Comparison

Sam vs TV Remote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Virtual remote control
  • Channel switching
  • Volume adjustment
  • Menu navigation
  • Media management
  • Automatic Wi-Fi sync
  • No setup required
Features
Read full description

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

About

TV Remote

Control your smart TV directly from your phone. Connect via WIFI to manage volume, channels, and navigation with a touchpad and keyboard. Supports major brands like Samsung, Roku, and LG.

Highlights
  • WIFI TV connection
  • Smart TV detection
  • Touchpad navigation
  • Keyboard input
  • Channel launching
  • Voice search
Features
Read full description

TV Remote is the ultimate solution for controlling your Smart TV from the comfort of your phone. With its easy-to-use interface and compatibility with various TV brands such as Samsung, Roku, LG, Sony, FireTV, AndroidTV, Vizio, and Hisense, this app lets you take charge of your TV viewing experience. You can connect your device to your TV via WIFI, and enjoy full control of your TV functions, including volume, channels, input sources, and more, right from your mobile device. Whether you're watching a movie, playing games, or simply relaxing, the app makes it easy to manage your TV, no matter where you are. Try it today and discover a whole new level of TV control. Main features: * Automatically detects Smart TVs on the same WIFI network * Works with most popular TV brands * Large touchpad for easy menu and content navigation * Launch channels directly from the app * Fast and simple keyboard input * Voice search for hands-free control *** Upgrade to Premium to remove ads and unlock all features*** You can choose one-time payment or a yearly subscription. (with 3-day free trial) a monthly subscription a weekly subscription – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase (After free trial period if offered). – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Samsung, Roku, or any other TV brands listed above. Privacy: https://evolly.app/privacy-policy/ Terms: https://evolly.app/terms-of-service/

Screenshots

Sam4 screens
TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote at 4.4 against Sam's 4.2. TV Remote also leads on chart position (#7 vs unranked) and ratings volume (605K vs 116K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sam sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and TV Remote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Remote has 605K ratings behind it against 116K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 20% of TV Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote monthly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Sam versus TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamTV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.4 (605K ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.7% of reviews — better20.3% of reviews
Number of ratings116K605K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#7 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraEVOLLY.APP

Customer experience

Sam

All ratings116,439 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive22.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative69.6%

TV Remote

All ratings604,789 ratings
Positive85.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative11.3%
Written reviews4,222 reviews
Positive20.3%
Neutral3.1%
Negative76.6%

User reviews

Sam

From 116K App Store ratings

What 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

TV Remote

From 605K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Connects easily
  • 👍 Convenient remote control
  • 🔒 Works with multiple TVs
  • 👍 Helpful when remote is lost

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Requires original remote for setup
  • 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔋 Drains phone battery

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

TV Remote

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App doesn't recognize TV
  • Power button doesn't work
  • Volume controls not functioning

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow remote control without original remote
  • Offer more free features
  • Improve reliability and stability

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Sam

Subscriptions3
  • Premium version$7.997 Days
  • Premium version$14.991 Month
  • Premium version$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • removal of advertising$3.99
  • removal of advertising$19.99
  • Premium version$34.99
6 purchases

TV Remote

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Weekly Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium$8.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Premium$19.991 Year
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium.$44.99

Questions

Is Sam free?
Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote free?
TV Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sam or TV Remote?
TV Remote is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.4 from 605K ratings.
Do Sam or TV Remote have ads?
Both Sam and TV Remote show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sam or TV Remote?
Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote monthly. Most recently, Sam was updated on September 24, 2026 and TV Remote on September 24, 2026.

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