# TV Remote vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is ads: Universal Remote at none against TV Remote's shown. Universal Remote also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 38%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for TV Remote against 4.5 for Universal Remote. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 588 and 313 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 38% of TV Remote's written reviews are positive against 57% of Universal Remote's.

TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (588 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6444865789/reviews) | [4.5 (313 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6501984262/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **588** | 313 |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 49 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [App Rover](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448355489) | [Controlla TV LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720330108) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6444865789)

Transform your iPhone into a universal remote for over 10,000 TV models. Discover personalized show recommendations, manage watchlists, and track viewing history all in one app.

**Highlights:** Universal remote control for 10,000+ TV models, Wi-Fi connectivity (no extra hardware), Personalized show recommendations, Watchlist management, Viewing history tracker, Smart content filters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Plan Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Plan Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Pro Plan Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Pro Plan Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Pro Plan Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6501984262)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for any TV. Easily stream content, adjust volume, and navigate menus with a user-friendly interface. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control of smart TVs and access to popular streaming services.

**Highlights:** Control any TV via Wi-Fi, Stream Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Adjust volume and channels, Navigate smart TV menus, No infrared required, Auto-connect to TV, Connect to multiple TVs

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week Plan | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Week Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Year Plan | $34.99 | per year |
| New Year Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| LifeTime Plan | $34.99 | one-time |


## 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?

TV Remote and Universal Remote are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 588 and 313 ratings respectively.

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

TV Remote shows ads; Universal Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal Remote fortnightly. Most recently, TV Remote was updated on October 18, 2026 and Universal Remote on October 15, 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.*