Universal TV Remote vs Smart TV Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Universal TV Remote
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.
- Control multiple smart TVs
- Wi-Fi device discovery
- Full remote functionality
- Touchpad and keyboard input
- Quick launch streaming apps
- App launching from TV
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One remote for every TV in the house. SmartCtrl finds Roku, Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Android TV / Google TV, Hisense VIDAA and Vizio devices on your Wi-Fi in seconds — no account, no setup — and gives you a full remote for each. EVERY BUTTON, EVERY BRAND • Navigation pad, OK, back, home, volume, mute, channel, play/pause • Number keypad, inputs, settings and colour keys where your TV has them • Quick launch for Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+ and more TOUCHPAD Swipe to move, tap to select. On LG the pad drives the Magic Remote cursor. KEYBOARD Type searches with your iPhone keyboard instead of the on-screen letter grid. YOUR TV'S APPS Every app installed on the TV, with its real icon. Star your favourites. PAIR ONCE Roku needs nothing. Samsung and LG ask once on the TV. Fire TV, Android TV, Hisense and Vizio show a code. After that it just works, every time. WORKS ON YOUR WI-FI Everything runs on your local network. No cloud, no account, nothing leaves your home. PRO Remove ads and unlock five themes — Liquid Glass, Aurora, Carbon, Studio — plus 3D relief keys. Supported: Roku and Roku TV (TCL, Hisense, Sharp, Philips), Samsung Tizen (2016+), LG webOS (2014+), Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android TV and Google TV (Sony Bravia, TCL, Philips, Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield), Hisense VIDAA (and the Toshiba and Sharp sets that run it), Vizio SmartCast. Your phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pro is available as a one-time Lifetime purchase, or as a Weekly (3-day free trial) or Monthly auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://appxcellence.net/smartctrl/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://appxcellence.net/smartctrl/terms/ Support: contact@appxcellence.net Roku, Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Android TV and Google TV are trademarks of their respective owners. SmartCtrl is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Smart TV Remote
Transform your iPhone into a universal remote for all your smart TVs. Effortlessly control power, volume, channels, and access apps directly from your device. Enjoy a seamless experience with a touchpad, keyboard, and app launcher.
- Universal TV control
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Touchpad navigation
- On-screen keyboard
- App launching
- Save multiple TVs
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Turn your iPhone into the remote for every smart TV in the house. The app finds the TV on your Wi-Fi, pairs the way the TV asks, and gives you every key, a touchpad, a keyboard and your apps, all in one place that never ends up under the sofa. Works With the TVs People Actually Own Samsung, LG, Sony Bravia, Roku, Vizio, Philips, Panasonic, and the Android TV and Google TV sets made by TCL, Hisense, Xiaomi and many others. Each brand is spoken in its own language, so the keys respond the way the original remote does. Ready in a Minute Put the phone on the same Wi-Fi as the TV and open the app. The TV appears within seconds. The first time, the TV shows a code or asks for permission on its screen, once; after that the connection is automatic whenever you open the app. Every Key of the Remote Power, volume and mute, channels and numbers, inputs, arrows and OK, play and pause, home and back. The keys are laid out like a real remote, with haptic feedback on every press, and the phone's own volume buttons control the TV. Touchpad and Keyboard Swipe across the touchpad to move through menus and tap to select. On TVs with a pointer, the cursor follows your finger. When it is time to search, type on your phone's keyboard instead of hunting for letters on the screen one at a time. Your Apps in One Tap Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and everything else installed on the TV, opened straight from the phone. Keep your favorites at the top of the remote. Turn the TV On From the Couch Most recent smart TVs can be woken over the network. Once the app has paired with the TV, it can turn it on for you, even from standby, and it helps you switch the setting on when the TV needs it. Every TV in the House Living room, bedroom, kitchen: save each TV once and switch between them in a tap. Rename them, forget them, add a new one whenever you like. Private by Design There is no account and no server between you and your TV. The app talks to the TV directly over your home network. No ads, and no tracking of what you watch. Premium Finding and pairing your TVs is free. Premium unlocks the remote itself: every key, the touchpad, the keyboard and app launch. Choose a weekly or yearly subscription, or pay once with Lifetime. Prices are shown in the app before you buy. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Vizio, Philips, Panasonic, Google or any other brand mentioned. Privacy Policy: https://tvremote.org/privacy Terms of Use: https://tvremote.org/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Smart TV Remote at 5.0 against Universal TV Remote's 4.3. Smart TV Remote also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 months). Universal TV Remote's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Universal TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Smart TV Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Smart TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal TV Remote has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Universal TV Remote ships an update every 4 months, Smart TV Remote every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Universal TV Remote | Smart TV Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Nice Express | Florea Media SRL |
Customer experience
Universal TV Remote
Smart TV Remote
In-app purchases
Universal TV Remote
- Weekly Pro3 Days trial$3.997 Days
- Monthly Pro$7.991 Month
- Remote for Roku Lifetime access$24.99
Smart TV Remote
- Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Weekly7 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Yearly3 Days trial$22.991 Year
- Lifetime$34.99
Questions
Is Universal TV Remote free?
Is Smart TV Remote free?
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote or Smart TV Remote?
Do Universal TV Remote or Smart TV Remote have ads?
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote or Smart TV Remote?
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