The short version
Both apps respect you: no ads, no account, no nagging. iPlayTV asks for the money first and then leaves you alone; Kanalo lets you watch everything for free and asks for a subscription only for the features that go beyond the screen in your hand. If you need an Apple TV app today, iPlayTV. If you want a modern iPhone and iPad player and the option to try it first, Kanalo.
Feature comparison
Side by side, based on the App Store versions available at the time of writing.
| Feature | Kanalo | iPlayTV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro from €0.99/month | Paid up front, one-time purchase |
| Try before you buy | Yes, the free version is complete for watching | No |
| Ads | None, ever | None |
| 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 |
| Picture in Picture | Native iOS PiP PRO | Yes |
| AirPlay | Live TV, movies and series PRO | Yes |
| Chromecast | Live TV, movies and series PRO | No |
| Offline downloads | Pro | No |
| Family Sharing | Pro, up to six people | Standard App Store Family Sharing |
| iPad layout | Dedicated sidebar and split view | Adapted iPhone layout |
| Apple TV app | Not yet | Yes |
Ads and price
iPlayTV is a one-time purchase. You cannot try it before paying, but once you have, that is it — no subscription, and Family Sharing covers the rest of the household through the App Store.
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 lifetime option is the closest equivalent to iPlayTV's model: pay once, done. The difference is that with Kanalo you know the app works with your provider before you spend anything.
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.
iPlayTV also keeps playlists on the device, has no account and, being a paid app, carries no ad SDK. On privacy the two are equals.
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 .
iPlayTV supports Picture in Picture and AirPlay, but not Chromecast, and its iPad version is an adapted phone layout rather than a separate design. Its Apple TV app is the reason many people buy it in the first place.
Where iPlayTV still wins
iPlayTV wins on the Apple TV, full stop: Kanalo does not have a tvOS app yet. It also wins if you refuse subscriptions on principle and do not want to pay the lifetime price — a single small purchase gets you everything iPlayTV offers, forever.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick Kanalo if you watch on iPhone and iPad, want to try before you pay, and care about the iPad layout, Chromecast or offline downloads.
- Pick iPlayTV if you need an Apple TV app now and prefer a single up-front purchase.
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.