected TV


### Roku Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roku-remote-universal-control/id6444084959)

Transform your smartphone into a powerful remote for your streaming devices. Navigate menus, launch apps, and cast media to your TV with ease. Offers customizable interfaces and quick access buttons for a seamless entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Intuitive touchpad and gesture controls, Quick access buttons for popular apps, On-screen keyboard for easy text input, Customizable interface themes and layouts, Media casting from phone to TV, Seamless switching between multiple devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Roku Remote Lifetime Access | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Works with multiple Roku devices
- 🚀 Fast connection
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Doesn't always work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Connectivity problems
- App not working as intended

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to control volume


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Roku Remote free?

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

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

TV Remote and Roku Remote are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 58K and 650 ratings respectively.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Roku Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 4 days, and Roku Remote every 2 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on September 27, 2026 and Roku Remote on September 24, 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.*