# Universal Control vs TV Remote Control

The clearest difference is ads: Universal Control at none against TV Remote Control's shown. TV Remote Control's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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 TV Remote Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.6 for Universal Control against 2.6 for TV Remote Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 5 respectively.

Universal Control ships an update every 2 months, TV Remote Control monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Control | TV Remote Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6739201253/reviews) | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-controlall-smart-tv/id6791973183/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 54 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anwar Kamal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710877432) | [Venish Rakholia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873513119) |

## 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 |


### TV Remote Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-controlall-smart-tv/id6791973183)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for most smart TVs. Easily control playback, navigate menus, and launch apps directly from your phone over Wi-Fi. Enjoy a real keyboard for searching and typing, eliminating the need for physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV compatibility, Wi-Fi connectivity, Real keyboard input for search and typing, Direct app launching, Full playback and navigation controls, Manage multiple TVs

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Pro – Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Pro – Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Pro – Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Control free?

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

### Is TV Remote Control free?

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

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

Universal Control and TV Remote Control are both rated 2.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 5 ratings respectively.

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

TV Remote Control shows ads; Universal Control does not.

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

Universal Control ships an update every 2 months, and TV Remote Control monthly. Most recently, Universal Control was updated on October 24, 2026 and TV Remote Control on October 24, 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.*