Comparison

AC Remote vs Smart Remote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AC Remote

Control your air conditioner remotely using your iPhone. Adjust temperature, fan speed, and modes with precise 1℃ regulation. Includes real-time thermometer and hygrometer functions.

Highlights
  • Power on/off
  • 1℃ precise temperature adjustment
  • Mode switching (Cooling, Heating, Auto)
  • Fan speed settings
  • Swing control
  • Real-time thermometer and hygrometer
Features
Read full description

Have you ever returned home on a sweltering summer day, drenched in sweat, only to find the air conditioner remote missing? Or wanted to warm up your room on a cold winter night but couldn't find that small remote? Physical remotes are always missing when needed and suddenly appear when not, often facing the embarrassment of dead batteries or malfunctioning buttons. Now, all these troubles can be perfectly solved. Air Conditioner Remote is a comprehensive air conditioner control app designed specifically for iOS users, allowing you to intelligently manage and control your air conditioner using your iPhone. With powerful features and simple operation, it enables you to easily maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, initiating a convenient and smart temperature control experience. Remote Control Features, Precise Adjustment: -Power Control: Easily turn the air conditioner on/off, convenient and worry-free. -Temperature Adjustment: Supports cooling and heating control, with 1℃ precise temperature regulation. -Mode Switching: Cooling, Heating, Automatic, switch as you wish. -Fan Speed Settings: Can select high, medium, or low wind speed. -Swing Control: Can set swing on/off and rotation speed. More Additional Features: Thermometer and hygrometer functions, displaying real-time temperature and humidity data. No more anxiety about finding traditional remotes, no more embarrassment from suddenly malfunctioning buttons, bid farewell to complicated operations. From now on, use the Air Conditioner Remote app, and both cool and warm temperatures are under your control! Air Conditioner Remote Control Subscription Service Description: --Subscription Service: Full Air Conditioner Remote Access, Supports Unlimited Connections, View Temperature and Humidity. --Subscription Price: Subject to the actual price displayed on the subscription page. --Subscription Payment: After the user confirms the purchase and completes payment, the amount will be charged to the iTunes account. --Subscription Renewal: The Apple iTunes account will initiate the deduction within 24 hours before the expiry of the current subscription period. Upon successful deduction, the subscription cycle will be extended by one period. --Subscription Cancellation: To cancel the subscription, please go to the phone’s "Settings" – "Apple ID account" – "Subscriptions," enter the subscription list, and cancel or manage the corresponding subscription at least 24 hours before the current subscription expires. Privacy Policy: https://docs.qq.com/doc/DSnpWSHRvV1FJbVVU Terms of Use: https://docs.qq.com/doc/DSnJpTUNwWHRPZVZW

About

Smart Remote

Transform your iPhone into a universal remote for TVs, ACs, and more. Control devices via IR blaster, WiFi, or Bluetooth. Learn custom commands and create automated scenes for seamless device management.

Highlights
  • Universal device control
  • IR blaster and WiFi support
  • Smart TV integration
  • Custom remote creation
  • Scene automation
  • Room organization
  • Apple Watch companion
Features
Read full description

Universal Remote is a smart remote control app that helps you control your TV, air conditioner, set-top box, projector, soundbar, fan and more from your iPhone — over Wi-Fi, with an IR blaster, or through your smart home. It supports 300+ brands with 14,000+ ready-made remotes, controls Wi-Fi air conditioners directly, and integrates with Apple Watch, Siri, widgets and the Lock Screen. Made for anyone who lost a remote, wants one app instead of a drawer full of remotes, or wants to control hotel and rental-home devices from their phone. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Replace a lost or broken remote in seconds — pick your device brand and a ready-made remote appears, no programming • Control your smart TV with no extra hardware — Samsung, LG webOS, Sony Bravia, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Google TV and Apple TV connect over your Wi-Fi network • Control your air conditioner from the couch — IR ACs work through a blaster; Midea, Daikin, GREE and TCL Wi-Fi ACs connect directly with no blaster at all • Run whole scenes with one tap — "Movie Night" can turn on the TV, switch input, and set the soundbar together • Control everything from your Apple Watch, the Lock Screen, widgets, or by asking Siri COMMON QUESTIONS Do I need to buy extra hardware? Not for smart TVs, streaming boxes, or Wi-Fi air conditioners — those connect over your home network. Classic IR-only devices (most ACs, older TVs, fans, projectors) need a small Wi-Fi-to-IR blaster such as Broadlink RM4/RM Mini, a Tuya/Smart Life IR hub, Global Caché iTach, or an ESP DIY blaster. iPhones have no built-in IR emitter. Which TV brands work? Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Hisense, TCL, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp and 300+ more. Smart TVs are controlled over Wi-Fi; any TV with a remote sensor is controlled by IR through a blaster. Can it control my air conditioner? Yes. The code database covers Daikin, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Carrier, Gree, Midea, Haier, Hitachi, Whirlpool, TCL and hundreds of regional AC brands with full state control — mode, temperature, fan speed and swing. Wi-Fi models from Midea, Daikin, GREE and TCL work with no IR hardware. Is it free? Downloading and core remote control are free. Premium unlocks unlimited devices and all connection types, with a free trial before any charge. What if my device isn't listed? The code database updates automatically — new remotes arrive monthly without an app update. You can also learn codes from your original remote with a Broadlink blaster, or request your model in the app. THE DETAILS • 14,000+ ready-made remotes across 300+ brands: TVs, air conditioners, set-top boxes, projectors, soundbars, AV receivers, DVD players, fans, lights, air purifiers, robot vacuums and cameras • IR protocols: NEC, RC5, RC6, Sony SIRC, Kaseikyo, raw capture playback • Smart home: HomeKit air conditioners, Tuya, Xiaomi Mi Home, SwitchBot, Sensibo, Broadlink • Custom remotes: rearrange buttons, add macros, build a layout that matches how you actually use each device • Fully translated into 39 languages • No banner ads, no "watch an ad to unlock" — just the remote Questions or a device we should add? Email support@mobilealchemy.co — we add reader-requested models every month. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Universal Remote offers auto-renewable subscriptions for Premium access. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless you turn off auto-renew 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 Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://universalremote.mobilealchemy.co/terms Privacy Policy: https://universalremote.mobilealchemy.co/privacy

Screenshots

AC Remote4 screens
Smart Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AC Remote at 5.0 against Smart Remote's 4.0. AC Remote also leads on iOS requirement (14 vs 18.0). Smart Remote's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, 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. AC Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Smart Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AC Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AC Remote ships an update every 4 months, Smart Remote weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
AC Remote versus Smart Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAC RemoteSmart Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS14 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer海月 赵MOBILE ALCHEMY LTD

Customer experience

AC Remote

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Smart Remote

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

AC Remote

Subscriptions2
  • AC Remote: Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • AC Remote: Quarterly Subscription3 Days trial$6.993 Months
4 purchases

Smart Remote

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is AC Remote free?
AC Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Remote free?
Smart Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AC Remote or Smart Remote?
AC Remote is rated higher. AC Remote averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Smart Remote averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do AC Remote or Smart Remote have ads?
Neither AC Remote nor Smart Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AC Remote or Smart Remote?
AC Remote ships an update every 4 months, and Smart Remote weekly. Most recently, AC Remote was updated on October 6, 2026 and Smart Remote on October 12, 2026.

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