Comparison

Sam vs TV 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

Transform your iPhone into a powerful universal remote for over 10,000 TV models. Discover personalized show recommendations, manage watchlists, and track your viewing history all in one intuitive app.

Highlights
  • Universal remote for 10,000+ TV models
  • Wi-Fi connectivity (no extra hardware)
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Watchlist management
  • Watch history tracking
  • Smart content filters
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into the ultimate Universal Remote Control, control over 10,000 TV models and discover the best movies and shows to watch. Remotly combines a fast, reliable remote with a built-in TV Assistant to help you pick something great in seconds. Use it to control your TV, manage watchlists, get personalized recommendations, and keep track of what you’ve watched—right from your iPhone. # Remote control that just works • Works with 10,000+ TV models across major brands, including Samsung, Roku, TCL, LG, Sony, and more. • Connects over your local Wi-Fi (no extra hardware). • Quick access to the essentials: volume, channels, input/source, and your favorite TV apps. # Your TV Assistant • Personalized recommendations based on what you like. • Watchlists for movies and series (save, organize, and come back later). • Watch history/tracker to remember what you’ve seen and what’s next. • Smart filters to find something that fits your mood (genre, movie/series, preferences). # Made for daily use • Clean, simple interface designed for one-hand control. • Custom settings to adapt the experience to your habits. • Frequent updates to improve compatibility and add new features. # DISCLAIMER This app is not an official app of Samsung, Roku, TCL TV, LG, Sony, or any TV manufacturer, we are not related to these companies in any way. # Subscription For the Pro subscription, subscriptions will be charged monthly or weekly for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions will automatically renewed unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Terms of Use: https://mwm.ai/legal/tv_remote/terms-of-use Privacy : https://mwm.ai/legal/tv_remote/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Sam4 screens
TV Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sam at 116K against TV Remote's 618. TV Remote's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (38% vs 26%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TV Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 618, 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 38% of TV Remote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, TV Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sam versus TV Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamTV Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.5 (618 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews38.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings116K — better618
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraApp Rover

Customer experience

Sam

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

TV Remote

All ratings613 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive38.0%
Neutral11.4%
Negative50.6%

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

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
8 purchases

TV Remote

Subscriptions7
  • Pro Plan Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Pro Plan Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium Pass3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Pro Plan Monthly3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Premium Pass$19.991 Year
  • Pro Plan Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Pro Plan Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Plan Lifetime$9.99

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 4.5 from 618 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 5, 2026 and TV Remote on November 3, 2026.

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