# Universal TV vs AFS TV Remote

The clearest difference is update cadence: Universal TV at every 3 weeks against AFS TV Remote's every 4 months. Universal TV also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). AFS TV Remote's advantage is review sentiment (43% vs 33%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal TV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and AFS TV Remote sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal TV holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 748 and 847 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Universal TV's written reviews are positive against 43% of AFS TV Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal TV ships an update every 3 weeks, AFS TV Remote every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV | AFS TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (748 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6504341259/reviews)** | [4.5 (847 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afs-tv-remote/id6741801805/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 748 | **847** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **43.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SolveIt Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807096175) | [Jeroen Bakker](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872124902) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6504341259)

Control your smart TV and streaming devices with your iPhone. This app offers a user-friendly interface for easy navigation, direct channel launching, and seamless YouTube streaming to your TV. Connect via Wi-Fi for a streamlined entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Automatic TV device detection, Large touchpad for navigation, Direct channel launching, YouTube search and casting, Wi-Fi connectivity

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


### AFS TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afs-tv-remote/id6741801805)

Transform your smartphone into a powerful remote control for your streaming devices. Easily manage playback, navigate menus, and enter text with an intuitive interface. It's a convenient solution for controlling your home entertainment from your phone.

**Highlights:** Full remote control (power, volume, navigation), Quick access to apps and streaming services, On-screen keyboard for text entry, Smooth Wi-Fi connection, User-friendly interface, Replacement for lost physical remotes

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fire Stick Smart Controller | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick TV Remote Universal | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick TV Remote Universal | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick Smart Controller | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick Smart Controller | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick TV Remote Universal | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Fire Stick Smart Controller | $19.99 | per month |
| Fire Stick Smart Controller | $29.99 | per month |
| Fire Stick TV Remote Universal | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV free?

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

### Is AFS TV Remote free?

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

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

Universal TV is rated higher. Universal TV averages 4.7 out of 5 from 748 ratings, while AFS TV Remote averages 4.5 from 847 ratings.

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

Neither Universal TV nor AFS TV Remote shows ads.

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

Universal TV ships an update every 3 weeks, and AFS TV Remote every 4 months. Most recently, Universal TV was updated on November 4, 2026 and AFS TV 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.*