# Sam vs Remote for Sam Control TVs

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sam at free with in-app purchases against Remote for Sam Control TVs's subscription. Sam also leads on ratings volume (116K vs 134) and review sentiment (26% vs 6%). Remote for Sam Control TVs's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sam sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Remote for Sam Control TVs sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Sam against 4.4 for Remote for Sam Control TVs. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam has 116K ratings behind it against 134, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Sam's written reviews are positive against 6% of Remote for Sam Control TVs's.

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, Remote for Sam Control TVs every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sam | Remote for Sam Control TVs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (116K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-tv-remote-for-samsung/id838579136/reviews) | **[4.4 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-sam-control-tvs/id6736652635/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **116K** | 134 |
| Positive reviews | **25.6% of reviews** | 5.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 67 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [Marko Bilun](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846390343) |

## 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


### Remote for Sam Control TVs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/remote-for-sam-control-tvs/id6736652635)

Control your TV with intuitive gestures, voice commands, or a trackpad. Launch apps, get AI movie recommendations, and manage your device effortlessly. This app offers a convenient way to interact with compatible TVs.

**Highlights:** Gyroscope gesture control, Voice command integration, AI movie recommendations, App launching, Trackpad control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $9.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $14.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $14.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $19.99 | per year |
| Smart TV Remote Control | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 App is entirely paid
- 💳 Charges money upfront
- 🚫 Requires original remote
- 💸 Charged for non-functional app
- 🔄 Constant reconnection needed

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work
- Requires original remote to connect
- Needs to reconnect every time
- Doesn't sync with TV


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sam free?

Sam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Remote for Sam Control TVs free?

Remote for Sam Control TVs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sam or Remote for Sam Control TVs?

Remote for Sam Control TVs is rated higher. Sam averages 4.2 out of 5 from 116K ratings, while Remote for Sam Control TVs averages 4.4 from 134 ratings.

### Do Sam or Remote for Sam Control TVs have ads?

Sam shows ads; Remote for Sam Control TVs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sam or Remote for Sam Control TVs?

Sam ships an update every 2 weeks, and Remote for Sam Control TVs every 2 days. Most recently, Sam was updated on October 30, 2026 and Remote for Sam Control TVs on October 24, 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.*