The short version
If you have used Flex on your Apple TV for years and are happy with it, keeping Flex on your iPhone is the path of least resistance and there is nothing wrong with it. If you want one ad-free player on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, with a faster guide, a proper iPad layout and a single purchase for all three, Kanalo.
Feature comparison
Side by side, based on the App Store versions available at the time of writing.
| Feature | Kanalo | Flex IPTV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro from €0.99/month | Free with in-app upgrade; Apple TV app sold separately |
| Ads | None, ever | Ads in the free version |
| Account required | No account | No account |
| Playlist sources | M3U, M3U8 and Xtream Codes | M3U and Xtream Codes |
| EPG guide | Free, opens instantly on large playlists | Yes |
| Catch-up | Yes, from the guide with providers that support it | Yes, with providers that support it |
| Picture in Picture | Native iOS PiP PRO | Varies by version |
| AirPlay | Live TV, movies and series PRO | Yes |
| Chromecast | Live TV, movies and series PRO | No |
| Offline downloads | Pro | No |
| iPad layout | Dedicated sidebar and split view | Adapted iPhone layout |
| Apple TV app | Yes, same download (tvOS 17+) | Yes |
Ads and price
Flex IPTV on iPhone is free with ads and an in-app upgrade to remove them and unlock extras; the Apple TV version is a separate paid app. So a household with an Apple TV and an iPhone ends up paying twice, once per platform.
Kanalo is free to download and free to use. Pro adds Picture in Picture, AirPlay, Chromecast, offline downloads, unlimited playlist refreshes and Family Sharing for €0.99 a month, €9.99 a year or €39.99 once. The Apple TV app is part of the same download and one Pro purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, so there is nothing to pay twice for.
Privacy and where your playlist lives
Kanalo has no account system. Your M3U URL or Xtream host, username and password are stored only on your iPhone or iPad. There are no analytics SDKs and no third-party trackers. Delete the app and the credentials go with it.
Flex stores your playlists on the device and does not need an account. The free iPhone version includes an ad SDK, which means third-party network traffic while the app is running.
iPad, Apple TV, PiP, AirPlay and Chromecast
Kanalo ships a real iPad layout: a sidebar for groups and favourites, a large live preview and a landscape player with an up-next dock. On Apple TV it is a native tvOS app built for the Siri Remote — live TV, the guide, movies, series and favourites — and your playlists come over from the iPhone by scanning a QR code, Xtream logins included. Native iOS Picture in Picture works for live TV, movies and series, AirPlay sends the stream to any AirPlay receiver, Chromecast beams it to a compatible TV on the same Wi-Fi network, and 'Play on Apple TV' starts something on the paired Apple TV straight from your iPhone PRO .
Flex runs on iPad with an adapted layout that keeps the Apple TV-style navigation. AirPlay works; Chromecast is not part of Flex. Catch-up is available in both apps when your provider offers it — in Kanalo it starts from the guide.
Where Flex still wins
Flex IPTV wins on maturity on the Apple TV: its tvOS app has been around for years, while Kanalo's arrived in September 2026. If you have already paid for Flex on tvOS, the muscle memory carries over, and its free iPhone tier exists without any subscription if you can live with the ads.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick Kanalo if you want no ads, a fast guide, a real iPad layout, Chromecast, and one purchase that covers iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
- Pick Flex IPTV if you are already invested in it on your Apple TV and do not want to change.
About this comparison
Kanalo is independent and not affiliated with the other apps mentioned here. Feature notes reflect the versions available on the App Store at the time of writing (September 2026) and can change with updates — check the current listing before you decide.