# Universal Remote vs Connect TV Remote

The clearest difference is chart position: Connect TV Remote at #129 against Universal Remote's unranked. Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 2.3K) and review sentiment (18% vs 9%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Connect TV Remote sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 4.6 for Universal Remote against 4.6 for Connect TV Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 13K ratings behind it against 2.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 9% of Connect TV Remote's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, Connect TV Remote monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Connect TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-tv-remote/id6474351038/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 2.3K |
| Positive reviews | **17.7% of reviews** | 8.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#129** |
| Size | 144 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Node Excellence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756942328) | [East End Technologies Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1627256488) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709)

Easily control your smart TV from your iPhone. Adjust volume, switch channels, and launch streaming apps with a beautiful, fast interface. Connects automatically over Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs, Adjust volume and channels, Access streaming apps, Launch channels directly, Automatic Wi-Fi detection, Fast response time, Beautiful remote interface

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Seamless connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues
- 💰 Paid subscription required
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading about free features
- 💰 Expensive for a remote app

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work as advertised
- Fails to connect to Roku devices
- Continues to charge even after cancellation

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Free version with basic functionality


### Connect TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/connect-tv-remote/id6474351038)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Control all your smart TVs from your phone with this universal remote app. It connects via Wi-Fi and offers features like streaming shortcuts and custom layouts.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV control, Wi-Fi connectivity, Streaming app shortcuts, Customizable remote layouts, Touch navigation, Multi-brand support

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $8.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $9.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $11.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $14.95 | per month |
| Unlock all features | $14.95 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All Features | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Amazing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Did not work
- 🚫 Terrible
- 🚫 No Switching Back & Forth
- 🚫 Free trial is a lie
- 🚫 Scam

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Connect TV Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Connect TV Remote averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.

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

Neither Universal Remote nor Connect TV Remote shows ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Connect TV Remote monthly. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on November 11, 2026 and Connect TV Remote on November 8, 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.*