The short version
GSE Smart IPTV does more: more playlist formats, parental controls, a long list of settings. Kanalo does less, on purpose, and does it in a way that feels like the rest of your iPhone and iPad. If you want every option in a menu and are fine with ads until you pay to remove them, GSE is a reasonable choice. If you want a calm, ad-free, native player with a fast guide and a real iPad layout, Kanalo is built for that.
Feature comparison
Side by side, based on the App Store versions available at the time of writing.
| Feature | Kanalo | GSE Smart IPTV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro from €0.99/month | Free; in-app purchase to remove ads |
| Ads | None, ever | Ads in the free version |
| Account required | No account | No account |
| Playlist sources | M3U, M3U8 and Xtream Codes | M3U, Xtream Codes and several other formats |
| EPG guide | Free, opens instantly on large playlists | Yes, with manual EPG setup options |
| 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 | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Pro | No |
| iPad layout | Dedicated sidebar and split view | Scaled iPhone layout |
| Parental controls | No | Yes |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iOS and Android |
Ads and price
GSE is free with ads, and you remove them with a one-off in-app purchase. That is a fair model, but the ads sit inside the player while you are trying to watch, and the upgrade prompt comes back regularly.
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. Nothing in the free version is ad-supported, and the Pro features are all about watching beyond the screen in your hand, not about unlocking basics.
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.
GSE stores playlists on the device too, and does not require an account for normal use. It does ship with an ad SDK in the free version, which by nature talks to third-party servers while the app is open.
iPad, 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. Native iOS Picture in Picture works for live TV, movies and series, AirPlay sends the stream to Apple TV or any AirPlay receiver, and Chromecast beams it to a compatible TV on the same Wi-Fi network PRO .
GSE supports AirPlay and Chromecast in most builds and runs on iPad, but the iPad layout is the iPhone interface scaled up rather than a separate design. Picture in Picture depends on which version you have installed.
Where GSE still wins
GSE Smart IPTV wins on breadth. If your provider hands out playlists in an unusual format, if you need parental controls, or if the same household uses Android phones, GSE covers cases that Kanalo does not. It also has years of user knowledge behind it: whatever setup problem you hit, someone has posted the answer.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick Kanalo if you are on iPhone or iPad and want an ad-free, private, native-feeling player with a guide that stays fast.
- Pick GSE Smart IPTV if you need exotic playlist formats, parental controls, or the same app on Android.
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.