IPTV apps for Android and Android TV

Quick answer

For most Android phones, tablets and Android TV / Google TV devices, our current top pick is 4K Live IPTV Player: it installs directly from Google Play, supports M3U and Xtream Codes sources, and keeps its settings simple. TiviMate remains the strongest choice specifically for a remote-first, TV-style interface.

None of the apps on this page provide TV channels, movies or series on their own. Every one of them is a media player: you still need your own legally obtained M3U playlist, Xtream Codes account or compatible TV service to watch anything.

Our pick for Android and Android TV

4K Live IPTV Player

Recommended

Best for: users who want a straightforward Android player with M3U, Xtream Codes and 4K-capable playback.

Why we recommend it:

• Installs directly from Google Play — no sideloading required
• Loads both M3U playlists and Xtream Codes accounts
• Organises live TV and video-on-demand supplied by your own source
• Plays back in 4K where the source stream supports it
• A lightweight, Android-focused interface with adjustable settings

4K Live IPTV Player is a standalone media player: it does not host, sell or include any channels. You add your own playlist or Xtream Codes account after installing it.

Get it on Google Play (opens in a new tab)

Android and Android TV IPTV players compared

Compatibility checked against official listings and developer sites: September 2026. Features can change between app updates — always confirm on the current store listing before installing.

Which Android IPTV player should you choose?

The eleven players, in detail

Every entry below states what it is verified to support and where it currently installs from. None of them supply channels, playlists or subscriptions — that part is always up to you.

4K Live IPTV Player

Recommended — our top pick for Android and Android TV.

Best for: a direct Google Play install with 4K-capable playback. Available on: Android phones and tablets. Android TV / Google TV compatibility is not yet confirmed on the store listing. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

4K Live IPTV Player is built around a small, specific job: load a playlist or an Xtream Codes account and play it back cleanly, including in 4K where the source allows it. The interface stays close to stock Android design conventions, so there is little to learn beyond adding a source.

Because it installs from Google Play like any other app, it avoids the sideloading question entirely — a genuine advantage on a platform where many IPTV clients circulate as unofficial, republished packages.

Key features

• Loads M3U playlists (URL or file) and Xtream Codes accounts
• Plays live TV and VOD organised from the source you supply
• Supports playback in 4K where the stream itself is 4K
• Lightweight, Android-focused interface
• Customisable playback and interface settings
• Distributed directly through Google Play

Limitations

• Android TV / Google TV support is not stated on the current listing — check before installing on a television
• A newer app with a shorter track record than long-established players like TiviMate or IPTV Extreme
• No Stalker Portal support

Installation

Install it like any Google Play app: search for "4K Live IPTV Player" or open the link below, tap install, then add your M3U or Xtream Codes source from inside the app.

Get it on Google Play (opens in a new tab)

TiviMate

Best for: Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV Stick users who want remote-first navigation. Available on: Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV and Android phones/tablets. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

TiviMate is designed around a remote control from the ground up: large touch targets, grid-based channel browsing, and an on-screen EPG built for arrow-key navigation rather than a touchscreen. It is the client most often mentioned specifically for its television-style layout, and it is a natural fit if the primary viewing device is a television rather than a phone.

The free tier covers day-to-day viewing; a paid Premium subscription unlocks multiple simultaneous playlists, catch-up TV, recording and a few other conveniences.

Key features

• Grid-based EPG built for remote navigation
• M3U and Xtream Codes source support
• Favourites and channel-group organisation
• Catch-up TV and recording (Premium)
• Multiple playlists loaded at once (Premium)
• Also installs on Android phones and tablets, with a touch-adapted layout

Limitations

• Several of its most useful features — multiple playlists, recording, catch-up — require the paid Premium tier
• Free-tier limits can feel restrictive on larger channel lists

Installation

TiviMate installs from Google Play or the Amazon Appstore; the official site also links directly to both. On Android TV, search for it from the television's own store rather than a paired phone.

Visit the official TiviMate website (opens in a new tab)

IPTV Smarters

Best for: people who want the same interface across several device types. Available on: Android phones/tablets, Android TV, Fire TV, plus iOS, Windows and macOS versions of the same app family. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes (Player API), JSON playlists.

Why choose it

IPTV Smarters is one of the longest-running names in this category, and its layout — tabs for Live TV, Movies and Series, a master search, and a straightforward Xtream Codes login screen — is familiar to a large share of IPTV users already. That familiarity is the main reason to pick it: setup rarely needs any guesswork.

Its cross-platform reach also means the same account and viewing habits carry over reasonably well between a phone, a tablet and a television.

Key features

• Xtream Codes (Player API) and M3U/JSON playlist support
• Separate Live TV, Movies and Series sections with search
• Built-in EPG
• Parental controls
• Picture-in-picture on supported devices
• Available across Android, Android TV, iOS, Windows and macOS

Limitations

• The "Smarters" name has been reused by several similarly named, unrelated apps on Google Play — check the developer before installing
• The interface has aged less gracefully than some newer clients

Installation

Install the official listing from Google Play, published by the app's original developer (package com.nst.iptvsmarterstvbox). Avoid installing the first "Smarters"-named result without checking the developer name and review history.

Download from Google Play (opens in a new tab)

MYTVOnline3

Best for Formuler owners.

Best for: people who already own a compatible Formuler streaming device. Available on: Formuler Android TV devices only (currently the Z11 Pro and Z11 Pro Max — check Formuler's site for the current model list). It is not a general-purpose Android APK. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes, Stalker Portal.

Why choose it

MYTVOnline3 is Formuler's own client, built into its current streaming boxes rather than distributed as a separate download. If the hardware is already a Formuler device, it is simply the interface that ships with it — there is no separate app to evaluate against alternatives. It is not something to install on a generic Android phone or an unrelated Android TV box.

A similarly named app, "MYTVOnline+", does exist separately on Google Play; it is a different application from MYTVOnline3, which is Formuler-exclusive.

Key features

• TV-focused interface built around Formuler's remote
• Universal search across live TV, VOD and series
• Timeshift: pause and rewind live playback (needs attached storage)
• Recording one channel while watching another, on supported models
• Picture-in-picture for two live sources at once
• Backup and restore of app data and settings

Limitations

• Only usable on the Formuler devices it ships with — not installable elsewhere
• Timeshift and recording depend on attaching external storage

Installation

MYTVOnline3 comes preinstalled on compatible Formuler devices; there is nothing to download separately. Add your M3U, Xtream Codes or Stalker Portal source from within the app's connection settings.

Visit the official Formuler page (opens in a new tab)

IPTV Extreme Pro

Best for: people managing several playlists and separate EPG sources at once. Available on: Android phones/tablets and Android TV. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

IPTV Extreme is one of the older, more established Android IPTV clients, particularly well known among Italian users, and it has kept a loyal base thanks to its handling of multiple playlists and EPG sources side by side. IPTV Extreme Pro is the paid version of that same app from the same developer: it removes the advertising shown in the free edition and unlocks the full feature set.

It is not the most modern-looking interface on this list, but the underlying playlist and EPG management remains genuinely capable.

Key features

• Manages several M3U or Xtream Codes playlists at once
• Separate EPG source configuration
• Recording support
• Chromecast support
• Parental controls
• No advertising in the paid Pro edition

Limitations

• The interface shows its age next to more recent clients
• Remote-control navigation on Android TV is only partially optimised

Installation

Install IPTV Extreme Pro directly from Google Play; it is a separate, paid listing from the free "IPTV Extreme" app by the same developer.

Download from Google Play (opens in a new tab)

XCIPTV

Best for: DVR-style recording and keeping settings synced across devices. Available on: Android phones, tablets and Android TV (including Fire TV). Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

XCIPTV, published by OTTRUN, packs in a wider feature set than most players on this list: two selectable playback engines (ExoPlayer and VLC-based), scheduled recording to local or external storage, and backup/restore that can sync settings across more than one device signed into the same account.

The trade-off is a busier settings menu than a simpler player like 4K Live IPTV Player or Televizo — worth it mainly for people who will actually use the recording and multi-device features.

Key features

• Two switchable media engines (ExoPlayer and VLC-based)
• Catch-up TV with EPG, where the source provides it
• VOD organisation with metadata
• Series support with season/episode grouping
• Favourites across TV, VOD and series
• Backup, restore and multi-device sync
• Scheduled recording (DVR) to local or external storage

Limitations

• The XCIPTV name has been cloned by unrelated Google Play listings; only the OTTRUN-published app is official
• The wider feature set means a longer initial setup than simpler players

Installation

Install from Google Play, published by OTTRUN (package com.nathnetwork.xciptv). Check the developer name on the listing before installing, since unofficial copies of this app exist.

Download from Google Play (opens in a new tab)

StreamVault

Best for: people who want an open, TV-first player and are comfortable installing an APK outside Google Play. Available on: Android TV primarily; the same APK also installs on Android phones and tablets. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes, Stalker Portal.

Why choose it

StreamVault is a source-available IPTV player built specifically for living-room use: D-pad navigation, fast provider switching and a playback stack built on Android's Media3 library. Its development is public on GitHub, which makes it easier to check what it actually does than with most closed-source Android IPTV clients.

It is not on Google Play, so installing it means downloading the APK directly from the developer's GitHub releases page — a materially different situation from installing an unknown, republished package, since the source and the developer are both identifiable.

Key features

• TV-first, D-pad-driven interface built with modern Android tooling
• M3U, Xtream Codes and Stalker Portal provider support
• XMLTV guide source support
• Built-in update checks against GitHub releases
• Also usable on phones and tablets, with a secondary touch layout

Limitations

• Not distributed through Google Play — requires installing an APK manually
• Distributed under a source-available, non-commercial licence rather than a fully open-source one
• A newer, smaller project than TiviMate or IPTV Smarters, with less long-term track record

Installation

Download the current release APK from the project's official GitHub page and install it directly — this is the developer's own distribution channel, not a third-party mirror.

Get the official APK on GitHub (opens in a new tab)

Chillio

Best for: Android TV households who want to watch more than one source at a time. Available on: Android TV only — the current Android build is not intended for phones or tablets. Supports: M3U / M3U8 playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

Chillio is built and optimised specifically for Android TV, and its standout feature is multiview: watching two channels or events on screen at once with switchable audio, useful for overlapping sports fixtures. Alongside that it covers the basics — EPG, favourites, continue-watching — cleanly, with support for more than one playlist or account inside a single unified library.

Because it targets Android TV exclusively right now, it is not the app to pick if the primary device is a phone.

Key features

• Multiview: two live sources on screen at once, with switchable audio
• Xtream Codes API and M3U/M3U8 playlist support
• EPG with live channel preview
• Favourites and continue-watching
• Multiple playlists/accounts in one unified library
• WebDAV and FTP source support

Limitations

• The current Android release is Android TV-only; there is no phone or tablet version
• Some organisation and customisation options sit behind the optional premium tier

Installation

Install Chillio from Google Play on an Android TV or Google TV device (published by Lumos Labs, package app.lumoslabs.chillio).

Download from Google Play (opens in a new tab)

TiviGlass

Best for: a polished, TV-first interface across Fire TV, Google TV and Android TV, for people willing to sideload from the official site. Available on: Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV and Nvidia Shield-class devices; the same APK also runs on Android phones and tablets with a touch-adapted layout. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes, Stalker Portal.

Why choose it

TiviGlass is built as a single APK that runs across Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV boxes and Nvidia Shield-class hardware, with a consistent D-pad-first interface, full EPG, favourites and parental controls. It is a genuine alternative for households who find TiviMate's interface not to their taste, with a usable free tier and optional premium features (recording, cloud sync) on top.

There is currently no Google Play listing for TiviGlass: it is distributed only from the developer's own site, installed with the Downloader app or a direct APK download.

Key features

• Consistent interface across Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV and Nvidia Shield hardware
• M3U, Xtream Codes and Stalker Portal provider support
• Full EPG with XMLTV guide data
• Favourites and channel-group hiding
• Parental controls
• Multiple provider playlists on one device
• Recording and cloud sync (premium tiers)

Limitations

• Not available on Google Play or the Amazon Appstore — installation means sideloading from the official site
• Recording and cloud sync require a paid tier

Installation

Install only from the official TiviGlass site, either with the Downloader app pointed at the address it provides or by downloading the APK directly. Do not use third-party APK mirrors for this app.

Visit the official TiviGlass website (opens in a new tab)

Televizo

Best for: a simple, direct player for a phone or tablet. Available on: Android phones/tablets and Android TV. Supports: M3U playlists, Xtream Codes.

Why choose it

Televizo keeps its interface close to what a generic media app looks like: a channel list, a settings screen, and not much else to configure. That simplicity is the main selling point next to more feature-dense players like XCIPTV or IPTV Extreme Pro — there is comparatively little to learn before it is usable.

The free version carries advertising; the paid Premium tier removes it and adds a handful of extra options.

Key features

• M3U playlist and Xtream Codes portal support
• XMLTV programme guide support
• Catch-up TV, where the source provides it
• Favourites
• Works on both Android phones/tablets and Android TV
• Premium tier removes ads and adds features

Limitations

• The free version shows advertising
• Fewer advanced organisation tools than XCIPTV or TiviMate

Installation

Install from Google Play, or from the official Televizo site if preferred.

Visit the official website (opens in a new tab)

Smart IPTV

Best for: Samsung and LG smart TV owners, not Android phones. Available on: Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) smart TVs through their own app stores; separately, an Android TV version is also listed on Google Play. It is not built for Android phones or tablets. Supports: M3U playlists.

Why choose it

Smart IPTV (SIPTV) is best known as the standard IPTV client on Samsung and LG televisions, where dedicated Android-style clients generally do not exist. On those TVs, the playlist is not loaded from inside the app: it is uploaded from the developer's site, siptv.app (opens in a new tab), and linked to the television's MAC address. A separate Android TV build is also distributed through Google Play, but this is fundamentally a smart-TV client first, not a general Android app.

Do not confuse it with unrelated apps that use a similar "smart IPTV" name — the official app and activation flow both live at siptv.app.

Key features

• M3U playlist loading via MAC-address pairing on siptv.app
• Built-in EPG
• Favourites
• Runs natively on Samsung Tizen and LG webOS smart TVs
• Separate Android TV listing on Google Play

Limitations

• Not designed for Android phones or tablets
• No Xtream Codes support — M3U only
• Free to try, then a one-time paid activation tied to that specific television (check siptv.app for the current price)

Installation

On a Samsung or LG smart TV, install "Smart IPTV" from the television's own app store, then upload your playlist from siptv.app using the TV's MAC address. On Android TV, it is also available directly from Google Play.

Visit the official website (opens in a new tab)

Android, Android TV and Google TV: what changes

They are all Android, but the interface is designed for different input. Android TV and Google TV — the latter being the more recent interface on top of the same system — assume a remote with arrow keys and an OK button, large text and grid navigation. Apps built for a phone, installed on a television, often show buttons the remote simply cannot reach. That is exactly why several of the players above — Chillio, TiviGlass, StreamVault, MYTVOnline3 — currently target Android TV specifically rather than trying to cover phones as well.

In practice: look for the app on the device you will use it on. If it is listed for that device, it suits that kind of interface. If it only appears on the phone, expect it to be awkward on the television even if you manage to install it there.

A note on sideloading

Most of the apps above install from Google Play, which is the route to prefer whenever it is available. Two of them — StreamVault and TiviGlass — currently do not have a Google Play listing and are installed from an APK provided directly by the developer instead.

That is a different situation from sideloading an app of unknown origin. IPTV clients are among the most frequently republished apps on Android, often carrying a well-known name and icon while running code nobody can verify; a recompiled package can request permissions the original never asked for and never receive a security fix again. Downloading an APK straight from a project's own GitHub page or its own official website, as with StreamVault and TiviGlass, does not carry that same risk, provided the download always comes from that one official source and never from a third-party mirror. The full reasoning is on the page about IPTV APKs.

How to install an IPTV player on Android

1. Prefer Google Play whenever the player is listed there — it is the default route for eight of the eleven apps above.
2. Open the app after installing it.
3. Add your own, legally obtained playlist or account: an .m3u URL or file, or an Xtream Codes portal address, username and password.
4. Choose the connection method the app supports — M3U, Xtream Codes or Stalker Portal — and enter the details your provider gave you.
5. Let the channel list and programme guide (EPG) load; this can take a moment on long lists.
6. Play a live channel and a VOD item to confirm playback works before relying on the app day to day.

How to install an IPTV player on Android TV or Google TV

1. Open the Google Play Store on the television itself, not on a paired phone, and search for the player by name.
2. For an app with no Google Play listing (StreamVault, TiviGlass), install the Downloader app from the Play Store, then enter the address the developer's own site provides to fetch the official APK.
3. Open the app and add your M3U or Xtream Codes source, or Stalker Portal address where supported.
4. Set the EPG source if it does not load automatically from the portal, and check the app's time zone.
5. Hide the channel groups you have no interest in — on a long list, that is what makes day-to-day browsing usable.
6. Try reaching every function with the remote's arrow keys alone. If something needs a pointer or touch input, it is a sign the app was not built with a television in mind.

M3U vs Xtream Codes

Most of the apps on this page can connect to a source in one of two ways.

M3U is a playlist — a URL or a file — that lists stream entries one after another, with a name and a link per channel. It is simple and universally supported, but any richer structure (categories, a matching EPG, VOD organised by series) depends entirely on how the playlist itself was built.

Xtream Codes is an API: instead of a static file, the app connects to a server address with a username and password, and pulls Live TV, VOD and Series as separate, structured sections with a matching guide, where the provider supports it. When a player offers both and the source supplies Xtream Codes credentials, that connection method generally gives a more organised result than the equivalent M3U playlist.

Neither format is something this page provides: both require a legally obtained source from a provider you have the right to use.

If the device is a box, a stick or an Apple device

The apps compared above apply to Android TV boxes as well, provided the box is Android TV certified: generic devices sold simply as "Android boxes" often run a modified system with no Play Store and pre-installed apps of unknown origin. The practical differences are set out on the page about boxes and set-top boxes. For the Amazon Fire TV Stick, which runs a derived system with a different app store, the relevant apps and the setup process are covered in IPTV on the Fire TV Stick.

If the device is an iPhone, an iPad or an Apple TV instead, the store logic is entirely different: the options are four App Store apps, compared in the guide to IPTV players for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

How we compared these apps

The comparison above looks at: current Google Play or official-site availability; compatibility with Android phones, tablets, Android TV and Google TV; support for M3U, Xtream Codes and Stalker Portal; EPG, favourites and recording where offered; the free/paid model; and how remote-friendly the interface is on a television. Compatibility and feature claims were checked against each app's current official listing or developer site, not against third-party roundups.

How we assess

• Device compatibility
• Clarity of the interface
• Use with a remote control
• Quality of the programme guide
• Stability
• Pricing model

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

What is the best IPTV player for Android in 2026?

Our current recommended option on this page is 4K Live IPTV Player, for anyone who wants a Google Play-installed Android player with straightforward M3U and Xtream Codes support. TiviMate is the stronger pick specifically for a traditional, TV-style interface on Android TV.

What is the best IPTV player for Android TV?

TiviMate is the most established option built specifically for remote navigation on Android TV and Google TV. Chillio, TiviGlass and StreamVault are Android TV-focused alternatives worth comparing, each with a different installation route and feature set — see the comparison table above.

Is an IPTV player the same as an IPTV service?

No. The player is the app that plays a stream — TiviMate, 4K Live IPTV Player and the others on this page are all examples. The service is whoever provides the channels, playlist or Xtream Codes account. A lawful player does not make an unlawful source lawful, and a player on its own has nothing to watch until you add a source.

Does an IPTV player include channels?

No. Every app compared on this page is a media player: none of them host, sell or bundle TV channels, movies or series. You add your own M3U playlist, Xtream Codes account or Stalker Portal address after installing it.

What is the difference between M3U and Xtream Codes?

M3U is a playlist file or URL listing individual stream links. Xtream Codes is an API: the app logs into a server with a username and password and receives Live TV, VOD and Series as structured, separate sections. Where both are available from the same provider, Xtream Codes usually gives a more organised result inside the player.

Can I use these apps on Google TV?

Yes, for the players marked "Yes" in the Android TV / Google TV column of the comparison table — Google TV runs the same underlying Android TV platform, so apps built for Android TV generally work on it as well.

Which player works on Formuler boxes?

MYTVOnline3 is the client built into current Formuler devices and is not distributed separately. Formuler devices are also Android TV certified, so several of the other Android TV players in this comparison — TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, XCIPTV — can be installed on them from Google Play as well.

Are IPTV player apps legal?

The player itself is just software, comparable to a media player like VLC — installing one is not, on its own, unlawful. What matters is the source: you need the legal right to access whatever playlist, Xtream Codes account or channel you load into it. The full explanation is on the page about when IPTV is legal.

Sources

1. 4K Live IPTV Player on Google Play (opens in a new tab)
2. TiviMate — official website (opens in a new tab)
3. IPTV Smarters on Google Play (opens in a new tab)
4. MYTVOnline3 — official Formuler page (opens in a new tab)
5. IPTV Extreme Pro on Google Play (opens in a new tab)
6. XCIPTV on Google Play, published by OTTRUN (opens in a new tab)
7. StreamVault — official GitHub repository (opens in a new tab)
8. Chillio on Google Play, published by Lumos Labs (opens in a new tab)
9. TiviGlass — official website (opens in a new tab)
10. Televizo — official website (opens in a new tab)
11. Smart IPTV — official website (opens in a new tab)
12. Android Developers — differences between Android TV and mobile Android (opens in a new tab)
13. Google Play Protect — official documentation (opens in a new tab)