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 a Samsung TV is one you can install straight from the Samsung TV app store or by an app code, so you don’t need an extra box. eKoPlayer installs natively on Samsung smart TVs from 2021 onward and, with a custom build, on 2018 to 2020 models. Smart IPTV is a second option for newer sets, and a few other store players exist, though you should check each one’s official site before paying for anything.
Samsung TVs run Samsung’s own Tizen operating system (Tizen OS), not Android. That matters because Android apps like TiviMate will never run on the TV itself. If your Samsung is the only screen you care about, you’re picking from Tizen apps. If you’re open to a streaming stick or box, your choices widen a lot, and we cover that further down.
Which IPTV player should you pick for your Samsung TV?
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung TV from 2021 or newer, want a remote-friendly app with a TV guide | eKoPlayer | Installs directly on the TV with an app code, supports M3U, Xtream Codes and XMLTV |
| Samsung TV from 2018 to 2020 | eKoPlayer (custom build) | A build is made for your specific TV; it takes a few days |
| Samsung TV from 2022 or newer, want a bare media player | Smart IPTV | Its official site says version 3.1.3 runs on Tizen 6.5 and newer |
| You want TiviMate, Televizo or XCIPTV | Plug in a Fire TV Stick or Google TV device | Those are Android apps and have no Samsung version |
| You’d rather use an Apple device | Apple TV box | Works with any Samsung TV through HDMI; see IPTV on Apple TV |
How do you find out your Samsung TV’s model year?
Open Settings → Support → About This TV. You’ll see the model code, which looks something like QN55Q80BAFXZA or UN50TU8000. The menu names can shift a little between years, so if you don’t see “Support”, look under All Settings.
The year is encoded in one letter of that code. On most Samsung TVs it’s the letter right after the series number and size block. The common mapping is:
| Letter | Model year |
|---|---|
| N | 2018 |
| R | 2019 |
| T | 2020 |
| A | 2021 |
| B | 2022 |
| C | 2023 |
| D | 2024 |
So QN55Q80B… is a 2022 set, and UN50TU8000 (the “T” before the “U”) is a 2020 set. If the code is confusing, the sticker on the back of the TV carries the same code, and you can send it to the app’s support team.
How did we judge Samsung IPTV players?
We didn’t run a lab test. This page is based on each app’s own official site or store listing, plus what matters on a Samsung screen: whether the app installs on the TV without a computer, whether it works with the Samsung remote, whether it handles an electronic program guide (EPG), and how clearly the maker states the price. Where a maker’s site doesn’t state something, we say so rather than guess.
How do the Samsung-compatible players compare?
| Player | On Samsung? | Price model | Guide / catch-up | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eKoPlayer | 2021 and newer: direct install. 2018 to 2020: custom build | 7-day free trial, then $5 for one year or $10 once, per device | XMLTV guide, catch-up where the provider supports it | No recording; one licence per device |
| Smart IPTV | Tizen 6.5 and newer per its official site | Official home page doesn’t state a fee | Channel and EPG search per the site | Plain “just a media player”; check the activation page before paying |
| SS IPTV | Official page only confirms LG | Not stated on its page | Playlist editor on its site | Don’t assume Samsung support |
| IBO Player / IBO Pro | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Check the official site; many lookalike pages exist |
| Flix IPTV, SET IPTV | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Check the official site first |
We left the details of IBO Player, Flix IPTV and SET IPTV out on purpose. We couldn’t confirm their Samsung availability or fees on an official page, and an unverified price is worse than none. If you’re troubleshooting IBO specifically, see IBO Player not working and SET IPTV alternatives.
Which Samsung player is best for what?
eKoPlayer
Best for: Samsung owners who want an app built around the TV remote, with a program guide and several playlists.
Pros: Installs on 2021 and newer Samsungs without a computer. Supports M3U, M3U8 and Xtream Codes logins, multiple playlists, an XMLTV guide with a whole-hour time shift for guides that run early or late, favorites, search, subtitle and audio-track selection and a parental lock. No account or email is needed. It ships empty, with no channels.
Cons: No recording or DVR. One licence covers one device, so a second TV needs its own. Older 2018 to 2020 sets need a build made for that exact TV, which takes a few days. It isn’t on Roku, Windows or Mac.
Price model: A 7-day free trial starts by itself. After that it’s $5 for one year with no auto-renewal, or $10 once, per device. Samsung installs activate at ekoplayer.com/activation/. Our eKoPlayer review goes deeper.
Smart IPTV
Best for: People with a 2022 or newer Samsung who want a stripped-down player.
Pros: According to its official site, Smart IPTV 3.1.3 runs on Samsung Tizen 6.5 and newer, which Smart IPTV says means 2022 and later models. The site describes it as a media player with no channels included, with channel and EPG search, favorites editing and DRM support in recent versions.
Cons: It’s a fresh install rather than an update from the older 3.0.105 version, per the developer. The home page doesn’t state an activation fee, so open the official Smart IPTV site and read its Activation page before you pay anyone. Beware of third-party resellers.
Price model: Not stated on the page we checked.
SS IPTV and the rest
SS IPTV’s own page says it was the first app in LG’s app store and doesn’t mention Samsung, so we treat it as an LG app for now. For IBO Player, Flix IPTV and SET IPTV, check the maker’s own site and your TV’s app store listing. If the listing doesn’t show your TV model year as supported, don’t buy an activation.
How do you install eKoPlayer on a Samsung TV?
For a 2021 or newer Samsung:
- On the TV, open the Apps section and follow the steps on the eKoPlayer Samsung page for entering an app code. Samsung’s app code for eKoPlayer is 134678.
- Enter 134678. The TV then asks for a second code, which eKoPlayer sends you. Follow the steps on ekoplayer.com/samsung-tizen to get it.
- Launch eKoPlayer. The 7-day trial starts on its own.
- Add your playlist: an M3U URL, or the server URL, username and password for an Xtream Codes login. Add an XMLTV guide URL if your source provides one.
- When the trial ends, go to Settings → eKoPlayer licence on the TV, copy the 12-character Device ID (format XXXX-XXXX-XXXX) and activate it at ekoplayer.com/activation.
For a 2018 to 2020 Samsung: the TV can’t use the app code route. You send eKoPlayer the TV’s Unique Device ID and receive a build made for that specific TV. It takes a few days, so start before the weekend you want to use it. Instructions are on the Samsung page.
A reinstall keeps your Device ID, but a factory reset changes it, so don’t factory reset after paying without checking the activation page first.
Why do some channels have no sound on a Samsung TV?
Usually the stream carries an audio format that the player or the TV’s output can’t handle, such as AC3, E-AC3 or DTS. The picture plays, the sound doesn’t. Try these in order:
- Switch the audio track inside the player. Most players, eKoPlayer included, let you pick another audio track mid-stream.
- If you use a soundbar or receiver, change the TV’s output format. On Samsung’s support page for this, the path is Settings → All Settings → Sound → Expert Settings → Digital Output Audio Format. Samsung’s guidance is that PCM is the safe pick if the connected device is unsure about other formats. Dolby Digital options are meant for devices that can decode them.
- Set Sound Output to TV Speaker once to see whether the TV itself is fine. If the speaker works and the soundbar doesn’t, the problem is the format, not the app.
The exact menu names vary by model and year, and some options appear only when a connected device supports them. Samsung’s official audio format page is the place to confirm yours. Our IPTV no sound guide covers other causes.
What other tips help on Samsung TVs?
- Use Ethernet if you can. Older Samsung TVs have weak Wi-Fi radios, and constant buffering is the usual result. See IPTV freezing and buffering.
- Keep the firmware current through Settings → Support → Software Update. Newer firmware fixes app crashes more often than people expect.
- Use the remote’s D-pad, not the pointer. Apps designed for the D-pad are easier on Samsung’s remote.
- Know the ceiling. A 2018 TV with a slow processor will struggle with huge playlists. A stick plugged into HDMI is often faster than the TV’s built-in apps.
What should you avoid on a Samsung TV?
- Paying a stranger for an “activation” you can’t verify on the maker’s own site.
- Installing from “premium unlocked” or “free M3U list” pages. Players are legal, but your content should come from sources you’re authorised to use. See Is IPTV legal?
- Assuming an Android app will appear in Samsung’s store because it exists on Google Play. TiviMate has no Samsung app.
- Buying several one-year licences for one TV by accident. eKoPlayer licences are per device.
Is a streaming stick better than the Samsung built-in app?
Sometimes. If your TV is from 2021 or newer and eKoPlayer or Smart IPTV does what you need, the built-in app is simpler: one remote, no extra box. If you want TiviMate or recording, a Fire TV Stick running Fire OS or a Google TV device is the better route. Check our Firestick app picks and the Google TV guide. Be careful with the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 2026 Fire TV Stick HD, which run Amazon’s Vega OS and can’t sideload; see our Vega OS explainer.
For other brands, the smart TV hub and LG TV guide cover the differences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best IPTV player for a Samsung TV?
For 2021 and newer Samsungs, eKoPlayer and Smart IPTV are the two we could confirm on official sources. eKoPlayer has a free 7-day trial and no sign-up, so it’s the easy one to try first.
Can I install TiviMate on a Samsung TV?
No. TiviMate is an Android TV and Fire TV app and has no Samsung Tizen version. Use a Fire TV Stick or Google TV device with the Samsung.
Does eKoPlayer work on a 2019 Samsung?
Yes, with a build made for your specific TV. You send the TV’s Unique Device ID and the build takes a few days. The app-code route is only for 2021 and newer.
Do I pay every month for eKoPlayer?
No. After the 7-day trial it’s $5 for one year with no auto-renewal, or $10 once, per device.
Why does my Samsung TV show no sound on some channels only?
The stream’s audio format is usually the cause. Switch the audio track in the player first, then try PCM under Digital Output Audio Format if you use a soundbar.