TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters Pro: which IPTV player is better?
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters Pro is the comparison we are asked about most. Both are players, not providers: they show the channels from your IPTV subscription in different ways. This guide compares them on devices, price, TV guide, catch-up and day-to-day use so you can pick the right one for your home.
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters Pro at a glance
First, the most important point: neither app includes any channels. IPTV Smarters Pro, made by WHMCS Smarters, and TiviMate are both empty until you add a login from an IPTV subscription. What you can watch, and the picture quality, come from your provider; the app decides how it is presented.
| IPTV Smarters Pro | TiviMate | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free version, paid Premium upgrade |
| Devices | Android, Firestick, iPhone/iPad/Apple TV (as Smarters Player Lite), Windows, Mac, some Smart TVs | Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV devices only |
| Login types | Xtream Codes API, M3U playlist or file | Xtream Codes, M3U playlist (and some other portal types) |
| Layout | Home screen tiles: Live TV, Movies, Series, Catch-up | Opens into a cable-TV style channel guide |
| Films and series | Poster-led library is a core part of the app | Focus is mainly on live TV |
| Recording | Not the app’s strength; catch-up is the reliable option | Available with Premium |
| Best for | Mixed households and devices, films and series fans | Live TV fans on a Firestick or Android TV box |
Devices: where each app runs
This is often the deciding factor. IPTV Smarters Pro is available on most platforms: Google Play for Android phones, tablets and Android TV, the Amazon Appstore or the developer’s official download for Firesticks, the App Store as Smarters Player Lite for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, desktop versions for Windows and Mac, and the app stores of some Samsung and LG models. If your household mixes an iPhone, an Android tablet and a Firestick, one app covers all of them with the same menus.
TiviMate is built only for TV-style Android devices: Android TV and Google TV boxes, TVs that run Google TV, and Amazon Fire TV sticks and Cubes. It is not a phone app and there is no iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Windows or Mac version. On a Firestick it is normally installed with the Downloader app using the developer’s official link. Our Firestick installation guide and Android installation guide explain sideloading safely.
Rule of thumb: any Apple device, PC or Mac in the house means IPTV Smarters Pro is the app that works everywhere.
Interface and TV guide
IPTV Smarters Pro opens on a dashboard of large tiles. You choose Live TV, Movies, Series or Catch-up, then a category, then a channel or title. Live TV shows the current and next programme from the EPG, and there is a full TV guide view as well. It is easy to learn and works the same on a phone and a TV, which is why many people who are new to IPTV start here.
TiviMate is designed to feel like a satellite or cable box. It opens straight into live TV with a scrolling programme grid, channel numbers and quick zapping up and down with the remote. You can hide and reorder groups, build favourite lists and customise how the guide looks. For people who mainly flick between live channels in the evening, that layout is hard to beat.
Both apps rely on your provider’s guide data. If programmes look an hour out in Smarters, our IPTV Smarters Pro settings guide shows how to fix the EPG time-shift; TiviMate has its own EPG time offset option in its playlist settings.
Catch-up, recording and multi-screen
Catch-up
Both players support catch-up on channels where your provider keeps an archive. With an Xtream Codes login, IPTV Smarters Pro shows a dedicated Catch-up section, and TiviMate lets you pick past programmes directly from the guide. Either way you can go back up to 7 days on supported channels.
Recording
Recording to the device is one of TiviMate Premium’s headline features, including scheduling from the guide. In IPTV Smarters Pro, recording is not consistently available across devices and versions, so for most people catch-up is the more dependable way to watch something later. Any recording is for your own personal viewing, and you remain responsible for respecting UK law and rights holders’ terms.
Watching more than one channel
IPTV Smarters Pro includes a multi-screen mode that shows up to four channels at once on one device. TiviMate Premium offers a similar multi-view. Whichever you use, each visible stream is a separate connection to your IPTV service, so your plan must allow that many screens. Our guide to multi-screen, catch-up and recording explains the connection maths.
Price and what you pay for
IPTV Smarters Pro is free to download and use. TiviMate’s free version covers the basics of live TV with a single playlist; the Premium upgrade, bought from the developer, unlocks recording, multiple playlists, more customisation and other extras. We do not quote TiviMate prices because the developer sets and changes them.
Remember that either app is only half the cost. You also need the subscription that supplies the channels. Ours are Essential £29 (3 months, 1 screen), Premium £49 (12 months, 1 screen) and Supreme £79 (12 months, 2 screens), and every plan works in both TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose IPTV Smarters Pro if you use an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, PC, Mac or Smart TV, if you want one app across every device, or if you watch a lot of films and series.
- Choose TiviMate if you watch mainly live TV on a Firestick or Android TV box, want a classic channel guide, and are happy to pay for Premium for recording and extra features.
- Use both if you like: TiviMate on the main TV, IPTV Smarters Pro on phones and tablets. Just keep within your screen limit.
Not sure yet? Start with the free app you already have, add your Xtream Codes details, and try the other one later with the same login. The IPTV Smarters Pro guide covers download and login on every device, and the how our IPTV service works page explains what stays the same whichever player you choose. Both apps are legal software; you are responsible for making sure what you watch complies with UK law and rights holders’ terms.
TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters Pro FAQ
Is TiviMate better than IPTV Smarters Pro?
It depends on your device and how you watch. TiviMate has the more TV-like guide and strong live TV tools, but it only runs on Android TV devices and Firesticks and its best features need Premium. IPTV Smarters Pro is free and runs on almost everything.
Can I use the same IPTV subscription in TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro?
Yes. Both accept Xtream Codes and M3U logins, so the same IPTV subscription works in either. They still share your screen limit, so two apps playing at once count as two screens.
Is TiviMate free?
TiviMate has a free version with the core live TV features. A paid Premium upgrade unlocks extras such as recording, multiple playlists and more customisation. Prices are set by the developer and can change.
Does TiviMate work on iPhone, Apple TV or Samsung TVs?
No. TiviMate is built for Android TV, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV devices. On iPhone, iPad and Apple TV use Smarters Player Lite, and on Samsung or LG TVs use a compatible app from the TV’s store or plug in a Firestick.
Which app is easier for older relatives?
IPTV Smarters Pro is usually easier to start with because the home screen has big Live TV, Movies and Series tiles. TiviMate can feel more familiar once it is set up, as it opens straight into a channel guide.
Can I switch from IPTV Smarters Pro to TiviMate later?
Yes. Your login is not tied to an app. Install TiviMate, add a playlist using the same Xtream Codes details, and set up favourites again, as favourites do not transfer between apps.