# CtrlTV vs Universal Remote TV+

CtrlTV and Universal Remote TV+ are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. CtrlTV sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Universal Remote TV+ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CtrlTV ships an update every 6 days, Universal Remote TV+ weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CtrlTV | Universal Remote TV+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrltv-smart-tv-remote/id6760845815/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **26.0** | 26.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anatoli Petrosyants](https://appshunter.io/developer/848828498) | [Birkan Aksoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626910993) |

## 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 |


### Universal Remote TV+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-plus/id6773121917)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CtrlTV free?

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

### Is Universal Remote TV+ free?

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

### Do CtrlTV or Universal Remote TV+ have ads?

Neither CtrlTV nor Universal Remote TV+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CtrlTV or Universal Remote TV+?

CtrlTV ships an update every 6 days, and Universal Remote TV+ weekly. Most recently, CtrlTV was updated on September 21, 2026 and Universal Remote TV+ on September 18, 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.*