# Sam vs TV Remote

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sam at free with in-app purchases against TV Remote's subscription. Sam also leads on ratings volume (116K vs 1.1K). TV Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 1.1K, 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 33% of TV Remote's.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## 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 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id6443671916/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 67 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [SECURE SOFT LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1585537099) |

## 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/id6443671916)

Control your smart TV directly from your smartphone. This app automatically detects compatible TVs on your Wi-Fi network and offers most of the key features found on a physical remote for a seamless viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Universal smart TV control, Auto-detect TV on Wi-Fi, Works with popular brands, Full remote key features, Subscription options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Remote Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| TV Remote Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive app
- 💡 Helpful when TV remote is not working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires paid subscription
- 🔒 Bluetooth required for connection
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Pairing device code not working
- Doesn't connect to multiple TVs

**Requested features**

- Free version without subscription
- More features like casting and touch calibration


## 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 1.1K ratings.

### Do Sam or TV Remote have ads?

Sam shows ads; TV Remote does not.

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

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and TV Remote every 4 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on October 27, 2026 and TV Remote on October 27, 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.*