CtrlTV vs Bridgemote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CtrlTV
Control your smart TV from your iPhone without any setup. This app offers instant Wi-Fi connection for full remote functionality, including a built-in keyboard for faster typing. It seamlessly integrates with popular streaming services and supports major TV brands.
- Instant Wi-Fi connection
- Full remote control
- Built-in keyboard
- Touchpad and keypad modes
- Playback control
- Auto-reconnect
- Sleep timer
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Lost your TV remote? Control your smart TV from your iPhone fast, free, no setup. CtrlTV finds your TV on your Wi-Fi network and gives you full control right from your phone. No extra hardware. No batteries to replace. No more searching the couch. KEY FEATURES • Instant Wi-Fi connection no setup, no pairing dance • Full remote control: power, volume, channels, navigation • Built-in keyboard type passwords and searches in seconds • Touchpad and keypad control modes • Smooth playback control play, pause, skip • Auto-reconnect to your TV • Home Screen widgets in four themes • Quick app launches directly on your TV • Clean, modern, native iPhone design WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT • Replace your lost or broken remote in seconds • Type 10× faster than tapping arrow keys on your TV remote • Open your streaming apps on the TV straight from your phone • No ads. No clutter. No nonsense. COMPATIBILITY • Works with most Wi-Fi smart TVs from 2016 onward that support network remote control • Open CtrlTV on the same Wi-Fi network as your TV it lists every set it can reach • Not finding your TV? Contact support and we'll help REQUIREMENTS • iPhone and smart TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network • App launching is a one-time in-app purchase Download CtrlTV and turn your iPhone into the only remote you'll ever need. CtrlTV is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any television manufacturer. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Bridgemote
Transform your Apple Watch into a remote for HomeKit-enabled smart TVs. Effortlessly connect, navigate menus, manage power, and switch between multiple devices with a responsive interface.
- Instant HomeKit TV discovery
- Native menu navigation
- Volume and playback control
- TV power status check
- Turn TVs on/off
- Multi-device switching
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Bridgemote turns your Apple Watch into a remote for your HomeKit-connected smart TVs. Features: • Instant Connection: Automatically discovers smart TVs connected to the Apple Home app. • Native Control: Use the responsive UI to navigate menus, mute volume and play/pause. • Power Management: Check TVs power status. Turn your TVs on or off. • Multi-Device Support: Switch between different TVs in your home with a tap. Pricing: Try it for 7-Days. Afterward, permanently unlock the app with a single, one-time purchase. No subscriptions! Requirements: • Apple Watch with watchOS 11+ • A HomeKit-compatible smart TV added to your Home app. NOTE: Does not control Apple TVs.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: CtrlTV at free against Bridgemote's free with in-app purchases. Bridgemote's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. CtrlTV sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Bridgemote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CtrlTV against 5.0 for Bridgemote. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CtrlTV | Bridgemote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Anatoli Petrosyants | Daniel Martinez |
Customer experience
CtrlTV
Bridgemote
In-app purchases
CtrlTV
- Launch Apps on TV$1.99
Bridgemote
- Lifetime$0.99







