# iSTB vs IPTV Smart Player

The clearest difference is price: IPTV Smart Player at Free against iSTB's $14.99. IPTV Smart Player also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 1.8K). iSTB's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

IPTV Smart Player is free to download; iSTB costs $14.99 up front. iSTB sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and IPTV Smart Player sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for iSTB against 4.6 for IPTV Smart Player. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IPTV Smart Player has 26K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of iSTB's written reviews are positive against 48% of IPTV Smart Player's.

iSTB ships an update every 9 days, IPTV Smart Player monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSTB | IPTV Smart Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istb/id1497473331/reviews) | [4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-smart-player/id6448987395/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | **58.9% of reviews** | 48.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 117 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nihal Ahmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497473330) | [Dmitri Iasibis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1652672996) |

## What reviewers say

### iSTB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istb/id1497473331)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Paid · Entertainment, #133 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Supporter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Regular Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Silver Booster | $2.99 | one-time |
| Binge Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gold Patron | $4.99 | one-time |
| Top Donor | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### IPTV Smart Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-smart-player/id6448987395)

This app acts as a versatile media player for your own content and live streams. It supports a vast array of video and audio formats, allowing you to organize and access your favorite channels and playlists easily. Enjoy a personalized entertainment experience on the go.

**Highlights:** Plays user-added content and live IPTV streams, Supports a wide range of video and audio formats, Organizes channels and playlists, User-friendly interface, Filtering options for easy searching, Portable entertainment experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smarters Player | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent stream quality
- 👍 Great player and pricing
- 🚀 Efficient and stable app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work, app not functioning
- 🐛 Channels not working, app not delivering
- 👎 Difficult to use, no instructions
- 👎 Scam, doesn't provide what's promised

**Reported bugs**

- Channels not loading
- Constant errors and issues
- Subscription not working as intended

**Requested features**

- Ability to cast to smart TV
- Alphabetical channel listing
- More language support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iSTB free?

iSTB costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is IPTV Smart Player free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iSTB or IPTV Smart Player?

iSTB and IPTV Smart Player are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.8K and 26K ratings respectively.

### Do iSTB or IPTV Smart Player have ads?

IPTV Smart Player shows ads; iSTB does not.

### Which is updated more often, iSTB or IPTV Smart Player?

iSTB ships an update every 9 days, and IPTV Smart Player monthly. Most recently, iSTB was updated on October 17, 2026 and IPTV Smart Player on October 18, 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.*