Comparison

iSTB vs IPTV Smarters Plus Player

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iSTB

Stream IPTV content from MAC address-based providers, Xtream Codes API, and M3U playlists. Enjoy features like EPG, VOD with subtitles, multi-view, and background audio playback. Requires a valid IPTV subscription.

Highlights
  • Add/remove unlimited portals
  • Connect to multiple portals
  • Search channels and genres
  • Electronic programming guide (EPG)
  • View & download VOD content
  • Watch VOD with subtitles
  • Multi View and Picture in Picture
Features
Read full description

iSTB allows you to watch IPTV from MAC address based providers which use Stalker Middleware, providers using the Xtream Codes API and M3U playlists. **Please use the iSTB Lite app to check if your provider is supported** **Some providers are not supported** Features: - Add/remove unlimited portals - Connect to multiple portals at once with profile groups - Search genres by name - Search channels by name - Add channels to a favorites list - Full electronic programming guide or EPG (dependent on your provider) - View & download VOD content (dependent on your provider) - Catch up on past programs (dependent on your provider) - Watch VOD with subtitles from OpenSubtitles - Resuming of VOD and catch up content - Play audio in background - Watch multiple streams at once with Multi View (dependent on your provider) - Play picture in picture (supported devices) - Cast to TV (May not work with all providers. Requires VLC app to be installed and a Chromecast.) - Watch content in portrait or landscape - Dark theme - And more! Please note: - This app works with MAC address & Xtream Codes based IPTV providers and M3U playlists only. Download the iSTB Lite app to check if your provider is supported. - You will need a valid subscription with an IPTV provider to watch content. This app does not offer any video or audio content itself. - All content is provided by your IPTV provider. If you have any questions or problems regarding the content or your subscription, please contact your IPTV provider directly. - You will need an active internet connection to watch content. Data charges may apply. Please check with your internet provider directly. - By using this app, you acknowledge and agree that you have the legal right to access and view the content provided by you. The app does not host, store, or distribute any copyrighted content. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that they comply with applicable laws, regulations, and copyright agreements when accessing and streaming content. The app and its developers assume no liability for any misuse of the service. If you do not have the necessary rights to access certain content, you must refrain from using the app for such purposes.

About

IPTV Smarters Plus Player

This app allows you to play IPTV playlists from your internet service provider or other authorized sources. It supports various playlist formats and offers features like casting, playlist editing, and parental controls. Download your own content to stream live TV and VOD.

Highlights
  • Play M3U/M3U8 and Xtream Codes playlists
  • Cast to Chromecast and other devices
  • Edit and group playlists
  • Parental control (Premium)
  • Download VOD content
  • EPG support
  • Picture in Picture and live recording (Premium)
Features
Read full description

Play IPTV playlists (M3U/M3U8 or Xtream Codes login) that you are authorized to use, for example from your Internet Service Provider. The app does not provide any channels or content. Features: - Cast to your Chromecast device with MPEG-TS and HLS support (Fire TV, Google TV, Smart TV, Chromecast, etc) - Edit your playlists as you want by grouping removing specific groups - Parent control (Premium) - Download VOD content and save it locally - Catch-up / TV archive (Premium) - EPG reminders with local notifications (Premium) - Picture in Picture and live recording (Premium) - Support Xtream-Codes API - Save your favorite channels - Sorting and searching - Built-in powerful IPTV player with support for 4K (change aspect ratio) - Supports network protocols: FTP, HTTP, MMS, RSS/Atom, RTMP, RTP (unicast or multicast), RTSP, UDP, Sat-IP, Smooth Streaming - EPG support in XMLTV, GZIP format - Simple layout and more user-friendly Disclaimer: - GSE Smart IPTV is a video player without any content. - GSE Smart IPTV does not offer any kind of content or media, users must provide their own content. - We simply handle the user information in an intuitive way as long as the user have the access. - We do not endorse the streaming of copyright-protected material without permission from the copyright holder. Links to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy can be found below: https://sites.google.com/view/gseiptv https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iSTB4 screens
IPTV Smarters Plus Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: IPTV Smarters Plus Player at Free against iSTB's $14.99. iSTB's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (59% vs 27%). On rating, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

IPTV Smarters Plus Player is free to download; iSTB costs $14.99 up front. iSTB sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and IPTV Smarters Plus Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for iSTB against 4.5 for IPTV Smarters Plus Player. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 2.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of iSTB's written reviews are positive against 27% of IPTV Smarters Plus Player's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSTB ships an update every 10 days, IPTV Smarters Plus Player every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
iSTB versus IPTV Smarters Plus Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSTBIPTV Smarters Plus Player
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (1.8K ratings) — better4.5 (2.4K ratings)
Positive reviews58.9% of reviews — better27.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8K2.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#15 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size120 MB118 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperNihal AhmedAndre Marinho

Customer experience

iSTB

All ratings1,798 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews467 reviews
Positive58.9%
Neutral10.7%
Negative30.4%

IPTV Smarters Plus Player

All ratings2,352 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative10.2%
Written reviews249 reviews
Positive27.3%
Neutral5.2%
Negative67.5%

User reviews

iSTB

From 1.8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly app
  • 🚀 Smooth streaming
  • 🔒 Reliable service
  • 💡 Useful features like EPG and favorites
  • 🎨 Good interface design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🔍 Difficult navigation and search
  • 📺 Compatibility problems on some devices
  • 💸 Expensive for some users

IPTV Smarters Plus Player

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast response
  • 👍 Does its job well

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work after update
  • 🐛 Crashes, crashes, crashes
  • 🐛 Doesn't load playlist
  • 🐛 Keeps asking to pay again
  • 🐛 Doesn't allow to load m3u or xtream codes

Bugs and requests

iSTB

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Xtream codes not working
  • Catchup TV not functioning
  • Channels not loading or buffering
  • Sync issues across devices
  • Playback problems on specific networks

Requested features

5 requests
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
  • Chromecast/AirPlay support
  • More customization options
  • Improved EPG and channel organization
  • Background playback and multi-tasking

IPTV Smarters Plus Player

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Playlist not loading
  • Subscription issues
  • Constant crashes
  • Incompatibility with older devices
  • Login screen freezes

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add option to load local playlist
  • Improve EPG integration
  • Add picture-in-picture support

In-app purchases

7 purchases

iSTB

One-time7
  • Starter Pack$0.99
  • Supporter$0.99
  • Regular Pack$1.99
Show 4 more
  • Silver Booster$2.99
  • Binge Pack$4.99
  • Gold Patron$4.99
  • Top Donor$9.99
5 purchases

IPTV Smarters Plus Player

Subscriptions3
  • IPTV Pro Access$3.997 Days
  • Get Premium Channels$4.291 Month
  • IPTV Pro Access$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Get Premium Channels Discount$9.49
  • Get Premium Channels$16.99

Questions

Is iSTB free?
iSTB costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is IPTV Smarters Plus Player free?
IPTV Smarters Plus Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iSTB or IPTV Smarters Plus Player?
iSTB is rated higher. iSTB averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while IPTV Smarters Plus Player averages 4.5 from 2.4K ratings.
Do iSTB or IPTV Smarters Plus Player have ads?
IPTV Smarters Plus Player shows ads; iSTB does not.
Which is updated more often, iSTB or IPTV Smarters Plus Player?
iSTB ships an update every 10 days, and IPTV Smarters Plus Player every 2 months. Most recently, iSTB was updated on November 13, 2026 and IPTV Smarters Plus Player on November 14, 2026.

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