# Sam vs Universal TV Remote Control ·

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | Universal TV Remote Control · |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6444097595/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews | **46.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 31 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) | [Dylan Oliver](https://appshunter.io/developer/1274238088) |

## 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


### Universal TV Remote Control ·

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-tv-remote-control/id6444097595)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium access | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium access | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium access | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium access | $39.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Connection issues with certain TVs
- Compatibility problems with older devices

**Requested features**

- Widget for easy access
- Ability to connect to multiple TVs


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