# Universal Remote vs TV Control Universal Remote

The clearest difference is monetization model: TV Control Universal Remote at free with in-app purchases against Universal Remote's subscription. Universal Remote's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 TV Control Universal Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 13K ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 24% of TV Control Universal Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, TV Control Universal Remote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | TV Control Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709/reviews)** | [4.1 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-control-universal-remote/id6476610244/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 72 |
| Positive reviews | 17.7% of reviews | **23.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 144 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Node Excellence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756942328) | [BrainX Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828681473) |

## 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


### TV Control Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-control-universal-remote/id6476610244)

Control your smart TV with your phone over Wi-Fi. Easily switch channels, adjust volume, launch apps, and use a trackpad and keyboard for a seamless entertainment experience. Compatible with popular brands.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi TV control, Auto-detection of smart TVs, Trackpad navigation, Keyboard input, Channel and volume adjustment, App launching

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is TV Control Universal Remote free?

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

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

Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while TV Control Universal Remote averages 4.1 from 72 ratings.

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

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

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

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and TV Control Universal Remote every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on November 2, 2026 and TV Control Universal Remote on October 24, 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.*