Comparison

iR Universal Remote Control vs Universal Smart TV Remote App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iR Universal Remote Control

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
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into THE universal remote control. iR Remote requires the iRed Transmitter hardware (http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Infrared-transmitter-for-iPhone-iPod/) iR Remote transforms your device into a personal universal remote. Use it to control your TV, DVD players, DVRs, cable boxes, audio equipment, high-end digital cameras, ceiling fans, air conditioners, and almost any other product - at home or on the go. Replace all your remotes with your iPhone. Stash the old remotes, and enjoy the convenience and simplicity of using your device. Out with the clutter and confusion, and in with everything you love about your device: the sharp, brilliant display, the Multi-Touch interface, the versatility and portability. With the ability to control any device, iR Remote takes the concept of universal to a new level. Simply plugin iRed into the audiojack and start using. You will able to control anything you want in your home or business. iR Remote combines the power of an intuitive App with the simplicity of iRed. It will give you all the power and none of the complexity. iR Remote does all of this in an attractive, intuitive, Apple inspired and easy to use interface. The perfect replacing for multiple and often-confusing diffrent remote control devices. iR Remote can control any number of devices. Use it to control your -TV -DVD players -DVRs -cable boxes -audio equipment -high-end digital cameras -ceiling fans -air conditioners ... and almost any other product that receive infrared signals. Custom Remote Quickly and easily design your custom remote by dragging and dropping any buttons you want, and assign a signal (hex codes) to each. iR Remote intelligently analyzes the signal and stores it in your device. You can program all your remotes in just minutes. A home for your old phone. Save your old phone from the recycling bin. With iR Remote you could still use it as your favourite universal remote control. Features: -No complex WiFi or Bluetooth setup -large database -auto search -intuitive design -quickly switch between different remotes -store as much remotes as u want -control any device Note: iR Remote requires the iRed Transmitter hardware (http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Infrared-transmitter-for-iPhone-iPod/)

About

Universal Smart TV Remote App

Control your Samsung, Sony, Roku, or Vizio smart TV instantly without complex setup. This app eliminates the need for lost or broken physical remotes. It's compatible with Apple Watch and requires no subscription.

Highlights
  • Instant TV control
  • No settings required
  • Supports Apple Watch
  • No subscription needed
  • Control multiple brands
Read full description

Universal Smart TV Remote turns your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch into a powerful remote for your television. No more searching for lost remotes or dealing with dead batteries. This app supports most major TV brands including Sony, Samsung, Vizio, Roku, TCL, LG, Philips, Onn, and more. No advanced settings or subscription is required. Additionally, this app also supports Apple Watch, creating and executing macro shortcuts, a large and easy to use touchpad, voice commands, quick app launching, and more. Simple Setup - getting started takes seconds: 1. Turn your TV on and make sure it is connected to Wi-Fi 2. Open this app and connect your iPhone or iPad to the same Wi-Fi network 3. Start controlling your TV from this app Please see our YouTube channel for detailed setup instructions as well as walkthroughs for features: https://www.youtube.com/@universaltvremote Our intelligent scanner automatically finds your TV. No complicated configurations or confusing menus. Complete TV Control • Power on/off and input selection • Full directional pad navigation • Volume, mute, and channel controls • Media playback buttons (play, pause, rewind, forward) • Number pad for direct channel entry • Quick access to home, menu, and back functions Launch Streaming Apps Instantly - open your favorite services with a single tap! Smart Automation with Macros Create custom command sequences to automate your viewing. Save your favorite routines and execute them anytime. Full Touchpad Support Easily swipe to navigate and then simply tap to select. Voice Commands Speak commands like "volume up," "pause," or "Netflix" and your TV responds instantly. Apple Watch Integration Control your TV from your wrist. Access power, navigation, volume, channels, and media playback right on your Apple Watch. Track Your Watchlist Never forget what you want to watch. Create a personalized content library to track movies and TV shows, mark what you've viewed, and add notes about what you're watching. Recent Commands Quick access to your three most recent commands for fast control of the buttons you use most. Multi-Device Support Manage multiple TVs in your home. Switch between devices instantly from one convenient location. Download now and take control of your TV viewing experience. Contact us at easymote101@gmail.com DISCLAIMER Universal Smart TV Remote is: 1. not affiliated with Samsung Group and is not a Samsung product 2. not affiliated with Sony Corporation of America and is not a Sony product 3. not affiliated with Roku, Inc. and is not a Roku product 4. not affiliated with TCL and is not a TCL product 5. not affiliated with Hisense and is not a Hisense product 6. not affiliated with Sharp Corporation and is not a Sharp product 7. not affiliated with Best Buy Brands (Insignia TV) and is not a Best Buy product 8. not affiliated with Element Electronics and is not an Element Electronics product 9. not affiliated with Philips and is not a Philips product 10. not affiliated with Westinghouse Electric Company and is not a Westinghouse product 11. not affiliated with JVC and is not a JVC product 12. not affiliated with Pioneer Corporation and is not a Pioneer product 13. not affiliated with Target Corporation (Hiro TV) and is not a Target product 14. not affiliated with Walmart Inc. (Onn TV) and is not a Walmart product 15. not affiliated with VIZIO Inc. and is not a Vizio product 16. not affiliated with LG Electronics and is not an LG product This application creates a remote control for Samsung, Sony, LG, Roku, TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Insignia, Element, Philips, Westinghouse, JVC, Pioneer, Hiro, Onn, and Vizio Smart TVs by using the publicly available Samsung SmartView SDK, Sony Bravia TV API, LG webOS TV API, Roku ECP API, and Vizio TV SmartCast API. All terms for the APIs are adhered to and all rights, content, and trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iR Universal Remote Control4 screens
Universal Smart TV Remote App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Smart TV Remote App at 68% against iR Universal Remote Control's 2%. Universal Smart TV Remote App also leads on price (Free vs $3.99) and rating (4.5 vs 1.3). iR Universal Remote Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Universal Smart TV Remote App is free to download; iR Universal Remote Control costs $3.99 up front. Universal Smart TV Remote App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. iR Universal Remote Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Universal Smart TV Remote App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Smart TV Remote App has 458 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 68% of Universal Smart TV Remote App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iR Universal Remote Control ships an update every 6 weeks, Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
iR Universal Remote Control versus Universal Smart TV Remote App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriR Universal Remote ControlUniversal Smart TV Remote App
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating1.3 (88 ratings)4.5 (458 ratings) — better
Positive reviews2.4% of reviews68.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings88458 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS6.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver FoelzHemant Bhonsle

Customer experience

iR Universal Remote Control

All ratings88 ratings
Positive5.7%
Neutral1.1%
Negative93.2%
Written reviews293 reviews
Positive2.4%
Neutral3.1%
Negative94.5%

Universal Smart TV Remote App

All ratings442 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral0.7%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive68.3%
Neutral3.7%
Negative28.0%

User reviews

iR Universal Remote Control

From 88 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Works well
  • ⭐ Connects to devices

Room to improve

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

Universal Smart TV Remote App

From 458 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Convenient remote control
  • 🚀 Responsive and fast
  • 💡 Useful for lost remotes
  • 👍 Works well with various TV brands

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections and app freezes
  • 💰 Intrusive and excessive ads
  • 🚫 Limited functionality compared to physical remote
  • 🐛 Issues with scanning and connecting to TVs

Bugs and requests

iR Universal Remote Control

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on launch
  • Doesn't recognize devices
  • Requires license that doesn't work

Requested features

2 requests
  • Compatibility with more devices
  • Ability to use own IR hardware

Universal Smart TV Remote App

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App freezes after TV scanning
  • Unable to connect to certain TV models
  • Ads not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to control TV power on/off
  • Option to customize ad frequency
  • Support for more TV brands
  • Improved stability and reliability

In-app purchases

None

iR Universal Remote Control

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Universal Smart TV Remote App

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Premium$6.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium with Trial3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Access$44.99

Questions

Is iR Universal Remote Control free?
iR Universal Remote Control costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Universal Smart TV Remote App free?
Universal Smart TV Remote App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iR Universal Remote Control or Universal Smart TV Remote App?
Universal Smart TV Remote App is rated higher. iR Universal Remote Control averages 1.3 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Universal Smart TV Remote App averages 4.5 from 458 ratings.
Do iR Universal Remote Control or Universal Smart TV Remote App have ads?
Neither iR Universal Remote Control nor Universal Smart TV Remote App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iR Universal Remote Control or Universal Smart TV Remote App?
iR Universal Remote Control ships an update every 6 weeks, and Universal Smart TV Remote App every 3 months. Most recently, iR Universal Remote Control was updated on October 23, 2026 and Universal Smart TV Remote App on October 20, 2026.

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