Comparison

Universal Remote · Control TV vs Smart Remote+

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Universal Remote · Control TV

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a universal TV remote. Control a wide range of smart TVs and devices with features like touchpad, keyboard input, and app access. Enjoy a convenient, hassle-free entertainment experience.

Highlights
  • Universal TV compatibility
  • Touchpad and keyboard input
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Direct app access on TV
  • Haptic feedback
  • Easy setup
Features
Read full description

Take control of your TV with ease using the Universal TV Remote App! Enjoy a hassle-free experience, compatible with a wide range of TVs and devices. Download today and transform your iPhone or iPad into the ultimate TV remote. ADVANTAGES: - Works on Every iPhone & iPad: Enjoy seamless compatibility. - Easy to Use: Control your TV effortlessly. - Convenient: No more searching for multiple remotes. - Universal Compatibility: Supports a wide range of popular TV brands. FEATURES: - Touchpad & Keyboard Input: Navigate and type with ease. - Full Remote Control Functions: Access all buttons and features of a normal remote. - Wi-Fi Connectivity: Control your TV over your home network. - App Access: Easy access your TV apps. - Haptic Feedback: Enjoy immediate confirmation of actions, reduced input errors, and improved accessibility. SUPPORTED TVs: - Samsung (models from 2012) - LG (models from 2012) - TCL - Fire TV - Roku - Hisense (Roku) - Sharp (Roku) - Android TV - Sony (Bravia & X80K) - Philips (OLED+959, OLED+909, OLED809, 7406 Series, 8115 Series, 5700 Series) HOW IT WORKS: 1) Download & Install: Get the app on your iPhone or iPad. 2) Connect to Wi-Fi: Ensure your device and TV are on the same network. 3) Select Your TV: Choose your TV model from the app. 4) Start Controlling: Use the app as your new TV remote! Why Choose Universal TV Remote App? - Reliable: Developed by AirBeamTV, a trusted name in technology. - User-Friendly: Designed for all ages to use easily. - No More Lost Remotes: Your phone is always with you. AirBeamTV, a leader in screen mirroring and universal remote control solutions, delivers innovative apps that simplify your digital life. Trusted by millions worldwide, AirBeamTV is dedicated to providing reliable, user-friendly technology that enhances your entertainment experience. Download the Universal TV Remote App now and enjoy the ultimate convenience of controlling your TV from your iPhone or iPad. Try it today and simplify your TV experience! Need assistance? Our Terms of Use: http://bit.ly/ABTV-TOU21 Please contact us via https://www.airbeam.tv/contact-us/ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. The cost of the renewal depends on your subscription plan. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal can be turned off in the user’s Account Settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period (if offered) will be forfeited when you purchase a premium subscription during the free trial period.

About

Smart Remote+

Transform your Apple devices into a comprehensive remote for LG smart TVs. Control playback, volume, and navigation directly from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or home screen widgets. Features like Live Activities and Wake-on-LAN offer seamless, instant access to your TV.

Highlights
  • Live Activities and Dynamic Island integration
  • Full Apple Watch app with directional pad and Digital Crown
  • Home Screen Widgets for instant control
  • Wake-on-LAN for powering on TV
  • Automatic TV discovery and multi-TV support
  • Customizable remote layouts
  • Service menu and number pad access
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch into the ultimate TV remote — now for LG webOS, Samsung, Sony Bravia, Google TV / Android TV, and Apple TV. With Live Activities, Dynamic Island support, powerful widgets, and ultra-reliable Wake-on-LAN, controlling your TV has never felt this seamless. Whether you're across the room or anywhere in your home, your TV is always just a tap away. Works With Your TV • LG webOS TVs (2016 and newer) — the full experience: touchpad, Scenes, picture settings, Live Activities, service menu, and more • Sony Bravia TVs — power, volume, inputs, navigation, and media playback; connects instantly with no pairing codes • Samsung TVs — power, volume, inputs, navigation, and media playback; just accept the pairing on the TV • Google TV and Android TV devices (TCL, Philips, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, US Hisense, and more) — power, volume, inputs, navigation, media playback, and app launching • Apple TV — pair with the on-screen code, navigate with the D-pad or swipe gestures, control playback, and launch installed apps. Choose a saved TV for volume control while using your Apple TV remote. Live Activity & Dynamic Island (LG webOS) See what's playing on your TV directly from your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Control play/pause, volume, and mute instantly — with app-themed colors for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and more. Your TV controls, without even opening the app. Full Apple Watch App Control your TV from your wrist. Includes: • Directional pad navigation • Media playback controls • Power on/off • HDMI input switching Perfect when your phone isn't nearby. Powerful Home Screen Widgets Access your TV controls instantly without opening the app. Widgets let you: • Power on your TV • Adjust volume • Switch HDMI inputs • Launch streaming apps (LG and Google TV) • Control playback Available in multiple sizes and fully integrated with Wake-on-LAN. Scenes (LG webOS) Save picture mode, sound output, and input as a one-tap preset. Movie night, gaming, daytime TV — set the whole TV up in a single tap from the app, widgets, or Shortcuts. Automatic TV Discovery Find the TVs on your network with a single tap. The app automatically detects your TV's name, IP address, and MAC addresses — no manual configuration required. Customizable Remote Layout Build your ideal remote. Rearrange, show, or hide: • Volume slider • Volume buttons • Media controls • Navigation controls • And more Give every TV its own layout — or share one default across them all. The editor only offers controls your TV actually supports, and layouts are independent on iPhone and Apple Watch. TV Self-Test Not sure everything's working? Run a live command sweep that proves what your TV responds to and produces a shareable report — perfect for diagnosing tricky network setups. Configuration Import & Export Back up or transfer your TV configurations between devices with ease. Service Menu Access (LG webOS) Access the TV service menu and number pad for hotel mode and advanced settings when needed. Multiple TV Support Easily switch between different TVs in your home — even different brands. Each TV maintains its own connection and settings for effortless multi-room control. Built for Reliability • Improved auto-reconnect after background idle • Enhanced Live Activity state tracking • More stable watch command handling • Continuous performance improvements Pay once for Pro — no subscriptions, no ads. Experience the convenience of complete TV control — through the full app, widgets, Live Activities, or right from your wrist. No more searching for the remote.

Screenshots

Universal Remote · Control TV4 screens
Smart Remote+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Smart Remote+ at 80% against Universal Remote · Control TV's 0%. Smart Remote+ also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Universal Remote · Control TV's advantage is ratings volume (79 vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Universal Remote · Control TV sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Smart Remote+ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smart Remote+ holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote · Control TV has 79 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Universal Remote · Control TV's written reviews are positive against 80% of Smart Remote+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal Remote · Control TV ships an update every 2 months, Smart Remote+ every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Universal Remote · Control TV versus Smart Remote+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal Remote · Control TVSmart Remote+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (79 ratings)4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings79 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAirBeamTV BVBouncing Ball Games

Customer experience

Universal Remote · Control TV

All ratings79 ratings
Positive64.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative34.2%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Smart Remote+

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Universal Remote · Control TV

Subscriptions3
  • TV Remote: Weekly Plan3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • TV Remote: Monthly Plan$9.991 Month
  • TV Remote: Yearly Plan$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pay Only Once: All Features$49.99
1 purchases

Smart Remote+

One-time1
  • Smart Remote+ Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Universal Remote · Control TV free?
Universal Remote · Control TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Remote+ free?
Smart Remote+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal Remote · Control TV or Smart Remote+?
Smart Remote+ is rated higher. Universal Remote · Control TV averages 3.5 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Smart Remote+ averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Universal Remote · Control TV or Smart Remote+ have ads?
Neither Universal Remote · Control TV nor Smart Remote+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal Remote · Control TV or Smart Remote+?
Universal Remote · Control TV ships an update every 2 months, and Smart Remote+ every 9 days. Most recently, Universal Remote · Control TV was updated on September 20, 2026 and Smart Remote+ on September 21, 2026.

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