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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Universal remote for Roku tv

30
User verdict / 100 High confidence In trouble

Universal remote for Roku tv is a functional remote app that many users find helpful as a free alternative when their physical remote is lost, but it is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of ads and reports of connection issues, especially for paid users.

4.4★ lifetime (33,982) Free + in-app purchases since 2018 by yohan teixeira updated 7.5 mo ago recent negative 71% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Excessive Ads Connection Issues Billing & Subscriptions Functionality
5★47
4★17
3★21
2★23
1★188
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.4★ lifetime average

This app functions as a universal remote for Roku TVs and other compatible devices, offering a free option for users who have lost their physical remote. However, it is plagued by an excessive number of ads, frequent disconnections, and reports of deceptive billing practices, particularly for premium subscriptions.

What users like

  • Works as a functional remote for Roku and some other TVsR1R17R28R57
  • Helpful when the physical remote is lostR41R75R94R110

What users complain about

  • Excessive and constant ads disrupt usageR7R22R30R36
  • Frequent connection issues and disconnectionsR4R15R16R51
  • Users report being charged despite free trials or for previously paid featuresR3R8R13R25
  • Ads persist even after purchasing a premium subscriptionR52R53R63R64
  • Volume controls often do not workR32R168

Latest update · v4.2

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

minor bug fixes

Recurring themes

Excessive Ads negative
Many users report an overwhelming number of ads, often appearing every few clicks or button presses, making the app frustrating and nearly unusable. Some state that ads pop up even when trying to connect or just open the app.R7R22R30R36
Connection Issues negative
Users frequently experience problems connecting the app to their TV, or the app disconnects often after a few clicks, rendering it useless. Some report it worked initially but stopped connecting later.R2R4R8R12
Billing & Subscriptions negative
There are multiple complaints about deceptive billing, including being charged weekly ($4.99 then $7.99) or for a full year after a free trial cancellation. Some users who paid a one-time fee for premium service now face monthly charges. Crucially, many report still seeing ads even after paying for a subscription to remove them.R3R8R9R10
Functionality mixed
While many users praise the app for working effectively as a remote, especially when their physical remote is lost, others report issues with specific functions like volume control or the lack of a keypad for typing.R1R17R19R26

Who it's for

This app is for users who have lost their Roku remote and need a free, temporary solution, and are willing to tolerate a very high volume of ads R94. It is NOT for users seeking a reliable, ad-free experience or those unwilling to risk potential billing issues or frequent disconnections R3R15R53.

Evidence note: The recent reviews are overwhelmingly negative, focusing heavily on the excessive ads and connection/billing issues. Positive reviews are often from users who found it worked and tolerated the ads, or from those who paid to remove ads and initially had a good experience, though many of these later report ads returning. The developer's notes mention only 'minor bug fixes,' which directly contradicts the numerous reports of connection problems and ads persisting even after payment.

Frequently asked

Does this remote app work for Roku TVs?
Yes, the app generally works as a remote for Roku TVs and some other universal TVs, with many users reporting successful control of their devices R1R17R28R57.
Are there a lot of ads in the free version?
Yes, the free version of the app contains an excessive number of ads, with many users reporting ads popping up every few clicks or button presses, making it very frustrating to use R7R22R30R36.
Does paying for the app remove all ads?
No, multiple users report that even after paying for a premium subscription to remove ads, they still experience frequent ad pop-ups R52R53R63R64.
Are there any known billing issues with this app?
Yes, several users report deceptive billing practices, including being charged weekly ($4.99 then $7.99) or for a full year after cancelling a free trial, and existing paid users being forced into new monthly subscriptions R3R13R25R59.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] 5/5 · US Best remote ever: I like the options you can use and you can do anything and this is cool. I like how you can turn off the real remote and on and this is a smart one for your phone.
  2. [R17] 5/5 · US Finally!: I’ve tried out at least 15 apps, this is the FIRST app that has worked! Ads pop up but who cares it works! Does not make you download it and then say pay, or make you pay to connect your tv. Thank you!!!!
  3. [R28] 4/5 · US Great! (Ish): It’s amazing to an extent. I’m actually super surprised it worked, because I don’t have a Roku tv. It is in fact, universal and works for my VIZIO. However, there is an ad every 10 clicks. (No it is not a video ad, you just have to click the X, which you are immediately able to do) the ads are not THAT bad to deal with anyways. I will be using my Roku remote most of the time but righ
  4. [R57] 5/5 · US It works: Works well
  5. [R41] 5/5 · US Lost: I love this option for so when the actual remote is missing like omg thank you
  6. [R75] 5/5 · US I lost my remote: I lost my remote and I looked all around for it and couldn’t find it and you guys saved me!
  7. [R94] 5/5 · US Amazing!: My 3 year old lost both of our tv remotes. I downloading this unsure that it would work, but let me tell you, its great! I kept the adds on it so it remained free and I have been using steady! Very good app and saved me from having to order a new remote!! 10/10 recommend!
  8. [R110] 5/5 · US Saved my life: I’d lost the roku remote for sure certain 100% gone. I downloaded this app and paid to have the ads removed. Worked better than the physical remote which my girlfriend found almost instantly upon entering the room.
  9. [R7] 1/5 · US Awful: Every 2 clicks there’s an add
  10. [R22] 3/5 · US ads: yes it works… but unless you have premium you will literally get 100 ads in less than 5 minutes. it gets really annoying
  11. [R30] 1/5 · US Worst Remote Ever: This is the worst one out!!! You can’t even use it for 10 seconds without an ad popping up!🤬👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
  12. [R36] 1/5 · US Ad app: After you press the button two or three times an add pops up and that’s very frustrating. More ads pop up then buttons I can press. Took 5 minutes to get to my channel.
  13. [R4] 1/5 · US Ruko does not work at all: I does not even connect at all ade every time I use it. It freezing LiKE WHAT IS THIS APP 👎👎👎👎👎👎😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬
  14. [R15] 1/5 · US Don’t bother: I went ahead and bought the membership with no ads, waste of money because every time i go to use it, it disconnects from the tv every 2-5clicks of any button in the app. Then it won’t let me connect, i jus have to wait magically and get lucky for it to work which is very inconvenient and useless because when it does work, it’s only for ab 10min it’s before another issue.
  15. [R16] 2/5 · US It struggles to be ok: It honestly has too many ads. I’m well aware they are needed to fund the app, but a remote having any number of ads makes it worse than any remote, due to it refusing to work when ads do play. At one point, I had removed the app when we had a new remote, then re downloaded it when that remote vanished. The app refused to work the second time, no matter how many times I tried
  16. [R51] 1/5 · US Horrible: It doesn’t connect to my tv everyday most days it can’t even find my tv just buy yourself a new physical remote and save yourself the trouble
  17. [R3] 1/5 · US Service review: Horrible app. Incredible scam. They charged my card 4.99$ weekly it only worked the first day. Now they want 7.99$. No good. Stay away from this scam
  18. [R8] 1/5 · US Doesn’t work at all!: So it worked amazing for a few weeks, but now anytime I try to use it ever since updating it makes me watch an ad and then connect it. So I try to connect it but it makes me pay for something. It says it’s free, but I have to pay? it won’t let me use the app at all without paying.
  19. [R13] 1/5 · US I think this is illegal: I bought the app awhile back before the subscription based pay wall. had it for years no problem but now that there is a subscription it won’t let me use the app I already paid for
  20. [R25] 1/5 · US Beware! Downloaded app with free trial but charged full year: I downloaded this app for my TV. It was not connecting so I figured there were limits within the free sections of the app. I agreed to a free week trial subscription and then instantly cancelled the subscription. I received a Paypal email that I was charged a full year subscription. The worst part - it does not connect with my TV!
  21. [R52] 1/5 · US Ads even if you pay: There are ads every time you open or tab into the app even with the paid subscription that promises no ads. Deceptive.
  22. [R53] 1/5 · US Paid for no ads. Still have ads.: I pulled the trigger and went with this as a paid option for a Roku remote. At first it did not have ads, now it does. I contacted the developer but did not get a response.
  23. [R63] 1/5 · US Don’t buy: Paid for the app because I was tired of the pop up ads, a few months later, I am now getting pop up ads, won’t go away, incredibly annoying
  24. [R64] 1/5 · US Paid but ads?: I paid to have ads removed, now they pop up incredibly often and make the remote so borderline worthless.
  25. [R32] 3/5 · US It works: Except for the volume controls
  26. [R168] 5/5 · US Volume feature: It will be nice if the remote also had the volume feature
  27. [R2] 1/5 · US Don’t use this app: It did not work at all
  28. [R12] 1/5 · US No Longer Works: Tried connecting my TV multiple times even as a paid subscriber and it will not work at all. I first downloaded this app months ago and it worked perfectly fine with or without a subscription.
  29. [R9] 1/5 · US Do not get this app!!!!: It would not work unless I paid for a monthly subscription
  30. [R10] 5/5 · US Ooops: I guess apparently you have to pay
  31. [R19] 5/5 · US I love the route for my tv I just need y’all to download the app for ur tv right now: Can you please give us
  32. [R26] 5/5 · US Te: Tremenda aplicación, súper útil
  33. [R59] 1/5 · US Scam, get a different app: I paid for the premium service on the app over a year ago when it was a one time payment. Now they’ve switched it to a monthly service fee and require me to pay monthly. Robbery

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store