TiViMate Setup: The Power-User IPTV Player Guide
TiViMate is what people move to once basic IPTV players start to annoy them. It's the enthusiast's choice — the best programme guide of any IPTV app, proper recording, multiple playlists in one interface, and a layout that genuinely feels like a high-end set-top box rather than a phone app stretched onto a telly.
It also has one hard limitation that rules it out for a lot of people. Let's cover that first, so you don't spend an evening trying to install it on something that will never run it.
TiViMate runs on Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV / Firestick. It does not run on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Samsung and LG Smart TVs — and no workaround exists, because those platforms don’t accept the app at all. If your main screen is an Apple device or a Smart TV, stop here and see our best IPTV player guide for what suits your device instead.
Why enthusiasts rate it
Three things, mainly:
The programme guide. This is the headline feature. TiViMate's EPG is genuinely excellent — a proper multi-column grid you can scroll through days ahead, with a multi-panel layout showing live TV, the guide and your channel list simultaneously. Nothing else comes close for browsing what's on.
Recording. Plug in USB storage and TiViMate will record live TV, including scheduling from the guide. That's a genuine set-top-box feature most IPTV apps simply don't have.
Multiple playlists. If you have more than one source, TiViMate merges them into one interface rather than making you switch profiles.
Add multi-view (several channels on screen at once), per-channel settings and deep customisation, and it's clear why it's the app people upgrade to rather than start with.
Free vs Premium
TiViMate has a free tier and a paid Premium tier, bought as an annual subscription through the Play Store. The free version plays live TV perfectly well; Premium is what unlocks the features people actually want — recording, multiple playlists, and the fuller customisation.
The price is modest — a few pounds a year rather than a monthly commitment — but check the current figure in the store for your region rather than trusting a number in a blog post, since it changes. The free tier is a genuine trial, so you can decide whether the extras matter to you before paying anything.
Installing on Firestick
TiViMate isn't in Amazon's store, so you sideload it:
- Install the free Downloader app from the Fire TV store.
- Go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options and turn Install unknown apps ON for Downloader. (Can't see it? Open About and click the device name seven times.)
- Use Downloader to fetch the official TiViMate package.
- Install, then open it.
On Android TV and Google TV devices it's simpler — install straight from the Play Store. Our Firestick guide covers the sideloading steps in more detail.
Setting up your playlist
TiViMate accepts both Xtream Codes and M3U. Choose Xtream where your provider offers it:
- Open TiViMate → Add playlist.
- Choose Xtream Codes (or M3U URL).
- Enter the Server URL, Username and Password — the URL starts with
http://, nothttps://. - Let it process. Large playlists take a moment on first load.
TiViMate’s real advantage only appears once you tidy up. Use its channel-management screen to hide the groups you’ll never watch and build a favourites list of the fifty or so channels you actually use. Going from 10,000 channels to a curated list transforms the experience — and it’s the step most people skip before deciding the app is “cluttered”.
TiViMate vs IPTV Smarters
The honest comparison:
| TiViMate | IPTV Smarters | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free tier + cheap Premium | Free |
| Devices | Android/Fire TV only | Almost everything |
| Guide (EPG) | Best available | Perfectly adequate |
| Recording | Yes (Premium) | No |
| Multiple playlists | Yes (Premium) | Limited |
| Ease for beginners | More to learn | Simpler |
If you want simple and universal, Smarters. If you want the best experience and you're on Android or Firestick, TiViMate. Our IPTV Smarters guide covers the alternative.
Is it worth it?
If you watch a lot of live TV on a Firestick or Android box, yes — comfortably. The guide alone changes how you use IPTV, and the annual cost is trivial next to your subscription.
If you mostly watch on-demand, or you're on Apple or a Smart TV, it isn't for you. And either way, remember the app is only the interface — the streams behind it decide whether your telly actually works at peak time. That's what a properly resourced best IPTV provider UK is for.
Frequently asked questions
Is TiViMate free?
There's a free tier that plays live TV, plus a cheap annual Premium tier that unlocks recording, multiple playlists and fuller customisation.
Does TiViMate work on iPhone or Samsung TV?
No. It runs only on Android-based devices — Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV/Firestick. There's no iOS or Smart TV version.
Is TiViMate Premium worth it?
If you watch a lot of live TV and want recording, multiple playlists and the best guide, yes. The annual cost is small next to a subscription.
How do I install TiViMate on Firestick?
Install Downloader, enable Install unknown apps for it in Developer Options, then use Downloader to fetch and install the official TiViMate package.
Can TiViMate record live TV?
Yes, with Premium and USB storage attached, including scheduling recordings straight from the programme guide.