# Phil vs Nerd on 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.

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.

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.

Phil ships an update every 4 months, Nerd on Call every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phil | Nerd on Call |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-tv-remote/id876814361/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nerd-on-call/id6781277206/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **17.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 157 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [yohan teixeira](https://appshunter.io/developer/488660484) | [BRANDEN LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781103390) |

## What reviewers say

### Phil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phil-tv-remote/id876814361)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro mode | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium mode | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium version | $19.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works brilliantly
- 👍 Great alternative with extras

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work
- 🔋 Constant ads make it unusable
- 💰 Paid version still has ads
- 🤬 Aggressive monetization

**Reported bugs**

- Stopped working after TV update
- Crashes on newer iOS devices
- Fails to connect to TV

**Requested features**

- No ads option
- Better TV compatibility


### Nerd on Call

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nerd-on-call/id6781277206)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 28, 2026 and Nerd on Call on October 25, 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.*