Xtream, M3U or MAG: which one should you actually pick?
Three ways to load the same subscription, with real differences in convenience. A plain-English comparison so you can choose once and forget about it.
They are delivery methods, not different products
This trips up a lot of people at checkout. Xtream, M3U and MAG are not three different services or three different channel line-ups. They are three ways of handing the same subscription to a player, and you get exactly the same content whichever you pick.
The right choice depends on your hardware and how much fiddling you are willing to do.
Xtream Codes: the one most people should choose
Xtream gives you three pieces of information: a server address, a username and a password. The app takes those and builds its own interface, complete with categories, a search function and a proper programme guide.
It is the best option for anyone using a dedicated player app on a Fire Stick, an Android box or a smart TV. It is also the easiest to move: when you replace your device, you type the same three fields into the new one and everything is exactly as it was.
M3U: one link, maximum compatibility
An M3U link is a single long URL containing your credentials and the whole playlist. Its strength is that virtually everything accepts it, including VLC, older smart TV apps and software with no Xtream support at all.
The trade-off is that programme guide support is patchier and the link is unwieldy to type with a remote. If you can avoid typing it by hand, do; email it to yourself and paste it instead.
MAG: no login at all
MAG boxes and compatible Formuler models authenticate by hardware MAC address. You give us the MAC when you order, we register it, and the box finds its own portal with nothing to type.
This makes it the most foolproof option for anyone who does not want to deal with credentials, which is why it remains popular for setting up a relative who would rather not think about any of this. The limitation is that it is tied to that specific box; change the hardware and you need us to register the new MAC, which we do free of charge.
The short answer
Using a player app on a Fire Stick, Android device or smart TV: choose Xtream. Using VLC, an unusual app or something old: choose M3U. Using a MAG or Formuler box: choose MAG.
And if you pick the wrong one, it is not a problem. Message support with your order number and we will switch you over at no cost.
Still stuck?
Send us your order number and the device you are using, and a real person will work through it with you.
Contact support