2026-03-22
TiviMate Review 2026 — Features, Pricing & Best Alternatives
Complete TiviMate review covering features, TiviMate Premium pricing, companion app setup, and the best alternatives for iPhone, Android, and Firestick.
TiviMate: The Complete Review and Guide for 2026
TiviMate is one of the most talked-about IPTV players in the cord-cutting world. With between 100K and 1M monthly searches, it consistently ranks as the most popular IPTV player among Android TV users. But is TiviMate really worth the hype? In this comprehensive review, we break down everything you need to know — features, pricing, limitations, and whether it deserves its reputation as the best IPTV player.
What Is TiviMate?
TiviMate is an IPTV player application designed exclusively for Android TV devices, including Amazon Firestick, NVIDIA Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, and Android TV boxes. It was developed by AR Mobile Dev and first gained popularity around 2019 as a clean, feature-rich alternative to the older IPTV players that dominated the market.
Like all IPTV players, TiviMate does not provide any TV channels or content. It is purely a media player — you supply your own IPTV subscription credentials (M3U URL or Xtream Codes login), and TiviMate plays the streams.
TiviMate Features Overview
TiviMate's appeal comes from its polished feature set. Here is what the app offers:
- Clean, TV-optimized interface — The UI is built from the ground up for big screens and remote control navigation. Channels are organized by groups, and switching between them feels snappy.
- Full EPG (Electronic Program Guide) — TiviMate supports XMLTV EPG sources and displays a multi-day program guide that looks like a traditional cable TV guide. You can see what is on now, what is coming next, and set reminders.
- Multi-view / Picture-in-Picture — Premium users can watch up to 9 channels simultaneously on screen. This is a popular feature for sports fans who want to follow multiple games at once.
- Recording — TiviMate Premium lets you record live streams to local or external storage. You can schedule recordings based on the EPG.
- Catch-up / Timeshift — If your IPTV provider supports catch-up, TiviMate lets you rewind and watch programs that aired in the past few days.
- Favorites and custom groups — Create your own channel groups and organize favorites across multiple playlists.
- Playlist support — Supports M3U URLs, Xtream Codes API, and Stalker Portal connections.
- Auto-update playlists — Set intervals for automatic playlist and EPG refresh.
TiviMate Premium vs Free: What Do You Get?
TiviMate uses a freemium model, but the free version is severely limited. Here is a detailed comparison:
| Feature | TiviMate Free | TiviMate Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Number of playlists | 1 | Unlimited |
| EPG support | Basic | Full multi-day guide |
| Favorites | No | Yes |
| Recording | No | Yes |
| Catch-up / Timeshift | No | Yes |
| Multi-view | No | Yes (up to 9) |
| Scheduled recordings | No | Yes |
| Custom groups | No | Yes |
| Auto-update interval | No | Yes |
As you can see, the free version is essentially a demo. Most users will need Premium to get a usable experience.
TiviMate Pricing
TiviMate Premium is available through the TiviMate Companion app on the Google Play Store. Pricing is straightforward:
- Annual subscription: ~$4.99/year (may vary by region)
- Lifetime license: ~$19.99 (one-time payment, up to 5 devices)
The pricing is competitive, and the lifetime option is popular among users who want to avoid recurring charges.
What Is TiviMate Companion?
TiviMate Companion is a separate Android app available on Google Play. Its sole purpose is to handle the Premium subscription payment and license activation. You install TiviMate Companion on an Android phone, purchase Premium, and then sign in on your Android TV device. Many users find this two-app process confusing, and it generates significant search volume — "tivimate companion" sees between 1K and 10K monthly searches.
TiviMate's Biggest Limitation: Platform Lock
Here is the critical issue that drives thousands of users to search for alternatives every month: TiviMate only works on Android TV.
That means:
- No iPhone or iPad support — TiviMate has never been on the App Store and the developer has not announced any plans for iOS
- No Android phone or tablet support — Even though it is an Android app, TiviMate is locked to the Android TV platform. It will not install or run on a regular Android phone
- No web player — There is no browser-based version
- No Chromecast casting from phone — Since there is no mobile app, you cannot cast from your phone to a TV
This platform restriction is the single biggest reason users search for TiviMate alternatives. If you own an iPhone, an iPad, or want to watch IPTV on your Android phone during a commute, TiviMate simply cannot help you.
Why Users Search for TiviMate Alternatives
Beyond the platform limitation, there are several other reasons people look for options beyond TiviMate:
- No parental controls — TiviMate has no built-in PIN lock or content filtering
- Companion app confusion — The two-app purchase process frustrates many users
- No Chromecast support — Cannot cast streams to other devices
- Occasional EPG sync issues — Some users report EPG data failing to load or falling out of sync
- Updates are infrequent — The developer releases updates sporadically, leaving bugs unfixed for months
The Best TiviMate Alternative: Lit IPTV
If you love TiviMate's feature set but need cross-platform support, Lit IPTV is the closest match. Lit IPTV delivers the same core features — EPG, recording, Xtream Codes, Stalker Portal, favorites — but works everywhere TiviMate does not.
| Feature | TiviMate | Lit IPTV |
|---|---|---|
| Android TV / Firestick | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone / iPad | No | Yes |
| Android phones | No | Yes |
| EPG guide | Yes | Yes |
| Recording | Premium only | Yes |
| Xtream Codes | Yes | Yes |
| Stalker Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast | No | Yes |
| Parental controls | No | Yes |
| Multi-view | Premium only | Yes |
Download Lit IPTV for free and try it yourself:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TiviMate free?
TiviMate has a free version, but it is extremely limited. You can only add one playlist, and features like favorites, recording, catch-up, and multi-view are all locked behind the Premium subscription.
Can I use TiviMate on my iPhone?
No. TiviMate is exclusively available for Android TV devices. If you need an IPTV player for iPhone, consider Lit IPTV as a TiviMate alternative.
Is TiviMate legal?
TiviMate itself is a legal media player application. It does not provide any TV content. The legality depends entirely on the IPTV subscription you use with it.
What is the difference between TiviMate and TiviMate Companion?
TiviMate is the main IPTV player app that runs on Android TV. TiviMate Companion is a separate Android phone app used solely to purchase and manage the Premium subscription.
Does TiviMate work on Firestick?
Yes. Amazon Firestick runs on a modified version of Android TV, so TiviMate works on all Firestick models. For a full guide, see our best IPTV players for Firestick article.
Final Verdict
TiviMate is genuinely excellent at what it does. If you exclusively watch IPTV on an Android TV device and are willing to pay for Premium, it delivers a polished, cable-TV-like experience. However, its refusal to support mobile platforms means it cannot serve as your only IPTV player. For a single app that works on every device you own — including iPhone, Android phone, and TV — Lit IPTV is the smarter choice.
More guides
Best TiviMate Alternative for iPhone & Android in 2026
TiviMate is Android TV only. Looking for a TiviMate alternative that works on iPhone, Android, and Firestick? Here are the best options including Lit IPTV.
IPTV Smarters Pro Alternative — Why Users Are Switching in 2026
IPTV Smarters Pro has been the default for years, but better alternatives now exist. Compare features, UI, and performance with modern IPTV players.
How to Watch IPTV on iPhone — Complete Setup Guide 2026
Step-by-step guide to watching IPTV on your iPhone or iPad. Learn how to add M3U playlists, Xtream Codes, and set up EPG on iOS.
Best Free IPTV Player for Android, iOS & Firestick (2026)
Compare the top free IPTV players across all platforms. M3U support, EPG, Chromecast, and more — find the best free option.