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Pick TiviMate if you watch live TV on a TV most days: its guide is the best on Android and it's built for a remote. Pick XCIPTV if you want recording and catch-up without paying, or you watch on a phone or tablet as well. Both are on Google Play, both accept Xtream Codes and M3U, and you can try both with the same login in ten minutes.
Side by side
| TiviMate | XCIPTV | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Armobsoft FZE | OTTRUN |
| Google Play downloads (Sept 2026) | 5M+ | 10M+ |
| Designed for | Android TV and a remote | Android TV, phones and tablets |
| Formats | M3U, Xtream Codes, Stalker portal | Xtream Codes, M3U, EZServer |
| TV guide | Excellent, highly customisable | Good, simpler |
| Recording | Premium | Free |
| Catch-up | Premium | Free |
| Multiview | Premium | Not listed |
| Backup and sync | Premium account | Backup and restore, sync |
| Price | Free, Premium about $10/year | Free |
Features come from each app's Google Play listing (TiviMate, XCIPTV).
The guide: TiviMate wins
TiviMate's guide is why it's the default recommendation: a proper cable-style grid, quick to scroll with a remote, with deep control over groups, favourites, names and ordering. XCIPTV's guide does the job but has fewer options and feels slower with big playlists on budget sticks.
Value: XCIPTV wins
XCIPTV includes scheduled recording (to internal or external storage), catch-up from the guide, programme reminders, films with IMDb info and series, all free. With TiviMate, recording and catch-up are Premium. See is TiviMate Premium worth it?
Phones and tablets: XCIPTV
TiviMate's developer says it isn't optimised for touch devices. XCIPTV is designed for phones and tablets as well as TVs, which makes it the easy choice if you watch in bed on a tablet. See the best IPTV app for Android phones.
Availability
Both were on the US Google Play Store when we checked on 30 September 2026. XCIPTV was named in a 2026 takedown of IPTV apps in India, so availability can vary by country. On Fire TV, both need sideloading on Fire OS models and neither installs on Vega OS sticks (details).
Setting each up takes the same few minutes
Both accept an Xtream Codes login (server, username, password) or an M3U link, so trying each costs you nothing but a few minutes. Add the same login to both and compare for a week on your own playlist and device, which tells you more than any feature table. Just remember that watching in both at once uses two connections on your login; see connection limits.
Recording in practice
XCIPTV's free recording is a real advantage, but on a Fire TV Stick the limit is storage, not the app. Wherever you record, a USB drive on a box that supports one, or a network folder, is far more practical than a stick's internal storage. See recording IPTV on a Firestick.
Updates and longevity
When we checked in September 2026, TiviMate had been updated in June 2026 and XCIPTV in August 2026, so both are actively maintained. That matters more than it used to: several popular players disappeared from Google Play in 2026 and stopped receiving fixes. Sticking with maintained apps avoids that trap; see which Android TV players are still available.
Final word
Both are good, legitimate players. The right one depends on your screen and whether you want to pay. Try both; the one you open without thinking after a week is your answer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Judging from feature lists instead of trying both with your own login.
- Leaving both apps streaming at once and hitting the connection limit.
- Recording to internal storage on a stick.
Our pick
- Main TV, daily live viewing: TiviMate (with Premium if you record).
- Want recording without paying: XCIPTV.
- Phone or tablet: XCIPTV.
- Undecided: use XCIPTV free for a week, then try TiviMate with the same login.
Guides: how to use TiviMate and our XCIPTV guide. For more options, see the best M3U player for Android TV.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TiviMate better than XCIPTV?
- On a TV, for daily live viewing, yes: TiviMate's guide is faster and more customisable. XCIPTV gives you recording and catch-up for free and works well on phones and tablets.
- Is XCIPTV free?
- Yes. XCIPTV is free on Google Play and includes recording and catch-up in the free app.
- Can I use the same login in both?
- Yes. Both accept Xtream Codes logins and M3U playlists, so you can try both with the same details. Each open stream counts against your service's connection limit.
- Which works on Fire TV?
- Both can run on Fire OS devices, usually by sideloading. Neither can be installed on Amazon's Vega OS sticks.
- Which uses less memory on a Firestick?
- It varies by playlist size and version. In practice, hiding unused channel groups and limiting guide days matters more than which app you choose.
- Can I move my favourites from XCIPTV to TiviMate?
- Not directly. Favourites are stored in each app, so you'll need to set them up again, which takes a few minutes.
- Is TiviMate or XCIPTV better for a Firestick?
- TiviMate for the guide; XCIPTV if you want free recording. Both need sideloading on Fire OS models.
- Does XCIPTV have multiview?
- It isn't listed in XCIPTV's store description; TiviMate offers multiview with Premium.
- Which updates more often?
- Both were updated in mid-2026 when we checked.
- Which is better for films and series?
- Both handle films and series; XCIPTV adds IMDb information, while TiviMate focuses on live TV.
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