If you’re looking for the best way to watch your favourite shows, then IPTV may be the way forward.
There are countless IPTV apps that you can download onto your TV, laptop, or set-top box. However, the majority of IPTV providers will charge you a monthly or yearly subscription.
The cost of most IPTV subscriptions is usually lower than Netflix and Disney Plus subscriptions – the average is around £50 a year or around £5 a month.
But what are the best free IPTV apps? And what exactly is IPTV? Keep reading to learn more about IPTV and for some of the top free IPTV apps.
What Is IPTV?
IPTV stands for internet protocol television – it’s a service that allows you to watch a variety of different shows from all over the world.
Unlike cable and satellite, IPTV delivers TV signals to you through the internet. This makes it easier than ever to stream content – you simply need a quality IPTV subscription, a steady internet connection, and a device with a screen to view the content (e.g. laptops, TVs, smartphones).
Previously, TV content was transmitted through light pulses and radio waves – which is how cable and satellite TV work. However, IPTV has revolutionised the way we watch TV making streaming content quicker and easier than ever.
IPTV negates the need to tune into a certain channel at a certain time to watch your content. This means that if you miss your favourite show, then you don’t need to worry as you can watch it whenever you like as long as it’s already been broadcast.
Most of us lead busy lives, and being restricted to TV timetables is no longer practical. IPTV gives you the freedom to watch your favourite shows and movies whenever you like as opposed to being bound to the TV schedule.
However, with most IPTV subscriptions you can also watch live TV. This is great if you live in a flat that doesn’t have an aerial cable, or you simply don’t have one.
What Are The Best Free IPTV Apps?
Now you have a firmer understanding of what IPTV is and how it works, it’s time to find out some of the best IPTV apps that won’t cost you a penny.
However, it’s important to note that the best quality external players will cost you a monthly or yearly fee – click here for some of the best IPTV apps that won’t cost you more than £10 a month to watch your favourite TV shows and movies.
TiviMate
TiviMate is a popular IPTV app that’s ideal if you have an Android set-top box. However, this app isn’t currently available for Android phones, although work is in development so it may be worth checking back in a few weeks to see if it’s completed!
It’s always helpful when an IPTV service has an easy-to-understand interface, and the TiviMate user interface is convenient and practical, allowing you to manage your channels and playlists with ease.
This app works by allowing you to watch your favourite channels and save them into a personal playlist so you don’t have to search for them in the future.
The integrated free live TV guide is regularly updated so you’ll always know what show or movie is playing at the right time, allowing you to plan ahead.
The user interface has been designed to look great on any TV screen, whether it’s 20 inches or 60 inches. No matter the size of your TV, TiviMate is sure to perform well.
It’s frustrating when IPTV providers don’t conduct fixes or update the app, but TiviMate is being constantly updated, and the team are regularly fixing bugs and making improvements to the already brilliant app.
Showbox
Another one of the best free IPTV media players is Showbox, which is related to Bobbymovie (also free). Over a million people have downloaded the Showbox app, making it one of the most popular free IPTV apps on the market.
One of the reasons that Showbox is so popular is because it allows users to download their favourite shows as well as simply stream them without having to download them. Like TiviMate, it’s available to those who use an Android device or Android TV.
The free IPTV app for Android also features an integrated VPN to ensure that all browsing and streaming is conducted safely, quickly, and securely.
Lazy IPTV
Lazy IPTV deserves a mention on our list due to its convenient and practical features. For example, you can place parental controls to ensure that any teenagers or children don’t stumble across inappropriate content.
You can also customise the colour themes and search bars making for a more user-friendly experience.
The app was developed by Lazy Cat Software who create Android apps. The app supports the majority of M3U playlists as well as HTTP and UDP links, giving you endless viewing possibilities.
Crackle
Crackle has been around for a while and is worth mentioning due to its variety of shows, channels and movies, as well as the variety of quality resolutions (including 720p HD!).
Crackle requires registration, but it won’t take long at all to get your account up and running. You can even make the most of the provided cloud storage!
JioTV
Unlike Crackle, JioTV is relatively new to the market. Unlike many on this list, this app is suitable for both Android and IOS devices (Google Play Store and App Store).
It’s one of the most popular IPTV apps on the market today, partly due to its refreshing simplicity and partly due to its wide variety of channels.
You can find pretty much all national channels in every language and category for your convenience. However, one thing that sets JioTV apart from other IPTV services is that you’ll need a JioTV sim to use the streaming app.
GSE Smart IPTV
If you’re looking for a simple yet quality IPTV app for both Android, Amazon Fire TVs and Apple iOS, then GSE Smart IPTV may be your best bet. The user interface is simplistic, making it easier to understand if you’re not very tech-savvy.
The EPG (electronic program guide) is loaded in real-time, allowing you to see exactly when your favourite show or movie is starting. This also cuts loading times, as you won’t need to wait for the data to download first.