# Sam vs TV Remote

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.4 (605K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 116K | **605K** |
| Positive reviews | **22.7% of reviews** | 20.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#7** |
| Size | 61 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [EVOLLY.APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1422593523) |

## 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 (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium version | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium version | $14.99 | per month |
| 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


### TV Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1539090879)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Utilities, #9 Top Free · Utilities, #176 Top Grossing (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium. | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't recognize TV
- Power button doesn't work
- Volume controls not functioning

**Requested features**

- Allow remote control without original remote
- Offer more free features
- Improve reliability and stability


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*