How to Use IPTV in 2024: Watch IPTV Live TV Online

There are many IPTV streaming platforms and apps, and they’re great for enjoying your favorite shows and live TV. However, like most streaming services, IPTV content is restricted to particular locations. Pluto TV for example, is only accessible in the US due to licensing agreements.

A VPN can technically change your IP address to make it look like you’re in a different country, even though you’re elsewhere. However, I don’t condone this, as it’s against most IPTV platforms’ terms of service and may constitute copyright infringement.

But you can still use a VPN to watch IPTV in your region. Just make sure you pick one that doesn’t slow down your internet too much. I recommend ExpressVPN as it has high-speed servers for lag-free streaming. It’s easy to use and risk-free since all its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream IPTV Live in UHD

Quick Guide: How to Watch IPTV With a VPN in 3 Easy Steps

What is IPTV? How Does IPTV Work?

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) allows you to watch live TV and cable shows through IP networks using your internet connection instead of an antenna, satellite dish, or cable. TV channels and streaming services convert their media into IP packets and host them on their servers to be dispatched to your device as a subscriber.

There are several types of IPTV services. For example, the popular streaming platform, Netflix, is a Video on Demand (VOD) service. BBC iPlayer in the UK is Time-Shifted TV, where you can watch previously broadcast shows when it’s convenient for you. There’s also Live TV as provided by Hulu + Live TV.

Watching live TV and on-demand content through IP networks on desktop or mobile devices is easy using your browser or streaming service provider’s app. For your home TV, you may need an IPTV box to convert internet IP signals into a TV-readable format. Examples of IPTV boxes are Fire TV cube, Fire Stick, Chromecast, and Roku. Setting these up takes time.

Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, and DirecTV Stream are legal IPTVs with licensing agreements with prominent networks. This allows them to transmit real-time TV channels, major sports events, and exclusive cable TV content to you. But you can’t access shows where the IPTV service doesn’t have broadcasting rights, so you’ll see an error message.

Additionally, there are many unverified and illegal IPTV services as well. For example, Kodi falls into a legal gray area due to many add-ons for pirated content. These add-ons scrape content from other legitimate providers on the internet and don’t own any distribution rights. I don’t condone breaking any laws or infringing copyrights, so always use legitimate IPTV services.

Beginner Tips: Things to Know Before Getting Started With IPTV

If it’s your first time, check out these tips to make the most of your IPTV subscription:

• Check your internet speed — You need at least 10Mbps download speed to watch IPTV in standard quality without buffering. For UHD streams, you’ll need 25+ Mbps, especially if you’re streaming from multiple devices.
• Cost — The higher the price, the more channels and content you get, for the most part. Though there are some free IPTV services, they provide limited channels.
• Simultaneous connections — Get a service that supports multiple streams, so you won’t have to log in and out whenever you switch devices.
• Compatibility — Make sure it’s compatible with every device you use to watch TV. Most verified IPTV services work on Amazon Fire Stick, smart TVs, Android, Windows, Roku, and more.
• Privacy — Your ISP and other third parties can see your online activities. When streaming on your mobile device using public WiFi, you’re vulnerable to your personal data being stolen. A VPN can help protect your privacy and hide your IP address from malicious players while streaming.

The Best Verified IPTV Streaming Platforms

Be Careful of Unverified IPTV Services

One of the easiest ways to spot unverified IPTV providers is by analyzing their rates. To broadcast channels on their platforms legally, IPTV providers must pay TV networks a distribution fee. That fee is often calculated on a per-subscriber basis, ranging from $1 to $7 per subscriber.

There’s simply no way a small-time IPTV provider can cover distribution fee costs by charging a rate of $20 per month (or less) per subscriber.

In addition to unrealistically low rates, unverified services are often unavailable on popular app stores and must either be accessed through the web or sideloaded onto a device. This involves a complex setup. Coming from an unknown source, it’s also dangerous as the service can contain malware, trackers, and other elements that may damage your device or put your security at risk.

I don’t recommend using an unverified IPTV service for these reasons. But if you must download them, use a VPN and an antivirus to protect your data, privacy, and device.

How to Install IPTV Apps on Fire Stick, Roku, Windows, Apple TV, and Other Devices

Most IPTV services like Peacock TV and Hulu have native apps for devices like your smartphones and Amazon Fire TV. However, some IPTV platforms don’t have an app that’s downloadable from an app store. For these, you need to sideload their applications by installing a “Downloader” to your device and an IPTV application.

IPTV applications like IPTV Smarters and Smart IPTV are just media players that allow you to access channel playlists from multiple IPTV subscriptions. They don’t host any content, so you still need to subscribe to an IPTV service like Hulu or Peacock TV separately.

How to Use IPTV on Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV, and Apple TV

All verified IPTV services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer have native apps that you can easily install on Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV, and Apple TV for instant viewing. Follow these steps to get started.

How to Set Up IPTV on Windows or Mac

Many streaming services don’t have native apps for desktop devices. Netflix, for example, doesn’t have an app for macOS and Windows 9 and older versions. Using your browser is the next best way to watch IPTV on your PC or Mac, but this means typing each streaming site’s URL every time. If you’re subscribed to many platforms, this can be tedious.

In this instance, using an IPTV app is a convenient way to stream all of your subscription content from one place on your desktop device. The following steps will guide you through it:

How to Use IPTV on Any iOS or Android Device

Verified streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer have streaming apps for mobile devices, so you can just download them to start streaming. These are the steps:

How to Set Up IPTV on Samsung TV, Other Smart TVs, or Roku

Although streaming apps are usually available for smart TVs and Roku, VPN apps are not. If you’re using a VPN, you’ll have to manually configure a connection on your router, then connect your smart TV or Roku to the WiFi.

How to Use IPTV on Xbox and PlayStation

Is IPTV Legal and Safe?

It depends. You can get verified IPTV services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu from any app store, like Google Play or the Amazon App Store. Verified IPTV services are completely legal because their content doesn’t violate any copyright law.

Unverified IPTV services are only available to download on third-party websites. Once installed on your device, they simply pull content from the internet and display it live or on-demand. You still have to pay a subscription fee to access the content, but you’ll get more channels than usual.

It’s also impossible to check if an unverified IPTV service abides by broadcasting agreements, so I suggest avoiding them. If the platform is taken offline, as is often the case, you’ll lose access to your account and saved shows, but you may still be charged the regular fee.

Besides the copyright issue, unverified services could contain malware and tracking software that compromise security. Switching to developer mode to sideload unverified streaming apps could also cause security issues on some devices if not done correctly. Verified IPTV apps are safe as they don’t contain malware or involve other complications with your device or with the law.

The Best VPNs to Watch IPTV Streams in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Fastest Streaming Speeds to Prevent Interruptions While Watching IPTV

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds for streaming IPTV shows in UHD without lags. During my tests, local servers had a marginal 6% drop in speed, making it feel like I wasn’t using a VPN. My team of testers abroad also confirmed that they could stream Netflix with ExpressVPN’s servers in the US, UK, and Canada without interruptions.

One of the reasons for ExpressVPN’s exceptional speeds even on distant servers, is its proprietary Lightway protocol. The Lightway protocol also makes sure that your battery lasts longer than other protocols, especially when you’re streaming IPTV with a mobile device while commuting. Plus, it keeps your connection stable even as your device changes networks.

Tests conducted with ExpressVPN’s servers found it worked with many IPTV services besides Netflix, including:

One particular danger in watching shows on unverified IPTV platforms is malware. Even with some verified services like Peacock TV and BBC iPlayer, you may have to put up with annoying ads. To overcome these issues, ExpressVPN offers Advanced Protection to block malware, ads, and other online threats like malicious and adult sites.

While ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than other VPNs, my seamless streaming experience was unmatched. Not many VPNs I tried gave me such crisp video resolution from start to finish, so it’s definitely worth the price. Plus, when you get a 1-year + 3 months plan, ExpressVPN gives you a 49% discount, and you pay just $6.67/month.

You can try ExpressVPN with IPTV, and if you’re not happy with it, you can get a refund — it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. When I asked for a refund via live chat, the agent didn’t ask why I was canceling or try to change my mind. The money was back in my account after 4 days.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Worldwide to Watch IPTV

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,800+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost has optimized servers for many IPTV platforms around the world, with working IP addresses for services like Disney+, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more. During tests, they worked great, although some regular servers also had working IP addresses for popular IPTV services. You can rely on CyberGhost if you’re subscribed to:

If you have a favorite IPTV platform, you can set CyberGhost to connect automatically when you open the site or app to stream. This was easy to configure on my Windows PC using the “Smart Rules” function. You can also use the same feature to start a VPN connection automatically when streaming with unsecure public WiFi networks during commutes.

When I tested CyberGhost’s local servers, none of my streams lagged. The only problem you may experience is slower speeds when using servers far from your location. Fortunately, the optimized servers are fast even if you’re not within the same city as the server — I recommend always using an optimized server if they’re available in your location.

CyberGhost is an excellent VPN for streaming, and you can try it with the 2-year + 4 months plan for $2.03 a month. Although you pay upfront, it’s similar to a free trial with the 45-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, just use 24/7 live chat to ask for a refund. An agent approved my request immediately, and I had my money back 6 days later.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Huge Server Network to Avoid Slowdowns When Streaming IPTV

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PIA has the biggest network on this list with 35,000+ servers to watch IPTV without slowdowns. Because there are so many servers in any one location, whichever you connect to is likely not crowded. When servers are loaded to capacity, their performance suffers as there are too many requests to handle.

When tested, PIA wasn’t as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost, as I saw a 41% drop in my baseline speed with the local servers. Still, my speeds were enough to watch shows in UHD without lags. Additionally, PIA has many settings that you can adjust to get better speeds. For example, you can use the “Small Packets” settings if your internet is slow.

Like CyberGhost, PIA has streaming-optimized servers for many IPTV platforms. However, they’re not specific to IPTV platforms. They’re available for users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and 6 other countries in Europe. During tests, PIA worked with:

Unfortunately, some IPTV services like DAZN and 10 play don’t work even with PIA’s streaming servers. If you’re subscribed to these platforms, ExpressVPN is more reliable.

Compared to others, PIA is one of the cheapest VPNs for monthly plans. Still, I recommend its 2-year + 4 months plan for $2.03 a month. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s risk-free, and you don’t have to commit unless you’re satisfied. I used the 24/7 live chat, and the whole process took less than a few minutes. My money was back in my account a week later.

FAQs on Watching IPTV

Start Watching IPTV With a VPN Today

While legitimate IPTV services are safe to use, unverified platforms could pose a security risk to your device and personal information. With hundreds of new services introduced every year, it’s often difficult to tell which platforms are trustworthy.

To be absolutely sure you’re protected, you should always stream with a VPN. The best VPNs offer reliable servers and fast speeds, so you can enjoy your favorite shows without interruptions — all while keeping your data secure.

After testing 40+ VPNs, I found that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming IPTV platforms. It worked with all the services we tested and had the best speeds for excellent streaming quality. When you try ExpressVPN with an IPTV service, it’s risk-free since you’re protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can get a refund if you’re not satisfied.

Watch IPTV With These Top VPNs

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1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.03 / month Save 83%

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4.

9.4

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$3.09 / month Save 76%

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5.

9.4

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$2.29 / month Save 85%

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