# Sam vs Universal Remote TV Control ·

The clearest difference is rating: Universal Remote TV Control · at 4.7 against Sam's 4.2. Universal Remote TV Control · also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 26%) and chart position (#19 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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 Remote TV Control · sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Universal Remote TV Control · holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 116K and 144K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 38% of Universal Remote TV Control ·'s.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal Remote TV Control · every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | Universal Remote TV Control · |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.7 (144K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1581765635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 116K | **144K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **38.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#19** |
| Size | 67 MB | 233 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [BEGAMOB GLOBAL LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581766117) |

## 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 Remote TV Control ·

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1581765635)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Grossing · Utilities, #44 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Transform your phone into a universal TV remote. Effortlessly change channels, adjust volume, launch streaming apps, and cast media to your TV. Enjoy a seamless control experience without the hassle of physical remotes.

**Highlights:** Universal TV remote control, Volume and channel adjustment, Launch streaming apps, Cast photos and videos, Voice and keyboard search, Supports most smart TV brands

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| One Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| 75% off first week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock all features | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control - 1 Week Pro | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control - 1 Week Pro | $8.90 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Premium - Month Pro | $9.49 | per month |
| TV Remote Control - 1 Week Pro | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control - 1 Week Pro | $14.90 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $26.49 | per year |
| Yearly Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Pack for RokuTV | $39.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Control - 1 Year Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| One Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlock all features for life | $29.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Feature | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well when remote is lost
- 👍 Convenient for families

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription to use basic functions
- 🐛 Buggy, disconnects frequently
- 🤑 Expensive, more affordable to buy a new remote
- 🤯 Confusing, unclear about paid features

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues, unable to cancel
- Incompatible with certain TV models
- Buttons/functions not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn TV on/off
- Support for more TV brands
- Ability to control volume without subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

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

### Is Universal Remote TV Control · free?

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

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

Universal Remote TV Control · is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while Universal Remote TV Control · averages 4.7 from 144K ratings.

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

Both Sam and Universal Remote TV Control · show ads.

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

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal Remote TV Control · every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on October 29, 2026 and Universal Remote TV Control · on October 29, 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.*