# iR Universal Remote Control vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TV Remote at 55% against iR Universal Remote Control's 2%. TV Remote also leads on price (Free vs $3.99) and rating (4.6 vs 1.3). iR Universal Remote Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

TV Remote is free to download; iR Universal Remote Control costs $3.99 up front. TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. iR Universal Remote Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 58K 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 55% of TV Remote's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | iR Universal Remote Control | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.3 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-universal-remote-control/id550806860/reviews) | **[4.6 (58K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal/id1670649189/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **58K** |
| Positive reviews | 2.4% of reviews | **55.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#199** |
| Size | 14 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oliver Foelz](https://appshunter.io/developer/692735158) | [Zap Software Studio BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1793745371) |

## 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


### TV Remote

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

**Currently charting:** #199 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iR Universal Remote Control free?

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

### Is TV Remote free?

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

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

TV Remote is rated higher. iR Universal Remote Control averages 1.3 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.6 from 58K ratings.

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

TV Remote shows ads; iR Universal Remote Control does not.

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

iR Universal Remote Control ships an update every 6 weeks, and TV Remote every 4 days. Most recently, iR Universal Remote Control was updated on September 25, 2026 and TV Remote 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.*