# TV Remote ‣ vs Universal Remote

TV Remote ‣ and Universal Remote both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of TV Remote ‣'s written reviews are positive against 18% of Universal Remote's. TV Remote ‣ also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). Universal Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Remote ‣ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Universal Remote sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for TV Remote ‣ against 4.6 for Universal Remote. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.9K and 13K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of TV Remote ‣'s written reviews are positive against 18% of Universal Remote's.

TV Remote ‣ ships an update monthly, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Remote ‣ | Universal Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (8.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote/id878640213/reviews) | **[4.6 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8.9K | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | **69.5% of reviews** | 17.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 48 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Kraus und Karnath GbR 2Kit Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/477998014) | [Node Excellence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756942328) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Remote ‣

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote/id878640213)

Control your Samsung, Roku, or Fire TV with your iPhone or iPad. Offers broad compatibility with various TV models and streaming players. Features dark/light mode and 24/7 support.

**Highlights:** Samsung TV control, Roku streaming player control, Fire TV control, Wide model compatibility, Dark and light mode, 24/7 support chat

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Edition | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Connects instantly
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Works flawlessly
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Reliable connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Loses connection frequently
- 🔋 Volume buttons don't work
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some devices
- 🐛 Requires frequent reconnection
- 🐛 Unstable connection

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to some devices
- Disconnects randomly during use
- Unresponsive buttons

**Requested features**

- Add volume control buttons
- Improve connection stability
- Support for more device types
- Ability to power on/off TV


### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-smart-tv/id6446663709)

Easily control your smart TV from your iPhone. Adjust volume, switch channels, and launch streaming apps with a beautiful, fast interface. Connects automatically over Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs, Adjust volume and channels, Access streaming apps, Launch channels directly, Automatic Wi-Fi detection, Fast response time, Beautiful remote interface

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Premium 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| TV Remote Premium Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Seamless connection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues
- 💰 Paid subscription required
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading about free features
- 💰 Expensive for a remote app

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work as advertised
- Fails to connect to Roku devices
- Continues to charge even after cancellation

**Requested features**

- Support for more TV brands
- Free version with basic functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Remote ‣ free?

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

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TV Remote ‣ or Universal Remote?

Universal Remote is rated higher. TV Remote ‣ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8.9K ratings, while Universal Remote averages 4.6 from 13K ratings.

### Do TV Remote ‣ or Universal Remote have ads?

TV Remote ‣ shows ads; Universal Remote does not.

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

TV Remote ‣ ships an update monthly, and Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, TV Remote ‣ was updated on November 3, 2026 and Universal Remote on November 3, 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.*