The best IPTV app depends on your device: TiviMate is the top choice for Fire TV Stick and Android TV, IPTV Smarters Pro works on almost everything, IBO Player is popular on Samsung and LG Smart TVs, and GSE Smart IPTV suits iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. All of them are players: the channels come from your IPTV subscription.
Below we look at each app in turn, what it does well and where it falls short, so you can pick the right one in a few minutes.
TiviMate
Devices: Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Google TV and Android boxes.
TiviMate looks and feels like a cable TV box. Its programme guide is fast and clear, channel changes are quick, and it supports favourites, catch-up where the channel offers it, recording to storage and several playlists. You can also increase the buffer size, which helps on less stable connections.
The free version is limited. The premium features require a paid upgrade (a subscription or a one-off purchase) from the app developer. For most Fire TV and Android TV users it is worth it.
IPTV Smarters Pro
Devices: Android, Fire TV, Android TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows and some Smart TVs.
IPTV Smarters Pro is the most widely available app and a good default if you want the same app on every device. It supports Xtream Codes, so live TV, the guide, movies and series appear in separate sections. The interface is less polished than TiviMate and the guide is simpler, but it is reliable and free to start with.
IBO Player
Devices: Samsung and LG Smart TVs, Android and other platforms.
IBO Player is a common way to watch IPTV directly on Samsung and LG TVs without a stick or box. After installing, the app shows a device ID; you add your playlist using that ID. It usually comes with a free trial period and then a small one-off activation fee per device, paid to the app developer.
GSE Smart IPTV
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
GSE Smart IPTV is one of the most complete players on Apple devices, with Xtream Codes support, a programme guide and the option to cast to a TV. The interface takes a little getting used to, but it is stable once set up. Some features are paid inside the app.
VLC
Devices: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
VLC is a free, open-source media player that opens M3U links with Open Network Stream. It plays almost anything and is useful for a quick test on a computer. It is not designed for IPTV, though: there is no proper channel guide and browsing thousands of channels is slow.
Kodi
Devices: Windows, Mac, Android, Fire TV and more.
Kodi is a free media centre. With its official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on you can load an M3U playlist and a guide. It is very flexible but takes longer to set up, so it suits people who enjoy configuring things. Only use official add-ons from Kodi's own repository.
What to look for in an IPTV app
Whatever device you use, a good IPTV app should offer:
- Xtream Codes login, so the guide, categories and on-demand library load automatically.
- A clear programme guide with a time offset setting.
- Favourites and the option to hide channel groups you do not watch.
- Fast channel changes and a choice of video player.
- Regular updates from the developer.
How to add your subscription to any app
The steps are almost the same in every app. Open it, choose to add a playlist or user, and select Xtream Codes. Give the playlist a name you will recognise, then enter the server URL, username and password exactly as we sent them. The app downloads the channel list and the guide; with a large service this can take a minute or two the first time.
If the app only accepts an M3U link, paste the full link we send you instead. Apps that use a device ID, such as IBO Player, ask you to add the playlist on the developer's website using the ID shown on your TV.
Using different apps on different devices
You do not need the same app everywhere. Many households use TiviMate on the lounge-room Fire TV Stick, IBO Player on a bedroom Smart TV and IPTV Smarters on their phones. The same login works in all of them; just remember that your plan sets how many screens can watch at the same time.
Which app should you choose?
A quick recommendation by device:
- Fire TV Stick, Android TV or Google TV: TiviMate, with IPTV Smarters Pro as a free alternative.
- Samsung or LG Smart TV: IBO Player, or a Fire TV Stick for the smoothest experience.
- iPhone, iPad or Apple TV: GSE Smart IPTV.
- Android phone or tablet: IPTV Smarters Pro.
- Windows or Mac: IPTV Smarters on Windows, or VLC for a quick test on either.
Safety tips for IPTV apps
Install apps from official app stores, or from the address our support gives you for Fire TV. Be careful with modified versions of paid apps shared online: they can contain malware and often stop working after an update.
Remember that an app on its own does not give you any channels. If you need help adding your subscription to any of these apps, send us the app and device name on WhatsApp and we will walk you through it.
Frequently asked questions
Do IPTV apps include channels?
No. IPTV apps are players, like a DVD player without discs. You add your subscription to the app with the login details from your provider, and the app then shows those channels.
Are IPTV apps free?
Some are completely free, such as VLC and the basic IPTV Smarters Pro. Others, such as TiviMate and IBO Player, offer a trial and then charge a subscription or a one-off fee for full features, paid to the app developer.
Which IPTV app has the best programme guide?
TiviMate is widely considered to have the best programme guide, with a layout similar to a cable TV box. On Apple devices, GSE Smart IPTV offers a good guide as well.