# Apple TV vs IPTV Player by Smart Stream

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Apple TV at none against IPTV Player by Smart Stream's 2. Apple TV also leads on ratings volume (1.9M vs 44) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IPTV Player by Smart Stream sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Apple TV asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Apple TV against 4.7 for IPTV Player by Smart Stream. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple TV has 1.9M ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Apple TV ships an update every 2 months, IPTV Player by Smart Stream monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Apple TV | IPTV Player by Smart Stream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549/reviews)** | [4.7 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-player-by-smart-stream/id6477695286/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 43.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.2** | 13.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [Happy Tech LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1589738309) |

## What reviewers say

### Apple TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549)

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Apple Originals, Live Formula 1 & MLB, Buy or rent movies, Aggregate streaming services, Personalized recommendations, Continue Watching feature

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Decent quality viewing experience
- 👍 Impressive 4K and audio quality
- 🤩 Fantastic original content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 💰 Misleading pricing and pay-to-watch content
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features
- 😡 Terrible customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Playback issues and random freezes
- Incorrect episode/content display
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/bookmark content for later
- Improved content organization and navigation
- Sync playback progress across devices
- Chromecast/casting support
- User profiles and personalized recommendations


### IPTV Player by Smart Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-player-by-smart-stream/id6477695286)

This app allows you to watch live TV, movies, and series by adding your own playlists. It offers features like favoriting content, smart search, and background playback, utilizing the VLCKit player.

**Highlights:** Watch live TV, movies, and series, Add M3U and Xtream playlists, Favorite content for quick access, Smart search functionality, Adjust video aspect ratio, Background stream playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Weekly Membership | $1.49 | per 7 days |
| Pro Yearly Membership | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Apple TV free?

Apple TV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IPTV Player by Smart Stream free?

IPTV Player by Smart Stream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Apple TV or IPTV Player by Smart Stream?

Apple TV is rated higher. Apple TV averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while IPTV Player by Smart Stream averages 4.7 from 44 ratings.

### Do Apple TV or IPTV Player by Smart Stream have ads?

Both Apple TV and IPTV Player by Smart Stream show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Apple TV or IPTV Player by Smart Stream?

Apple TV ships an update every 2 months, and IPTV Player by Smart Stream monthly. Most recently, Apple TV was updated on November 3, 2026 and IPTV Player by Smart Stream on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*