# TV Remote vs Universal Remote

TV Remote and Universal Remote both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 33% of TV Remote's. Universal Remote also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 80% of Universal Remote's.

TV Remote ships an update every 4 weeks, Universal Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 48 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SECURE SOFT LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585537099) | [Gentlemen's s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664064879) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916)

Control your smart TV directly from your smartphone. This app automatically detects compatible TVs on your Wi-Fi network and offers most of the key features found on a physical remote for a seamless viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV control, Auto-detect TV on Wi-Fi, Works with popular brands, Full remote key features, Subscription options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 💡 Helpful when TV remote is not working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🔒 Bluetooth required for connection
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Pairing device code not working
- Doesn't connect to multiple TVs

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription
- More features like casting and touch calibration


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215)

Transform your phone into a powerful TV controller. Manage channels, volume, menus, and use keyboard input for seamless navigation. Compatible with major smart TV brands over Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Control channels and volume, Access TV menus and info, Keyboard input for searches, Haptic feedback, Responsive touchpad interface, Wi-Fi network connectivity

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote control for TV | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote | $8.99 | per month |
| Remote Control for TV | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Remote Control for TV | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Quick response time and responsiveness
- 📱 Transforms phone into functional remote
- 🔄 Automatic detection and customization
- ✨ Works across multiple TV brands (LG, Samsung, Sony, Roku)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive subscription model and paywalls
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with some TVs
- 📺 Inconsistent compatibility across devices
- ⚠️ Unreliable connection reliability

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to TV
- Subscription popup blocks basic functionality
- Connectivity drops and unreliable connections

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription requirements
- Improved TV compatibility and connection stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Universal Remote averages 4.6 from 1.1K ratings.

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

Neither TV Remote nor Universal Remote shows ads.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 4 weeks, and Universal Remote fortnightly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on September 19, 2026 and Universal Remote on September 22, 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.*