IPTV players for Android TV, compared
No single player is best for everyone. TiviMate and Sparkle TV are ahead if you need recording, catch-up, multiview or Stalker portals; IPTV Smarters Pro also runs on phones; IPFlix Pro Player is built around a streaming-style movies and series home, profiles and QR setup from a phone.
We make IPFlix, so weigh this page with that in mind. Competitor cells use only the public sources listed at the bottom, checked on 2026-11-09. "Not listed" means the source does not mention it, not that the feature is missing. Prices and features change: check each listing before you buy.
| Feature | IPFlix Pro Player | TiviMate | Sparkle TV | IPTV Smarters Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3U / Xtream Codes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stalker / MAC portal | No | Yes | Yes | Not stated in the sources we checked |
| Other sources (HDHomeRun, Plex, Jellyfin, Tvheadend…) | No | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| TV guide (EPG) | Yes, grid + now/next | Yes, grid | Yes | Yes |
| Recording (DVR) | No | Yes | Yes (Plus) | Listed by the developer |
| Catch-up / timeshift | No | Catch-up | Yes (Plus) | Catch-up listed by the developer |
| Multiview | No | Yes | Yes (Plus) | Multi-screen listed by the developer |
| Movies & series with posters | TMDB posters, backdrops, ratings, next episode | Not listed | VOD in Plus | Live, movies and series |
| Profiles | Multiple, Kids/Adult types, adult PIN | Parental controls | Parental controls for settings | Parental controls |
| Playlist entry from a phone (QR) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Phone app | No (planned) | Not optimised for phones | Mobile version mainly for purchase | Yes |
| Fire TV | Fire OS via APK (not Vega OS) | Not listed | Listed (Fire TV stick) | Not verified |
| On Google Play (US) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Listing not found on the date checked |
| Price model | 7-day full trial, then yearly or lifetime per TV (Play); APK: $22.99/1 TV, $29.99/5 TVs | Free download; Premium via in-app purchase ($0.99–$33.99 per item on Play) | Free download; Plus features via in-app purchase ($1.49–$19.99 per item on Play) | Varies by source; not verified |
(Plus) = needs Sparkle TV Plus. Play price ranges are what Google Play shows for in-app items in the US, not a specific plan.
Where the others are ahead
- Recording, catch-up and multiview: TiviMate lists all three; Sparkle TV lists them in Plus. IPFlix has none of them.
- Stalker portals: TiviMate and Sparkle TV support them. IPFlix takes only M3U and Xtream Codes.
- Tuners and media servers: Sparkle TV also reads HDHomeRun, Plex, Jellyfin, Tvheadend and more.
- Phones: IPTV Smarters Pro runs on Android phones. IPFlix has no phone app yet.
- Track record: TiviMate has 5M+ Google Play downloads and years of releases. IPFlix is younger.
Where IPFlix is different
- Movies and series first: TMDB posters, backdrops, year and rating, seasons and auto next episode, rows you can reorder.
- A shared TV: multiple profiles with Kids/Adult types, per-profile categories and a PIN for the adult section.
- QR setup: type the playlist on your phone instead of the remote.
- Big playlists: a 183,000-channel Xtream playlist imported in about 36 s in our emulator test.
- Full 7-day trial on every new TV, no ads.
Which one should you pick?
- You record, use catch-up or watch several channels at once: TiviMate or Sparkle TV (Plus).
- Your provider gives you a Stalker/MAC portal: TiviMate or Sparkle TV.
- You also want it on your phone: IPTV Smarters Pro (check where you download it from).
- Your playlist is mostly movies and series, or several people share the TV: try IPFlix Pro Player.
More on choosing: how to choose an IPTV player for Android TV.
Questions
What is the best IPTV player for Android TV?
It depends on what you need. TiviMate and Sparkle TV are ahead for recording, catch-up, multiview and Stalker portals. IPTV Smarters Pro also runs on phones. IPFlix Pro Player focuses on a streaming-style movies and series home, profiles for a shared TV, QR setup from a phone and large playlists, and has none of recording, multiview or catch-up.
Which IPTV player can record on Android TV?
From the players in this table, TiviMate lists recording, and Sparkle TV lists DVR in its Plus version. IPFlix Pro Player cannot record.
Do any of these players include channels?
No. All of them are players only. You need your own M3U link, Xtream Codes login or portal from a provider.
Which player is easiest to set up with a TV remote?
IPFlix Pro Player shows a QR code on the TV so you can type the playlist on your phone. The public listings of the other players in this table do not mention setup from a phone.
Is this comparison neutral?
We make IPFlix, so read it with that in mind. Every competitor cell comes from the public source linked below, checked on the date shown, and we list where the others are ahead.
Sources (checked 2026-11-09)
- TiviMate IPTV Player, Google Play listing (5M+ downloads, updated Jun 22, 2026)
- Sparkle TV Player, Google Play listing (100K+ downloads, updated May 6, 2026)
- IPTV Smarters Pro by WHMCS Smarters, Google Play listing (com.nst.iptvsmarterstvbox: "not found" in the US on the date checked)
- IPTV Smarters Pro 3.1.5.1 release notes and feature list, APKMirror (signed by WHMCS Smarters)
- IPTV Smarters Pro for Samsung TV, Samsung Apps listing
- IPFlix Pro Player, Google Play listing
Longer write-ups: TiviMate alternative, an honest comparison · IPFlix Pro vs IPTV Smarters.
Try IPFlix next to your current player
7-day free trial with everything unlocked. Both apps can sit on the same TV.
Android TV & Google TV Get it on Google Play
Fire TV · Downloader code 6285353
IPFlix at a glance
- What it is
- A player for your own M3U/M3U8 link or Xtream Codes login. No channels or content included.
- Devices
- Android TV and Google TV (Android 8.0+) from Google Play. Fire TV on Fire OS and other Android boxes via APK (Downloader code 6285353). Not Vega OS Fire TV, phones, iOS, Apple TV, Samsung, LG or Windows.
- Tested on
- NVIDIA SHIELD TV, Chromecast with Google TV, onn 4K Plus and the Google TV emulator.
- Free trial
- 7 days with everything unlocked, on every new TV. No ads.
- Price (Google Play)
- Yearly subscription or one-time lifetime licence, in local currency (US: about $7.99/year or $24.99 lifetime). Covers one TV.
- Price (APK / Fire TV)
- One-time lifetime licence on ipflixpro.com: $22.99 for 1 TV or $29.99 for 5 TVs, plus tax where applicable.
- Setup
- Scan a QR code on the TV and type the playlist on your phone, or enter it with the remote.
- Highlights
- Playlists of 180,000+ channels, TV guide (EPG) grid, movies and series with TMDB posters, profiles with Kids/Adult types and an adult PIN.
- Languages
- 12 app languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese (BR), German, French, Italian and Turkish.
- Not supported
- Recording/DVR, multiview, catch-up/timeshift, Stalker/MAC portals, sync between devices, casting from the TV app.
Checked against the app on 2026-11-09 (version 1.9.4).
7-day free trial · You add your own playlist