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ComparisonKraid IPTV vs TiviMate: an honest comparison (2026)
TiviMate is probably the most recommended IPTV player on Android TV forums, and for good reason: its programme guide is excellent and the app is polished. Kraid IPTV is newer and goes after two areas where TiviMate is weaker: the pricing model and the platforms outside Android.
This comparison is not trying to convince you of anything. We put the two side by side, mark as "per their website" whatever we could not verify first-hand, and finish with a verdict by user profile.
The 30-second summary
TiviMate wins on guide maturity on Android TV; Kraid wins on price (one-time payment versus subscription), on platforms (Windows and Smart TV as well as Android) and on network tooling (transcoding on PC, reconnection with no retry cap). If you live on Android TV and already pay for Premium, there is no urgency to switch. If you own a PC, a Samsung/LG TV, or simply do not want another subscription, Kraid is the better fit.
Comparison table
| Kraid IPTV | TiviMate | |
|---|---|---|
| Price and model | 4.99 € one-time · 7-day free trial · up to 3 devices · 30-day refund | Limited free version; Premium is a yearly subscription, roughly 10 €/year for up to 5 devices (per their website) |
| Platforms | Android, Android TV / Google TV, Fire TV and Windows. Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS): app built and tested on real TVs, under review in their stores; installable today from the package | Android, Android TV / Google TV and Fire TV. No Windows, iOS, Samsung or LG version |
| Playlist formats | M3U / M3U8, Xtream Codes and Stalker/MAG portals | M3U, Xtream Codes and Stalker portals (per their website) |
| EPG guide | XMLTV and Xtream EPG with automatic sync; now/next overlay on the video | XMLTV and Xtream EPG; one of the best guide grids around |
| Multiple playlists | ✓ Several playlists at once, no limit | Premium Subscription only |
| Recording (DVR) | ✓ Instant and scheduled recording from the guide · timeshift up to 30 min (Windows only) | Premium Recording and scheduling with subscription only (per their website) |
| Catch-up | ✓ From the guide, when the provider enables it | Premium Subscription only |
| Multi-view | ✓ Up to 4 channels at once on Windows and Android (not on Smart TV) | Premium Multi-view with subscription only (per their website) |
| Privacy and ads | ✓ No ads, no trackers, data stays on your device | ✓ No ads |
| Languages | 20 languages | Several languages (count not verified) |
| Engine and HEVC | 3 playback engines; hardware HEVC/H.265; on Windows, automatic transcoding when a format is unsupported; automatic reconnection until the signal returns | ExoPlayer; HEVC depends on the device chip, no transcoding |
Kraid IPTV data verified by its team as of September 2026. TiviMate data comes from its public website or listing and is marked "per their website/listing" or "not verified" where we could not confirm it first-hand; it may change with each release.
Price: subscription versus one-time payment
TiviMate has a free version with a single playlist and none of the advanced features; recording, catch-up and multiple playlists need Premium, a yearly subscription (about 10 €/year for up to 5 devices, per their website). Kraid costs 4.99 € once for 3 devices, with a 7-day full trial and a 30-day refund. Over two years TiviMate Premium adds up to roughly 20 € while Kraid stays at 4.99 €. If you need 4 or 5 devices under one licence, however, TiviMate's offer is more generous.
Platforms: Android versus everything else
TiviMate is an Android app and only an Android app: Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV. It does not exist for Windows, iOS, or Samsung and LG Smart TVs. Kraid runs on Android (phone and TV), Fire TV and Windows, and has native Tizen and webOS apps already built and under review in both manufacturers' stores (installable today from the package). If your TV is a Samsung or LG and you do not want an HDMI stick, that is the deciding point.
EPG guide and navigation
This is where TiviMate has earned its reputation: the grid is fast, dense and highly configurable. Kraid also loads XMLTV and Xtream EPG, syncs the guide on its own and shows now/next over the video, but if browsing the grid on Android TV is your main use, try both with your real playlist: it is the only way to know which one feels right.
Recording, catch-up and multi-view
All three exist in both players, with one difference: in TiviMate they are Premium-only, in Kraid they are included. Kraid adds timeshift of up to 30 minutes on Windows, and multi-view (up to 4 channels) is available on Windows and Android; not on Smart TV, because Samsung and LG panels do not guarantee several simultaneous decoders.
Playback engine and HEVC
Both decode HEVC in hardware when the chip allows it. The difference is what happens when it does not: TiviMate depends on the device; Kraid ships three engines and, on Windows, automatically transcodes whatever the system cannot play (MKV, AC3, unsupported HEVC). And if the connection drops, Kraid keeps retrying until the signal returns instead of showing an error and waiting for you to press something.
Privacy
Neither shows ads. Kraid additionally has no analytics or trackers: your playlist, credentials and history stay on your device.
Verdict
Choose TiviMate if…
- You only use Android TV or Fire TV and have no PC or Samsung/LG Smart TV.
- The EPG grid is your main way of navigating and you are already comfortable with theirs.
- You need 4 or 5 devices under a single licence.
Choose Kraid IPTV if…
- You do not want another subscription: 4.99 € once and done.
- You also use Windows, or a Samsung or LG TV.
- Your provider streams awkward formats (MKV, AC3, HEVC) and you want the player to sort them out by itself.
- You want recording, catch-up and multi-view included, not as a paid extra.
Frequently asked questions
Is TiviMate free?
It has a free version with limitations (a single playlist, no recording, catch-up or multi-view). Those features require TiviMate Premium, a yearly subscription of roughly 10 €/year for up to 5 devices, per their website.
Can I use TiviMate on Windows or on a Samsung/LG Smart TV?
No. TiviMate only exists for Android (Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV). Kraid IPTV has a Windows version and native apps for Samsung Tizen and LG webOS, currently under review in the stores and installable from the package.
Can I move my playlist from TiviMate to Kraid?
Yes. Both use the same sources: the M3U URL or the Xtream Codes credentials your provider gave you. Enter the same details in Kraid and you get the same channels; favourites and internal settings do not carry over.
Which one looks better in 4K HEVC?
With a chip that decodes HEVC in hardware they look identical: the chip does the work. The difference shows up on devices without support or with unusual formats, where Kraid on Windows transcodes automatically and TiviMate depends on what the system can play.
Try it with your own playlist
Kraid IPTV for Android, Android TV / Google TV, Fire TV and Windows (Samsung and LG under review). M3U, Xtream Codes and Stalker, hardware 4K HEVC, EPG, recording, catch-up and multi-view. Free for 7 days without registration; then 4.99 € once for 3 devices.
Download Kraid IPTV freeLegal notice: Kraid IPTV is a generic media player. It does not include, sell or link to any content, channel or playlist. Users are responsible for the sources they add and for holding the rights needed to watch them. TiviMate is a trademark of its respective owner, mentioned for comparison purposes only; Kraid IPTV is not affiliated with it. Learn more.