# TV Remote vs Universal TV

The clearest difference is ads: Universal TV at none against TV Remote's shown. TV Remote's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (60K vs 748). 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 TV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 4.7 for Universal TV. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 60K ratings behind it against 748, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 33% of Universal TV's.

TV Remote ships an update every 2 days, Universal TV every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews) | **[4.7 (748 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6504341259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60K** | 748 |
| Positive reviews | **56.2% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#180** | — |
| Size | 63 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) | [SolveIt Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807096175) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

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

**Currently charting:** #180 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 TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6504341259)

Control your smart TV and streaming devices with your iPhone. This app offers a user-friendly interface for easy navigation, direct channel launching, and seamless YouTube streaming to your TV. Connect via Wi-Fi for a streamlined entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Automatic TV device detection, Large touchpad for navigation, Direct channel launching, YouTube search and casting, Wi-Fi connectivity

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal TV free?

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

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

Universal TV is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 60K ratings, while Universal TV averages 4.7 from 748 ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal TV does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 2 days, and Universal TV every 3 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on October 28, 2026 and Universal TV 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.*