# Universal Remote vs MI Remote・TV Box Controller

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Remote at 81% against MI Remote・TV Box Controller's 42%. Universal Remote also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and MI Remote・TV Box Controller sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 1.1K ratings behind it against 171, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 42% of MI Remote・TV Box Controller's.

Universal Remote ships an update fortnightly, MI Remote・TV Box Controller monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | MI Remote・TV Box Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews)** | [4.4 (171 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mi-remotetv-box-controller/id6667110503/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 171 |
| Positive reviews | **81.3% of reviews** | 41.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gentlemen's s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664064879) | [Jacob Mitchell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863367493) |

## What reviewers say

### 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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote control for TV | $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


### MI Remote・TV Box Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mi-remotetv-box-controller/id6667110503)

Transform your smartphone into a comprehensive remote for your Mi Box. Navigate menus, launch applications, and control playback with ease. Features voice search and a touchpad for enhanced usability.

**Highlights:** Complete remote control functions, App management, Voice search capabilities, Touchpad navigation, Quick setup, Multi-device support

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

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Controller | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・TV Box Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・Universal Control | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote TV Box Controller | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote TV Box Control App | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・Device Remote | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・Home Control App | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・Smart TV Control | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・TV Remote App | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote・Smart Remote App | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| MI Remote TV Box Controller | $19.99 | per month |
| MI Remote・TV Control Manager | $24.99 | per year |
| MI Remote・Device Control App | $29.99 | per year |
| MI Remote TV Box Control App | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Controller・MI Remote | $9.99 | one-time |
| Device Control App | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is MI Remote・TV Box Controller free?

MI Remote・TV Box Controller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or MI Remote・TV Box Controller?

Universal Remote is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while MI Remote・TV Box Controller averages 4.4 from 171 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or MI Remote・TV Box Controller have ads?

Neither Universal Remote nor MI Remote・TV Box Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or MI Remote・TV Box Controller?

Universal Remote ships an update fortnightly, and MI Remote・TV Box Controller monthly. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 24, 2026 and MI Remote・TV Box Controller 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.*