# Universal vs SmartTV remote control

The clearest difference is ads: SmartTV remote control at none against Universal's shown. SmartTV remote control also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and SmartTV remote control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal ships an update every 8 days, SmartTV remote control every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal | SmartTV remote control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-control-tv-plus/id6740773005/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **25** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 126 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Football](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677585318) | [Bobby Fischer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462172275) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-control-tv-plus/id6740773005)

Transform your smartphone into a versatile TV remote. Easily control channels, volume, and navigate menus with an intuitive interface, touchpad, and keyboard. Unlock an ad-free experience and advanced features with a premium subscription.

**Highlights:** Control many TV brands, Interactive touchpad and joystick, Effortless typing with keyboard, User-friendly interface, Ad-free premium experience, Smart keyboard search

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote Control For TV Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote 3 Months | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Element TV Remote Yearly | $34.99 | per year |


### SmartTV remote control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarttv-remote-control-samtv/id6743004735)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Auto Renewable Subscriptions | $4.99 | per month |
| Auto Renewable Subscriptions | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal free?

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

### Is SmartTV remote control free?

SmartTV remote control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Universal or SmartTV remote control have ads?

Universal shows ads; SmartTV remote control does not.

### Which is updated more often, Universal or SmartTV remote control?

Universal ships an update every 8 days, and SmartTV remote control every 2 days. Most recently, Universal was updated on August 24, 2026 and SmartTV remote control on September 21, 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.*