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Ishtirak IPTV and IPTV apps: which app to install depending on your device
Your IPTV subscription works with several apps. Here we explain what each IPTV app does, which devices it installs on, and how to choose one for each room without losing your whole evening.
An IPTV app is nothing more than a player
An An IPTV app contains no channels: it is just a player. It connects to our server using the login details sent after payment, then displays live TV, VOD, series and the TV guide.
There are two ways to connect. Xtream Codes (server URL, username, password) loads live TV, movies and series in separate sections, with the TV guide. The M3U link , on the other hand, condenses everything into a single address containing the full playlist. Every app listed here supports at least one of the two formats.
Your screen decides first. On an IPTV Smart TV from Samsung or LG, the options are narrower than on an Android box. The table below helps you see the picture clearly.
Our advice, device by device
The app we recommend to start with, depending on what you have in each room. Each card takes you to the full installation guide.
Comparison of 5 IPTV apps
Availability and features as we observe them daily with our customers. Developers update their apps constantly: some details may change.
| App | Devices | Connection | TV guide (EPG) | App cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPTV Smarters Pro | Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Windows, Mac (Smarters version on the App Store for Apple devices) | Xtream Codes, M3U | Yes | Can be used without an in-app plan | Those who want the same simple interface in every room |
| TiviMate | Android TV, Google TV, Android box, Fire TV | Xtream Codes, M3U | Yes, full grid | Advanced features via the developer's paid option | Fans of fast channel zapping and a program grid like on a provider's set-top box |
| XCIPTV | Android, Android TV, Fire TV | Xtream Codes, M3U | Yes | Can be used without an in-app plan | Lightweight player, ideal for modest devices in the kitchen or guest room |
| IBO Player | Samsung and LG Smart TVs, Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | M3U, Xtream Codes (via the developer's website) | Yes | Paid activation from the developer after the trial period ends | Smart TV screens used without an external box |
| VLC | Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad | M3U only | Limited | Free, no charges at all | Testing a link or quickly troubleshooting a problem |
Strengths of each app
No app is perfect on every screen in the house. Here are the strengths and limitations we come across most often.
IPTV Smarters Pro
Clear menus: live, movies, series, catch-up. Limitation: the TV guide is less practical than a true program grid.
TiviMate
The EPG grid closest to a provider's set-top box, with favorites and recording in the paid version. Limitation: only available on Android and Fire TV.
XCIPTV
Launches in an instant and needs very little memory: a blessing for the slightly older Fire TV in the guest room. The catch: a simpler interface than the other IPTV apps.
IBO Player
Installs directly on the living-room TV with no extra box. The catch: setup is done on the developer's website, and the activation fee is paid to the developer.
VLC
Plays an M3U link in seconds, ideal for checking that the stream works from the home-office computer. The catch: not designed for browsing thousands of channels.
How to choose without getting it wrong
Start from the screen you spend the most time in front of, not from the app. Three scenarios cover almost every home.
- You only have a Samsung or LG Smart TV, with no external box. IBO Player is the most direct solution. If the Saudi Pro League match on Friday evening keeps stuttering on a TV that is more than five or six years old, an Android TV box or a Fire TV Stick will usually give you a smoother picture than the TV's own processor.
- You have an Android TV, Google TV or Fire TV Stick. Start with IPTV Smarters Pro: your Xtream Codes login details are accepted straight away. Then, if you mostly watch live TV and like seeing the program grid at a glance, move on to TiviMate.
- You mostly watch on your phone, tablet or computer. On Apple, the Smarters app or IBO Player; on Windows and Mac, IPTV Smarters; and VLC as a fallback.
To decide, three criteria are enough: a readable TV guide, smooth channel switching on your device, and the price the developer may charge for the app. Ishtirak IPTV never collects that amount: it is paid directly to the developer, and only for the apps that require it.
Not sure? Message us on WhatsApp with your device model. We'll recommend the right IPTV app for it, then installation guide that walks you through it step by step, room by room.
Your questions about IPTV apps
Which IPTV app should I pick first?
No IPTV app is the best in every situation. On Android TV and Fire TV, TiviMate offers the most comfortable grid for following live TV from the sofa. On a Samsung or LG Smart TV, IBO Player remains the easiest route. And IPTV Smarters Pro stays the all-rounder if you want the same app in every room of the house.
Is the app included in the subscription?
Your IPTV subscription gives you access to the full library and to your personal login details. The apps themselves are built by independent developers. Many are free; some (TiviMate in its paid version, IBO Player) require an activation paid directly to their developer.
One app in every room of the house, is that possible?
Yes, just enter the same login details on each device. But be careful: the 1-screen plan allows only one stream at a time. For the living-room TV, the bedroom TV and the kids' tablet to run at the same time, choose a multi-screen plan.
Xtream Codes or M3U: which one do I enter in the app?
Whenever the app allows it, prefer Xtream Codes: live TV, movies, series and the TV guide are each sorted into their own list, which is far clearer. Keep the M3U link for VLC, IBO Player or any player that only understands that format.
How do I keep adult content out of the kids' reach?
Adult content (18+) is only activated at your request. Once activated, the parental control in your app (Settings, then Parental Control) lets you lock it with a PIN code, for worry-free TV in the kids' room.
Chosen your app?
Pick your plan, receive your login details as soon as payment is confirmed, then follow the guide for your device.