# Sam vs Universal Remote TV Control

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sam at free with in-app purchases against Universal Remote TV Control's subscription. Sam also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Universal Remote TV Control's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#60 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 Remote TV Control. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 116K and 51K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 28% of Universal Remote TV Control's.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal Remote TV Control every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## 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) | **[4.3 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1591238748/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 51K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **28.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#60** |
| Size | 67 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Desidari Holding Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1576843270) |

## 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/id1591238748)

**Currently charting:** #60 Top Grossing · Utilities, #185 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your smart TV from your phone with this app. It offers a full-featured remote experience, allowing you to change channels, adjust volume, navigate menus, and more. Connect via Wi-Fi for seamless control.

**Highlights:** Control TV from iPhone, Channel and volume control, Menu and playback functions, Works with popular brands, Wi-Fi connectivity, Keyboard input, Haptic feedback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control - Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control -1  Week Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote: 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Universal TV Remote - Pro Pack | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Smart TV Remote Control: 1Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote App: 1Year | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Helpful for lost remotes
- 👍 Works well with TVs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unresponsive buttons
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 💰 Charges during free trial

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after free trial ends
- Unable to connect to certain TV models
- Inconsistent performance, often disconnecting

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn on TV without physical remote
- Keyboard support for text input
- Option to switch between multiple TVs
- Ability to cancel subscription easily


## 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 4.3 from 51K ratings.

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

Sam shows ads; Universal Remote TV Control does not.

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

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal Remote TV Control every 5 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 4, 2026 and Universal Remote TV Control on November 5, 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.*