# Universal Remote vs Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ

The clearest difference is monetization model: Universal Remote at free with in-app purchases against Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ's subscription. Universal Remote also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 32) and iOS requirement (14.1 vs 17.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 4.7 for Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 1.1K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews) | **[4.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-smart-tv/id6743735344/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 143 MB | 140 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gentlemen's s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664064879) | [rik fol](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804259185) |

## 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


### Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-smart-tv/id6743735344)

Transform your smartphone into a comprehensive TV remote. Effortlessly switch channels, adjust volume, launch apps, and mirror your screen. Connect wirelessly for instant control over your smart TV.

**Highlights:** Virtual remote control, Screen mirroring, Photo and video casting, Support for multiple TVs, Auto-reconnect, App launching

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote Control (weekly std) | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote Control (weekly trial) | $3.99 | per 7 days |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ free?

Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ averages 4.7 from 32 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ have ads?

Neither Universal Remote nor Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ shows ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update fortnightly, and Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ fortnightly. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 30, 2026 and Remote Control for Smart TV ㅤ 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.*