Player apps
On Android — a phone, a tablet or a TV box — TiviMate is the pick, because its guide is the best of the group and it runs on all three. On a Firestick, the Amazon Appstore does not carry the official IPTV players, so you either install one from its own website with the Downloader app, or you use an Android TV box. On a Samsung or LG TV, use IBO Player, SS IPTV or Smart IPTV, and IPTV Smarters only where your TV's app store carries it; on iPhone and Apple TV, GSE Smart IPTV or IPTV Smarters Pro, and on a computer, Kodi with the PVR add-on.
Every cell below was checked against the app's own store listing or its official site. Where the answer depends on the version, the store or the device, it says "varies" rather than guessing.
| App | Devices | Login type | Free or paid | EPG | Recording | Extra screens | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TiviMate | Android, Android TV, Fire TV | M3U, Xtream Codes, Stalker portal | Free, with a paid premium tier | Yes — grid and list views | Yes (premium) | Yes (premium) | The best guide of the group, and the one to try first on a TV |
| IPTV Smarters Pro | Android, Android TV, Fire TV, iOS, Windows, macOS | M3U, JSON and Xtream Codes | Free | Varies | Varies | Varies | The simplest setup, and the one that runs everywhere |
| XCIPTV | Android, Android TV, Android tablets — Fire TV and iOS vary | Xtream Codes, EZServer and M3U | Free, with a paid version — varies | Yes | Yes — to internal or external storage | Sync across devices | Live TV and DVR on Android, with a remote-friendly layout |
| OTT Navigator | Android, Android TV, Fire TV | M3U and Xtream Codes | Free, with a paid premium option | Yes | Varies | Varies | Tweaking everything, down to the channel list layout |
| Perfect Player | Android, Android TV, Fire TV | M3U (other formats vary) | Free | Yes, with Xtream Codes | Varies | Varies | Playing more than IPTV — it takes other playlist formats too |
| GSE Smart IPTV | iOS, iPad, Apple TV, Android | Xtream Codes and M3U | Free | Varies | Varies | Varies | iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, where fewer players exist |
| IBO Player | Android, Fire TV, Samsung, LG, iOS | Xtream Codes and M3U | Free trial, then a paid activation | Varies | Varies | Varies | Samsung and LG TVs, where it carries its own activation |
| VLC | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | M3U playlist | Free, open source | No — it plays the playlist, it does not build a guide | No | It is a player, not a subscription | Checking that a playlist link works before you set anything up |
| Kodi + PVR IPTV Simple Client | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Enigma2 | M3U playlist, plus other add-ons | Free, open source | Yes, with the PVR add-on | Yes, with a PVR backend | It is a media centre, not a subscription | A full media centre on a computer |
Last updated: November 2026
On an Android phone, TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro are the two worth trying first. TiviMate gives you the better guide; IPTV Smarters Pro gives you fewer settings to think about before you can watch. Both take Xtream Codes and an M3U link.
On an Android TV box or a Google TV device, TiviMate is the pick, because it is designed to be driven with a remote control rather than a touchscreen. IPTV Smarters Pro is the easier alternative when you would rather not configure anything. Both take Xtream Codes and an M3U link.
On a Firestick, the honest answer is that the Amazon Appstore does not carry the official IPTV players — the apps it has under those names are not from the app makers, so we do not recommend them. You either install the player from its own website using the Downloader app from the store, or you use an Android TV box instead. VLC and Kodi are in the store.
On a Samsung or LG TV the choice is narrower, because both brands block apps that are not in their own store. Use IBO Player, or SS IPTV and Smart IPTV, which are built for exactly this case — and IPTV Smarters only where your TV's app store actually carries it. Expect to type a device key or upload a playlist instead of filling in three boxes.
On iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, the choice is narrower because Apple restricts what can be installed. GSE Smart IPTV and IPTV Smarters Pro are the two most established. Both take Xtream Codes and an M3U link.
On a computer you have two very different options: Kodi with the PVR IPTV Simple Client, which is a full media centre with a guide and recording, or VLC, which simply opens the playlist link. VLC plays an M3U link; Kodi handles an M3U link and more.
The setup guide shows the sign-in steps for any of them, and the Firestick guide covers the two Fire TV settings people get wrong.
A live TV player built around the electronic programme guide, with tile views, favourites and channel groups.
A player for live TV and on-demand content, with a short setup and a plain screen.
A live TV player with a straightforward layout, built around channels, the guide and recording.
A player for people who want to change how everything looks, down to the channel list layout.
A player built for Xtream Codes that also takes other playlist formats.
A player made for the Apple side of things, and one of the few that also runs on Android.
A player that runs on Android, Fire TV and the smart TVs, with its own activation.
A media player that opens video files and network streams — including a playlist link.
A media centre for a computer or a set-top box, with an add-on that turns a playlist into a TV guide.
Four questions, and the answer is usually obvious.
A TV box or a TV wants an app you can drive with a remote. A phone or tablet wants one you can use with a finger. A computer wants a media centre rather than a TV app.
Not every app records. TiviMate and XCIPTV both do. On the others it varies, so check the app's own listing before you rely on it.
The player does not decide that — your subscription does. Pick any app you like and the number of screens you watch on is what your plan allows.
The free version of most of these is enough for normal use. The paid tiers are for recording, extra playlists and cloud backup.
TiviMate is the strongest free option — the guide is better than anything else on Android, and recording and multiview are built in. IPTV Smarters Pro and Perfect Player are the other two worth trying, and they are simpler if you would rather not fiddle with settings.
The app is free to install and the free version covers live TV, the guide and favourites. A paid premium tier adds recording, catch-up and multiview. The price depends on the region you buy it in.
Both give you the same channels and the same library. Xtream Codes asks for a server, a username and a password in three boxes, which makes it much easier to correct when something is wrong. Use whichever one support sent you.
Yes. The login belongs to your subscription, not to one app, so you can sign in on a TV and a phone. How many of them can play at the same time is set by your plan, not by the app.
Three things cause it most of the time: the wrong login type, a time zone that does not match, and a guide that is still building. Delete the subscription and add it again with the type we sent, then set the time zone to your own local zone.
Pick a plan, tap Buy Now, and we will send you a secure payment link in the chat. The setup guide takes you from the login to your first channel.