Direct Remote for DIRECTV vs atvTools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Direct Remote for DIRECTV
Control your DIRECTV receiver from your iPhone or iPad over Wi-Fi. Features voice control, gesture navigation, and quick access to favorite channels. Manage multiple receivers and enjoy program information from anywhere on your network.
- Wi-Fi remote control for DIRECTV receivers
- Voice control for receiver commands
- Gesture and traditional touch interface
- Quick tuning for favorite channels
- Program guide and information display
- Automatic receiver discovery on network
Read full descriptionHide full description
Direct Remote is a Wi-Fi remote control for your DIRECTV receiver that allows you to control your receiver using your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad from anywhere on your Wi-Fi network. Works with Genie Client Receivers as well as RVU enabled TV sets. See notes below to check compatibility with your DIRECTV system. Features: • Voice control for DIRECTV receivers! • Control using gestures or a more traditional touch interface • Quick tuning for up to 65 favorite channels • Shortcuts and home widgets • Program guide for favorite channels • Displays program information and name of the program you are watching • Automatically discovers receivers on network • Enables easy control in dark • Allows control of every receiver on the network with one device • Receiver can be hidden in a cabinet or another room • Works with DIRECTV receivers enabled for network control (see compatible models below) *** Requires iOS 10.0 or higher. Notes: • Receiver must be connected to Wi-Fi network in order for this app to work. One way to check this is to push the right arrow on your remote control. If you have access to Internet connected apps, your receiver is connected to the network. • Compatible models are all Genie receivers and clients, HR20, HR21, R22, R23, HR24 and H21, H23, H24, H25 and all newer receivers. Also works with 3rd party RVU enabled TV sets. You can verify your model by looking under the front panel door of your receiver. • Controls DirecTV receiver only, will not control your TV power or volume If you have any questions prior to purchasing, feel free to contact me using the support link.
atvTools
Control your Android TV devices remotely from your iOS device. Install apps, manage existing ones, transfer files, and even use your phone as a remote. Offers advanced features like shell commands and system monitoring.
- Install apps remotely
- Manage TV apps (open, uninstall, disable)
- File transfer from phone to TV
- Remote control and mouse mode
- Run shell commands
- System monitoring (CPU, RAM, storage)
- Screenshot and screen recording
Read full descriptionHide full description
App developed to control your TV devices from your iOS devices. You need to have enabled USB/Network debugging on your Android device to get it work Depending on the device, some functions may not be available. Also it is not tested App allows: - Install (sideload) apps from your iOS device to your TV devices - Control your TV apps (include opening, uninstalling, disabling/enabling and downloading APK) - Control apps permissions (grant/revoke) - Build-in File Manager - Make screenshot or screenrecord (you can't capture any video content due to OS restrictions) - Send files from your phone to TV - Control your device using remote control and mouse mode in the app - Open channels on your iOS device (only Android TV 8+) - Paste text from your phone - Run Shell commands - Clear all apps cache using one button - Reboot and power TV device - See usage of CPU, RAM, network and storage - See running apps and force-stop them if needed
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: atvTools at 69% against Direct Remote for DIRECTV's 25%. atvTools also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and monetization model (free vs paid). Direct Remote for DIRECTV's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 168). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Direct Remote for DIRECTV costs $0.99 and atvTools $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
atvTools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Direct Remote for DIRECTV has 1.1K ratings behind it against 168, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Direct Remote for DIRECTV's written reviews are positive against 69% of atvTools's.
Direct Remote for DIRECTV ships an update every 3 months, atvTools every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Direct Remote for DIRECTV | atvTools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (1.1K ratings) | 4.8 (168 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.3% of reviews | 69.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 168 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #72 | #15 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 102 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | David Likosar | Oleksandr Hamlii |
Customer experience
Direct Remote for DIRECTV
atvTools
Bugs and requests
Direct Remote for DIRECTV
Reported bugs
5 issues- Fails to discover/connect to receivers
- Loses connection randomly
- Unresponsive controls
- Scrolling issues in guide
- Compatibility problems with newer devices
Requested features
4 requests- Add numeric keypad
- Improve voice recognition
- Implement dark mode
- Provide better instructions and troubleshooting
atvTools
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Direct Remote for DIRECTV
No in-app purchases
atvTools
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Direct Remote for DIRECTV free?
Is atvTools free?
Which has better reviews, Direct Remote for DIRECTV or atvTools?
Do Direct Remote for DIRECTV or atvTools have ads?
Which is updated more often, Direct Remote for DIRECTV or atvTools?
Which is more popular, Direct Remote for DIRECTV or atvTools?
Other comparisons















