Netflix is an on-demand service: you choose a film or series from its own catalogue and watch whenever you like. IPTV delivers live TV channels over the internet, with a channel guide, live sports and news, often plus a movies and series library. They solve different problems, so many households keep both. Netflix is not a channel inside an IPTV subscription; you use the official Netflix app for it.
Side-by-side comparison
| IPTV (IPTVMaple) | Netflix | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Live TV channels with a guide, plus movies and series on demand | On-demand films, series and Netflix originals |
| Live sports | Yes: NHL, NFL, NBA, soccer, UFC on their usual channels | Occasional live events only |
| News | Live news channels | No live news channels |
| Local Canadian channels | Yes | No |
| International channels | UK, French, Italian, Polish and many more | Foreign-language films and series, not channels |
| How you watch | An IPTV player app with your login | The Netflix app |
| Free trial | 24 hours free | See Netflix’s own site |
When IPTV is the better fit
If you mainly want live TV, IPTV replaces cable: hockey on Saturday night, the news at six, a Premier League match in the morning. You browse by channel and time, the way you did with cable, and you can add international channels from home. See what IPTV is and IPTV for sports.
When Netflix is the better fit
If you mostly binge series and films and never watch live, an on-demand service is simpler. Netflix’s originals are only on Netflix, and its app is built into almost every smart TV.
Why “IPTV Netflix” confuses people
- Netflix runs on the same devices: a Fire TV Stick or Android TV box can run Netflix and an IPTV player side by side. Switching takes one button.
- “Netflix-style” apps: some IPTV players, such as Flix IPTV, borrow the look of a streaming app. They are still IPTV players, unrelated to Netflix.
- VOD sections: IPTV subscriptions often include movies and series, but that isn’t Netflix and doesn’t include Netflix originals.
Cost: replacing cable vs adding a service
IPTVMaple plans start at $9 for one month, or about $4.08 a month on a 12-month plan for one screen. Netflix pricing depends on the plan you pick on its site. Compare IPTV with what you pay for cable or satellite rather than with Netflix: see IPTV prices and our cord-cutting guide.
Using both on one TV
- Get a device with an app store, such as a Fire TV Stick or an onn 4K Pro.
- Install Netflix and an IPTV player (TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro).
- Log in to each with its own account. Pin both to the home screen.
