Key takeaway: TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters in one line: choose TiviMate if you mostly watch live TV and sport; choose IPTV Smarters Pro if you mostly watch films and series or want a free, simple app. Both use the same login, so you can try each in ten minutes.
TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro are the two most popular IPTV players on Fire TV and Android TV. They play exactly the same subscriptions, yet they feel very different once you sit down on the sofa with the remote. One is built around a cable-style TV guide; the other is built around menus of films and series.
This guide compares them side by side in plain English. You will find a quick verdict, a feature-by-feature table, what daily use feels like in each app, which one suits different households and how to switch from one to the other without losing anything important.
Good to know: both apps are players only. Neither includes channels; you add a login from your IPTV service, and the same login works in both.
In this guide
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters: quick verdict
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Watch mostly live TV, news and sport | TiviMate |
| Watch mostly films and series | IPTV Smarters Pro |
| Want everything free | IPTV Smarters Pro or OTT Navigator |
| Want to record shows | TiviMate Premium |
| Are setting up for a parent or grandparent | IPTV Smarters Pro |
| Have a very large playlist | TiviMate or OTT Navigator |
| Use an iPhone, iPad or computer too | IPTV Smarters Pro |
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters feature by feature
| Feature | TiviMate | IPTV Smarters Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to install; Premium is paid | Free |
| Logins | M3U, Xtream Codes, Stalker portal | Xtream Codes, M3U |
| TV guide | Full grid, best in class | Simpler list view |
| Channel switching | Very fast | Slower on big playlists |
| Films and series | Basic lists | Strong, with posters and descriptions |
| Recording | With Premium | Varies by version |
| Catch-up | With Premium, if your provider offers it | Yes, if your provider offers it |
| Multiview | With Premium | Multi-screen in some versions |
| Platforms | Android-based devices only | Android, Apple devices and computers |
What daily use feels like
TiviMate: built for channel surfing
TiviMate opens straight into live TV. Press the select button and a full-screen grid guide appears, just like a cable box, with channels down the side and programmes across the top. You can mark favourites, set reminders and jump between channel groups in a couple of clicks. Switching channels is almost instant, which is why sport fans like it.
The free version is enough to watch. TiviMate Premium adds the features power users want: more than one playlist, recording, catch-up, multiview and custom channel groups. One Premium account covers up to 5 devices, so a household with several Fire TV sticks pays once. You manage the account through the developer’s TiviMate Companion app on your phone.
IPTV Smarters Pro: built for films and series
IPTV Smarters Pro opens to a home screen with large tiles: Live TV, Movies, Series and Catch-up. Films and series show posters, descriptions and ratings, and the app remembers where you stopped in an episode. Setup is the simplest of any player: choose “Login with Xtream Codes API”, type three details and you are in.
Its live TV guide is more basic than TiviMate’s, and very large playlists can make it feel slower. On the other hand, it is free and runs on far more devices, including iPhones, iPads and computers. If something goes wrong, our IPTV Smarters errors guide explains each message.
Which player suits your home?
- Sport and news households: TiviMate. The grid guide and instant switching make live TV feel like cable.
- Film and box-set households: IPTV Smarters Pro. Posters, descriptions and “continue watching” make browsing easy.
- Mixed households: install both. Use TiviMate for live TV and Smarters for films, with the same login.
- Older relatives: IPTV Smarters Pro. The big tiles are easy to understand.
- Free and powerful: OTT Navigator sits between the two, with a proper guide and decent film menus at no cost. See our OTT Navigator setup guide.
Still undecided? Our comparison of the best IPTV players for Fire TV includes the other options.
Using your provider’s own app
Some IPTV services now offer their own player for Fire TV and Android. If you subscribe to one of them, you sign in with your account and the subscription loads by itself, with nothing to type. These apps can also load an Xtream Codes login or M3U link from another service.
| App | Downloader code | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| 8K IPTV Player | 3330041 | Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Android phones |
| 4K Flix Player | 1250343 | Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Android phones |
| 4KFlexHub Player | 5669139 | Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, Android phones |
To install one, open Downloader, enter the code and select Go. Like other sideloaded players, they need a Fire OS device, not a Vega OS stick. Disclosure: these services are partners of IPTV SUBC.
Switching from one player to the other
Switching takes about five minutes, because your login lives with your provider, not inside the app.
- Find your server URL, username and password, usually in your welcome email.
- Install the other player. On Fire TV, see TiviMate on Fire TV or IPTV Smarters Pro on Fire TV.
- Add the same Xtream Codes details.
- Mark your favourites again; they do not transfer between apps.
- Close the old app before watching in the new one.
Only stream in one app at a time unless your plan allows more connections. An app left playing in the background still uses one.
A note on newer Fire TV sticks
Neither TiviMate nor IPTV Smarters Pro installs on Vega OS Fire TVs, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, because those models only accept Amazon Appstore apps. If you are buying a new stick for IPTV, choose a Fire OS model such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Our guide to the best devices for IPTV compares the options.
The full comparison with a scorecard is TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters: Which IPTV Player Is Best? on Legion Webs.
FAQ
Can I use the same login in both TiviMate and IPTV Smarters?
Yes. Add the same Xtream Codes details to each app. Just do not stream in both at once beyond your connection limit.
Which is lighter on a Fire TV Stick Lite?
With big playlists, TiviMate and OTT Navigator usually stay smoother than IPTV Smarters Pro.
Is TiviMate Premium worth it?
If you want recording, catch-up or several playlists, yes. If you only watch live channels, the free version is enough to start.
Do either include channels?
No. They are players only; the channels come from your IPTV service.
Which is better for catch-up?
Both support catch-up when your provider offers it. TiviMate needs Premium for it; Smarters has a Catch-up tile on its home screen.
Next steps
Thinking about the TiviMate upgrade? Read the TiviMate Premium guide. Already using TiviMate and something is wrong? See TiviMate problems fixed.
Free download
Firestick + IPTV Setup Checklist
Two printable pages: install, login, the settings that make it faster and quick fixes for buffering and an empty guide.
We’ll send occasional new guides. No spam, unsubscribe any time. Privacy