A TV remote is one of the highest earning utilities on the App Store. On October 16, 2026 the US top 100 grossing Utilities chart had 11 remote apps, and the leader, TV Remote, makes $1.62M–6.47M a month by our estimate (not Apple data). Newcomers get in every year. Technically it is controlling a TV over Wi-Fi through the manufacturers' open protocols.
How much remote apps make
The grossing chart is full of remotes. On October 16, 2026 the US top 30 Utilities had 6 of them, with TV Remote at number 4, right after Cleanup, Blink and Cleaner Guru. Kraftwerk 9 has two remotes in the top 100, Universal TV Remote and Rokie.
| App | Released | US ratings | Top grossing rank | Monthly revenue, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV Remote (Evolly) | Nov 19, 2020 | 622,976 | #4 | $1.62M–6.47M |
| Universal Remote TV Control (Begamob) | Aug 30, 2021 | 142,462 | #22 | $572K–2.29M |
| Universal TV Remote (Kraftwerk 9) | Nov 9, 2018 | 93,200 | #39 | $579K–2.32M |
| Universal TV Remote Control (Toggle Apps) | Jun 7, 2023 | 82,164 | #29 | $490K–1.96M |
| Rokie (Kraftwerk 9) | Jul 24, 2015 | 712,176 | #66 | $463K–1.85M |
| TV Remote & Universal Control | Aug 19, 2023 | 149,783 | #21 | $360K–1.44M |
| Universal TV Remote Control (Visargerd) | Nov 19, 2024 | 31,206 | #25 | $224K–897K |
| UniRemote | Aug 19, 2024 | 7,796 | #30 | $150K–601K |
| Roku Remote (official) | Dec 15, 2011 | 6,281,645 | outside top 100 | not in the top 100 grossing |
Appto data as of October 16, 2026. Rating growth September 16 to October 16, 2026. Rating counts and chart positions from the US App Store on October 16, 2026. Revenue is our estimate, not Apple data.
The official Roku Remote, with 6,281,645 ratings, is free and never makes the grossing charts. Third-party remotes promise to work with TVs of different brands in one app, and people pay for that.
Newcomers get in every year
Of the 11 remotes in the top 100, 6 launched in 2023 or later. UniRemote launched on August 19, 2024, has 7,796 ratings and was number 30 in the grossing Utilities chart. Visargerd's Universal TV Remote Control launched on November 19, 2024 and was number 25.
The similar names are no accident. Almost every remote is called some mix of universal, TV and remote, because that is what people search for. You stand out with price, connection reliability and the first screenshot.
How a phone controls a TV
The remote works over Wi-Fi, so the phone and the TV must be on the same network. Roku has an open External Control Protocol, plain HTTP requests to the TV on the local network, and the TV is found through SSDP (Roku documentation). Samsung and LG have their own WebSocket protocols, and the first connection has to be confirmed on the TV screen.
The app needs permission to find devices on the local network. Info.plist gets a NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription string with an explanation, otherwise the system won't ask and the TV won't be found. You can only test a remote on a real TV, the simulator won't help.
What goes into version 1
- One platform, done reliably. Start with Roku, its protocol is open. Samsung, LG and Fire TV come one at a time.
- TV discovery and a clear error. If no TV is found, the app says what to check, the network, the power, the local network permission.
- Buttons and a keyboard. Typing into the TV's search from the phone keyboard saves the most time.
- App launching. The TV's channels and apps on one screen.
- A widget and Control Center. Volume and pause without opening the app.
How remote apps charge
Every remote in the table is free to download (US App Store, October 16, 2026) and sells access inside. According to Appto's research on September 14, 2026, the leader charged $6.99 a week after a three-day trial, and its reviews complained about charges and hard cancellation. A fair price is a difference in itself here. A one-time purchase won't match the leader's revenue, but it wins the people the weekly subscription annoys.
Risks
- TV brands. Roku, Samsung and LG are other companies' trademarks. Keep them out of the app name and say "works with" in the description.
- Firmware changes. A manufacturer can close a protocol or change pairing. Plan for updates, or the ratings will drop.
- A crowded chart. The top 100 grossing chart already holds about a dozen similar remotes.
How we counted
Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of App Store rating growth, before Apple's commission. It is our estimate, not Apple data. In half of the cases the estimate is within 2x of the real figure, in four out of five within 3x, and for large apps it tends to run low. Ads, web sales and Google Play are not included. The method is explained in our article on estimating app revenue.
Next steps
In the book 50 iPhone App Niches the subscription-free remote is niche 40, with an angle for a newcomer, five version 1 screens and a task for the agent.
You can recheck the niche in Appto on fresh App Store data. Then Appto and the agent build the screens and code and the App Store page in the languages you need, and submit the app to Apple from your account or show you what to press in App Store Connect.
Questions
How much do TV remote apps make?
By our estimate as of October 16, 2026, TV Remote makes $1.62M–6.47M a month and Begamob's Universal Remote TV Control $572K–2.29M. It is an estimate from App Store rating growth, not Apple data.
How does the app control the TV?
Over Wi-Fi on the same network. Roku has an open protocol of plain HTTP requests, Samsung and LG have their own protocols with confirmation on the TV screen.
Can I test a remote in the simulator?
No. You need a real TV on the same network and the local network permission in the app.
Subscription or one-time purchase?
The leaders sell subscriptions, and according to Appto's research on September 14, 2026 the leader's cost $6.99 a week. A one-time purchase earns less but becomes a clear difference.
Is there room for a new remote?
Yes. 6 of the 11 remotes in the top 100 grossing Utilities launched in 2023 or later, and UniRemote with 7,796 ratings was number 30.
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