# Universal Control vs Remote for Roku

The clearest difference is rating: Remote for Roku at 3.9 against Universal Control's 2.6. Remote for Roku also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Universal Control's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Remote for Roku sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Remote for Roku holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Universal Control's written reviews are positive against 67% of Remote for Roku's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal Control ships an update every 2 months, Remote for Roku every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Control | Remote for Roku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6739201253/reviews) | **[3.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-roku/id6753974286/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 54 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anwar Kamal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710877432) | [John,V Vicari](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846049162) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6739201253)

Control your smart TV directly from your iPhone or iPad. This app offers seamless navigation, media casting, and screen mirroring without needing extra hardware. It's a convenient solution for managing your TV experience.

**Highlights:** Smart Auto-Detection, Smooth Navigation Touchpad, Quick Channel Access, On-Screen Keyboard, Media Casting, Screen Mirroring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Premium (Weekly) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium (Monthly) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $29.99 | one-time |


### Remote for Roku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-roku/id6753974286)

Control your smart TV and streaming devices with an intuitive remote app. Enjoy seamless navigation, simple playback controls, and manage multiple devices from your iPhone or iPad.

**Highlights:** Effortless device connection, Responsive touchpad navigation, Intuitive playback controls, Manage multiple TVs, Clean iOS interface

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Promo Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Promo | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Control free?

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

### Is Remote for Roku free?

Remote for Roku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Control or Remote for Roku?

Remote for Roku is rated higher. Universal Control averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Remote for Roku averages 3.9 from 16 ratings.

### Do Universal Control or Remote for Roku have ads?

Neither Universal Control nor Remote for Roku shows ads.

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

Universal Control ships an update every 2 months, and Remote for Roku every 9 days. Most recently, Universal Control was updated on November 4, 2026 and Remote for Roku on November 5, 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.*