# Sam vs MyGateRemote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MyGateRemote at none against Sam's 8. MyGateRemote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. MyGateRemote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, MyGateRemote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | MyGateRemote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Stuart Annandale](https://appshunter.io/developer/1150037920) |

## What reviewers say

### Sam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136)

Transform your iPhone into a virtual remote for your smart TV. Easily control channels, volume, menus, and media with a simple tap. It syncs automatically via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for physical remotes and batteries.

**Highlights:** Virtual remote control, Channel switching, Volume adjustment, Menu navigation, Media management, Automatic Wi-Fi sync, No setup required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium version | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium version | $29.99 | per year |
| removal of advertising | $3.99 | one-time |
| removal of advertising | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium version | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well when connected
- 👍 Easy to set up
- 👍 Convenient to use phone as remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Frequent disconnection issues
- 📺 Can't turn TV on with app
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📢 Excessive ads in free version
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to TV consistently
- Buttons stop working after a while
- Paid version loses ad-free functionality

**Requested features**

- Add option to turn TV on/off
- Improve stability and reliability
- Reduce frequency of ads in free version


### MyGateRemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mygateremote/id1218816015)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

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

### Is MyGateRemote free?

MyGateRemote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Sam or MyGateRemote have ads?

Sam shows ads; MyGateRemote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sam or MyGateRemote?

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and MyGateRemote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 5, 2026 and MyGateRemote on November 2, 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.*