Comparison

Handy TV Remote vs Remote

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

Head to head
About

Handy TV Remote

Features
Read full description

Most "universal remote" apps make you subscribe - or they paywall the volume and power buttons and bury the screen in ads. Handy doesn't. Every button works for free, there are no ads, and the one-time Pro unlock - no subscription, no auto-renew, no trial - is only for the extras. Turn your phone into a proper remote for the TV in the living room - or every room. Handy connects over your Wi-Fi network: a fast, tactile D-pad, real volume and playback control, keyboard typing, and voice search, so you stop hunting for the plastic remote wedged in the couch. FREE - the whole remote, no catch • D-pad, OK, back, home, volume, mute, channel, and playback - all of it, free • Type with your phone keyboard instead of pecking letters one at a time • Voice search - speak, and it lands in the TV's search box • Launch apps like Netflix and YouTube straight from the grid • Quick reconnect - Handy remembers your TV and connects the moment you open it WORKS WITH • Sony (Smart TV / Bravia) • Samsung (Tizen smart TVs) • LG (webOS) • Roku and Roku TV HANDY PRO - one-time $2.99, no subscription One payment unlocks the extras and keeps them forever - bought once, yours for good. We will never turn it into a subscription. No weekly fee, no auto-renew, no "3-day trial" that charges you on day one. • Customizable buttons - map the quick-action slots to any app or function you want • Control every room - save all your TVs and switch between them in a tap • Themes & accents - give each TV its own color so you always know which one you're pointing at No ads. No account. No tracking. No subscription. Your phone and TV just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Pairing codes and settings stay on your device - nothing is sent to us. Not affiliated with Sony, Samsung, LG, or Roku. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

About

Remote

Control your Android TV or Google TV from your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Mac. This app offers a fast, private remote experience with no ads, featuring D-pad and trackpad navigation, app shortcuts, and voice control.

Highlights
  • Ad-free experience
  • Wi-Fi local network connection
  • D-pad and trackpad navigation
  • App shortcuts
  • Keyboard input
  • Voice control
  • Widgets and Apple Watch app
Features
Read full description

NO ADS — EVER No ads, no banners, no pop-ups, no tracking — and it will always stay that way. Smart TV Remote is a fast, private remote control with no ads for Android TV and Google TV — right from your iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac. It connects directly to your TV over Wi-Fi on your local network. No account to create, nothing sent to the cloud, and no ads — ever. NEW — CONTROL YOUR MAC Your iPhone becomes a trackpad and keyboard for your Mac: move the pointer, click, scroll, type and change the volume from the couch. Perfect when your Mac is connected to your TV. Works with the Smart TV Remote app for Mac, included with Pro. FEATURES • D-pad and trackpad navigation, volume, power and playback controls • App shortcuts to launch Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+ and more • Voice control — just say what you want to open • Home Screen, Lock Screen and Control Center widgets • Apple Watch app with a watch-face complication • Use your iPhone as a trackpad and keyboard for your Mac • Mac menu bar app with global keyboard shortcuts • Add a keyboard button to type on your TV instead of pecking at on-screen letters • Fully customizable remote layout • Works with Sony Bravia, TCL, Philips, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast with Google TV and most Android TV devices FREE & PRO The basic remote is free. A one-time Pro purchase unlocks customization, unlimited app shortcuts, voice, the keyboard, the Apple Watch app, widgets, the Mac app and Mac control from your iPhone. No subscription. PRIVACY Smart TV Remote talks only to your TV (and your own Mac) on your local network. There are no accounts, no tracking and no ads. Your TV must support the Android TV / Google TV remote protocol and be on the same Wi-Fi network as your device.

Screenshots

Handy TV Remote4 screens
Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Handy TV Remote at every 5 days against Remote's every 2 months. Remote's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. Handy TV Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handy TV Remote ships an update every 5 days, Remote every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Handy TV Remote versus Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandy TV RemoteRemote
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTung Nguyen SonMakiByte

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Handy TV Remote

One-time1
  • TV Remote Pro$2.99
1 purchases

Remote

One-time1
  • Smart TV Remote Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Handy TV Remote free?
Handy TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Remote free?
Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Handy TV Remote or Remote have ads?
Neither Handy TV Remote nor Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Handy TV Remote or Remote?
Handy TV Remote ships an update every 5 days, and Remote every 2 months. Most recently, Handy TV Remote was updated on October 24, 2026 and Remote on October 25, 2026.

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