# Sam vs Remote control for TCL

The clearest difference is rating: Remote control for TCL at 4.6 against Sam's 4.2. Remote control for TCL also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 26%) and iOS requirement (13.1 vs 16). Sam's advantage is ratings volume (116K vs 8.9K). On price, update cadence, 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 Remote control for TCL sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Remote control for TCL holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 8.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 41% of Remote control for TCL's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | Remote control for TCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.6 (8.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-tcl/id1569183047/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 8.9K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **41.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **13.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Oz Shabbatth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451079365) |

## 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


### Remote control for TCL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-control-for-tcl/id1569183047)

Control your TCL TV with your phone. Offers a touchpad and keyboard for easy navigation and typing. Your last used remote is saved for quick access.

**Highlights:** Save last remote, No installation required, Fast touchpad, Keyboard input, Easy interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nice app
- 🚀 Works well
- 💡 Helpful for lost remote
- 🚀 Connects automatically

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to connect to TV
- App crashes frequently
- Buttons don't work as expected

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn on TV
- Improve connection stability
- Reduce ad frequency


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

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

### Is Remote control for TCL free?

Remote control for TCL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sam or Remote control for TCL?

Remote control for TCL is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while Remote control for TCL averages 4.6 from 8.9K ratings.

### Do Sam or Remote control for TCL have ads?

Both Sam and Remote control for TCL show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sam or Remote control for TCL?

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Remote control for TCL every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 11, 2026 and Remote control for TCL on November 11, 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.*