TIVRA vs TiviMate: Feature Comparison for 2026

TiviMate has been the go-to IPTV player for Android TV for years, and for good reason — it is a solid, feature-rich application with a loyal user base. TIVRA is the newer player on the block, built from scratch for the modern Android TV platform. Both are excellent choices, but they have different strengths. This comparison is designed to help you decide which one fits your needs.

Disclosure: This article is published on the TIVRA blog, so we obviously have a perspective. That said, we have made an effort to be fair and factual. TiviMate is a great app, and we respect what its developer has built.

Quick Comparison Table

User Interface and Design

This is where the two apps diverge most noticeably. TiviMate uses a functional, information-dense interface that prioritizes showing as much data as possible on screen. It works well and experienced IPTV users feel right at home, but it can feel utilitarian.

TIVRA takes a more modern approach to its UI. The interface uses a dark theme with subtle gradients, smooth animations, and generous spacing. The sidebar navigation, channel overlays, and EPG grid were all designed with the 10-foot living room experience in mind — meaning text is large enough to read from across the room and elements are spaced to work naturally with D-pad navigation.

EPG Program Guide

Both apps offer full EPG grid views with horizontal time scrolling and channel-by-channel program listings. Both support XMLTV sources and Xtream Codes built-in EPG. For a deeper dive into EPG setup, see our best EPG sources guide.

TiviMate's EPG is battle-tested and feature-complete. It supports multiple EPG sources per playlist, customizable EPG refresh intervals, and detailed program information overlays.

TIVRA's EPG guide was redesigned from the ground up in early 2026 and now features a smooth-scrolling grid with now-and-next bars, color-coded genres, and quick-tune functionality (press select on any program to jump to that channel). The guide handles large channel lists (5,000+) without the lag that some users report with other players.

Remote Control Navigation

Both apps are fully navigable with a standard Android TV remote (D-pad, select, back, home). However, the quality of D-pad navigation varies significantly between IPTV players, and this is an area where TIVRA has invested heavily.

TIVRA was built for TV from day one. Every screen, overlay, and menu was designed around D-pad input. Focus management is predictable — pressing a direction always moves focus where you expect it to go. The app supports remote shortcuts including long-press back to return to the player, channel up/down for channel surfing, and number keys for direct channel entry.

TiviMate also has good D-pad support, though some users have reported occasional focus issues in certain menus, particularly when navigating between the sidebar and the main content area. TiviMate supports a wide range of remote shortcuts and customizable key bindings, which power users appreciate.

Connection Support

Both apps support the two main IPTV connection types: M3U playlists and Xtream Codes API. Both handle standard and extended M3U formats, and both implement the full Xtream Codes API for live TV, VOD, and series.

TiviMate supports up to 5 playlists in the premium version and also supports Stalker Portal middleware, which is a third connection type used by some providers. TIVRA supports multiple providers without a fixed limit, but does not currently support Stalker Portal.

Catch-up, DVR, and Recording

This is an area where TiviMate currently has a clear advantage. TiviMate Premium supports catch-up TV (replaying recent programs through the EPG), timeshift (pausing and rewinding live TV), and local recording to USB storage.

TIVRA has catch-up and DVR on its development roadmap, and these features are actively being built, but they are not available yet as of March 2026. If catch-up and recording are essential to your workflow today, TiviMate is the better choice right now.

Platform Support

TiviMate supports both Android TV and Android mobile devices (phones and tablets). This is a significant advantage for users who want to watch on their phone when away from the TV.

TIVRA is currently Android TV only. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are on the roadmap, along with a web app. The TV-only focus has allowed TIVRA to optimize every pixel for the big-screen experience without compromise, but it means you cannot use it on your phone today.

Pricing

TiviMate offers a free tier with basic functionality and a premium tier at approximately $19.99/year (pricing may vary by region). There are also lifetime license options that occasionally appear. The free tier is limited to one playlist and lacks catch-up, recording, and some other features.

TIVRA offers a 7-day free trial with full features, then requires a subscription: $1.99/month for a personal license (1 device) or $3.99/month for a family license (up to 5 devices). Annual plans offer 33-37% savings. See the full pricing details.

On a yearly basis, TiviMate Premium is roughly $20/year, while TIVRA Personal is $7.99/year and TIVRA Family is $14.99/year. TIVRA is the more affordable option at every tier.

Development Pace and Community

TiviMate has been around since 2019 and has built a large, active community on Reddit and various IPTV forums. The developer has a track record of steady updates and responsive support. The community has produced extensive guides, tips, and troubleshooting resources.

TIVRA is newer but is under very active development with frequent updates — often multiple releases per week. New features and bug fixes ship fast. Being newer means a smaller community, but it also means the codebase is modern, the architecture is clean, and there is no legacy baggage slowing down new feature development.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose TiviMate if:

• You need catch-up TV or local recording right now.
• You want to use the same app on your phone and your TV.
• You need Stalker Portal support.
• You prefer an established app with a large community for support.

Choose TIVRA if:

• You want the best-looking, most modern IPTV interface on Android TV.
• You prioritize smooth D-pad navigation that works perfectly with a standard remote.
• You want an affordable subscription, especially the $7.99/year personal plan.
• You want an app under rapid active development with frequent updates and new features.
• You value a clean, modern UI designed for the living room from day one.

Both are excellent IPTV players. You genuinely cannot go wrong with either one. If you have been using TiviMate and are happy with it, there is no urgent reason to switch unless TIVRA's UI and pricing appeal to you. If you are setting up an IPTV player for the first time, TIVRA offers a modern experience at a lower price point that makes it worth trying during the free trial.