TiviMate’s free version is genuinely usable. Unlike a lot of apps where the free tier is deliberately crippled to push you toward paying, TiviMate free gives you live TV playback, VOD, basic EPG, and favourites without spending anything. So the question is worth asking honestly: what do you actually lose by staying on free, and is the ~$5-$12/year depending on region upgrade worth it for your specific setup?

The answer depends almost entirely on how you watch. Here is the breakdown.

What the Free Version Includes

TiviMate free is not a trial. It does not expire. You can use it indefinitely with these features:

• Live TV playback across all channels in your subscription
• VOD movies and series browsing and playback
• Basic EPG guide – current programme information on channels
• Favourites – add channels to a favourites list for quick access
• Single playlist – one IPTV subscription loaded at a time
• Channel sorting and basic filtering by group

For a subscriber who watches a handful of channels regularly, has one IPTV subscription, and does not need to record anything, the free version covers it. The limitations only become relevant when you start pushing beyond basic use.

What Premium Adds

TiviMate premium – purchased through the TiviMate Companion app at around $5-$12/year depending on region – unlocks the following on top of the free version:

The Features That Actually Matter

Multiple playlists — the most important upgrade for most people

The free version limits you to one playlist. One IPTV subscription loaded at a time. If you have a primary service and a backup subscription – which is worth having – the free version cannot hold both. You would have to delete the current playlist and re-add the other every time you want to switch. Premium removes that limitation entirely and lets you switch between services with a single tap from the settings menu.

This single feature justifies the $5-$12/year for a large number of subscribers. If you have ever used a backup service or plan to, premium pays for itself in convenience within the first week.

Extended EPG horizon

The free version shows EPG data for a limited window – typically the current day only. Premium extends this to several days ahead. If you use the guide to plan viewing – checking what is on tonight, scheduling around upcoming sport, browsing the next few days of programming – the extended horizon makes a meaningful difference. If you just use the guide to check what is currently playing, the free version is adequate.

Recording

Premium unlocks recording live TV to an external USB drive or storage device connected to your Firestick or Android TV box. This is a feature very few IPTV apps offer and one that most cable subscribers take for granted. If you regularly miss live events and want to watch them back later without relying on your provider’s catch-up library, recording is a genuine differentiator. If you never feel the need to record, it adds nothing to your experience.

Parental controls

If children use the same device, PIN-protecting individual channels or entire categories is a practical necessity rather than a nice-to-have. On the free version there is no PIN protection at all. On premium, you can lock specific groups with a PIN that children would need to access them. For households without children this feature is irrelevant.

Multi-user profiles

Premium adds the ability to create separate user profiles with different channel arrangements, favourites, and settings. Useful in households where different family members have very different viewing habits. Less relevant for solo viewers or couples with similar tastes.

Is It Worth $5 a Year?

Put in context: the annual cost is less than a single month of most IPTV subscriptions. The question is not really whether $5 is good value – it clearly is for a piece of software used daily. The question is whether the features you personally need are locked behind the paywall.

Pay for premium if:

• You have or plan to have a backup IPTV subscription
• You want to plan viewing more than one day ahead using the EPG
• Children use the same streaming device
• You want to record live TV for later viewing
• You have multiple family members with different viewing preferences

Stay on free if:

• You have one IPTV subscription and no plans for a backup
• You only use the EPG to check what is currently on
• No children use the device
• You never feel the need to record anything
• You are solo or watch the same content as whoever else uses the device

How to Get TiviMate Premium

Premium is not purchased inside TiviMate itself. It requires a separate companion app:

1. On your Firestick or Android TV box, open the Amazon App Store or Google Play Store
2. Search for TiviMate Companion and install it
3. Open TiviMate Companion and create an account
4. Purchase the premium subscription from within the Companion app
5. Open TiviMate – premium features will activate automatically if Companion is installed and logged in on the same device

Both TiviMate and TiviMate Companion must be installed on the same device and Companion must be logged in for premium to remain active. If you factory reset your device or uninstall Companion, you will need to reinstall and log in again to restore premium features.

For full installation instructions including the Downloader code for Firestick, see our TiviMate full review and Firestick setup guide.

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Last updated May 2026. TiviMate premium pricing varies by region and has changed over time. Always check the current price in the TiviMate Companion app or Google Play Store before purchasing. A lifetime plan is also available.