Comparison

Sam vs TV Remote, Universal Remote

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, Universal Remote

Transform your smartphone into a universal TV remote. Control power, volume, channels, and menus for over 1000 TV models worldwide. Simplify your entertainment setup and eliminate the need for multiple physical remotes.

Highlights
  • Universal TV control
  • Power on/off
  • Volume adjustment
  • Channel navigation
  • Menu access
  • Simple setup
  • Wide compatibility
Features
Read full description

Universal TV Remote Control App Works with 1000+ Models in Over 100+ Countries! Control your TV effortlessly with just your phone. Simply choose your TV brand and connect in seconds. Say goodbye to your old, cluttered remotes with this all-in-one solution! Remote Troubles? We’ve Got You! - Frustrated with frequent battery replacements? - Tired of constantly searching for your misplaced remote? - Confused by having multiple remotes that all look the same? - Did your pet chew up the remote again? - Is your remote unresponsive or slow? With your phone always within reach, transform it into a universal TV remote and eliminate these problems. Regain control and simplify your daily life! With TV Remote App: - Control power on/off - Adjust volume - Mute with a single tap - Enter channel numbers directly - Navigate channels - Control AV/TV mode - Access your TV menu Why TV Remote Control? - Simple setup – connect to your TV in just one tap - Compatible with almost all TV brands - Intuitive, user-friendly design Please Note This universal remote control for TV is not affiliated with any TV manufacturers included. We Value Your Feedback If your TV brand or model isn’t listed, please reach out. Your input helps us continually improve our app! Subscription Terms & Details - Get unlimited access to all features. - The payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Subscription may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. - The account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. - Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication. Privacy Policy: https://inston.ltd/privacypolicy.html?pkg=com.inston.tvremote Terms of Use: https://inston.ltd/terms.html?pkg=com.inston.tvremote

Screenshots

Sam4 screens
TV Remote, Universal Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TV Remote, Universal Remote at 4.8 against Sam's 4.2. TV Remote, Universal Remote also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16). Sam's advantage is ratings volume (116K vs 2.9K). On price, review sentiment, 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, Universal Remote sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TV Remote, Universal Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 2.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 26% and 25% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sam versus TV Remote, Universal Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamTV Remote, Universal Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews — better25.2% of reviews
Number of ratings116K — better2.9K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraInston

Customer experience

Sam

All ratings116,472 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews1,815 reviews
Positive25.6%
Neutral8.3%
Negative66.1%

TV Remote, Universal Remote

All ratings2,932 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews206 reviews
Positive25.2%
Neutral2.9%
Negative71.8%

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, Universal Remote

From 2.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🙌 Helpful for finding lost remote
  • 💡 Allows room/location customization

Room to improve

  • 🤑 Excessive paid features
  • 🚫 Limited functionality in free version
  • 📺 Compatibility issues with some TV models
  • 💤 Frequent ads interrupting usage

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, Universal Remote

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App fails to connect to TV
  • Buttons not responding as expected
  • Subscription not canceling properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to control more TV functions without subscription
  • Option to disable ads in free version
  • Support for more TV brands and models

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
10 purchases

TV Remote, Universal Remote

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Premium$3.991 Month
  • Pro: Unlock All3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Pro: Full Access3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • Weekly Subscription$6.997 Days
  • Pro: Ultimate Access$12.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Annual Premium3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Access IPTV Channels - Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Pro$27.99
  • Lifetime Premium$32.99

Questions

Is Sam free?
Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TV Remote, Universal Remote free?
TV Remote, Universal Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sam or TV Remote, Universal Remote?
TV Remote, Universal Remote is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while TV Remote, Universal Remote averages 4.8 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Sam or TV Remote, Universal Remote have ads?
Both Sam and TV Remote, Universal Remote show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sam or TV Remote, Universal Remote?
Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote, Universal Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 13, 2026 and TV Remote, Universal Remote on November 12, 2026.

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