Side by side
| Freeview | IPTV service | |
|---|---|---|
| How it arrives | Through a TV aerial; Freeview Play adds on-demand over broadband | Over your broadband, to an app or box |
| Cost | Free to watch | Usually a monthly or yearly subscription |
| What you need | An aerial and a Freeview TV or box | An internet connection and a player app on a TV, stick or box |
| Channels | The UK’s free-to-air channels | Whatever the service is licensed to carry |
| On-demand | Freeview Play adds the BBC, ITVX, Channel 4, 5 and U players | Depends on the service |
| Recording | With a Freeview recorder | Depends on the player and service |
| Rooms and devices | Where there’s an aerial point | Anywhere with Wi-Fi or a cable, and on phones and laptops |
| TV Licence for live TV | Needed | Needed |
Where Freely fits
Freely is a free platform from Everyone TV, the company behind Freeview, owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5. It streams the live channels over broadband and puts them in one guide with the broadcasters’ on-demand programmes, with no aerial needed. It’s built into selected TVs and plug-in devices, but not Fire TV sticks. See Freely explained.
So if you mainly want free UK channels without an aerial, Freely may be all you need. See free internet TV in the UK. For satellite and cable as well, see IPTV vs satellite and cable TV.
When IPTV adds something
- International and specialist channels that Freeview doesn’t carry. Check that the service holds the rights; see is IPTV legal?.
- TV in rooms without an aerial point, or on a laptop, phone or tablet.
- One player across every TV, with a TV guide, favourites and, with some players, catch-up and recording. See catch-up TV in IPTV.
The rule that applies to both
GOV.UK says you need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, however you receive it, and to use BBC iPlayer. That covers Freeview, Freely and IPTV alike. See IPTV and the TV Licence.
Picture and reliability
Aerial TV doesn’t use your broadband, so a busy connection in the evening doesn’t affect it; it depends on your aerial and the signal in your area instead. IPTV depends on your connection: a steady line and a wired connection to the TV make the biggest difference. See internet speed for IPTV and Wi-Fi or Ethernet.