Is IPTV any good, and is it worth it?

What are the pros and cons of IPTV?

The main pros are price, choice and flexibility. The main cons are that IPTV depends on your internet and on the provider you pick.

How reliable is an IPTV service?

A good IPTV service works smoothly on most nights, but it has more links in the chain than cable. Three things all have to hold up at once: the provider's servers, your home internet and your streaming device.

The weak moment is peak time, from about 8 to 10 p.m. and during big games, when the most people watch. IPTV Nord works to a 99.9% uptime target, with backup streams on the busiest channels, but no IPTV service is perfect every night. Judge any provider at 9 p.m. on your own Wi-Fi, not at noon, and keep our guide to fixing IPTV buffering handy.

What does IPTV cost compared with your TV bill?

IPTV Nord costs between $6.58 and $19.00 a month on one screen, depending on how long a plan you choose:

Put your last cable or satellite bill next to these numbers, including box rental. IPTV does not replace your internet plan or apps like Netflix, and you may need a streaming stick: our answer on what IPTV costs in Canada lists those extras. For a closer look, read whether IPTV is better than cable.

Who should not get IPTV?

Skip IPTV if your internet cannot carry it, or if you want TV that needs no setup at all:

• Slow or capped internet. Slow rural DSL, weak fixed wireless or satellite internet with a small data cap will struggle with live TV every evening. See how much data IPTV uses.
• People who want zero tech. If an app and a login sound like too much, an antenna or cable will suit you better.
• People who need help at any hour. Our Live Chat runs 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to midnight (Eastern Time), and we have no phone line.
• People who want certainty about rights. Whether a service is lawful depends on whether it holds the rights to what it streams. Read our plain-English guide to IPTV and Canadian law before buying from anyone.