Comparison

Universal Control vs TV Remote

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

Head to head
About

Universal Control

Transform your phone into a universal TV remote. Easily control various smart TV brands, navigate with a touchpad, and launch apps directly. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control of volume, channels, and more.

Highlights
  • Universal TV remote control
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Touchpad navigation
  • App and channel launching
  • Voice search
  • Remote widget
Features
Read full description

Tired of searching for your lost remote? With Universal Control - TV Remote, you'll never have to worry about it again. This app turns your phone into a universal remote control, so you can control your TV from anywhere in your home. With its easy-to-use interface and compatibility with various TV brands such as Samsung, Roku, LG, Sony, FireTV, AndroidTV, Vizio, and Hisense, this app lets you take charge of your TV viewing experience. You can connect your device to your TV via WIFI, and enjoy full control of your TV functions, including volume, channels, input sources, and more, right from your mobile device. Touchpad Instead of Buttons. We are confident that navigation with swipe gestures is much more convenient than by pressing regular "down" or "right" buttons, not distracting you from the most important thing: searching for your favorite movie or series on the TV. With the ability to add Universal Control Widget. You don't need to open the app to still be able to use the basic buttons on the remote Still Can’t Turn the TV On? In a word, you can, but under one condition. Most new Smart TV models support the Wake-on-LAN function. It is possible only if you had already been connected to the TV earlier. Therefore, when using the application for the first time, you will need a hardware remote control. After that, you can use your Universal Control - TV Remote. Main features: * Automatically detects Smart TVs on the same WIFI network * Works with most popular TV brands * Large touchpad for easy menu and content navigation * Launch channels, apps directly from the app * Fast and simple keyboard input * Voice search for hands-free control * Alexa control with Fire TV * Fast and convenient with Remote Widget *** Upgrade to Premium to remove ads and unlock all features*** You can choose one-time payment or a monthly subscription. (with 3-day free trial) a weekly subscription – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase (After free trial period if offered). – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy: https://342tech.live/privacy-policy.html Terms: https://342tech.live/term-of-service.html

About

TV Remote

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a remote for your smart TV. When your device and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, TV Remote finds the TV automatically, reconnects every time you open the app and gives you all the everyday controls: power, volume, channels, menus and playback. KEY FEATURES * Full remote: power, volume, mute, channels, home, back, input, menu and info * Turn your TV on from your phone with Wake-on-LAN on supported models * Voice search: speak and your words are typed on the TV * Show photos and videos from your library on the big screen * Home Screen widget, Control Center buttons and Siri commands such as "Turn off the TV with TV Remote" * Lock Screen remote: change the volume or pause without unlocking * Touchpad navigation for fast, precise menu control * Built-in keyboard for searches and login screens * Launch the apps installed on your TV and pin your favorites * Remembers your TVs and reconnects automatically. Add a TV by IP address if it isn't found * Works on iPhone and iPad COMPATIBILITY Works with many Wi-Fi smart TVs and streaming players that support control over the local network. Your device and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Some features depend on your TV model. PREMIUM Basic controls are free. Premium unlocks the touchpad, keyboard, voice search, media casting, app launching, the Lock Screen remote and unlimited TVs. Choose a subscription or a one-time purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and can be managed in your App Store account settings. TV Remote is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any TV manufacturer. Privacy Policy: https://growly.life/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Universal Control4 screens
TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TV Remote at none against Universal Control's shown. TV Remote also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Universal Control's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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 Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per 7 days and TV Remote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal Control ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Universal Control versus TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal ControlTV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPham Ngoc HanhTruong Pham Quang

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Universal Control

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Subsciption$3.497 Days
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$11.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$44.99
5 purchases

TV Remote

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Premium$4.99
  • Lifetime Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Universal Control free?
Universal Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote free?
TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Universal Control or TV Remote have ads?
Universal Control shows ads; TV Remote does not.
Which is updated more often, Universal Control or TV Remote?
Universal Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote every 3 days. Most recently, Universal Control was updated on October 24, 2026 and TV Remote on October 25, 2026.

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