Last updated: November 10, 2026. Disclosure: Mayolia and eKoPlayer have the same owner. We recommend it where it fits and say where other options are better.
The best IPTV player for an Android phone or tablet depends on what you want from it. For a guide-style live TV experience, eKoPlayer, iMPlayer, XCIPTV and Televizo are the main choices on Google Play. For plain playback of a playlist link, VLC is free and simple. Kodi is the power-user option, and TiviMate is built for TV screens rather than phones.
All of these apps are only players. They ship without channels, so you need a playlist (M3U) or an Xtream Codes login from a source you’re authorised to use. If you’re new to that, start with our explainer on what IPTV is and the note on whether IPTV is legal.
Which IPTV app should you pick on an Android phone?
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want one app on your phone, tablet and TV, no account | eKoPlayer | Same app on Android phones, Android TV and Google TV; no sign-up; 7-day free trial |
| You like a free app and can live with ads or upgrades | XCIPTV or Televizo | Both are free on Google Play with ads and in-app purchases |
| You want a polished mobile layout with a premium upgrade | iMPlayer | Has its own mobile listing, separate from the TV one |
| You only need to open a playlist link and watch | VLC | Free, open source, no guide grid |
| You like tinkering and add-ons | Kodi | IPTV through the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on |
| You need the old Smart IPTV style app | GSE Smart IPTV | Free on Android |
How did we pick these apps?
We didn’t run lab tests, and we won’t pretend otherwise. This list is based on each app’s official Google Play listing and developer site as checked on November 10, 2026, plus what’s commonly discussed by users on forums and Reddit.
On a phone, a few things matter more than on a TV. The app needs a layout that works with a touch screen. It should handle more than one playlist. And it should not require you to create an account just to paste in a link.
How do the best Android IPTV players compare?
| Player | On Android phones and tablets | Price model | Guide / catch-up | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eKoPlayer | Yes (Google Play) | 7-day free trial, then $5 for one year or $10 once, per device | XMLTV guide, catch-up where your source supports it | No recording; one licence per device |
| iMPlayer | Yes (separate mobile listing) | Free with premium upgrade | Check the listing for current features | Make sure you install the mobile listing, not the TV one |
| XCIPTV | Yes | Free with ads and in-app purchases | Check the listing for current features | Many provider-branded copies exist |
| Televizo | Yes | Free with ads and in-app purchases | Check the listing for current features | Has been reported as removed and relisted before |
| VLC | Yes | Free, open source | No TV-guide grid | Fine for a quick watch, awkward for browsing channels |
| GSE Smart IPTV | Yes | Free on Android | Check the listing | Older style interface |
| Kodi | Yes | Free, open source | Guide through the PVR add-on | Setup takes longer |
What does each Android IPTV player do best?
eKoPlayer
Best for: people who want the same app on a phone, an Android TV box and maybe a Fire TV Stick, with no account.
Pros: It reads M3U, M3U8 and Xtream Codes, and it supports multiple playlists. It includes an XMLTV programme guide with a time-shift in whole hours for guides that run early or late. You also get favourites, search, subtitle and audio-track selection, and a parental lock. It needs no email or sign-up and ships empty.
Cons: There’s no recording or DVR. Each licence covers one device, so a phone and a tablet are two licences. We own it, so weigh our view accordingly. Our eKoPlayer review goes through it in more detail.
Price model: A 7-day free trial starts on its own. After that it’s $5 for one year (no auto-renewal) or $10 once, per device. On Google Play you activate inside the app through the store.
iMPlayer
Best for: readers who want a mobile-first app and don’t mind paying for the upgrade.
Pros: The developer, HzApps, runs separate listings for TV and mobile, so the mobile one is designed for touch. It’s free to start.
Cons: The premium upgrade is where the useful features usually sit. We haven’t listed specific features because they change between versions and we’d rather you check the Play listing.
Price model: Free with a premium upgrade.
XCIPTV
Best for: people who want a free option that also works on Android TV and Fire TV.
Pros: By OTTRUN, available for Android phones, tablets, Android TV and Fire TV. Free to use.
Cons: Ads, and in-app purchases. Many provider-branded copies of it circulate, so make sure you install the one published by OTTRUN. If it misbehaves, see our XCIPTV not working fixes or the XCIPTV alternative page.
Price model: Free with ads and in-app purchases.
Televizo
Best for: a free player that runs on Android, Android TV and Fire TV.
Pros: Free to install and available across those platforms.
Cons: Ads and in-app purchases. A March 2026 report named Televizo among apps pulled from stores, and it has been listed again since, so it’s worth keeping a plan B.
Price model: Free with ads and in-app purchases.
VLC
Best for: watching a single playlist or stream quickly, with nothing to buy.
Pros: Free, open source, from VideoLAN. Plays M3U playlists on Android, and the same app family covers iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Cons: No TV-guide grid. Browsing hundreds of channels is slower than in a dedicated IPTV player.
Price model: Free.
GSE Smart IPTV
Best for: people who already know it and want to stay.
Pros: Free on Android. Its paid sibling, GSE Smart IPTV PRO, lives on iOS.
Cons: It’s an older design, and we haven’t listed feature specifics we couldn’t verify.
Price model: Free on Android.
Kodi
Best for: tinkerers who also want a media centre.
Pros: Free and open source from the Kodi Foundation. IPTV works through the official PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on.
Cons: More steps to set up, and the interface is built for a TV and remote more than a small touch screen. See our Kodi IPTV alternative page if it feels like too much.
Price model: Free.
What about TiviMate on a phone?
TiviMate by Armobsoft FZE is made for Android TV and Fire TV screens, not for phones. It’s free with an in-app Premium upgrade. Its Google Play listing mentions a TV guide, catch-up, recording and multi-view. If you want something like it on a phone, check our TiviMate alternatives.
How do you install eKoPlayer on an Android phone?
- Open Google Play on your phone or tablet and search for “eKoPlayer: IPTV Player & M3U”, or open the Google Play listing.
- Tap Install, then Open. The 7-day free trial starts by itself.
- Add a playlist: paste an M3U URL, or enter an Xtream Codes server URL, username and password from your source.
- If your source gives you an XMLTV guide URL, add it in the guide settings. If programmes show an hour or two off, use the guide time-shift.
- When the trial ends, buy the one-year or one-time licence in the app. It’s tied to that device.
Prefer a different route? The eKoPlayer download page lists every supported platform.
What phone-specific tips matter for IPTV on Android?
Casting to a TV. Most people end up watching on the big screen. The cleaner route is installing a player on the TV itself: see our guide to the best IPTV player for Android TV or the best IPTV app for Firestick. Casting from a phone works too, but your phone has to stay on and nearby, and the picture depends on your Wi-Fi.
Mobile data. Live streams use data continuously. Streaming over a cellular plan can burn through an allowance quickly, so use Wi-Fi at home and think twice before streaming on a limited plan. Many players let you pick a lower-quality stream if your source offers one.
Battery and heat. Long streams drain a phone. Keep it plugged in for a full match or movie, and lower the screen brightness.
VPN. A VPN can change how some sources behave. If streams fail only when it’s on, read IPTV not working with a VPN.
Picture-in-picture. We haven’t verified which of these apps support picture-in-picture, so check each app’s Play listing or settings before you rely on it.
Buffering. If playback stutters, work through our IPTV freezing and buffering fix before blaming the app.
What should you avoid when choosing an Android IPTV app?
- Do not install APKs from mirror sites or “premium unlocked” mods. They are a common way to get malware, and a legitimate app is on Google Play.
- Be careful with look-alike apps. Clones of popular names are common, so check the developer name on the listing.
- IPTV Smarters Pro: its official availability is unclear. A March 2026 report listed it among roughly 36 IPTV apps removed from stores, and many clones exist. See our IPTV Smarters alternative page.
- Perfect Player and OTT Navigator: we couldn’t find their original Google Play listings in November 2026, so treat anything carrying those names with suspicion. Our Perfect Player alternative page covers what to use instead.
- Do not buy channels from a seller just because an app is recommended alongside them. Players are legal; where your content comes from is your responsibility. Read is IPTV legal.
If you’d rather skip the playlist side entirely, licensed US live-TV services such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Philo have their own apps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free IPTV player for Android?
VLC and Kodi are fully free and open source. XCIPTV and Televizo are free with ads and in-app purchases. eKoPlayer is free for a 7-day trial, then paid.
Is there an IPTV app for Android tablets?
Yes. eKoPlayer, XCIPTV, VLC and Kodi all run on Android tablets, and iMPlayer’s mobile listing is built for phones and tablets.
Can I use one eKoPlayer licence on my phone and my TV?
No. A licence covers one device. A phone and an Android TV box each need their own.
Do these apps come with channels?
No. They are empty players. You add a playlist or login from a source you’re authorised to use.
Can eKoPlayer record shows?
No. It has no recording or DVR. TiviMate’s Play listing names recording, but TiviMate is meant for TV screens.