Comparison

Phil vs Nerd on Call

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Phil

Control your Philips Smart TV with your iPhone or iPad. This virtual remote offers realistic design and access to essential functions like volume, channel, navigation, and playback controls. Requires your device to be on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.

Highlights
  • Volume control
  • Channel selection
  • Navigation pad
  • Video playback controls
  • Menu and options access
  • Power off function
Features
Read full description

PhilRemote is a virtual remote control that allows you to control your Philips television. The application works on all TVs equipped with "Smart TV" technology and connected to your (WiFi or Ethernet) network. To use this Philips remote control, your iPhone/iPad must be on the same Wi-fi network as your TV. Detection of your TV will be automatic. With a realistic design, you can use all the functions of the original remote control very easily. We have integrated the most useful commands, the features are listed below: -Change the volume -Change the channel number -Use navigation pad -Video control (Play/Pause/Stop...) -Menu, Options, Info, Tools -Power off If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact us. For any comments or questions write us at the following address: contact@nstx.io DISCLAIMER PhilRemote is neither an official Philips product, nor are we affiliated with the Philips company. SUBSCRIPTION: We offer auto-renewing subscription: - Length: Weekly / Monthly / Yearly - 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 : https://nstx.io/Phil/Phil_privacy.html Terms of Use : https://nstx.io/Phil/Phil_terms.html

About

Nerd on Call

Get friendly, plain-English tech support for all your devices. Connect remotely or schedule in-person help for issues like Wi-Fi, printers, new gadgets, and online safety. Membership offers included sessions and discounts.

Highlights
  • Plain-English tech assistance
  • Remote and in-person support
  • Wi-Fi and printer troubleshooting
  • New device setup
  • Online safety guidance
  • Membership plans available
Features
Read full description

Every corner of Oklahoma has a Nerd on Call. Now Kansas does too. Nerd on Call is a network of friendly, background-checked Local Nerds who fix the everyday tech that drives you crazy: Wi-Fi that won't connect, a slow computer, a new phone, a TV that won't stream, a printer that won't behave. We come to your door. Always in plain English, never a call center. WHAT WE HELP WITH • Wi-Fi and internet trouble • Slow or sick computers • Phones and tablets: setup, backups, the works • TV and streaming • Smart home and cameras • Locked out, hacked, or worried about a virus • The odd small-business job AT YOUR DOOR • House calls are $110 for the first hour within 25 miles of your Local Nerd, $130/hr in the 25-50 mile band, and $145/hr in the 50-75 mile band. The distance sets the rate, with no surprise travel fees. • Remote help is $39 for a 30-minute screen-share session when a visit isn't needed. BECOME A MEMBER, $14.99/MONTH Membership includes 2 remote sessions and 1 in-person visit each year, 20% off the labor on any extra visit, and Text a Nerd: ask a quick question anytime, no meter. Backed by our 30-Day Happiness Guarantee. No contract, cancel anytime. SETUP AND SUPPORT, NOT A REPAIR SHOP We get your devices working and show you how to use them. We don't do screen replacements or board-level repair, and we'll tell you honestly when a job isn't ours. YOUR STATE, YOUR NERDS In Oklahoma we're OkieNerd. In Kansas we're KansasNerd. Open the app and it follows where you are: the map frames your state, the Local Nerds it shows live near you, and the number on the call button is your local line. Every Local Nerd is interviewed and background-checked. Check live coverage for your town, book in a few taps, and get help at your door. Questions? Call or text 580.400.7475 in Oklahoma, or call 316.232.0316 in Kansas. A real person answers. Download Nerd on Call and get a Nerd in your corner.

Screenshots

Phil4 screens
Nerd on Call4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Nerd on Call at 5.0 against Phil's 3.1. Nerd on Call also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Phil's advantage is ratings volume (9.8K vs 1) and review sentiment (17% vs 0%). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Phil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Nerd on Call asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nerd on Call holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phil has 9.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of Phil's written reviews are positive against 0% of Nerd on Call's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phil ships an update every 4 months, Nerd on Call every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Phil versus Nerd on Call: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhilNerd on Call
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (9.8K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9.8K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryohan teixeiraBRANDEN LLC

Customer experience

Phil

All ratings9,754 ratings
Positive52.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews277 reviews
Positive17.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative78.7%

Nerd on Call

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Phil

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Stopped working after TV update
  • Crashes on newer iOS devices
  • Fails to connect to TV

Requested features

2 requests
  • No ads option
  • Better TV compatibility

Nerd on Call

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Phil

Subscriptions3
  • Pro mode$4.997 Days
  • Premium mode$9.991 Month
  • Premium version$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$19.99
None

Nerd on Call

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phil free?
Phil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nerd on Call free?
Nerd on Call is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Phil or Nerd on Call?
Nerd on Call is rated higher. Phil averages 3.1 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while Nerd on Call averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Phil or Nerd on Call have ads?
Phil shows ads; Nerd on Call does not.
Which is updated more often, Phil or Nerd on Call?
Phil ships an update every 4 months, and Nerd on Call every 3 days. Most recently, Phil was updated on October 27, 2026 and Nerd on Call on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons