# Universal Remote vs Smart Remote Control

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Remote Control at 5.0 against Universal Remote's 4.6. Smart Remote Control also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 80%). Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). 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 Smart Remote Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart Remote Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 1.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Smart Remote Control's.

Universal Remote ships an update fortnightly, Smart Remote Control every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Smart Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id6450844215/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-remote-control-sremote/id6751255411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 18.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gentlemen's s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664064879) | [Cavexo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834304086) |

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

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


### Smart Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-remote-control-sremote/id6751255411)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful and intuitive smart TV controller. Navigate menus with ease, launch apps instantly, and manage multiple TVs from a single interface. Enjoy a seamless control experience with a clean, accessible design.

**Highlights:** Eyes-free touchpad navigation, Instant app launcher, Multiple TV support, Essential controls (volume, channel, mute), Adaptive UI themes, Automatic TV detection

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Access | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Smart Remote Control free?

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

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

Smart Remote Control is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Smart Remote Control averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

Neither Universal Remote nor Smart Remote Control shows ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update fortnightly, and Smart Remote Control every 6 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on September 22, 2026 and Smart Remote Control on September 19, 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.*