Comparison

SarmaPlayer vs Vela Xtream

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

Head to head
About

SarmaPlayer

Features
Read full description

SarmaPlayer is a media player only. It does not provide, include, host, supply or sell any channels, movies or other content — you bring your own playlist. Connect the Xtream Codes or M3U playlist you already own and watch Live TV, Movies and TV Shows on iPhone and iPad, in a clean, modern interface built for the couch and the commute. FEATURES • Live TV with a built-in EPG (now & next, full guide) and instant channel zapping • Movies and TV Shows with posters, seasons, resume and "continue watching" • Favorites across channels, movies and shows • Multiple playlists — switch and refresh right on the device • Dual playback engine (AVPlayer + VLC) for wide format support, plus AirPlay and Picture in Picture • Parental controls with a PIN and adult-category hiding • English, German and Croatian BRING YOUR OWN CONTENT SarmaPlayer supplies no channels or media of any kind, and none is bundled. You are solely responsible for the playlists and sources you choose to connect and for holding the rights to the material you access through them. The app is a neutral player, like a web browser for your own streams.

About

Vela Xtream

This app is a private media player for your IPTV subscription. It allows you to organize and watch live TV channels from your provider using an M3U playlist or Xtream login. Enjoy features like a TV guide, subtitle selection, and casting to your TV.

Highlights
  • M3U playlist and Xtream login support
  • Live TV guide grid
  • Searchable categories
  • Wide format playback support
  • Subtitle and audio track selection
  • Picture in Picture and AirPlay
  • Casting to TV
Features
Read full description

Vela is a fast, private player for your own IPTV subscription, on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, signed in with an Xtream login or an M3U playlist. Bring the login or playlist your provider gave you and Vela turns it into a library you can actually navigate: categories you can filter and favourite, a TV guide for your channels, and playback that handles the formats other players choke on. • Signs in with an Xtream login, or an M3U or M3U8 playlist by link or from Files, with its XMLTV guide • A TV guide grid: your channels against the clock, wherever your provider publishes listings • Search that finds it as you type: partial words, actors, genres (Vela Pro) • A match score on the titles that fit you, with the parts of your taste it rests on, and picks that learn what you like, all worked out on your device and never uploaded (Vela Pro) • Pick three genres when you first open Vela, if you like, and match scores show from day one (Vela Pro) • On Apple TV too: Home opens on your top pick and the Siri Remote changes channel. One Vela Pro covers iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV • Categories you can search and star, not just scroll • Plays what iOS normally cannot: Matroska, AVI, HEVC, AC3 and DTS audio • Subtitle and audio track selection • Picture in Picture, AirPlay and background audio • Cast to your TV: AirPlay, Google Cast and DLNA TVs, with your phone as the remote • Continue Watching, recently watched channels, favourites, and next-episode playback • Takes far less space, and on iPhone and iPad your favourites, Continue Watching, taste and starred categories are in your device backup. Account > Storage shows Library cache and Your data, with Clear cache • In 12 languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Turkish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese • Credentials kept in the Keychain, on your device, and Account > Privacy > What Vela sends lists each server the app talks to, what goes to it and what never leaves your device Vela includes no content, no channels and no provider. You need an existing subscription with a provider: an Xtream-compatible login or an M3U playlist. Vela Pro unlocks search, recommendations with match scores on the titles that fit you, and playback without breaks. A 14-day free trial starts when you add your login or playlist. Vela Pro Yearly can also start with 14 days free through the App Store, then USD 14.99 per year, cancel anytime. Vela Pro Monthly is USD 2.99 per month, and Vela Pro Lifetime is USD 29.99 once. Without Pro, browsing and playback stay free, and playback pauses for a moment every 10 minutes. Vela Pro is an auto-renewing subscription, billed monthly or yearly. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. It renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings after purchase. If Vela Pro Yearly starts with the introductory free trial, the first payment is charged when the 14 days end, unless you cancel at least 24 hours before they end. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://vela-xtream.pages.dev/privacy Playback is powered by VLCKit, from the VideoLAN project, used under the LGPL.

Screenshots

SarmaPlayer4 screens
Vela Xtream4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SarmaPlayer at none against Vela Xtream's 3. Vela Xtream's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Vela Xtream sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. SarmaPlayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SarmaPlayer ships an update every 3 weeks, Vela Xtream every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SarmaPlayer versus Vela Xtream: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSarmaPlayerVela Xtream
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB105 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTechnabit e.U.Arpit Kumar

In-app purchases

None

SarmaPlayer

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Vela Xtream

Subscriptions2
  • Vela Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Vela Pro$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Vela Pro Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is SarmaPlayer free?
SarmaPlayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vela Xtream free?
Vela Xtream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SarmaPlayer or Vela Xtream have ads?
Neither SarmaPlayer nor Vela Xtream shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SarmaPlayer or Vela Xtream?
SarmaPlayer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Vela Xtream every 3 days. Most recently, SarmaPlayer was updated on October 31, 2026 and Vela Xtream on November 7, 2026.

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