Comparison

Phil vs TV Remote, Universal Remote

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

Head to head
About

Phil

Control your Philips Smart TV with your iPhone or iPad. This virtual remote offers realistic design and access to essential functions like volume, channel, navigation, and playback controls. Requires your device to be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.

Highlights
  • Volume control
  • Channel selection
  • Navigation pad
  • Video playback controls
  • Menu and options access
  • Power off function
Features
Read full description

PhilRemote is a virtual remote control that allows you to control your Philips television. The application works on all TVs equipped with "Smart TV" technology and connected to your (WiFi or Ethernet) network. To use this Philips remote control, your iPhone/iPad must be on the same Wi-fi network as your TV. Detection of your TV will be automatic. With a realistic design, you can use all the functions of the original remote control very easily. We have integrated the most useful commands, the features are listed below: -Change the volume -Change the channel number -Use navigation pad -Video control (Play/Pause/Stop...) -Menu, Options, Info, Tools -Power off If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact us. For any comments or questions write us at the following address: contact@nstx.io DISCLAIMER PhilRemote is neither an official Philips product, nor are we affiliated with the Philips company. SUBSCRIPTION: We offer auto-renewing subscription: - Length: Weekly / Monthly / Yearly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - You will be able to access the Premium features of the app for the duration of the subscription - Subscription automatically renews for the same price and duration period as the original period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen package. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's iTunes Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period - You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription setting through your Apple account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 for more information on how to proceed. - You may turn off the auto-renewal of your subscription via your Apple Account Settings. However, you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period - Any unused portion of a free-trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Privacy Policy : https://nstx.io/Phil/Phil_privacy.html Terms of Use : https://nstx.io/Phil/Phil_terms.html

About

TV Remote, Universal Remote

Transform your smartphone into a universal TV remote. Control power, volume, channels, and menus for over 1000 TV models worldwide. Simplify your entertainment setup and eliminate the need for multiple physical remotes.

Highlights
  • Universal TV control
  • Power on/off
  • Volume adjustment
  • Channel navigation
  • Menu access
  • Simple setup
  • Wide compatibility
Features
Read full description

Universal TV Remote Control App Works with 1000+ Models in Over 100+ Countries! Control your TV effortlessly with just your phone. Simply choose your TV brand and connect in seconds. Say goodbye to your old, cluttered remotes with this all-in-one solution! Remote Troubles? We’ve Got You! - Frustrated with frequent battery replacements? - Tired of constantly searching for your misplaced remote? - Confused by having multiple remotes that all look the same? - Did your pet chew up the remote again? - Is your remote unresponsive or slow? With your phone always within reach, transform it into a universal TV remote and eliminate these problems. Regain control and simplify your daily life! With TV Remote App: - Control power on/off - Adjust volume - Mute with a single tap - Enter channel numbers directly - Navigate channels - Control AV/TV mode - Access your TV menu Why TV Remote Control? - Simple setup – connect to your TV in just one tap - Compatible with almost all TV brands - Intuitive, user-friendly design Please Note This universal remote control for TV is not affiliated with any TV manufacturers included. We Value Your Feedback If your TV brand or model isn’t listed, please reach out. Your input helps us continually improve our app! Subscription Terms & Details - Get unlimited access to all features. - The payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Subscription may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. - The account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. - Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication. Privacy Policy: https://inston.ltd/privacypolicy.html?pkg=com.inston.tvremote Terms of Use: https://inston.ltd/terms.html?pkg=com.inston.tvremote

Screenshots

Phil4 screens
TV Remote, Universal Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote, Universal Remote at 4.8 against Phil's 3.1. TV Remote, Universal Remote also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (25% vs 17%). Phil's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 2.9K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Phil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and TV Remote, Universal Remote sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TV Remote, Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.8K and 2.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Phil's written reviews are positive against 25% of TV Remote, Universal Remote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phil ships an update every 4 months, TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Phil versus TV Remote, Universal Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhilTV Remote, Universal Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (9.8K ratings)4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.9% of reviews25.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.8K — better2.9K
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1512.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraInston

Customer experience

Phil

All ratings9,754 ratings
Positive52.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews278 reviews
Positive16.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative78.8%

TV Remote, Universal Remote

All ratings2,932 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews206 reviews
Positive25.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative71.8%

User reviews

Phil

From 9.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works brilliantly
  • 👍 Great alternative with extras

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work
  • 🔋 Constant ads make it unusable
  • 💰 Paid version still has ads
  • 🤬 Aggressive monetization

TV Remote, Universal Remote

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🙌 Helpful for finding lost remote
  • 💡 Allows room/location customization

Room to improve

  • 🤑 Excessive paid features
  • 🚫 Limited functionality in free version
  • 📺 Compatibility issues with some TV models
  • 💤 Frequent ads interrupting usage

Bugs and requests

Phil

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Stopped working after TV update
  • Crashes on newer iOS devices
  • Fails to connect to TV

Requested features

2 requests
  • No ads option
  • Better TV compatibility

TV Remote, Universal Remote

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App fails to connect to TV
  • Buttons not responding as expected
  • Subscription not canceling properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to control more TV functions without subscription
  • Option to disable ads in free version
  • Support for more TV brands and models

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Phil

Subscriptions3
  • Pro mode$4.997 Days
  • Premium mode$9.991 Month
  • Premium version$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$19.99
10 purchases

TV Remote, Universal Remote

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Premium$3.991 Month
  • Pro: Unlock All3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Pro: Full Access3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • Weekly Subscription$6.997 Days
  • Pro: Ultimate Access$12.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Access IPTV Channels - Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Pro$27.99
  • Lifetime Premium$32.99

Questions

Is Phil free?
Phil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote, Universal Remote free?
TV Remote, Universal Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Phil or TV Remote, Universal Remote?
TV Remote, Universal Remote is rated higher. Phil averages 3.1 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while TV Remote, Universal Remote averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Phil or TV Remote, Universal Remote have ads?
Both Phil and TV Remote, Universal Remote show ads.
Which is updated more often, Phil or TV Remote, Universal Remote?
Phil ships an update every 4 months, and TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Phil was updated on November 7, 2026 and TV Remote, Universal Remote on November 4, 2026.

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