# Sam vs Universal TV Remote Control #

Sam and Universal TV Remote Control # both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Universal TV Remote Control #'s written reviews are positive against 26% of Sam's. Universal TV Remote Control # also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). Sam's advantage is ratings volume (116K vs 1.3K). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Universal TV Remote Control # sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 — 4.2 for Sam against 4.3 for Universal TV Remote Control #. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 75% of Universal TV Remote Control #'s.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal TV Remote Control # every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | Universal TV Remote Control # |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.3 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1535056536/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **74.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Remote Sunrise LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/619088610) |

## 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


### Universal TV Remote Control #

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id1535056536)

Control compatible smart TVs using your iPhone or iPad over WiFi. Offers basic remote functions for free, with advanced features like keyboard input and app launching available via subscription. Supports a wide range of popular TV brands.

**Highlights:** WiFi TV control, Basic remote functions (volume, channels), Apple Watch and Mac companion controls, Keyboard input and app launching (premium), Touchpad navigation (supported devices), Supports numerous TV brands

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Features | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote - 1 month | $3.99 | per month |
| Universal TV Remote - 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote - 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| Smart TV Remote - 1 year | $19.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote - lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |
| Universal TV Remote - lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 💡 Useful remote control features
- 🔒 Secure connection
- 🤖 Works with various TV brands

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔍 Difficult to find specific TV models
- 💰 Paid subscription required for full functionality
- 🕰️ Slow response times on some devices
- 🔘 Confusing button layout

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to some TV models
- Loses connection randomly
- Volume controls not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add more TV brand support
- Improve Apple Watch integration
- Customize button layout and colors
- Implement voice control
- Add keyboard functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

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

### Is Universal TV Remote Control # free?

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

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

Universal TV Remote Control # is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while Universal TV Remote Control # averages 4.3 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Sam or Universal TV Remote Control # have ads?

Both Sam and Universal TV Remote Control # show ads.

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

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal TV Remote Control # every 6 days. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 11, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Control # on November 10, 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.*