# Universal Remote vs Smart Remote Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Smart Remote Control at 100% against Universal Remote's 57%. Smart Remote Control also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Universal Remote's advantage is ratings volume (313 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 5 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 313 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% 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 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Smart Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (313 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id6501984262/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-remote-control-sremote/id6751255411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **313** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% 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 | 132 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Controlla TV LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720330108) | [Cavexo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1834304086) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### 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 4.5 out of 5 from 313 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 24, 2026 and Smart Remote Control on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*