Sam vs Universal TV Remote Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sam
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.
- Virtual remote control
- Channel switching
- Volume adjustment
- Menu navigation
- Media management
- Automatic Wi-Fi sync
- No setup required
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SamRemote: Transforms your iPhone into a powerful, virtual remote for your smart TV. Our intuitive TV remote app streamlines your tv experience, allowing you to easily control your TV with all the features of the original remote control. With a simple tap, switch channels, adjust volume, navigate through menus, and manage your media - all from your iPhone or iPad. The best part? SamRemote requires zero setup. Simply launch the app and it automatically syncs with your Smart TV via your Wi-Fi. You're all set to take command of your TV Say goodbye to the days of losing your physical remote or scrambling to replace batteries. With Sam, your ultimate TV control is always in your pocket, ready whenever you are. Experience smart TV viewing as it should be - simplified and under your command. DISCLAIMER Sam is neither an official Samsung product, nor are we affiliated with the Samsung Electronics company. SUBSCRIPTION: We offer auto-renewing subscription: - Length: Yearly-Monthly-Weekly - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - You will be able to access the Premium features of the app for the duration of the subscription - Subscription automatically renews for the same price and duration period as the original period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen package. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's iTunes Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period - You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription setting through your Apple account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 for more information on how to proceed. - You may turn off the auto-renewal of your subscription via your Apple Account Settings. However, you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period - Any unused portion of a free-trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Privacy Policy : http://nstx.io/SamRemote/samremote_policy.html Terms of Use : http://nstx.io/SamRemote/samremote-terms.html
Universal TV Remote Control
Transform your iPhone into a powerful universal TV remote. Easily control over 100 TV brands without needing your physical remote or dealing with battery issues. Enjoy fast setup and intuitive controls for all your entertainment needs.
- Control 100+ TV brands
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Automatic TV discovery
- Power, volume, input controls
- App access and media playback
- Navigation and directional controls
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Want to use or Turn Your iPhone Into a Universal TV Remote? Lost your TV remote or tired of battery issues? Control your TV directly from your iPhone with ease — no physical remote needed. **Fast & Simple Setup** - Connect your iPhone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network - Automatic discovery lists your TVs instantly - Start controlling immediately — no pairing codes required **Intuitive TV Controls** - Power on/off, Mute & Volume - Input selection, Home & Menu navigation - Access apps installed on your TV - Channel Up/Down, Media Playback (Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Fast Forward) - Directional navigation: Up, Down, Left, Right ** Works With All TV Brands** Top Brands: Samsung TV Remote, LG, Sony, TCL TV Remote, Roku, Fire TV Remote, Vizio Other Brands: RCA TV Remote, Element, Sceptre TV Remote, Insignia, Toshiba, Hisense TV, Sharp, Panasonic, Philips TV Remote, Skyworth, Onn, Sanyo TV Remote, Westinghouse and Android TV Remote. Supports TVs running Roku OS, Fire TV OS, Android TV OS, Samsung Tizen OS, Viziacast OS, Vidaa OS. No matter the brand, the Universal TV Remote app simplifies your entertainment experience. ** Continuous Updates & Support** - New brands and features added regularly - Dedicated support team ready to help with any issues ** Disclaimer** Codematics is not affiliated with Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Vizio, or any other TV brand. This app is not an official product of any brand. Download now and turn your iPhone into a Universal TV Remote for all your devices! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sam at 4.2 against Universal TV Remote Control's 3.6. Sam also leads on ratings volume (116K vs 4.1K). Universal TV Remote Control's advantage is review sentiment (65% vs 26%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Sam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sam holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 4.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 65% of Universal TV Remote Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sam | Universal TV Remote Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (116K ratings) — better | 3.6 (4.1K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | 65.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 116K — better | 4.1K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | yohan teixeira | Codematics Services |
Customer experience
Sam
Universal TV Remote Control
User reviews
Sam
From 116K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well when connected
- 👍 Easy to set up
- 👍 Convenient to use phone as remote
Room to improve
- 🔋 Frequent disconnection issues
- 📺 Can't turn TV on with app
- 💸 Expensive paid version
- 📢 Excessive ads in free version
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality
Universal TV Remote Control
From 4.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for lost remotes
- 🚀 Convenient remote alternative
Room to improve
- 🐛 Doesn't work for some TV brands
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 💸 Too many ads
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
Bugs and requests
Sam
Reported bugs
3 issues- Fails to connect to TV consistently
- Buttons stop working after a while
- Paid version loses ad-free functionality
Requested features
3 requests- Add option to turn TV on/off
- Improve stability and reliability
- Reduce frequency of ads in free version
Universal TV Remote Control
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent crashes
- Buttons don't respond
- Incompatible with certain TV models
Requested features
3 requests- Support for more TV brands
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Ad-free version
In-app purchases
Sam
- Premium version3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Premium version$7.997 Days
- Premium version$14.991 Month
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- Premium version3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Premium version$29.991 Year
- removal of advertising$3.99
- removal of advertising$19.99
- Premium version$34.99
Universal TV Remote Control
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$19.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$89.991 Year
- Remove Full Screen Ads$24.99
- Ad Free Version$99.99
Questions
Is Sam free?
Is Universal TV Remote Control free?
Which has better reviews, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control?
Do Sam or Universal TV Remote Control have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control?
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