# TV Remote vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is ads: Universal Remote at none against TV Remote's shown. Universal Remote also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 55%). TV Remote's advantage is ratings volume (58K vs 1.1K) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). 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 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for TV Remote against 4.6 for Universal Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 58K ratings behind it against 1.1K, 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 80% of Universal Remote's.

TV Remote ships an update every 4 days, Universal Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews) | [4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **58K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#209** | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) | [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/id1670649189)

**Currently charting:** #209 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


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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote control for TV | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote | $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?

TV Remote and Universal Remote are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 58K and 1.1K ratings respectively.

### 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 4 days, and Universal Remote fortnightly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on September 24, 2026 and Universal Remote on September 22, 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.*