# Universal TV vs ShiftNest

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ShiftNest at none against Universal TV's 3. ShiftNest also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Universal TV's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal TV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. ShiftNest asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universal TV ships an update every 5 days, ShiftNest every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal TV | ShiftNest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.4 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id6745963322/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **20** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 85 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Niamh Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813404214) | [Element Softworks Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437144228) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote/id6745963322)

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for TVs, streaming devices, and soundbars. Control all your home entertainment systems with an intuitive interface, including touchpad navigation, keyboard input, and quick channel access.

**Highlights:** Power On/Off Control, Touchpad & D-Pad Navigation, Integrated Keyboard, TV App Management, Media Player & Sound Control, Quick Channel Access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Premium Remote! | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Full TV Remote access | $9.99 | per month |
| Access TV Remote! | $29.99 | per year |


### ShiftNest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shiftnest-for-shift-workers/id6755521073)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal TV free?

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

### Is ShiftNest free?

ShiftNest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Universal TV or ShiftNest have ads?

Neither Universal TV nor ShiftNest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal TV or ShiftNest?

Universal TV ships an update every 5 days, and ShiftNest every 2 months. Most recently, Universal TV was updated on September 21, 2026 and ShiftNest on September 14, 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.*