# TV Remote Control vs Universal TV Remote

The clearest difference is ads: TV Remote Control at none against Universal TV Remote's shown. TV Remote Control also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (4.9K vs 4). Universal TV Remote's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote Control sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote Control has 4.9K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TV Remote Control ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal TV Remote every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote Control | Universal TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-flicky/id6503682820/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-smartctrl/id6740748603/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.9K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 15.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 312 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tiny Boom Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743737517) | [Nice Express](https://appshunter.io/developer/1300337847) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-flicky/id6503682820)

Transform your smartphone into a universal TV remote. Control over 100 brands, navigate with a touchpad, and launch streaming apps instantly. Say goodbye to lost remotes and dead batteries.

**Highlights:** Universal remote for 100+ TV brands, Quick and easy setup, One-tap app launching, Smooth touchpad navigation, Built-in keyboard for searching

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal TV Remote Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro | $10.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $17.49 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Pro | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Excellent performance
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🎉 Great overall experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🤯 Frustrating lack of cancellation option

**Reported bugs**

- Connectivity issues with certain TV models
- Crashes and freezes on some devices

**Requested features**

- Free version with ads
- Ability to cancel subscription


### Universal TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-smartctrl/id6740748603)

Control all your smart TVs with a single app. Easily connect to devices on your Wi-Fi network for instant remote access. Features a touchpad, keyboard for typing, and quick launch buttons for streaming services.

**Highlights:** Control multiple smart TVs, Wi-Fi device discovery, Full remote functionality, Touchpad and keyboard input, Quick launch streaming apps, App launching from TV

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Remote for Roku Lifetime access | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote Control free?

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

### Is Universal TV Remote free?

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

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

Universal TV Remote is rated higher. TV Remote Control averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.9K ratings, while Universal TV Remote averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

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

Universal TV Remote shows ads; TV Remote Control does not.

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

TV Remote Control ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal TV Remote every 4 months. Most recently, TV Remote Control was updated on October 22, 2026 and Universal TV Remote on October 17, 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.*