Comparison

Universal TV Remote vs Universal 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 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.

Highlights
  • Control multiple smart TVs
  • Wi-Fi device discovery
  • Full remote functionality
  • Touchpad and keyboard input
  • Quick launch streaming apps
  • App launching from TV
Features
Read full description

One remote for every TV in the house. SmartCtrl finds Roku, Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Android TV / Google TV 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 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, Hisense, Philips, Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield), 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.

About

Universal TV Remote

Transform your iPhone into a Wi-Fi universal TV remote. Easily control smart TVs and streaming boxes with features like power, volume, app shortcuts, and a keyboard for typing searches. Enjoy a private, ad-free experience without needing an account.

Highlights
  • Wi-Fi universal TV remote
  • Control smart TVs and streaming boxes
  • Power, volume, and channel control
  • Directional pad and media controls
  • On-screen keyboard for searches
  • App shortcuts
  • Automatic TV detection
Features
Read full description

Lost the remote again? Opus turns your iPhone into a universal TV remote that works over Wi‑Fi. Open the app, pick your TV from the list, and you're in control in seconds. ONE REMOTE CONTROL FOR EVERY SMART TV Opus connects to the smart TVs and streaming boxes already on your home network, so a single app replaces the pile of remotes on the coffee table. Support for more TV platforms arrives with every update. EVERYTHING A TV REMOTE DOES, AND MORE • Power, volume, mute, channels and input • Directional pad, OK, home, back and menu • Number pad and media controls for play, pause and skip • Keyboard: type searches and passwords from your phone instead of pecking at the on‑screen keyboard • App shortcuts to jump straight into your favorite streaming apps A SMART TV CONTROLLER THAT IS FAST AND RELIABLE • Finds your TV automatically on the local network • Remembers every TV so reconnecting is one tap • Responsive buttons with haptic feedback • No batteries, no line of sight, no IR blaster PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your phone talks directly to your TV on your home network. Nothing is routed through our servers, and no account is required. REQUIREMENTS Your iPhone and TV must be on the same Wi‑Fi network. Some TVs ask you to confirm the connection on screen the first time. FREE AND PREMIUM Finding TVs, pairing, connecting and managing your saved TVs are free. Sending commands to a TV (buttons, keyboard and app shortcuts) requires an Opus Remote Premium subscription. OPUS REMOTE PREMIUM • Weekly: $4.99 / week • Yearly: $29.99 / year • Introductory offer for new subscribers: first month for $4.99, then $29.99 / year Prices are in US dollars, may vary in countries other than the US, and are subject to change without notice. The price shown in the app at the time of purchase is the price that applies. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your App Store account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial or introductory offer, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bJu7OPG40MQudBkM0WjLAauTU6Xt_fDm0lpH-VqKNZ8/preview Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x1VbIoONN1sh-GYDjfp7rUqzHAAh5No2SrXgB_o6Tpc/preview Subscription Terms: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L28ty-2m0nAcgx8zjEz2wp1FvvxFmOvAn7Vq16X_wcU/preview Opus is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any TV manufacturer.

Screenshots

Universal TV Remote4 screens
Universal TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Universal TV Remote at 5.0 against Universal TV Remote's 4.3. Universal TV Remote also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Universal TV Remote's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Universal 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, Universal TV Remote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Universal TV Remote versus Universal TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal TV RemoteUniversal TV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (8 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNice ExpressBIEL LLC

Customer experience

Universal TV Remote

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

Universal TV Remote

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Universal TV Remote

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$7.991 Month
One-time1
  • Remote for Roku Lifetime access$24.99
3 purchases

Universal TV Remote

Subscriptions3
  • OPUS Remote Premium Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Opus Premium Yearly1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • OPUS Remote Premium Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Universal TV Remote free?
Universal TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Universal TV Remote free?
Universal TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Universal TV Remote or Universal TV Remote?
Universal TV Remote is rated higher. Universal TV Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Universal TV Remote averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Universal TV Remote or Universal TV Remote have ads?
Both Universal TV Remote and Universal TV Remote show ads.
Which is updated more often, Universal TV Remote or Universal TV Remote?
Universal TV Remote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Universal TV Remote every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal TV Remote was updated on October 28, 2026 and Universal TV Remote on November 1, 2026.

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