Comparison

Sam vs Universal TV Remote Control ·

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

Universal TV Remote Control ·

Transform your iPhone into a universal TV remote. Control smart TVs from major brands, adjust volume, change channels, and power your TV on or off. Enjoy a seamless viewing experience with automatic connection and an intuitive interface.

Highlights
  • Universal TV compatibility
  • Automatic WiFi connection
  • Full remote control functions
  • Power on/off TV
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Quick setup
Features
Read full description

TV Remote - Control Your Smart TV from Your iPhone Simplify your TV experience by turning your iPhone into a universal remote control. With TV Remote, you’ll never need to worry about lost remotes or dead batteries. Easily control your Smart TV with a sleek and intuitive app that brings all the essential functions to your phone. ## KEY FEATURES - Universal Compatibility: Works with popular Smart TV brands including Samsung, LG, Roku, Sony, Philips, Vizio, Hisense, and more. - Automatic Connection: Instantly detects and connects to TVs on the same WiFi network. - Full Control: Adjust volume, switch channels, manage inputs, and control your TV directly from your iPhone. - Power Control: Turn your TV on or off without needing a physical remote. ## HOW TO USE THE APP 1. Connect your iPhone and Smart TV to the same WiFi network. 2. Turn on your TV. 3. Let the app automatically detect your TV and start controlling it. In just a few steps, you’ll have complete control of your Smart TV with no complicated setup. ## WHY CHOOSE TV REMOTE? - Wide Compatibility: Supports a broad range of Smart TV brands. - Intuitive Interface: Designed for a seamless user experience. - Quick Setup: Connects automatically to your TV without any manual pairing. - Comprehensive Features: Access all essential remote functions in one app. - Regular Updates: The app is continuously improved to support new TV models and enhance performance. TV Remote is built to make your TV experience smoother and more enjoyable, offering all the essential features in one convenient app. Take control of your Smart TV with TV Remote and enjoy a better viewing experience today. Privacy policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/38353374/legal Terms of use: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/38353374

Screenshots

Sam4 screens
Universal TV Remote Control ·4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Universal TV Remote Control · at 4.6 against Sam's 4.2. Universal TV Remote Control · also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 26%) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). Sam's advantage is ratings volume (116K vs 1.2K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Universal TV Remote Control · sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Universal TV Remote Control · holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 1.2K, 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 46% of Universal TV Remote Control ·'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal TV Remote Control · every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sam versus Universal TV Remote Control ·: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamUniversal TV Remote Control ·
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.6 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews46.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings116K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraDylan Oliver

Customer experience

Sam

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

Universal TV Remote Control ·

All ratings1,230 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative46.2%

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

Universal TV Remote Control ·

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Seamless TV connection
  • 🚀 Smooth functionality
  • 💡 Potential for multi-TV and universal search integration

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Requires physical TV buttons or remote for initial setup
  • 📺 Excessive ads interrupting TV usage
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model

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

Universal TV Remote Control ·

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Connection issues with certain TVs
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Widget for easy access
  • Ability to connect to multiple TVs

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

Universal TV Remote Control ·

Subscriptions9
  • Premium Access7 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Pro Weekly3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Premium access3 Days trial$5.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Pro Monthly3 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Premium access3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly3 Days trial$17.991 Year
  • Premium Access$29.991 Year
  • Premium access$39.991 Year
  • Premium access3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$3.99

Questions

Is Sam free?
Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Universal TV Remote Control · free?
Universal TV Remote Control · is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control ·?
Universal TV Remote Control · is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while Universal TV Remote Control · averages 4.6 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Sam or Universal TV Remote Control · have ads?
Both Sam and Universal TV Remote Control · show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control ·?
Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Universal TV Remote Control · every 6 days. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 1, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Control · on October 30, 2026.

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