Quick answer
As of November 2026, HHPlayer is on Google Play for Android TV and Google TV (Android 7.0 and later). It is free, with no ads, no account and no in-app purchases, and it has a full TV guide, catch-up when your provider supports it, and movies and series. The main alternatives are Smarters Pro, TiviMate and OTT Navigator, and for tinkerers Kodi or VLC. Choose by price, by how much you need the guide, and by how you like to set up a playlist.
HHPlayer includes no content: use a playlist or login from a provider you are entitled to use.
What to look for in an IPTV player on Android TV
- Remote-first design. Channel number keys, quick zapping and a guide you can navigate with the D-pad.
- Playlist types. M3U links and Xtream Codes logins. See M3U vs Xtream Codes.
- EPG and catch-up. A grid guide from your provider's XMLTV data and catch-up where the provider offers it. See TV guide and catch-up explained.
- Performance on cheap boxes. Large playlists should stay smooth on a low-end stick.
- Price transparency. Free, a paid unlock, or in-app purchases: check what the free version really includes.
- Official source. Install from Google Play when you can, and check the developer name, as look-alike apps exist.
The players compared
HHPlayer
Free, ad-free and account-free; playlists and history stay on the device. It supports M3U and Xtream Codes, live TV with categories, favorites and a live preview, channel number keys, a full TV guide grid, catch-up and restart where available, movies and series with seasons, resume and next-episode autoplay, search, several playlists refreshed automatically, a parental lock, and audio and subtitle choices remembered for the next channel. It is built for the remote and for low-end sticks. It is on Google Play, and an APK is available from the site for devices without it.
Smarters Pro
Smarters Pro by Tech Smarters is a widely used name. Its site lists an Android TV app (version 2.1.2), an EPG, parental control, multiple playlists, picture-in-picture, Chromecast, a master search and a multi-screen mode, with support for M3U and JSON playlists. The Google Play listing (checked November 2026) shows 5M+ downloads, a 4.0 rating and in-app purchases; look at the listing for current prices. Check that the developer is Tech Smarters, because many look-alike apps from unrelated publishers appear in searches. Our HHPlayer vs IPTV Smarters article goes deeper.
TiviMate
TiviMate is a popular Android TV player. We could not read its official pages, so what follows comes from third-party reviews, not from the developer: the base app is free, a paid Premium unlock adds features such as recording and catch-up, and it is reported to be sold through in-app purchases. Check the Google Play listing for the current price and feature split.
OTT Navigator
OTT Navigator is a freemium player. Third-party sources report a paid Premium tier bought through a companion app. We could not verify its current price or features from an official page, so check Google Play before you decide.
Kodi and VLC
Kodi and VLC are free, open-source (GPL) players that run on Android. Kodi's PVR IPTV Simple Client loads M3U playlists and XMLTV guides from a local file or a URL and supports several catch-up modes; Xtream Codes is only available as a catch-up mode there, not as a login with a movie library. It is powerful but takes more setup than a dedicated IPTV player.
Comparison table (November 2026)
| App | Price | Playlists | TV guide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HHPlayer | Free, no ads, no in-app purchases | M3U, Xtream Codes | Full grid, catch-up if supported | Google Play or APK |
| Smarters Pro | In-app purchases; see store | M3U and JSON per its site | EPG listed | 5M+ downloads, 4.0 rating on Play |
| TiviMate | Reported free base plus paid Premium | Not verified | Not verified | Third-party information only |
| OTT Navigator | Reported freemium | Not verified | Not verified | Third-party information only |
| Kodi | Free, open source | M3U via PVR add-on | XMLTV via PVR add-on | More setup, Xtream login not supported |
How to install an IPTV player on Android TV
From Google Play (recommended)
- On the TV, open Google Play and search for HHPlayer, then choose Install. Or open the HHPlayer listing on Google Play on a phone signed in to the same Google account and install it on the TV.
- Open the app. On first launch it asks for a playlist.
- Choose M3U playlist and enter your provider's link, or Xtream Codes and enter the server, username and password.
- Live channels load first; movies, series and the TV guide load the first time you open them.
Without Google Play (APK with Downloader)
- Install the free Downloader app from your TV's app store.
- Allow it to install apps: Settings, Apps, Security and restrictions, Unknown sources. On Google TV, first turn on developer mode.
- Open Downloader, enter
hhplayer.app/apkand choose Go, then Install and Open.
The Google Play version and the APK are signed differently, so one cannot update the other. Try the demo playlist if you have no provider yet.
Our verdict
HHPlayer is a strong default on Android TV if you want a free, ad-free player with a real TV guide and catch-up. Smarters Pro suits people who want its multi-screen and Chromecast features and accept in-app purchases. TiviMate and OTT Navigator are worth a look if you already know them, and Kodi suits people who like to customize. Also see the Fire TV guide and all features.
Prices and features change, so check the store listing for current details. HHPlayer includes no content.
Questions and answers
Is HHPlayer on Google Play for Android TV?
Yes. HHPlayer is on Google Play for Android TV and Google TV (Android 7.0 and later). An APK is also available from hhplayer.app/apk through Downloader.
Is HHPlayer really free?
Yes. There are no ads, no account and no in-app purchases, and your playlists stay on your device.
Is IPTV legal?
An IPTV player is legal software. Whether watching is legal depends on the content and your provider. HHPlayer includes no content, so use a playlist from a provider you are entitled to use.
Can I use an M3U link or Xtream Codes on Android TV?
Yes, HHPlayer accepts both. See M3U vs Xtream Codes to choose the right one.
Does Android TV show a TV guide for IPTV?
If your provider supplies XMLTV guide data, HHPlayer shows a full guide grid and offers catch-up when the provider supports it. See TV guide and catch-up explained.