# CtrlTV vs Bridgemote

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | CtrlTV | Bridgemote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrltv-smart-tv-remote/id6760845815/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bridgemote/id6761574196/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anatoli Petrosyants](https://appshunter.io/developer/848828498) | [Daniel Martinez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889741605) |

## What reviewers say

### CtrlTV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrltv-smart-tv-remote/id6760845815)

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.

**Highlights:** Instant Wi-Fi connection, Full remote control, Built-in keyboard, Touchpad and keypad modes, Playback control, Auto-reconnect, Sleep timer

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Launch Apps on TV | $1.99 | one-time |


### Bridgemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bridgemote/id6761574196)

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.

**Highlights:** Instant HomeKit TV discovery, Native menu navigation, Volume and playback control, TV power status check, Turn TVs on/off, Multi-device switching

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CtrlTV free?

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

### Is Bridgemote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CtrlTV or Bridgemote?

CtrlTV and Bridgemote are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do CtrlTV or Bridgemote have ads?

Neither CtrlTV nor Bridgemote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CtrlTV or Bridgemote?

CtrlTV ships an update weekly, and Bridgemote weekly. Most recently, CtrlTV was updated on October 8, 2026 and Bridgemote on October 13, 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.*