Sam vs Universal TV Remote Control ◦
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Virtual remote control
- Channel switching
- Volume adjustment
- Menu navigation
- Media management
- Automatic Wi-Fi sync
- No setup required
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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
Universal TV Remote Control ◦
Transform your smartphone into a universal TV remote. Control LG, Samsung, and other brands with ease, featuring volume, channel, and navigation controls. Premium features include live activity updates, customizable widgets, and media casting.
- Universal TV compatibility
- Volume, channel, and navigation controls
- Live TV activity display
- Customizable home screen widgets
- Media casting to TV
- Simple Wi-Fi setup
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Universal TV Remote Control Transform your smartphone into a powerful universal remote with Universal+, the top choice for seamless control over your LG, Samsung, and other TV brands. Experience peak convenience whether you’re at home or on the go. Key Features: Universal Compatibility: Effortlessly manage your LG, Samsung, and other TVs with a single app. Universal+ is designed for full compatibility, ensuring a smooth user experience. Premium Subscription Features: 1- Live Activity Support: Stay updated with real-time TV activity displays directly on your phone’s lock screen. Never miss what's playing! 2- Customizable Widgets: Instantly access TV controls from your home screen with widgets that allow you to turn your TV on or off and more. 3- On/Off Functionality: Power your TV on or off directly from your device—perfect when the remote is out of reach or out of range. 4- Media Casting: Share your favorite moments by casting photos, videos, and music directly to your TV from your phone for an enhanced viewing experience. 5- Remove Ads Free Features: 1- Single Device Addition 2- Volume, Home, Menu, Back, and Channel Controls 3- Trackpad Navigation Simple Setup: Getting started with Universal+ is quick and easy. Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network, follow the setup guide, and you’re ready to go! Elegant Interface: Enjoy a sleek, user-friendly design that makes navigating TV menus and controls intuitive and effortless. Why Choose Universal+? With Universal+, your phone becomes the ultimate remote control, enhancing how you watch TV and interact with media. Download Universal+ now and take the first step toward smarter, more integrated TV control! Support: For assistance, visit our support page or contact us directly through the app. Privacy: Your privacy is our priority. Universal+ doesn’t store personal information and ensures your data is secure. Terms of Use: https://universalplustv.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://universalplustv.com/privacy Elevate your home entertainment with Universal+ your phone, your remote, your way!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sam at 116K against Universal TV Remote Control ◦'s 208. Sam also leads on review sentiment (26% vs 14%) and iOS requirement (16 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
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 $5.99 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, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 208, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 14% of Universal TV Remote Control ◦'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Universal TV Remote Control ◦ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sam | Universal TV Remote Control ◦ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (116K ratings) | 4.4 (208 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.6% of reviews — better | 14.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 116K — better | 208 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 16 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 122 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | yohan teixeira | Aalto Studio FZE |
Customer experience
Sam
Universal TV Remote Control ◦
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 ◦
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sam
- Premium version3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Premium version$7.997 Days
- Premium version$14.991 Month
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Premium version3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Premium version$29.991 Year
- removal of advertising$3.99
- removal of advertising$19.99
- Premium version$34.99
Universal TV Remote Control ◦
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$5.997 Days
- Weekly Subscription$5.997 Days
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Annual Premium Access$9.991 Year
- Monthly subscription3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription Remote Control3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Family Subscription$34.991 Year
- Yearly subscription Half price1 Year trial$39.991 Year
- Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Lifetime Purchase$79.99
Questions
Is Sam free?
Is Universal TV Remote Control ◦ free?
Which has better reviews, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control ◦?
Do Sam or Universal TV Remote Control ◦ have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sam or Universal TV Remote Control ◦?
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