# Sam vs TV Remote Control Universal +

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.

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.

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.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote Control Universal + monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | TV Remote Control Universal + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.4 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-universal-plus/id1644910903/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 13K |
| Positive reviews | **25.6% of reviews** | 15.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 197 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [TVSMART.APP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674705623) |

## 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


### TV Remote Control Universal +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-control-universal-plus/id1644910903)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium TV Remote | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Smart TV Remote Control | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Upgrade TV Remote | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Upgrade TV Remote | $8.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote Pro \| Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal TV Remote - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Weekly Supper Sale \| TV Remote | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote Pro \| Monthly | $18.99 | per month |
| Yearly Upgrade TV Remote | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium TV Remote | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Smart TV Remote Control | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Supper Sale \| TV Remote | $39.99 | per year |
| Universal TV Remote - Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Upgrade TV Remote | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


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