What costs money and what doesn’t
| Part | Usually | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Player app | Free, sometimes with paid extras | Some smart TV apps charge a licence after a trial |
| Channels (playlist or login) | Paid | The provider pays for servers and, if licensed, for the rights |
| Device | Your own TV, stick or phone | No special hardware needed |
| Internet connection | Your existing broadband | Check data limits on mobile |
| TV Licence | £180 a year for live TV | Needed for live TV on any service, and for BBC iPlayer |
Free and legal
The UK has a lot of free, legal internet TV:
- Broadcaster apps: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5 and U.
- Freely: live channels and on-demand together on newer TVs, with no aerial.
- Free ad-supported channels: Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and others.
See free internet TV in the UK. GOV.UK says a TV Licence is still needed to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, and to use BBC iPlayer.
“Free IPTV” that isn’t
Lists and apps that offer subscription channels for nothing don’t have the rights to them. They’re also where the scams and malware are: in a 2025 Censuswide survey for BeStreamWise, 39% of people who had watched illegally in the past year had lost money to criminals, and 65% had a security scare. See free IPTV playlists: what’s legal and what’s risky and is IPTV legal in the UK.
Free trials
Many providers, including us, offer a free trial so you can test the service on your own device and connection before paying. A trial from a provider you can identify, with clear terms, is the safe way to try IPTV for free. See plans and pricing and free trial.