8 Best Free IPTV Apps: How to Watch Live TV on Android

Watching on-demand TV shows and movies on your Android device is easier than ever.But what about live TV?Yes, there are services like Sling and YouTube TV.However, you don't need to subscribe to their expensive plans if you know where to look.You can use free IPTV instead.All you need is an IPTV app and an IPTV source.

But what are the best IPTV apps for Android and Android TV?Read on to find out.

What is an IPTV application?

You may have heard of Kodi.Well, IPTV apps are kind of like that.They are media players, but empty shells that cannot stream anything without user input.It is your responsibility to add channels, playlists and other sources.Therefore, IPTV apps are completely legal.

Typically, you can't use these apps to watch direct content from Netflix, Hulu, or other third-party providers.You need to grab an M3U file to add it to the IPTV application.We do not recommend using IPTV to access illegal streaming.

1. Televiso

The best IPTV app for you depends on the type of device you have.While some apps work great on an Android TV box, if you're using a phone or tablet,Televisowill not go wrong.

The app won't start at all without an M3U playlist, but you can install one via download or URL, and you'll have access to a fully functional worldwide TV service.

The application is streamlined and easy to use.It supports channels that provide an Electronic Program Guide (EPG).You can easily switch between different channels via the on-screen overlay without interrupting your viewing, and you can watch shows on an external player if you wish.The app supports subtitles, you can bookmark channels to find them quickly, and there are plenty of advanced settings to tweak if you like.

The only downside is the occasional pop-up ad, but an in-app purchase can fix that.

Download: Televiso (Free, with in-app purchases)

2. Smarters Player

If you have ever subscribed to a paid IPTV service, there is a good chance that the provider made you use a branded version of the IPTV Smarters Player app.It is the software of choice for many distributors.

However, you don't need to rely on branded versions.As long as you have an M3U URL from a provider, you can add it to the app and enjoy all the same functionality.Even better, this "white label" version of Smarters Player can accept multiple logins, whereas branded versions usually cannot.

The app supports on-demand movies and TV shows, as well as catch-up channels (if your provider offers them).It even integrates with external video players like Perfect Player and VLC if you're willing to use the interface with those players.

Smarters Player is fine on mobile, but really shines on TV.It is definitely one of the must-have IPTV apps for Android TV.

Download: Smarters Player Lite (free, premium version available)

3. TiviMate

From our perspectives,TiviMateArguably the best IPTV app for Android TV.Unfortunately, it's only designed to run on a set-top box, not your phone.

The app supports multiple playlists, renaming of channels and categories, and hidden categories.You can import custom channel logos, rearrange the order in which channels appear in the TV guide, and take advantage of the search function (which works for both channel names and currently airing programs).

TiviMate's free version is more than enough for someone who has one playlist and doesn't watch it very often.If you are an IPTV premium user, it is worth upgrading to the premium version.This allows you to install the app on up to five devices.

You can subscribe or choose a one-time payment option.If you are interested in TiviMate Premium, you can test it out with a 5-day free trial.

Download: TiviMate (Free, with in-app purchases)

4. OTT Navigator

OTT NavigatorIt is the biggest IPTV competitor of TiviMate on Android TV platform.Like TiviMate, it's popular among hardcore users.

There's not much difference between them; the two apps share many similar features. OTT Navigator supports filters (by channel, category, genre, season, year, favorite channel, rating and country), custom channels and categories, and a search tool.

In our opinion, TiviMate's interface is slightly more modern and user-friendly, but you might think differently.Make sure you check out both options before deciding which is the best IPTV app for your needs.

Download: OTT Navigator (Free, with in-app purchases)

5. GSE Smart IPTV

There is a reason why GSE Smart IPTV is one of the most popular IPTV apps for Android.First, it's one of the best designed apps around.The clean design and cable-like EPG layout make it easy to forget you're using an app.

Second, GSE Smart IPTV has far more platforms than most of its competitors.You'll find versions for Android, Android TV, iOS, and Apple TV.The app is also compatible with Chromecast.

From a functional point of view, GSE Smart IPTV supports EPG content, and also provides native parental control and subtitle support.It can play live streams from HTTP, HSL, M3U8, MMS, RTSP and RTMP sources.The app is ad-supported and available for Android TV and mobile Android devices.

Download: GSE Smart IPTV (free, premium version available)

6. Perfect Player IPTV

Perfect Player IPTV is another hugely popular app.It's especially popular with Android TV owners looking for an alternative to the native Live Channels app.It supports M3U and XSPF playlists.If you want to add an electronic program guide, you can use various formats.

There are also a number of different decoder options to choose from, including Auto, Native, Software, Hardware and HW+.Other features include watching locally saved content, support for UDP-HTTP proxy servers, and automatic synchronization with the desktop version of the application for a consistent experience.

Like GSE Smart IPTV, Perfect Player uses an easy-to-watch theme and takes design cues from cable and satellite TV EPGs.

Download: Perfect IPTV Player (free, premium version available)

7. Lazy IPTV

Lazy IPTV supports M3U playlists in Open View, ZIP and GZ formats.The app can also read XSPF (XML Shareable Playlist Format) playlists.

Adding new content to Lazy IPTV is easy.You can access media from your local file system, or paste URLs directly from the web or from your device's clipboard.The application can use HTTP and UDP streaming and can directly play videos from YouTube and social network VK.There is also a built-in audio player for Internet radio channels.

From a usability standpoint, Lazy IPTV lets you add favorites, use nested folders, and create groups of playlists.If you decide to switch to another app, you can export your playlists.The app's home screen is also fully customizable, with options to add shortcuts to your most-watched channels and change how content is displayed.

Lazy IPTV is great for mobile devices.However, it doesn't quite fit the Android TV's larger screen.

Download: Lazy IPTV (free)

8. iptv pro

Finally, if you have an Android set-top box dedicated to watching IPTV, it's worth considering a premium option.iptv proApp is a fast and reliable IPTV player for Android.

As you'd expect, you can add M3U and XSPF playlists to the app. EPG support comes in the form of XMLTV and JTV.If you have a UDP proxy (installed through your LAN), you can use an IPTV application to play multicast streams.

The app also offers some customization options.It can display the channels you've added as a list, grid, or tile, whichever you prefer.It includes a feature that allows apps to launch automatically when their host device starts up, and a "resume watching" feature that automatically plays your most recently watched channel.

Download: iptv pro (US$2.99)

How about Free IPTV on Kodi?

In this roundup, we focus on apps that specialize in IPTV. Kodi can stream IPTV content, but there's so much it can do that we don't feel it's a fair comparison.Make sure you consider Plex too.It doesn't let you add M3U playlists, but it does have some preloaded IPTV channels that you can check out.