# iTunes Remote vs Apple TV

The clearest difference is ads: iTunes Remote at none against Apple TV's shown. iTunes Remote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (57% vs 43%). Apple TV's advantage is ratings volume (1.9M vs 40K) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Apple TV holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple TV has 1.9M ratings behind it against 40K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of iTunes Remote's written reviews are positive against 43% of Apple TV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iTunes Remote ships an update every 5 months, Apple TV every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTunes Remote | Apple TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itunes-remote/id284417350/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 40K | **1.9M** |
| Positive reviews | **57.0% of reviews** | 43.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.4 | **10.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### iTunes Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itunes-remote/id284417350)

Control your Apple Music, iTunes, or Apple TV app library from your iPhone or iPad. Browse content, manage playlists, and stream audio to AirPlay speakers throughout your home.

**Highlights:** Control Apple Music, iTunes, Apple TV, Browse music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, Create and edit playlists, View upcoming songs (Up Next), Search entire libraries, Stream to AirPlay speakers, Group speakers for multi-room audio

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent for controlling music on Mac and AirPlay devices
- 👍 Convenient remote control for Apple TV
- 💡 Allows remote access to iTunes library

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnects and stability issues
- 🔍 Lacks integration with Apple Music
- 📺 No longer supports Apple Watch
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to previous versions

**Reported bugs**

- Arrows and navigation buttons disappearing
- Inability to control Apple TV
- Frequent need to reconnect to iTunes library

**Requested features**

- Add support for HomePod and stereo HomePods
- Integrate with Apple Music for searching and adding to library
- Improve user interface and add more customization options
- Restore Apple Watch support


### Apple TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549)

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Apple Originals, Live Formula 1 & MLB, Buy or rent movies, Aggregate streaming services, Personalized recommendations, Continue Watching feature

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Decent quality viewing experience
- 👍 Impressive 4K and audio quality
- 🤩 Fantastic original content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 💰 Misleading pricing and pay-to-watch content
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features
- 😡 Terrible customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Playback issues and random freezes
- Incorrect episode/content display
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/bookmark content for later
- Improved content organization and navigation
- Sync playback progress across devices
- Chromecast/casting support
- User profiles and personalized recommendations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTunes Remote free?

iTunes Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Apple TV free?

Apple TV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iTunes Remote or Apple TV?

Apple TV is rated higher. iTunes Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while Apple TV averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do iTunes Remote or Apple TV have ads?

Apple TV shows ads; iTunes Remote does not.

### Which is updated more often, iTunes Remote or Apple TV?

iTunes Remote ships an update every 5 months, and Apple TV every 2 months. Most recently, iTunes Remote was updated on October 21, 2026 and Apple TV on October 21, 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.*