IPTV Guide: Best Paid and Free IPTV Services in 2021

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PUREVPNEntertainmentIPTV Guide: Best Paid and Free IPTV Services in 2021

What is IPTV?

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is an online service where you can watch TV without a cable connection. Moreover, you can stream multiple TV channels using your regular internet connection for free, sometimes paid. Above all, the framework is pretty nice especially if you are planning to become a cable cutter for the rest of your life. Most importantly, you get to enjoy video-on-demand instead of overpriced channels that your cable provider offers. On the other hand, consider IPTV services like Netflix or Disney+, which allows you to watch live TV channels, sports, and sometimes catch-up shows. To sum up, there are three different IPTV formats that are available on the market: 

  1. Live IPTV 
  2. Catch-up TV
  3. Video on Demand

Where is IPTV Available?

IPTV is not a channel but rather a service that works in almost every country of the world as long as the IPTV service provider carries a streaming license. To be perfectly honest with you, there’s no easy way to tell whether the provider you are using has a proper license, which runs the risk that the government might shut down their IPTV servers in the future. Secondly, it’s really a grey area, so you need to follow an expert’s opinion here and go with a provider you can trust. Lastly, you might consider using a VPN for IPTV services no matter what country you are in. 

Best IPTV Paid Services: 

  • Gears TV
  • Apollo Group TV
  • Sportz TV
  • Dark Media
  • John Doe Streams
  • Perfect Player
  • Vexoz
  • Beast TV

Name  Price Compatible Devices Benefits
Gears TV $20/month Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Android and iOS devices, and macOS 30 day trial – More than 400 channels – Access PPV matches, MLB, NHL, NBA, or NFL, & North American TV channels
Apollo Group TV $12.49/month iOS, Android Box, Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, computers, tablets, & Smart TVs 10 Day free trial – Access to 2,692 channels from the United States, Europe, and foreign countries and languages -Easy-to-navigate EPG
Sportz TV IPTV $9.95/month Nvidia Shield, tablets, smartphones, Android boxes, and TVs 2 connections – A great option for full HD channels, on-demand shows and movies – Comes with parental controls and a nice EPG – 24-hour free trial 
Dark Media IPTV $15/month Fire Stick, Nvidia Shield, iOS and Apple devices, as well as Mac 4 connections – Thousands of shows and channels in high quality including adult content. Live TV channels and sports from the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada. And, they have Friends.
John Doe Streams £15/month Android devices, Fire Stick, Fire TV, and the Enigma2 set-top box 3 connections – Offers 1,476 channels ranging from the United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Asian, or Sweden, and includes premium sports channels
Perfect Player $44/month Only on  Windows, Android and Chromecast Premium service without ads – Large control panels and full EPG view – Connect the player to an fetch EPG channel list – Offers in-player customization features
Vexoz $19.99/month Android and iOS devices, Smart TVs, Fire TV, and Fire TV Stick 2 connections – Limited channels available but you can access premium sports and PPV matches, especially UFC and NHL. Supports a VPN app
Beast TV $15/month Android, iOS, Mac, Fire TV Stick, Android TV, or computers 4 connections – Access more than 1,000 US, UK, and Canadian channels – Offers high-quality sports channels and is compatible with a VPN app

Best IPTV Free Services:

  • Kodi
  • Pluto TV
  • RedBox TV
  • Peacock TV
  • Locast
  • Airy TV
  • Kraken TV
  • Xumo

Name Compatible Devices Benefits
Kodi iPhone, Android, TV, Mac, Windows, and other major platforms Some of the best Kodi addons for IPTV are Pluto TV, SGTV Live TV, Falcon Ultra TV, Cerebro IPTV, and CCloud
Pluto TV Computers, tablets, mobile phones, and laptops No registration or credit card required to start streaming. From channels like CNN, CBS, MTV, AMC, to various sections for Kids, movies, or sports
RedBox TV Android Smart TVs, phones and tablets, Windows PC, Amazon Fire Stick, or macOS Offers US, European, Australian, Indian, Arabic, and Asian channels – Easy-to-use navigation panel 
Peacock TV iOS devices, Android phones, tablets, and Android TV boxes, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Smart TVs Offers TV shows, documentaries, and multiple channels. Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and live sports 
Locast Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Fire TV, or TiVo Stream 4k Access PBS, NBC, ABC, USA Today, CNN, to CBS, and multiple channels –  Round the clock support.
Airy TV iOS and Android app, Amazon App Store, and online websites  VPN compatible – Access movies, classic movies, cartoons, reality TV, food and sports channels, comedy, live streams –  HBO Max is also available on Fire Stick via Airy TV so that’s a huge plus
Kraken TV Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick,  Watch 10,000 TV channels – Over 100,000 movies and TV shows – Watch national TV channels of various countries – No activation code required
Xumo Smart TVs, Android app, set-top boxes, iOS and Android devices Access more than 190 channels – Live news, TV shows, movies, lifestyle channels, or sports – NBC, BeIN Sports, Bloomberg, Fubo, ABC 

What is the Best Device for IPTV in 2021?

There are two types of devices: stick devices that you plug at the back of your TV and set-top boxes that are slightly ugly-looking boxes that you put at the side of your TV and connect it to the main power source and also connect a cable to your Smart TV. That’s why we prefer stick devices like Amazon Fire Stick. Above all, IPTV service works on multiple platforms like Roku, Kodi, NVIDIA Shield, Android TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV stick. Moreover, smart TVs can track everything you do online whereas a Fire Stick device allows you to turn off data collection. Below is a list of reliable IPTV boxes to use at home:

  • Roku
  • Manhattan T3
  • NVIDIA Shield TV
  • Apple TV 4K
  • Google Chromecast
  • Roku Streambar
  • Formuler Z8 Android IPTV Box
  • MAG 322

Things to Consider When Buying an IPTV Service

At this point, we hope you understand that IPTV works like other streaming services but it is not entirely similar to Netflix or Disney+. That’s why you must dig around before picking a long-term service provider. To avoid this hassle, we have covered all the major talking points, more like a checklist, that you must remember when you are shopping for a good IPTV service online.

1. Payment Options

The higher the price, the better the service. The payment options boils down to your overall budget if we are being really honest here. If you are willing to carve out a big budget for entertainment every month then getting a premium IPTV service should be your first option. But, if you can’t afford to pay for another subscription then we have shared some free IPTV services below (which is not our first choice, but just for the sake of covering all the bases). 

2. Number of Connections

A single connection would probably work fine for you because some mac-based IPTV services are device-locked, and a single connection is best-suited in most cases. You can easily find service providers that offer multiple connections, which means you can use a single IPTV subscription on more than one streaming device. Always be clear on what devices you are going to use long-term. There is no point in getting multiple connections and paying an extra few dollars when you only use your smart TV for streaming. Food for thought! 

3. Provided Channels

Of course, you are going to choose channels based on the country you are in, which is totally understandable. You might search for the “best IPTV service in the USA, UK, or Canada” on Google and see a wide array of service providers. Different service providers offer different channels and you have to be very specific about what you are looking for. Lucky for you, there is an option to customize your channels and add your favorites to the catalog as well. But, we should tell you that this might be a little expensive option although it offers the best value for your money. 

4. EPG Availability

Every IPTV service has an EPG, which is an Electronic Program Guide, that shows all available channels. You should take a look at EPG by asking your service provider for a live link before buying an IPTV subscription. As you are paying for a service, it is better to explore all the IPTV channels, genres, and networks beforehand and avoid regret later on. Also, you might see various types of EPGs. Some layouts may be confusing for you to follow, while others have a nice and clean list of channels. 

5. Price

With Kodi, you can use a free IPTV service. However, sometimes, you’ll have to get a paid IPTV service for watching premium channels or accessing Pay-Per-View matches or worldwide sports channels. Moreover, you can ask for a free trial first once you decide to buy a premium IPTV service. From a free subscription to as high as $20 per month, there are multiple subscriptions you can choose from.   

6. VPN Compatibility

Like we discussed a few times in this article, using a VPN app for IPTV is a good habit. Internet service providers and surveillance agencies can track your online activity. If, God forbid, you are caught streaming copyrighted material on a shady IPTV service, then this might get you into trouble. (Just a little bit.)  Use a VPN to hide your online identity from prying eyes. A VPN app can also help you get around geographical limitations so you can access region-locked channels without trouble. This is how a premium VPN works. 

7. Customer Support

Most IPTV service providers will offer 24-hour support service but they can mislead you. As of writing this article, the police took down 5,500 IPTV servers because they were involved in illegal streaming. This affected 50 million innocent users, like you and I, who had no clue about the legality of their IPTV service. To avoid this kind of trouble in the future, you must check for reviews and only consider buying a service from a trusted provider, and someone who can offer round the clock support.  

8. Premium Sports Options

IPTV is also popular because it offers worldwide sports channels which includes NRL, NFL, NBA, Premier League, tennis, cricket, the UEFA Championship, or boxing series. Ask your service provider about the sports channels you are interested in and check their EPG whether they are telling the truth or not. In the case of IPTV, we don’t want you to waste money on a subscription that is useless to you. 

How to Install IPTV on Multiple Devices

As you know, IPTV is currently in the grey area and since there is no way to tell whether the content on it is legal or illegal, we advise you to turn on your VPN app. By doing this, you can at least hide your actual identity, which is your IP address, from internet service providers and government surveillance agencies. In short, a VPN app can help you dodge an ISP ban if things go south. That is to say, once your device is connected to an IPTV VPN, all you have to do is use your IPTV credentials and install the app. 

Install IPTV on Your Amazon Fire TV

  1. Go to the Main Menu. 
  2. Choose Settings > My Device > Developer options
  3. Select Apps from Unknown Sources
  4. Turn on the option. 
  5. Now go back to the main menu. 
  6. Search and install the Downloader app. 
  7. Launch the app and choose Allow when prompted. 
  8. Click OK and type in the URL (http://firesticktricks.com/smart).
  9. Click OK and wait for the installation to finish. 
  10. Select Done and then Delete when prompted. 
  11. Choose Delete once again. This will take you back to the main menu. 
  12. Under Your Apps and Channels options, click on See All
  13. Search and launch the IPTV app. 

Install IPTV on iOS or Android Device

  1. Go to the App Store. 
  2. Search and install the IPTV Smarters app. 
  3. After that, launch the IPTV app. 
  4. Choose Accept and sign in using your credentials. 
  5. Click Add User and wait for the installation to finish. 
  6. Once the installation is done, you can freely use the IPTV app. 

Install IPTV on Smart TV

  1. Go to the Main Menu and choose the App Store. 
  2. Search for the IPTV app.
  3. Click and install the Smart IPTV app. 
  4. Once you are done, launch the app. 
  5. Now you can see the MAC address of your Smart TV. 
  6. After that, go to your internet browser and type www.siptv.eu/mylist
  7. Enter your MAC address on this new webpage. 
  8. Submit the m3u file or URL given to you by an IPTV service provider. 
  9. Click on the Submit button and you are done. 

Install IPTV on Your Nvidia TV Shield

  1. Turn on your Nvidia TV Shield. 
  2. Connect the device to a Wi-Fi network and make sure you are using a VPN for encrypting internet traffic. 
  3. Sign in to your Google Play Store account. 
  4. Search and type IPTV Smarters app. 
  5. Install the IPTV app. 
  6. Once the installation process is done, launch the IPTV app. 

Install IPTV on Your Xbox One

  1. Switch on your Xbox One. 
  2. Connect it to a VPN-enabled internet connection. 
  3. Go to the Apps section. 
  4. Search and install the MyIPTV player app. 
  5. Once the installation is finished, launch the IPTV app. 
  6. Now choose Settings > Add new playlist and EPG source
  7. On the Remote Channels Section, create a new IPTV playlist name. 
  8. Enter the m3u URL provided to you by an IPTV service provider. 
  9. Click on the Add Remote list and you are done. 

Install IPTV on Your PlayStation 4

  1. Switch on your PS4. 
  2. Install Notepad++ and Plex Media Server
  3. Create a new Plex account once the downloading process is finished.  
  4. Click and launch the Plex TV app. 
  5. Now install the IPTV plugin for Plex
  6. Extract the folder and save it to this location: C: /users/”your computer username”/AppData/Local/Plex Media Server/Plug-ins.
  7. After extracting the file, visit the contents subfolder and right-click on the info file, and choose Edit with Notepad++
  8. Cut out all the text except this one <string>UseRealRTMP</string>.
  9. Now, go back to the content folders again and launch resources. 
  10. Install the m3u playlist and replace it with the existing one that lies in your folder. 
  11. Rename the folder IPTV.bundle-master as IPTV.bundle.
  12. After that, install the Plex app from the PlayStation store. 
  13. Launch the Plex app simultaneously on your PS4 and computer. 

People Also Ask

Is watching IPTV legal?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to watch IPTV. Moreover, the legality issues arise when an IPTV service provider doesn’t have proper licensing to offer IPTV channels. However, if any IPTV service includes copyrighted material for free, it can be a problem for the service provider. 

What is IPTV and how do I get it?

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is an online platform that provides live TV channels, PPV events, and on-demand entertainment. Secondly, you can save money on your cable subscription with a cheaper IPTV subscription. 

Is Netflix considered IPTV

Like Netflix and Hulu, IPTV delivers on-demand content to subscribers on the internet. That is to say, you don’t need a cable package to watch TV, the latest movies and TV shows on IPTV. Above all, many IPTV services are different, so you have to pick and choose based on your entertainment needs.  

Is IPTV better than cable?

You can enjoy high-quality movies and TV shows on cable TV without paying for anything extra. On the other hand, IPTV is a cheaper subscription service that requires an internet connection and a streaming device. To sum up, you should compare both cable and IPTV packages before making a decisive decision. 

Disclaimer: We don’t endorse any of the aforementioned IPTV services. This list is meant for purely informational purposes and we can not guarantee if a specific service stops working in the future. That’s why we suggest trusting a reliable service provider only after you have used a free trial. 

author

Sameed Ajax

date

June 20, 2023

time

10 months ago

6-Feet Tall Tech writer.

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