# Sam vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sam at 116K against TV Remote's 3.2K. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote 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 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 30% of TV Remote's.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | TV Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.4 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1661904719/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **30.4% 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 |
| Size | 67 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Fire Technologies Hong Kong Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871390749) |

## 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1661904719)

Control your TV and streaming devices with your phone. Easily navigate channels, cast media, and search for content using your device's keyboard or voice. Enjoy a simplified entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Universal TV remote control, Touchpad or button navigation, Screen mirroring, Channel access, Wireless WiFi/IR control, Voice and keyboard search, Cast photos and videos

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version by week | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Full version by month | $9.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription With Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Lite Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Full version by year 7D trial | $34.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription With Trial | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Useful features like keyboard and touch control
- 👍 Works well with Roku devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based model
- 🔍 Difficulty connecting to TV
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive for a remote app

**Reported bugs**

- Volume controls not working
- App unable to find TV
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to use
- Improve connection reliability
- Add more device compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

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

### Is TV Remote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sam or TV Remote?

TV Remote is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while TV Remote averages 4.4 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Sam or TV Remote have ads?

Both Sam and TV Remote show ads.

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

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 4, 2026 and TV Remote on November 3, 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.*