Who iptv is for#
Developers building IPTV apps or media center integrations
The iptv-org API returns channel metadata, logos, and stream URLs as JSON, making it straightforward to integrate into a custom media application without building your own channel database.
Skip if:
Your application targets a single commercial broadcaster who requires licensing agreements for their content. iptv-org covers publicly available streams only.
Self-hosters running Jellyfin, Kodi, or Plex
Load the iptv-org M3U playlist URL directly into your media server's live TV configuration alongside an EPG source from iptv-org/epg. No account registration or API key required.
Skip if:
You need guaranteed uptime for a specific set of channels. Stream links in the public database can go offline without notice.
Teams replacing paid EPG and channel metadata services
iptv-org provides channel names, logos, country codes, and program guide data that commercial services like Schedules Direct or Nielsen Gracenote charge for. Coverage is often stronger than paid providers for non-English markets.
Skip if:
Your use case requires an SLA, guaranteed data freshness, or contractual liability coverage. iptv-org is community-maintained with no formal support tier.
The problem it solves#
Finding reliable, organized TV channel data for a media app or home theater setup has historically required either scraping streams yourself or paying for a commercial EPG and metadata service. Nielsen Gracenote and Schedules Direct charge subscription fees and per-device licenses that price out individual developers and small teams. EPG.pw and similar services sell program guide feeds that iptv-org provides freely.
Beyond cost, proprietary TV metadata comes with terms of service restrictions, format lock-in, and no ability to contribute corrections or additions. A developer building a regional app finds that commercial datasets often have poor coverage for non-English markets. A self-hoster running Jellyfin or Kodi needs a channel list and EPG source just to watch free-to-air TV, and the paid options are disproportionate to the use case.
How it solves it#
M3U playlists by country, language, and category
The main playlist includes all available channels; filtered playlists let you load only channels from a specific country or category. The index URL is publicly hosted and usable in any video player that supports M3U streams, including VLC, Kodi, Jellyfin, and Plex.
Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data
A companion repository (iptv-org/epg) provides EPG downloads for most channels in the database. Compatible with any XMLTV-supporting media player, giving you schedule and program information alongside live streams.
JSON API for developers
The iptv-org/api repository exposes the full channel database as a REST API returning JSON. Developers can query channels by country, language, or category and integrate TV metadata into their own applications without scraping the M3U files directly.
Community-maintained and GitHub-native
Channels are added and corrected by contributors via pull requests. The update workflow runs on GitHub Actions, automatically validating and regenerating playlists on each merge. Errors and outdated links are tracked via GitHub Issues.
Channel metadata and logo assets
Each channel entry in the database includes name, country, language, logo URL, and category. The metadata is sourced from the iptv-org/database repository, which powers both the API and the playlist generation pipeline.
Strengths and trade-offs#
Strengths
- Unlicense: truly public domain with no restrictionsThe Unlicense dedicates the codebase and data to the public domain, meaning you can copy, modify, distribute, or use it commercially with no attribution requirement. Unlike Creative Commons or MIT, the Unlicense carries no conditions at all.
- 136,000+ stars signal community trust and long-term continuityWith over 136,000 GitHub stars and 7,800+ forks, iptv-org is the most widely referenced public IPTV channel collection. Active since 2018, with its last push in August 2026, it has demonstrated consistent community maintenance across nearly a decade.
- No infrastructure to runUnlike self-hosted media servers, iptv-org requires nothing to deploy. You load an M3U URL from GitHub Pages into your existing player. There is no server to maintain, no database to back up, and no Docker container to manage.
- Structured companion ecosystemThe iptv-org organization publishes separate repositories for the database, API, EPG, and a curated resource list (awesome-iptv). Each component is maintained independently, so you can use only the pieces your application needs.
Trade-offs
- -No uptime guarantees on stream linksStream URLs are submitted by community contributors and point to third-party sources. Links go offline regularly as broadcasters change their infrastructure or remove public access. iptv-org has no control over destination URLs and does not host any video content itself.
- -Data source, not deployable softwareiptv-org is a database and playlist collection, not a media server. You still need a compatible video player or media application (VLC, Kodi, Jellyfin, Plex, etc.) to watch channels. It does not replace the player layer.
- -Legal status varies by regioniptv-org links only to publicly available streams and stores no video files. However, the legality of accessing specific streams depends on the copyright holder's intent and your jurisdiction. The repository's legal section is explicit about the limits of what removing a link can accomplish.
iptv vs alternatives#
iptv-org vs Nielsen Gracenote
Nielsen Gracenote is the dominant commercial provider of TV metadata, EPG data, and channel logos. Broadcasters and app developers license Gracenote data to power channel guides in smart TVs, streaming apps, and set-top boxes.
| Feature | iptv-org | Nielsen Gracenote |
|---|---|---|
| License | Unlicense (public domain) | Proprietary, licensed per device/API call |
| Cost | Free | Subscription, enterprise pricing |
| Coverage | Community-maintained, global | Commercial, primarily English-market focused |
| EPG data | Yes, via iptv-org/epg | Yes, premium quality |
| API access | Yes, JSON REST | Yes, enterprise REST API |
| SLA | None | Commercial SLA available |
iptv-org is the better choice when you need free, no-strings-attached channel metadata for a personal project, open source media application, or self-hosted media server. Gracenote is still the right choice when your application requires an SLA, guaranteed EPG freshness, or contractual coverage for a commercial product where data reliability is non-negotiable.
iptv-org vs Schedules Direct and EPG.pw
Schedules Direct charges a subscription fee for EPG data primarily covering North American channels, intended for media center software like Kodi and MythTV. EPG.pw sells EPG feeds on a subscription basis for a broader geographic range.
| Feature | iptv-org | Schedules Direct / EPG.pw |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Subscription required |
| Coverage | Global, community-maintained | Regional, commercially curated |
| Data freshness | Depends on contributor activity | Guaranteed by provider |
| Self-hosting | Data hosted on GitHub Pages | API-based, no self-hosting |
For self-hosters who want free EPG data for Jellyfin, Kodi, or Plex, iptv-org covers more channels globally at no cost. Schedules Direct is worth considering when you need high-accuracy, guaranteed-fresh EPG data for North American broadcast TV, particularly for DVR scheduling where stale data causes missed recordings.
Quick start#
Setup requires only cloning the repository; playlists are also available directly via the hosted URL without any local install.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/iptv-org/iptv.git
```What it's built on#
- Languages
- JavaScriptTypeScript
FAQ#
Is iptv-org free to use?
Yes. iptv-org is licensed under the Unlicense, which places it in the public domain with no conditions. You can use the playlists, database, and API for any purpose, including commercial applications, with no fees and no attribution requirement.
How do I add iptv-org channels to my video player?
Paste the M3U playlist URL (https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u) directly into your video player's network stream or M3U import field. VLC, Kodi, Jellyfin, and most IPTV apps support this. Filtered playlists by country and category are listed in the PLAYLISTS.md file in the GitHub repository.
Does iptv-org include TV program guide (EPG) data?
EPG data is available via the companion iptv-org/epg repository. It provides XMLTV-format program guides for most channels in the database. Media servers like Jellyfin and Kodi can load XMLTV feeds directly alongside the M3U playlist.
Is it legal to use iptv-org?
iptv-org links only to publicly available stream URLs and stores no video content itself. The repository's legal section notes that linking does not directly infringe copyright. The legality of accessing specific streams depends on your jurisdiction and the copyright holder's intent. Review the legal section in the GitHub repository before using streams in a commercial context.
Can I access iptv-org channel data via an API?
Yes. The iptv-org/api repository provides a JSON REST API that exposes channels, EPG, and metadata. Query by country, language, or category. The API is documented in its own repository and is free to use under the same Unlicense terms.
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