IPTV is the best platform to stream on-demand movies, TV series, and live TV channels. Compared to other platforms, IPTV offers content with lower subscription costs and more live TV channels in its content library. Most IPTV service providers offer M3U URLs to stream the channel playlist.
In such cases, you should need an IPTV player that supports the M3U URL to stream the content on your device. In this guide, we have listed some of the best IPTV players that support the M3U URL file format.
Things You Need to Look Out For Before Choosing a Player
It is crucial to select the best IPTV M3U Players from the vast collection. So, you need to choose a player based on user preferences with some important factors. It includes device compatibility, supported formats, pricing, device compatibility, EPG support, user ratings, and streaming quality. The following players are selected with these factors in consideration.
Is IPTV Player legal?
IPTV Players are completely legal and safe to use as they don’t provide any IPTV content to stream. It works as a medium to play the source media, such as the content from IPTV providers. However, when IPTV players are used for IPTV streaming, there are higher possibilities for the user to watch unverified IPTV services and their offerings, resulting in copyright infringement and other legal issues. However, relying on a VPN keeps you away from such legal issues. Therefore, we recommend using NordVPN, the best VPN for streaming IPTV in the market with rich features and stable connectivity, while using IPTV Player.
Free IPTV M3U Player
| Apps | Supported Formats | Download link |
|---|---|---|
| IPTV Smarters Pro | M3U File and URL | Download |
| TiviMate | M3U URL | Download |
| VLC | M3U Playlists | Download |
| MXL IPTV | M3U and M3U8 Playlists | Download |
| OttPlayer | M3U and M3U8 Playlists | Download |
| Perfect Player IPTV | M3U and XSPF formats | Download |
| IPTVX | M3U, M3U8, and Xtream API | Download |
| Lazy IPTV | M3U URL | Download |
| Simple IPTV | M3U Playlists | Download |
| MyIPTV Player | M3U Playlists | Download |
| SO Player | M3U URL | Download |
| PotPlayer | M3U URL | Download |
IPTV Smarters Pro
IPTV Smarters Pro is one of the best M3U player apps. This app is available on both the Play Store and the App Store. It is a fully customizable media player for OTT service providers. You can easily stream your service provider’s content using IPTV Smarters Pro. IPTV Smarters is a powerful IPTV player that supports all formats. It is compatible with Android phones & TVs, Nvidia Shield, Firestick, iOS, Apple TV, Windows and Mac PC, etc.
Notable Features
- IPTV Smarters Player is a straightforward and easy-to-use app.
- It supports external players.
- The IPTV player includes support for Catch-up TV.
- Includes parental control features to lock TV channels.
Pros
- Flexible with external players
- Can manage multiple playlists
- Supports Catch-up TV
- Picture-in-Picture mode
Cons
- Not available in the Play Store
- Does not support the XSPF format
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
Learn More: IPTV Smarters Review
TiviMate IPTV Player
TiviMate is the perfect IPTV player for your Smart TV. It supports multiple playlist formats, including M3U. Like other IPTV players, this app also supports an EPG guide. The user interface of this application is highly modernized and suitable for large-screen devices. The free version of TiviMate has only limited features. If you want to access all the features of TiviMate, you need to buy a subscription.
Notable Features
- It supports a DVR feature to record shows and watch offline.
- Can access Catchup-TV from the IPTV provider.
- Get access to more than one playlist from various providers.
Pros
- Integrated support for TV catch-up
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Well-structures customer support
- Offers a lot of VODs along with player support
Cons
- No EPG support
- No free trial available
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
Learn More: TiviMate IPTV Player Review
VLC Media Player
If you have the VLC player on your device, you can instantly play any M3U playlist or files. It is a powerful media player that can play any audio and video file. The best thing is that you can watch IPTV on VLC for free. It is easy to use and configure. In addition to M3U files, it plays files, discs, webcams, etc. It is an ad-free media player that works on different devices like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more.
Notable Features
- Straightforward and user-friendly interface.
- Supports time-saving keyboard shortcuts.
- There are no streaming issues with the app.
- It accepts the IPTV link formats like M3U and M3U8.
- Supports hardware decoding features.
Pros
- Built-in cast support
- Control play speed & audio tracks
- Play local files smoothly
- Support subtitle synchronization
Cons
- No external player support
- Struggles to handle Xtream Codes API
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5
Learn More: VLC Media Player Review
MXL IPTV
MXL IPTV Player is a free IPTV player that allows you to access IPTV playlists in various streaming qualities. Although it is a free player, MXL IPTV provides a plethora of advanced features like EPG Support, sorted content, and a lot more. It can handle M3U and M3U8 playlist files to load and stream IPTV content. Since it has a dedicated APK file, you can install it on all Android-based devices effortlessly.
Notable Features
- A dedicated section for playlist management.
- Elegant user interface and unique design.
- It has a favorites section to mark your desired content for later viewing.
Pros
- Chromecast-enabled player
- Channel category with neat UI
- Support to collab with external players
- Stream high-definition content
Cons
- Annoying ad interruptions while streaming
- Lacks customer care support
- Doesn’t decode Xtream Codes API
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5
Learn More: MXL IPTV Review
OTTPlayer
The OttPlayer app is the best for streaming your favorite content without any buffering issues. The interface of this player app is simple and easy to use. It supports protocols like TS, HLS, RTSP, RTMP, UDP, etc. Unlike other IPTV players, OttPlayer supports the M3U8 playlist or links. OttPlayer can be accessed on different devices such as Android, iOS, Windows PC, HoloLens, Samsung TV, etc.
Notable Features
- OttPlayer has support for EPG.
- Access both M3U and M3U8 playlists.
- The app categorizes the IPTV content.
- It is easy to create and manage IPTV playlists.
Pros
- Ability to manage (add or edit) playlists
- A dedicated support page for users
- Free of cost with numerous features
Cons
- Can’t be integrated with external players
- Customer service via phone isn’t available
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5
Learn More: OttPlayer Review
Perfect Player IPTV
As the name implies, it is the perfect player to stream your favorite media files. It supports multiple playlist formats, such as M3U and XSPF. You can use XMLTV or JTV formats to add the EPG guide. The layout and design of the Perfect Player IPTV are highly appealing and mostly liked by the users. This app is free to use and ad-supported. If you want to stream ad-free content, you need to get a premium subscription.
Notable Features
- The app sorts IPTV content based on its genre.
- Users can play local files from SD cards and USB.
- Offers multiple screen resolutions and font sizes.
- Includes support for various languages.
Pros
- Lets you enjoy videos in PIP mode
- Supports multi-language
- Facility for channel scanning
- Handle local files
Cons
- No cast support
- Not available on the legal app store
Editor’s Rating: 4/5
Learn More: Perfect Player IPTV Review
IPTVX
IPTVX is an IPTV player application available on popular app stores. It does not include any IPTV playlist that you can watch. Instead, it lets users add and manage their IPTV playlists efficiently. IPTVX supports various navigation styles, including horizontal and vertical styles. This feature is specially designed so that users can explore channels and their categories.
Notable Features.
- It can access the IPTV playlist as well as an electronic program guide.
- It has a separate section for recently viewed and continued watching.
- Users can create a favorite list of content on the app.
- Users can hide TV channels and categories if necessary.
Pros
- Featuring family sharing
- Supports iCloud service
- Includes Catch-up TV facility
Cons
- The premium subscription was too high
Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5
Learn More: IPTVX Review
Lazy IPTV Player
Lazy IPTV is a great IPTV player for Android and iOS. The app itself doesn’t include any IPTV content. Instead, this app supports M3U playlists and XSPF playlists. In addition, it also supports the EPG guide in XMLTV and JTV format. Lazy IPTV works with HTTP and UDP streams. Also, you can enjoy various customization options.
Notable Features
- Users can access radio playback.
- The Lazy IPTV player has a separate tab for the History.
- Add and customize multiple playlists.
- Lazy IPTV player has support for external players.
Pros
- Allows data synchronization
- Has a reminder feature to give you the notification alerts
- Support for backup & restore player settings
Cons
- Doesn’t decode Xtream Codes API
- Not available in official app stores
Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5
Learn More: Lazy IPTV Player Review
Simple IPTV
It is one of the best IPTV M3U player apps that allows you to watch IPTV channels from the web or local M3U playlist files. This application’s user-friendly interface allows users to select their preferred channels easily. The channels in Simple IPTV are arranged in a list view. The users can also customize the interface by changing the theme. The app has a dedicated section for recently watched channels.
Notable Features
- Simple IPTV has a material design.
- Users can add multiple IPTV playlists from providers
- Supports multiple color themes.
- Supports Electronic Program Guide.
Pros
- Multiple themes and different design
- View channels in grid or list format
- Ability to decode M3U efficiently
- Customer support via Email
Cons
- No support for external players
- Can’t handle Xtream Codes API
Editor’s Rating: 3.6/5
Learn More: Simple IPTV Review
MyIPTV Player
If you want a powerful media player, MyIPTV Player is all you need. It loads the M3U playlists faster and supports the EPG Guide. It is packed with a recording option, multiple-channel playlist support, a channel filtering option, and more. This player lets you add your favorite movies to the Favorites Manager. You can download the MyIPTV player app directly from the Microsoft Store on Windows PC.
Notable Features
- MyIPTV player has support for external players.
- Users can access HTTP live-streaming links.
- Supports features for recording and downloading the content.
- Users can download your desired content to stream them offline.
Pros
- Automatic channel grouping
- Facility for recording IPTV content
- Excellent EPG feature
- Protection with PIN code
Cons
- Unavailable on the Play Store & App Store
- Buffering issues occur occasionally
Editor’s Rating: 3.6/5
Learn More: MyIPTV Player Review
SO Player
SO player is an IPTV player app that supports multiple playlists, including M3U playlists. It is a friendly player app that has a neat and sleek interface. It also supports EPGs in different formats. SO Player is packed with tons of features, such as parental control, a sleep timer, scheduled recording, and much more. SO Player is one of the best IPTV players to use.
Notable Features
- It has a standalone app on Android and iOS platforms.
- Users can sign in with a PIN code, username, and password.
- Supports Dark and Light mode.
- It has support for external players like MX player, VLC, and IPTV Smarters.
Pros
- Offers separate category for easy access
- Built-in EPG support
- TV Catch-up is available here
Cons
- Failed frequently to access M3U playlists
- No customer care service
Editor’s Rating: 3.4/5
Learn More: SO Player Review
PotPlayer
PotPlayer is a multimedia player app developed by Kakao. This app is supported on all Windows versions and plays different file formats of M3U like ASF, XSPF, PLS, etc. PotPlayer allows the users to edit the M3U playlists, add or remove tracks, sort and change the playlist view settings, etc. PotPlayer is compatible with Android and Windows PCs. The only demerit of this application is the language.
Notable Features
- Gives you the best streaming experience.
- Users can access subtitles of various formats.
- Includes support for improved hardware acceleration.
Pros
- Support Dynamic Language Switching
- Handle M3U playlists flawlessly
- Featuring video editor
Cons
- Poor customer service
- No external player support
Editor’s Rating: 3.4/5
Learn More: PotPlayer Review
Premium IPTV M3U Player
| Apps | Supported Playlist | Basic Subscription | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSE Smart IPTV | M3U Playlist and Xtream Codes | $2.49 | Download |
| Smart IPTV | M3U playlist | 5.49 EUR | Download |
| Net IPTV | M3U URL | €6.79 | Download |
| OnPoint IPTV | M3U URL | €8.99 | Download |
GSE Smart IPTV
You will find a lot of advanced features in GSE Smart IPTV. It is a user-friendly IPTV player that supports multiple playlist formats, including M3U. This app can also be used to play Xtream Codes files. It includes parental control, automatic live stream reconnection, etc. The GSE Smart IPTV supports all the popular formats, including RTMP tokens. It works on devices like Android, iOS, Apple TV, Android TV, Firestick, etc.
Notable Features
- Supports the Dynamic language switching feature.
- GSE Smart IPTV can cast content through Chromecast and AirPlay.
- Supports a variety of themes.
- Includes both external and integrated subtitle formats.
Pros
- Dynamic language switching for 32 languages
- It has one of the best UI
- Advanced parental control
Cons
- No support for the XSPF playlist file
- No free trial service is available
Editor’s Rating: 4/5
Learn More: GSE Smart IPTV Review
Smart IPTV
Smart IPTV is a dedicated app developed for Smart TVs like Samsung and LG. In addition, it is also available for Android and other devices. Compared to other IPTV players, Smart IPTV is easy to use. All you need to do is fill in the M3U playlist link or other formats to stream the content of your service provider. It supports the EPG guide in any format. Smart IPTV is one of the reliable IPTV players that play video content smoothly.
Notable Features
- Comes with support for external players.
- Get access to multiple IPTV playlists simultaneously.
- Activate the app on the activation website.
- Smart IPTV accepts payments through PayPal, debit, or credit card.
Pros
- Developed with powerful EPG
- Helps to create your own favorites list
- Decode and handle multiple playlists
Cons
- It is a premium platform
- Subscription cost is high
- No Chromecast support
Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5
Learn More: Smart IPTV Review
Net IPTV
On your streaming devices, you can easily load and stream the M3U playlist file with the help of Net IPTV. Since it is a freemium IPTV player, you need to purchase its premium version for €6.79 to explore all its advanced features. It also offers some essential features like an Electronic Program Guide and dynamic language switching. Unlike other players, Net IPTV provides technical support for users through its official website.
Notable Features:
- It has an ad-free streaming experience.
- This player has a user-friendly interface.
- Personalized groups with lock and unlock features.
Pros
- Outstanding customer support
- Ability to switch subtitles & language
- Featuring multiple playlist handling
- Intuitive design & interface
Cons
- Doesn’t decode Xtream Codes API
Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5
Learn More: Net IPTV Review
OnPoint IPTV
OnPoint IPTV is yet another premium IPTV player app that handles M3U file formats. Since it is not a free player, you have to pay €8.99 for a one-time activation. Once you’ve provided the playlist URL, it starts to load the file and stream the available content from your IPTV Provider. It comes with an Electronic Program Guide and a user-friendly interface. Furthermore, It includes some appearance features like a list, grid, and tile view.
Notable Features:
- This player has Multiple Playlists support.
- It has a Passcode lock for channels.
- This player has automated EPG support.
Pros
- Customizable playback options
- Offers efficient customer assistance
Cons
- Doesn’t handle Xtream Codes API
- Activation cost is reasonably high
Editor’s Rating: 3.5/5
Learn More: OnPoint IPTV Review
What Are The Best M3U Players to Stream IPTV Content
Here, we have listed the best compilation of IPTV M3U players for your streaming devices. So, choose the right IPTV player for your streaming devices based on your preference. According to a review of real-time usage, GSE Smart IPTV performs well with the new features and low subscription costs. But if you need a free IPTV Player, then you can choose VLC Media Player as it has high compatibility and features.