Comparison

XBOX vs Remote Gamepad

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

Head to head
About

XBOX

Stay connected with your gaming community through voice and text chat, notifications, and messages. Discover and purchase games, explore Game Pass content, and share your best gaming moments. This app keeps you in the game, no matter where you play.

Highlights
  • Voice and text chat with friends
  • Game notifications and achievements
  • In-app game and add-on purchases
  • Explore Game Pass catalog and Perks
  • Share game clips and screenshots
  • Gaming Copilot for assistance
Features
Read full description

XBOX keeps you connected to the fun with your friends, games, and supported gaming devices from your phone or tablet while on the go. Buy games you want without leaving the app. Explore Game Pass, queue games to play, set alerts for new games, and more. Keep up with friends and parties with voice and text chat, even if they're on console or PC. Share your wishlist, game clips, and screenshots from your console to favorite gaming & social networks. See game invite notifications and achievements from you and your friends, messages, and more. Track, claim, and redeem your Rewards points. Stay connected to your world of gaming with the XBOX mobile app. - XBOX keeps you connected to the fun with your friends, games, and supported gaming devices from your phone or tablet while on the go. - Share game clips and screenshots from your console to favorite gaming & social networks. - Friends and parties follow you with voice and text chat, even if they're on console or PC. - Install games remotely on your console from your phone. - See game invite notifications, achievements from you and your friends, messages, and more. - Explore Game Pass and get customized recommendations, notifications about new games, queue games to play, and more. - Buy games you want without leaving the app. - Track, claim, and redeem your Rewards points. - The XBOX mobile app is the best way to stay connected to your world of gaming. XBOX APP AGREEMENT The following terms supplement any software license terms that accompany the XBOX App. Please refer to Microsoft's EULA for Terms of Service for Microsoft's gaming applications on iOS. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions: https://support.xbox.com/help/subscriptions-billing/manage-subscriptions/microsoft-software-license-terms-mobile-gaming FEEDBACK If you give feedback about the XBOX App to Microsoft, you give to Microsoft, without charge, the right to use, share and commercialize your feedback in any way and for any purpose. You also give to third parties, without charge, any patent rights needed for their products, technologies and services to use or interface with any specific parts of a Microsoft software or service that includes the feedback. You will not give feedback that is subject to a license that requires Microsoft to license its software or documentation to third parties because we include your feedback in them. These rights survive this agreement.

About

Remote Gamepad

Transform your smartphone into a versatile game controller for your PC. Enjoy immersive gaming experiences with on-screen controls or by rotating your phone as a steering wheel. Customize your controller layout and connect wirelessly or via USB.

Highlights
  • Use phone as PC game controller
  • Steering wheel functionality for racing games
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Wi-Fi, USB, or Bluetooth connection
  • Layout editor for custom button configurations
  • Shareable controller layouts
Features
Read full description

Use your phone as a gamepad for your PC. Play games on your PC using your phone as a game controller. Rotate your phone as the steering wheel in racing games. On-screen controls are available similar to a game controller. Supported devices • Windows 10/11 • Linux This app is compatible with all PC games which support game controllers. Use Wi-Fi, USB, or Bluetooth for the connection. No additional hardware is needed. Button presses on game controllers connected to your phone are forwarded. This allows you to use mobile game controllers with your PC. The included layout editor allows you to create and use your own game controller layouts. You can customize the button position, size, color, shape, and more. Layouts can be shared with other users using a link. A trial is available within the app. To continue using the app after the time limit, you can upgrade to the premium version or watch ads.

Screenshots

XBOX4 screens
Remote Gamepad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: XBOX at 4.7 against Remote Gamepad's 4.0. XBOX also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support 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. Remote Gamepad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XBOX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

XBOX holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XBOX has 1.7M ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of XBOX's written reviews are positive against 44% of Remote Gamepad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

XBOX ships an update fortnightly, Remote Gamepad every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
XBOX versus Remote Gamepad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXBOXRemote Gamepad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7M ratings) — better4.0 (107 ratings)
Positive reviews50.7% of reviews — better44.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7M — better107
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#57 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.114.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB52 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationThomas Vos

Customer experience

XBOX

All ratings1,742,263 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews4,159 reviews
Positive50.7%
Neutral7.9%
Negative41.4%

Remote Gamepad

All ratings107 ratings
Positive75.7%
Neutral6.5%
Negative17.8%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive44.3%
Neutral12.9%
Negative42.9%

User reviews

XBOX

From 1.7M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with Xbox
  • 👍 Convenient remote control features
  • 📤 Easy sharing of captures and clips
  • 💬 Useful for in-game communication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
  • 🔒 Issues with account login and verification
  • 🔇 Unreliable party chat and voice communication
  • 🖼️ Inability to customize profile picture

Remote Gamepad

From 107 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful for conventional controller lacking
  • 💡 Supports controllers connected to phone
  • 🚀 Minimal latency over WiFi/wired
  • 👍 Rewarding ad placement
  • 👍 Works right out of the box

Room to improve

  • 👎 Promises Bluetooth, doesn't deliver
  • 👎 Paid features required for use
  • 👎 Limited free trial time
  • 👎 Ads are intrusive
  • 👎 Bad deadzones with no control

Bugs and requests

XBOX

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Captures not uploading or viewable in the app
  • Remote control input lag and inconsistent functionality
  • Messaging conversations disappearing or not loading
  • Repeated sign-in prompts and account access issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to browse and purchase games directly in the app
  • Improve notification system and message delivery
  • Restore achievement tracking and game stats viewing
  • Optimize app performance and stability

Remote Gamepad

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Bug when pressing 2 buttons simultaneously
  • Bluetooth not found in app
  • Connection failed when scanning QR code
  • App crashes when editing custom mapping
  • Remote Gamepad PC app not working
Show 3 more
  • Steering wheel not perfectly straight
  • PES game brings out keeper when playing
  • Paid version with unlimited time doesn't work

Requested features

15 requests
  • Add angle calibration setting
  • Optimize Wi-Fi connection for iPad
  • Add button name customization
  • Make it faster when touching and moving buttons
  • Support for macOS
Show 10 more
  • Add different themes or interface color changes
  • Add support for 3D touch for trigger force
  • Add touchpad for camera control
  • Option to edit extra button input
  • Add keyboard input support
  • Reduce minimum button size on iPad
  • Add Bluetooth support
  • Make it playable on TV (Android TV support)
  • Remove time limit
  • Fix paid version unlimited time issue

In-app purchases

None

XBOX

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Remote Gamepad

One-time1
  • Premium$2.99

Questions

Is XBOX free?
XBOX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Remote Gamepad free?
Remote Gamepad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, XBOX or Remote Gamepad?
XBOX is rated higher. XBOX averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7M ratings, while Remote Gamepad averages 4.0 from 107 ratings.
Do XBOX or Remote Gamepad have ads?
Remote Gamepad shows ads; XBOX does not.
Which is updated more often, XBOX or Remote Gamepad?
XBOX ships an update fortnightly, and Remote Gamepad every 2 weeks. Most recently, XBOX was updated on September 24, 2026 and Remote Gamepad on September 23, 2026.

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