# Universal Remote vs Universal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Universal at every 8 days against Universal Remote's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on March 7, 2026 and August 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Universal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-control-tv-plus/id6740773005/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **25** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 91 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maito Akira](https://appshunter.io/developer/887893710) | [American Football](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677585318) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote/id6470111668)

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Trial Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |


### Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-control-tv-plus/id6740773005)

Transform your smartphone into a versatile TV remote. Easily control channels, volume, and navigate menus with an intuitive interface, touchpad, and keyboard. Unlock an ad-free experience and advanced features with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Control many TV brands, Interactive touchpad and joystick, Effortless typing with keyboard, User-friendly interface, Ad-free premium experience, Smart keyboard search

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote Control For TV Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote 3 Months | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Element TV Remote Yearly | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Universal free?

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

### Do Universal Remote or Universal have ads?

Both Universal Remote and Universal show ads.

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

Universal Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal every 8 days. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on March 7, 2026 and Universal on August 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.*