Comparison

Sam vs TV Remote Control Universal +

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 Universal +

Transform your smartphone into a universal remote for all your smart TVs. Control power, volume, channels, and even cast content to the big screen. Enjoy voice control, a built-in keyboard, and customizable themes for an effortless entertainment experience.

Highlights
  • Universal TV remote control
  • Screen mirroring and casting
  • Voice control for TV
  • Built-in keyboard for easy typing
  • Quick access to streaming channels
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

Universal TV Remote – Smart Control for All Your TVs Tired of juggling multiple remotes for every device in your home? Transform your smartphone into a smart, all-in-one remote control for your TV. Whether you're watching your favorite movie, switching between streaming apps, or searching for a show — everything becomes effortless. Our app is built to work with all major smart TV brands, from Roku, Samsung to Chromecast TV, Apple TV, and more. Just connect and take full control of your entertainment. ONE APP - FULL REMOTE CONTROL No more lost remotes or dead batteries. Our full-featured remote gives you everything: - Power on/off your TV - Adjust volume & mute instantly - Change input sources - Navigate menus with smart gestures - Control playback and channel navigation Whether you’re watching cable, streaming films, or casting a video — control it all from your phone. UNIVERSAL TV REMOTE CONTROL - ADVANCED FEATURES: - Quick Access to Streaming Channels: Jump right into your favorite shows and apps with a single tap. Instantly launch popular platforms. No more endless navigation. Just tap and go. - Control with Your Voice: Use your voice to search, switch channels, adjust volume, or open an app. Say it, and let the app do it for you. Perfect for hands-free control or when you're across the room. - Smart Touchpad & Swipe Navigation: Replace clunky buttons with smooth gesture-based control. Swipe to scroll, tap to select — just like using a smart touch controller. Navigating your TV has never been this intuitive. - Built-in Keyboard: Typing on a TV is painful. Use your phone’s keyboard to enter search terms, login info, or type messages — fast and easy, just like texting. - Customizable Smart Themes: Make your remote interface match your style and TV type. Choose from smart layouts designed for better visibility, quick access, and ease of use. - Cast to Your TV: Want to share photos, videos, or web content on your TV? Use the Cast feature to project directly from your phone to the big screen — great for family moments, presentations, or binge nights. - Private Listening (Roku Only): Watching late at night? Use your headphones and stream your TV audio directly to your phone for a private and immersive experience — without disturbing anyone. * Reclaim control of your TV with just one app. Whether you're relaxing on the couch, in bed, or even hosting friends — our Universal TV Remote gives you everything you need at your fingertips. * Download now and experience TV control the smart way. SUBSCRIPTION PRICING & TERMS - Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase while using Universal TV Remote Control App. - You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase. - Subscriptions will renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal cost will be charged to your account 24 hours before the end of the current period. - When the subscription is canceled, it will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded. - If offered, any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. DISCLAIMER: TV Remote Control Universal is not affiliated with any trademark mentioned. Thanks for downloading our app. If you have any problems with this app, please contact us at: contact.tvsmart@gmail.com Privacy Policy: https://smarttvcast-screenmirroring.web.app/policy.html Terms of Service: https://smarttvcast-screenmirroring.web.app/term.html

Screenshots

Sam4 screens
TV Remote Control Universal +4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sam at 116K against TV Remote Control Universal +'s 13K. Sam also leads on review sentiment (26% vs 16%). On price, rating, 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 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and TV Remote Control Universal + sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TV Remote Control Universal + holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 13K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 16% of TV Remote Control Universal +'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 Control Universal + monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sam versus TV Remote Control Universal +: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamTV Remote Control Universal +
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.4 (13K ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews — better15.5% of reviews
Number of ratings116K — better13K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1615 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB197 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraTVSMART.APP

Customer experience

Sam

All ratings116,472 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews1,814 reviews
Positive25.6%
Neutral8.3%
Negative66.0%

TV Remote Control Universal +

All ratings12,611 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.4%
Written reviews238 reviews
Positive15.5%
Neutral1.7%
Negative82.8%

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 Control Universal +

From 13K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works great as a remote control
  • 👍 User-friendly and easy to navigate
  • 🔒 Reliable connection to TV
  • 💡 Useful backup for lost physical remote

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Requires subscription to access basic remote functions
  • 💰 Expensive subscription fees
  • 🔍 Lack of free features
  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnections required
  • 🤖 Aggressive in-app ads and upsells

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 Control Universal +

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not compatible with certain TV models
  • Inability to cancel subscription
  • Remote control functions not working as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • More free remote control features
  • Ability to control TV power and volume without subscription
  • Better customer support and communication

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Sam

Subscriptions5
  • Premium version3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium version$7.997 Days
  • Premium version$14.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Premium version3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium version$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • removal of advertising$3.99
  • removal of advertising$19.99
  • Premium version$34.99
14 purchases

TV Remote Control Universal +

Subscriptions12
  • Weekly Premium TV Remote$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Smart TV Remote Control3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Monthly Upgrade TV Remote$7.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • Monthly Upgrade TV Remote$8.991 Month
  • Universal Remote Pro | Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Universal TV Remote - Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Weekly Supper Sale | TV Remote3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Universal Remote Pro | Monthly$18.991 Month
  • Yearly Upgrade TV Remote7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Yearly Premium TV Remote$34.991 Year
  • Yearly Smart TV Remote Control3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly Supper Sale | TV Remote7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Universal TV Remote - Lifetime$44.99
  • Lifetime Upgrade TV Remote$49.99

Questions

Is Sam free?
Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote Control Universal + free?
TV Remote Control Universal + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sam or TV Remote Control Universal +?
TV Remote Control Universal + is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while TV Remote Control Universal + averages 4.4 from 13K ratings.
Do Sam or TV Remote Control Universal + have ads?
Both Sam and TV Remote Control Universal + show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sam or TV Remote Control Universal +?
Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote Control Universal + monthly. Most recently, Sam was updated on October 30, 2026 and TV Remote Control Universal + on October 30, 2026.

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