# Universal Remote vs Remote for Sam Control TVs

The clearest difference is monetization model: Universal Remote at free with in-app purchases against Remote for Sam Control TVs's subscription. Universal Remote also leads on ratings volume (13K vs 132) and review sentiment (18% vs 6%). Remote for Sam Control TVs's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Remote for Sam Control TVs sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 4.3 for Universal Remote against 4.4 for Remote for Sam Control TVs. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universal Remote has 13K ratings behind it against 132, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 18% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 6% of Remote for Sam Control TVs's.

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, Remote for Sam Control TVs every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | Remote for Sam Control TVs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765/reviews) | **[4.4 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-sam-control-tvs/id6736652635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 132 |
| Positive reviews | **17.8% of reviews** | 5.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 24 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [Marko Bilun](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846390343) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-remote/id1487434765)

Transform your phone into a smart TV remote. Easily control volume, channels, power, and more for compatible Samsung and LG smart TVs over your WiFi network. Offers premium features through a subscription.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs from your phone, WiFi network connection, Volume, channel, power control, Source and smart function control, Compatible with Samsung and LG TVs

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start Free Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Pro Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Pro Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Go Pro Universal Remote TV | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Universal remote control
- 💯 Works as advertised
- 🤩 Great app for managing TV

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 🚫 Doesn't work with some TVs
- 🔍 Requires original remote for setup
- 🤬 Lots of ads
- 🔒 Hard to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps disconnecting from TV
- Doesn't recognize TV or remote commands
- Crashes or freezes during use

**Requested features**

- Add keyboard and mouse support for TV browser
- Improve compatibility with more TV models
- Provide better troubleshooting and support options


### Remote for Sam Control TVs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-sam-control-tvs/id6736652635)

Control your TV with intuitive gestures, voice commands, or a trackpad. Launch apps, get AI movie recommendations, and manage your device effortlessly. This app offers a convenient way to interact with compatible TVs.

**Highlights:** Gyroscope gesture control, Voice command integration, AI movie recommendations, App launching, Trackpad control

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $14.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $14.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $19.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 App is entirely paid
- 💳 Charges money upfront
- 🚫 Requires original remote
- 💸 Charged for non-functional app
- 🔄 Constant reconnection needed

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work
- Requires original remote to connect
- Needs to reconnect every time
- Doesn't sync with TV


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

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

### Is Remote for Sam Control TVs free?

Remote for Sam Control TVs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or Remote for Sam Control TVs?

Remote for Sam Control TVs is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Remote for Sam Control TVs averages 4.4 from 132 ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or Remote for Sam Control TVs have ads?

Universal Remote shows ads; Remote for Sam Control TVs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or Remote for Sam Control TVs?

Universal Remote ships an update every 2 months, and Remote for Sam Control TVs every 2 days. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on October 20, 2026 and Remote for Sam Control TVs on October 15, 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.*