# iR Universal Remote Control vs Universal remote tv smart

The clearest difference is price: Universal remote tv smart at Free against iR Universal Remote Control's $3.99. Universal remote tv smart also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.3) and ratings volume (43K vs 88). iR Universal Remote Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Universal remote tv smart is free to download; iR Universal Remote Control costs $3.99 up front. Universal remote tv smart sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. iR Universal Remote Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universal remote tv smart holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal remote tv smart has 43K ratings behind it against 88, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 2% of iR Universal Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 22% of Universal remote tv smart's.

iR Universal Remote Control ships an update every 6 weeks, Universal remote tv smart every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iR Universal Remote Control | Universal remote tv smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.3 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-universal-remote-control/id550806860/reviews) | **[4.2 (43K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-smart/id1401880138/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **43K** |
| Positive reviews | 2.4% of reviews | **22.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oliver Foelz](https://appshunter.io/developer/692735158) | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) |

## What reviewers say

### iR Universal Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-universal-remote-control/id550806860)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful universal remote control for all your home entertainment and electronic devices. This app, combined with the iRed Transmitter hardware, allows you to control TVs, audio equipment, cameras, and more with an intuitive interface.

**Highlights:** Universal remote control, Control TVs, DVD players, DVRs, and more, Custom remote design, Intuitive and easy-to-use interface, No complex WiFi or Bluetooth setup, Large device database, Quickly switch between remotes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Works well
- ⭐ Connects to devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Requires additional hardware purchase
- ❌ Doesn't work as advertised
- ❌ Poor customer support
- ❌ Crashes and bugs
- ❌ Useless in demo mode

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Doesn't recognize devices
- Requires license that doesn't work

**Requested features**

- Compatibility with more devices
- Ability to use own IR hardware


### Universal remote tv smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-smart/id1401880138)

Control your smart TV from your iPhone using this virtual remote. It connects via Wi-Fi and supports major brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony, offering full remote functionality.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi connectivity, Supports major TV brands, Volume control, Channel changing, Navigation pad, Video playback controls, Menu and options access

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium version | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads (Discount) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $16.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient alternative to physical remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚨 Too many ads
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🐛 Buttons don't always work
- 💰 Paid version required to remove ads

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to detect or connect to TV
- Buttons/features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn on TV without physical remote
- Fewer ads in free version
- More reliable TV connection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iR Universal Remote Control free?

iR Universal Remote Control costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Universal remote tv smart free?

Universal remote tv smart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iR Universal Remote Control or Universal remote tv smart?

Universal remote tv smart is rated higher. iR Universal Remote Control averages 1.3 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Universal remote tv smart averages 4.2 from 43K ratings.

### Do iR Universal Remote Control or Universal remote tv smart have ads?

Universal remote tv smart shows ads; iR Universal Remote Control does not.

### Which is updated more often, iR Universal Remote Control or Universal remote tv smart?

iR Universal Remote Control ships an update every 6 weeks, and Universal remote tv smart every 4 weeks. Most recently, iR Universal Remote Control was updated on September 25, 2026 and Universal remote tv smart on September 28, 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.*