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 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.

Highlights
  • Universal TV compatibility
  • Volume, channel, and navigation controls
  • Live TV activity display
  • Customizable home screen widgets
  • Media casting to TV
  • Simple Wi-Fi setup
Features
Read full description

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

Sam4 screens
Universal TV Remote Control ◦4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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 $5.99 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, 4.4 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sam versus Universal TV Remote Control ◦: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamUniversal TV Remote Control ◦
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (116K ratings)4.4 (208 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews — better14.4% of reviews
Number of ratings116K — better208
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS16 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraAalto Studio FZE

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 ratings207 ratings
Positive84.5%
Neutral2.9%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews160 reviews
Positive14.4%
Neutral1.9%
Negative83.8%

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

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
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • 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
One-time1
  • Lifetime Purchase$79.99

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 4.4 from 208 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 3 weeks. Most recently, Sam was updated on November 3, 2026 and Universal TV Remote Control ◦ on October 30, 2026.

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