# TV Remote vs Universal TV, Remote Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TV Remote at 56% against Universal TV, Remote Control's 16%. TV Remote also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). Universal TV, Remote Control's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 TV, Remote Control sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 60K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 16% of Universal TV, Remote Control's.

TV Remote ships an update every 2 days, Universal TV, Remote Control monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal TV, Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6476616222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **60K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | **56.2% of reviews** | 16.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) | [Arc Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664850643) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

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

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 TV, Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6476616222)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for all your smart TVs. Easily control volume, channels, inputs, and access smart TV apps from a single, intuitive interface. Never lose your remote again.

**Highlights:** Universal TV compatibility, Easy Wi-Fi setup, Full TV control (volume, channels, inputs), Smart TV app access, Multi-TV support, Sleek user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote PRO Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote Control Pro (Weekly) | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote PRO Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Remote PRO Annual | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Stable and functional
- 🤩 Perfect remote control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🚫 Difficult to use
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected
- 🚫 Scam/false charges

**Reported bugs**

- Can't connect to TV
- Subscription issues (unable to cancel, false charges)
- App freezes/crashes

**Requested features**

- Add streaming app icons to remote
- More robust features beyond basic navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal TV, Remote Control free?

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

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

TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 60K ratings, while Universal TV, Remote Control averages 4.3 from 1.3K ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal TV, Remote Control does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 2 days, and Universal TV, Remote Control monthly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on October 29, 2026 and Universal TV, Remote Control on October 27, 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.*