Best IPTV player: which app suits your device?

The best IPTV player is the one that runs natively on your device and supports the login type your provider gives you. On Android TV and Fire TV that is often TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro; on a computer VLC is hard to beat; on Samsung and LG televisions the choice is narrower.

An IPTV player contains no channels. It is software that reads your provider's playlist and displays it with a channel list and programme guide.

Best IPTV player options at a glance

The table is based on each developer's published specifications, not on our own benchmark testing, and the order is alphabetical.

Prices and features change, so confirm them on each developer's official site before buying.

How to choose

Start with your device

• Fire TV and Android TV: the widest choice. TiviMate is designed for the remote control; IPTV Smarters Pro is a good all-rounder.
• Samsung and LG Smart TVs: only apps in the manufacturer's store will install, which limits you to Smart-TV-specific players. A streaming stick is an inexpensive way to gain more options.
• Apple TV, iPhone and iPad: use players from the App Store; VLC is a reliable free starting point.
• Windows and macOS: VLC or Kodi.

Then check the login type

Your provider will give you either an M3U playlist link or an Xtream Codes login (server address, username and password). Most players accept both, but not all. If you are unsure which you have, read our explanation of M3U vs Xtream Codes.

Finally, the comfort features

Decide whether you need a programme guide, favourites, catch-up, recording or several playlists side by side. These are where the paid upgrades differ.

IPTV app or IPTV player: is there a difference?

People search for the best IPTV app, an IPTV player or IPTV apps in general, but they mean the same thing: software that plays the channels from your service. Some apps are built for phones and tablets, others for the big screen with a remote. On a TV, choose an IPTV app designed for remote control, with large buttons and a grid programme guide; on a phone, one that supports casting to the TV is handy.

Setting up a player in five steps

1. Install the player from your device's official app store.
2. Open it and choose to add a playlist or user.
3. Enter the M3U link, or the server address, username and password.
4. Add the EPG address if your provider supplies one separately.
5. Wait for the channel list to load, then mark your favourites.

Download players only from official stores or the developer's own site. Modified copies offered elsewhere are a common source of malware.

What makes a good IPTV player

Channel lists look similar in every app. The differences show up after a week of daily use, so judge a player on these points:

• Remote-control handling. On a television you navigate with arrow keys. A player built for touchscreens is tiring to use from the sofa.
• Programme guide. A good guide loads quickly, matches programmes to the right channels and lets you correct a time offset.
• Buffer and decoder settings. Being able to switch between hardware and software decoding, or to enlarge the buffer, often cures stutter on older devices.
• Several playlists. Useful if you have more than one source or want a separate list for children.
• Catch-up and recording. Only relevant if your provider supports them, but a player must support them too.
• Regular updates. Check the date of the last update in the app store. Abandoned apps break when devices are updated.

VLC and Kodi are maintained by long-running open-source projects; you can download them from videolan.org and kodi.tv.

Fixing common playback problems

If a problem appears in every player and on every device, the cause is on the provider's side or in your connection, not in the app.

Next steps

If you do not have a service yet, see how to choose an IPTV subscription. If the basics are still unclear, what is IPTV covers them in five minutes.