# TV Remote vs Universal Control

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.4 against Universal Control's 1.0. TV Remote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 1). Universal Control's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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 Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 1.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TV Remote ships an update every 4 weeks, Universal Control every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6504645109/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 48 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SECURE SOFT LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585537099) | [Pham Ngoc Hanh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546055047) |

## 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 Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6504645109)

Transform your phone into a universal TV remote. Easily control various smart TV brands, navigate with a touchpad, and launch apps directly. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control of volume, channels, and more.

**Highlights:** Universal TV remote control, Wi-Fi connectivity, Touchpad navigation, App and channel launching, Voice search, Remote widget

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subsciption | $3.49 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Subscription | $44.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Is Universal Control free?

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

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

TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Universal Control averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

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

Universal Control shows ads; TV Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 4 weeks, and Universal Control every 2 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on September 19, 2026 and Universal Control on August 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.*