IPTV Questions IPTV basics
What is an IPTV app, and is it free?
What does an IPTV app on a TV do?
It connects to your provider with your login, loads the channel list and the TV guide, and plays whatever you pick. In a typical app you can:
- sign in with an Xtream Codes login, an M3U link or a portal address;
- browse channels by group, such as sports or French, and save favourites;
- scroll the TV guide (EPG), open the movie library and replay recent shows;
- lock some groups with a parental PIN.
IPTV has three separate parts, each from someone different:
| Part | What it does | Who you pay |
|---|---|---|
| IPTV service | Provides the channels and the login | Your IPTV provider, by the month or year |
| IPTV app | Plays the channels and shows the guide | Often nobody, or a small fee to the app developer |
| Device | The screen the app runs on | A store, once |
For how the stream travels from the provider to the app, see how IPTV works.
Are IPTV apps free, and how much do the paid ones cost?
Many are free, and paying for an app never buys channels. Players fall into three groups:
- Free: VLC, Kodi and MyIPTV Player on Windows.
- Free with optional paid extras: TiviMate, whose Premium upgrade adds catch-up, recording and more playlists, plus Smarters Pro, Smarters Player Lite and UHF.
- Paid after a trial: IBO Player, Smart IPTV and Set IPTV, the usual players on Samsung and LG Smart TVs, which charge a one-time or yearly fee for each TV.
Fees change often, so check the price on the developer's official site first. Our comparison of the best IPTV apps for Smart TVs lists 12 players by device and price model.
Big TV providers also have their own apps, such as Bell's Fibe TV app, which include channels but only work with that provider's TV service.
Which IPTV app should you use?
Use an app made for your device that accepts your login type. As a starting point: TiviMate or Smarters Pro on a Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Android TV or Google TV; IBO Player or Smart IPTV on Samsung and LG TVs; UHF or Smarters Player Lite on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV; and VLC for a quick test on a computer. Our setup guides for TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro walk you through the sign-in.
Your IPTV Nord login works in any player that accepts Xtream Codes or M3U, so you can try two or three during the free trial and keep the one you like.
How do you avoid fake IPTV apps?
Install apps only from your device's official store or the developer's own website, and check three things:
- The developer name matches the real app, since app stores are full of look-alikes that copy well-known names.
- The app does not claim to come with free channels. A real player never does.
- It does not ask for a weekly payment before it plays anything.
Related questions people ask
Can I use the same IPTV login in two different apps?
Yes. The login belongs to your subscription, not to the app, so you can use it in TiviMate on the living room TV and a Smarters app on your phone. Each screen that is playing counts toward the number of devices in your plan, so two apps playing at once use two connections.
Do I pay for the app and the IPTV service separately?
You always pay for the IPTV service. You may also pay for the app, depending on which one you choose. On Samsung and LG TVs, most IPTV players charge a small activation fee for each TV after a trial. On Fire TV, Android TV and phones, free players work well, and paid upgrades are optional.
Want to see how IPTV works in your home?
Start with a free 24-hour trial on your own TV. If it suits you, plans start at $19 CAD, paid by Interac e-Transfer.