# Stick vs Universal Remote

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Stick at 16K against Universal Remote's 316. Universal Remote's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 45%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stick sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 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 — 4.5 for Stick against 4.5 for Universal Remote. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stick has 16K ratings behind it against 316, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of Stick's written reviews are positive against 57% of Universal Remote's.

Stick ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stick | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stick-remote-control-for-tv/id6470928223/reviews) | **[4.5 (316 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6501984262/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 316 |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [APPSPRO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852212807) | [Controlla TV LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720330108) |

## What reviewers say

### Stick

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stick-remote-control-for-tv/id6470928223)

Transform your smartphone into a versatile TV remote control. Easily navigate menus, change channels, and type using your phone's screen. Offers a touchpad, joystick, and keyboard for seamless interaction with various TV models.

**Highlights:** Universal TV compatibility, Touchpad and joystick control, On-screen keyboard for typing, Channel and audio control, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stick - Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Stick - Premium for One Year | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick connection
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 🆓 Free with no ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- ⚠️ Paid version required for full functionality
- 🔌 Disconnects when switching apps

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't connect to TV
- Stops working after updates
- Fails to detect TV on network

**Requested features**

- Add source/input button
- Improve compatibility with more TV brands


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6501984262)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for any TV. Easily stream content, adjust volume, and navigate menus with a user-friendly interface. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control of smart TVs and access to popular streaming services.

**Highlights:** Control any TV via Wi-Fi, Stream Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Adjust volume and channels, Navigate smart TV menus, No infrared required, Auto-connect to TV, Connect to multiple TVs

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week Plan | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Week Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Year Plan | $34.99 | per year |
| New Year Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| LifeTime Plan | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stick free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stick or Universal Remote?

Universal Remote is rated higher. Stick averages 4.5 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Universal Remote averages 4.5 from 316 ratings.

### Do Stick or Universal Remote have ads?

Neither Stick nor Universal Remote shows ads.

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

Stick ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal Remote fortnightly. Most recently, Stick was updated on November 9, 2026 and Universal Remote on November 8, 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.*