# Universal control vs Remote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Universal control at none against Remote's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Universal control asks for nothing beyond the download.

Universal control ships an update every 10 days, Remote every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal control | Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6781861182/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 43 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yousra britel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788810936) | [MakiByte](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781322391) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-control-tv-remote/id6781861182)

Transform your iPhone and Apple Watch into a universal remote for your TV and smart devices. Effortlessly control channels, volume, and apps with a clean, intuitive interface designed for the whole family. Enjoy seamless control from anywhere in the room.

**Highlights:** Control TV and smart devices, iPhone and Apple Watch compatibility, Instant setup, Intuitive gestures, Customizable layout, Quick-access shortcuts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-smart-tv/id6783482736)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart TV Remote Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal control free?

Universal control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Remote free?

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

### Do Universal control or Remote have ads?

Neither Universal control nor Remote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal control or Remote?

Universal control ships an update every 10 days, and Remote every 11 days. Most recently, Universal control was updated on September 9, 2026 and Remote on September 6, 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.*