# Sam Remote for Smart TV Things vs Universal TV Remote Controller

The clearest difference is rating: Sam Remote for Smart TV Things at 4.5 against Universal TV Remote Controller's 4.1. Sam Remote for Smart TV Things also leads on iOS requirement (13 vs 15.6). Universal TV Remote Controller's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sam Remote for Smart TV Things sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote Controller sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sam Remote for Smart TV Things holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 761 and 637 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of Sam Remote for Smart TV Things's written reviews are positive against 25% of Universal TV Remote Controller's.

Sam Remote for Smart TV Things ships an update every 5 months, Universal TV Remote Controller every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam Remote for Smart TV Things | Universal TV Remote Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (761 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-remote-for-smart-tv-things/id1531621161/reviews)** | [4.1 (637 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **761** | 637 |
| Positive reviews | **28.2% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 43 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Khanh Le](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437735756) | [SON TUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/486079249) |

## What reviewers say

### Sam Remote for Smart TV Things

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-remote-for-smart-tv-things/id1531621161)

Control your Samsung TV with your iPhone using this virtual remote. Connect once and manage your TV wirelessly with intuitive controls, including mouse and keyboard functionality. The app automatically detects and remembers your TV for seamless access.

**Highlights:** Intuitive remote control, Auto-detect Samsung TV, Complete TV controls, Mouse/Keyboard control, One-time TV validation, Automatic connection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote for Samsung TV - Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Remote for Samsung TV-Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Remote for Samsung TV - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Samsung TV Remote - Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Innovative features
- 🚀 Works great

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 📺 Doesn't work with all TVs
- 🔍 Limited functionality in free version
- 📢 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Can't connect to TV
- Settings menu blocked by ads
- Frequent disconnections

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize buttons
- Better TV compatibility
- More free features


### Universal TV Remote Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-controller/id1538250188)

Control your smart TV with your phone. This app automatically scans for devices and offers features like channel switching, keyboard search, and voice control. A premium subscription unlocks all features and removes ads.

**Highlights:** Automatic TV device scanning, Single-tap channel switching, Keyboard and voice search, Swift navigation, Ad-free experience (premium)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION | $9.99 | per month |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $19.99 | per year |
| YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION | $39.99 | per year |
| One-time Payment | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works as a replacement when physical remote is lost
- ⭐ Effective for Samsung TV control
- ✅ Functional remote control capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive premium paywall and forced upgrades
- 🐛 Frequent connection failures and disconnections
- ❌ App stops working after initial period
- 😤 Excessive ads and harassment for premium
- 🔄 Requires constant app refreshing to function

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to TV devices
- Connection drops frequently
- Volume control unavailable or missing
- Stuck on guide screen unable to exit
- Repetitive TV selection prompts

**Requested features**

- Restore and improve volume control functionality
- Free access to basic remote functions without premium
- Keyboard and search functionality without paywall
- Home button access without premium upgrade


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam Remote for Smart TV Things free?

Sam Remote for Smart TV Things is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Universal TV Remote Controller free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sam Remote for Smart TV Things or Universal TV Remote Controller?

Sam Remote for Smart TV Things is rated higher. Sam Remote for Smart TV Things averages 4.5 out of 5 from 761 ratings, while Universal TV Remote Controller averages 4.1 from 637 ratings.

### Do Sam Remote for Smart TV Things or Universal TV Remote Controller have ads?

Both Sam Remote for Smart TV Things and Universal TV Remote Controller show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sam Remote for Smart TV Things or Universal TV Remote Controller?

Sam Remote for Smart TV Things ships an update every 5 months, and Universal TV Remote Controller every 2 months. Most recently, Sam Remote for Smart TV Things was updated on October 16, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Controller on October 16, 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.*