What is the best free IPTV app for iPhone?

PixelPlay is a free IPTV player for iPhone and iPad that plays live TV from M3U playlists, Xtream Codes providers, and a built-in library of 8,000+ public channels from 150+ countries. Many IPTV apps put basic playback behind a subscription. PixelPlay's core stays free. An optional Pro upgrade adds Multi-View, Picture-in-Picture, unlimited sources, and Channel Locks. Get it as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.

How do I add an M3U playlist to PixelPlay on iPhone or iPad?

Open Settings, tap Content Sources, then tap + in the top right. You can add a remote M3U URL by pasting a link from your provider, import a local M3U file from your device, or connect an Xtream Codes API account with your portal URL and credentials. PixelPlay parses the playlist and organises the channels by category and country for you.

Does PixelPlay support Xtream Codes API?

Yes, natively. Enter your provider's portal URL, username, and password to connect. Our Xtream Codes setup guide walks through it field by field, and the guides index covers M3U too. PixelPlay syncs your live channels and keeps them up to date on its own.

Does PixelPlay work on iPad?

Yes, and it is built for iPad rather than scaled up from the iPhone app. On iPadOS 18+ you get a sidebar tab bar, an adaptive channel grid, a wider guide timeline showing about four hours at a glance, and a larger floating mini-player. Multi-View, Picture-in-Picture, Stage Manager, and Split View all work.

What does PixelPlay Pro include?

Pro adds unlimited IPTV sources (the free tier includes one), Picture-in-Picture so playback continues while you use other apps, Multi-View for up to four live streams at once in a 2×2 grid on iPhone and iPad, channel and category locks behind Face ID, Touch ID or a PIN, and the advanced TV guide with a full 24-hour scrollable timeline. Get Pro as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.

Can I pause and rewind live TV in PixelPlay?

Yes. On any channel with a live buffer you can pause and rewind, then tap Go Live to jump back to the edge. Where the channel supports catch-up you can also restart the current programme or watch something that already aired. This is part of the free core, no Pro needed.

PixelPlay: Free Live TV & IPTV Streaming App for iPhone & iPad

App Store

Every rating so far is five stars.

5.0 out of 5 · 9 ratings

“…completely free of annoying ads or invasive tracking. The native integration with iOS features like AirPlay, Picture-in-Picture, and Spotlight search makes streaming an absolute joy.”

Thtonye · App Store

“…this one actually feels well thought out. It's fast, simple, and doesn't overwhelm you with settings. EPG worked better than expected and video playback has been stable for me.”

Dev-Deep · App Store

“The app runs smoother than some of the bigger IPTV apps I've used.”

santoshtewari · App Store

“The interface is clean and easy to use, and streaming quality is very good.”

Akku1020 · App Store

Included free

The free IPTV player, feature by feature.

No subscription, no ads, no trial clock. Bring your own sources or use the built-in public library.

Live TV playback

Buffer-aware streaming that holds up on mobile data. M3U, Xtream Codes, and the public catalogue all play out of the box. PixelPlay runs two playback engines: when AVPlayer refuses a stream, VLCKit takes it.

Pause, rewind and catch up

Pause live TV, rewind to replay a moment, or restart the show you joined late. On channels with catch-up you can watch programmes that already aired. Go Live returns you to the edge.

Public channel library

8,000+ free legal channels from 150+ countries, ready before you configure anything. PixelPlay flags the ones likely to be offline before you tap play.

Favourites and Spotlight

Save the channels you watch and reach them from iOS Spotlight without opening the app. Favourites sync across your devices; sign in to sync locks too.

Now & next while watching

What is playing and what follows, in the player controls and on the home screen, for any channel with EPG data. The full TV guide, a 24-hour grid across every channel with reminders, comes with Pro.

Add your own source

A remote M3U URL, a local M3U file, or your Xtream Codes provider. One source is free for good; Pro lifts the limit.

AirPlay and Google Cast

Send the stream to an Apple TV over AirPlay, or to Chromecast and Google TV over Google Cast. Both free, no Pro needed.

Built for iPad

An adaptive tab bar on iPadOS 18+ that you can switch to a sidebar, a channel grid that scales with the screen, a guide showing about four hours at once, and a bigger mini-player. Stage Manager and Split View safe.

Hardware keyboard

Drive the whole app from a Magic Keyboard. ⌘1–5 switches tabs, ⌘F jumps to search, Space plays and pauses, arrows change channel, Esc minimises the player.

iPhone Screens

Made for one hand and a small screen.

Fast channel switching, gesture-first playback controls, and edge-to-edge video on every iPhone size.

A category opened from the PixelPlay home screen on iPhone, showing 2,294 channels in Top Entertainment — Open a category

The Browse tab on iPhone with language and category filters applied, narrowing 8,000 channels to 386 — Browse and filter

Signing in to sync favourites on iPhone — Sign in to sync

iPad Screens

The iPad IPTV app, not a stretched phone app.

Sidebar navigation, an adaptive channel grid, a guide timeline showing about four hours at a glance, Multi-View in a 2×2 grid, and keyboard shortcuts throughout.

PixelPlay home on iPad with a cinematic hero and personalised shelves — Home

Browsing 8,000+ channels on iPad — Browse

The 24-hour TV guide grid on iPad with a red now marker — TV guide

The favourites grid on iPad — Favourites

The PixelPlay Pro screen on iPad showing Pro unlocked and active, with the free and Pro feature lists — Pro

Pro

Two ways to go Pro.

Lifetime is a one-time purchase. Pay once, and there's nothing to renew or cancel. Yearly is a subscription that starts with a free trial. Both unlock the same Pro features.

2 plans

Lifetime purchase
or yearly subscription

Family Sharing included
on both plans

PixelPlay Free compared with PixelPlay Pro
Feature	Free	Pro
Live TV playback	Included	Included
Pause, rewind and catch-up	Included	Included
Public channel library (8,000+)	Included	Included
Favourites and sync	Included	Included
AirPlay and Google Cast	Included	Included
Built for iPad	Included	Included
Hardware keyboard	Included	Included
Now & next while watchingPlayer and home screen.	Included	Included
Your own sources	1	Unlimited
Full TV guide24h grid plus programme reminders.	Not included	Included
Picture-in-PictureKeep watching while you use other apps.	Not included	Included
Multi-ViewFour live streams at once in a 2×2 grid.	Not included	Included
Channel and category locksFace ID, Touch ID or a PIN on anything you choose.	Not included	Included

Get PixelPlay, then unlock Pro

Pro unlocks from Settings inside the app.
Bought it before? Restore it on any device, no second payment.

Sources

Works with every M3U playlist and IPTV source.

Connect what you already pay for, or watch the public library while you decide.

Built in Public channel library 8,000+ channels, nothing to set up

URL Remote M3U playlist Paste the link your provider gave you

File Local M3U file Import from Files or iCloud Drive

API Xtream Codes Portal URL, username, password, syncs itself

Step-by-step setup

Add an M3U playlist → Connect Xtream Codes →

Questions

Before you download.

What is the best free IPTV app for iPhone?

PixelPlay is a free IPTV player for iPhone and iPad that plays live TV from M3U playlists, Xtream Codes providers, and a built-in library of 8,000+ public channels from 150+ countries. Many IPTV apps put basic playback behind a subscription. PixelPlay's core stays free. An optional Pro upgrade adds Multi-View, Picture-in-Picture, unlimited sources, and Channel Locks. Get it as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.
How do I add an M3U playlist to PixelPlay on iPhone or iPad?

Open Settings, tap Content Sources, then tap + in the top right. You can add a remote M3U URL by pasting a link from your provider, import a local M3U file from your device, or connect an Xtream Codes API account with your portal URL and credentials. PixelPlay parses the playlist and organises the channels by category and country for you.
Does PixelPlay support Xtream Codes API?

Yes, natively. Enter your provider's portal URL, username, and password to connect. Our Xtream Codes setup guide walks through it field by field, and the guides index covers M3U too. PixelPlay syncs your live channels and keeps them up to date on its own.
Does PixelPlay work on iPad?

Yes, and it is built for iPad rather than scaled up from the iPhone app. On iPadOS 18+ you get a sidebar tab bar, an adaptive channel grid, a wider guide timeline showing about four hours at a glance, and a larger floating mini-player. Multi-View, Picture-in-Picture, Stage Manager, and Split View all work.
What does PixelPlay Pro include?

Pro adds unlimited IPTV sources (the free tier includes one), Picture-in-Picture so playback continues while you use other apps, Multi-View for up to four live streams at once in a 2×2 grid on iPhone and iPad, channel and category locks behind Face ID, Touch ID or a PIN, and the advanced TV guide with a full 24-hour scrollable timeline. Get Pro as a one-time lifetime purchase, or subscribe yearly with a free trial.
Can I pause and rewind live TV in PixelPlay?

Yes. On any channel with a live buffer you can pause and rewind, then tap Go Live to jump back to the edge. Where the channel supports catch-up you can also restart the current programme or watch something that already aired. This is part of the free core, no Pro needed.

Every channel you have. The free live TV and IPTV player for iPhone and iPad.