Kodi is a popular application for organizing and playing local media content. It can also stream media content directly from the web and through third-party Kodi add-ons. However, most users are unaware that Kodi also lets you stream live TV channels and that too for free. In this article, I am going to share some of the best live TV addons for Kodi which you can access to catch up with your favorite shows and news channels. Also, if you are a recent cord-cutter then this article is going to help you bring the live TV experience to your Kodi setup, hence making the transition complete. So without further ado, here’s our list of the 8 best live TV addons for Kodi that you should use in 2020.
Warning: Some of the Kodi addons host and stream copyrighted content. Streaming protected content is illegal and amounts to piracy. We do not encourage online piracy in any way or form.
Best Live TV Addons for Kodi in 2020
Here is the list of top live TV addons for Kodi that we are going to cover in this article. We have added anchor links for all the addons. You can click on the links to go directly to the addons that interest you the most.
Bonus: Phoenix Reborn TV
But, before we get to our list of the best live TV addons for Kodi, we should learn how to install them. If you already have the expertise then you can directly skip to the list below. If you don’t know anything about the steps, we should start with a simple tutorial that will teach you the installation process:
How to Install Live TV Addons on Kodi
1. First of all, move to the “Add-ons” tab and click on the “box” icon.
2. Next, click on “Install from repository” if you want to install the addon from Kodi’s official repository. If you have downloaded the ZIP file then click on “Install from ZIP file” and locate the file on your device.
3. Upon selecting the repository, choose “All repositories” and then move to “Video add-ons“.
4. Here, you will find all the video add-ons available on Kodi’s server.
5. Now, scroll down and look for the particular addon. After that, open it and click on the “Install” button. After the installation is done, you will find it under the “Add-ons” tab. Now go ahead and enjoy live TV on Kodi.
Warning: Some of the websites hosting the Kodi addons contain tracking pixels. If you don’t want to give away your personal information like IP address and metadata, you should use VPNs. Remember to check out our article on the best free VPNs for the same.
List of Best Live TV Addons for Kodi (Updated June 2020)
Here, we are going to list the top 10 live TV addons for Kodi. You can choose any add-on based on your preference. Most of the add-ons are officially available on the official Kodi repository so you can easily install them without much hassle. Now that we have gone through the initial points, let’s get to the list.
1. cCloud TV
cCloud TV is a free and open-source live TV addon for Kodi. It’s run by the open-source community and offers a wide range of TV channels on Kodi. You get access to American as well as European channels. The TV channels are categorized into various sections including Sports, News, Music, Movies, etc for easy selection.
The add-on is not available on the official Kodi repository so you will have to install a third-party repo to have cCloud TV. With everything taken into consideration, cCloud TV is an excellent live TV add-on for Kodi. You will be surprised to see the performance given that it’s a free service.
- Install cCloud TV from Kodil Repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
2. BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is one of the best live TV add-ons for Kodi, especially if are from the United Kingdom.It offers all the BBC channels including BBC News, BBC One, Two and so on. You also get access to the radio stations and podcasts within this add-on. Besides the live TV channels, you can also play content from the large catalog of BBC documentaries, movies, and TV series.
The best part is that it’s completely free and available on the official Kodi repository. So installation is just a click away. However, do note that BBC’s content is geo-restricted and you can only stream it within the UK. To get around the limitation, you can use a VPN to unblock BBC content from anywhere around the world.
- Install BBC iPlayer from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
3. Xumo.TV
Xumo.TV is perhaps one of the most reliable live TV addons on Kodi and you must give it a try. The best part is that it’s available on Kodi’s official repository so you don’t have to download the ZIP file from shady sources. Just move to the “Addons” tab and you can seamlessly install Xumo.TV on your Kodi. Apart from that, it offers several major news channels including NBC, CBS, Time Magazine, and more.
In addition, you have channels like CollegeHumor, Vanity Fair, Gamespot, Broadway, The Hollywood Reporter, etc. As you can see, Xumo.TV covers almost all the segments from news to fashion and lifestyle. To sum up, if you are looking for a no-frills live TV addon for Kodi then Xumo.TV is an apt choice.
- Install Xumo.TV from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
4. Pluto.TV
Similar to Xumo.TV, Pluto.TV is a popular live TV addon for Kodi. It’s known for offering more than 200 live TV channels and has no buffering issues. The add-on allows you to browse TV channels as a guest, but if you want to view them then you will have to sign in with a user account. Other than that, you have multiple categories like Live, OnDemand, Lineup and more.
And if you want to watch movies and shows then Pluto.TV has you covered with its huge library of content. Best of all, the addon is available on Kodi’s official repository so in just a few clicks, you can get it running on your device. All in all, Pluto.TV is another powerful live TV addon for Kodi and if you want to stream a variety of channels then Pluto.TV is the best out there.
- Install Pluto.TV from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
5. YouTube
While YouTube is primarily a video hosting service, but now many traditional channels have moved their live streams to YouTube in an effort to reach more audiences. As a result, from news to local and entertainment channels, most are available on YouTube right away. So, if you want to watch live TV on Kodi then open the YouTube addon and move to the Live section to find all the curated channels.
That said, keep in mind, this addon does not offer YouTube TV services due to restrictions imposed by Google. Nevertheless, for most of the users, this addon will suffice their needs. Not to mention, you don’t need to sign in or go through a lengthy installation process to use this addon. So go ahead and install the YouTube addon on Kodi to stream live content right now.
- Install YouTube from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
6. Catch-Up TV & More
Catch-Up TV & More is currently in its infancy, but it does bring a lot of popular live TV channels on Kodi. In fact, it offers live TV channels from more than 15 countries around the world and that includes major regions like the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Japan, and more. You have access to channels like CBS, Blaze, Bristol TV, Edge Sport, and much more.
Apart from that, it also has a “Catch Up TV” section where you can view older videos from certain channels. Basically, you are getting a built-in DVR option and that is absolutely great. Simply put, Catch-Up TV & More is my personal favorite addon for streaming live TV on Kodi and you can’t afford to miss it.
- Install Catch-Up TV & More from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
7. Newsmax TV
If you are someone who wants access to live news channel on Kodi then Newsmax TV is for you. It’s an official addon by Newsmax which runs a cable news channel in the US and has millions of consumers. The channel offers its service for free on its website and you get the same stream on Kodi using this addon.
Not to mention, the addon is completely free and you don’t have to sign up for an account either. Further, the addon is part of Kodi’s official repository so you can have it on your device within minutes. All in all, I would say, if you are from the US then Newsmax TV is a great addon to watch live news on Kodi.
- Install Newsmax TV from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
8. Livestream
Livestream is among those live TV addons on Kodi that offer anything and everything. You would find live TV channels from Europe, the Middle East, and of course, the US. In fact, many use it to find channels that are censored in other countries. Having said that, keep in mind, Livestream does not have the best reliability as some channels work and some don’t.
Nevertheless, the addon is quite polished and categorized into various sections like Sports, News, Entertainment, and more. And the best part is that you can even follow the channels which make it easier for you to navigate and manage score of live TV channels. To conclude, if you want hundreds of live TV channels on Kodi then Livestream will not disappoint you.
- Install Livestream from Kodi’s official repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
Bonus: Phoenix Reborn TV
Phoenix Reborn TV is one of the oldest live TV add-ons for Kodi. Earlier, it was called Phoenix, but after many iterations of development and deprecation, the name has changed to Phoenix Reborn TV. It’s still run by the Kodi community and you will find a long list of TV channels from all over the world in this add-on.
To give you a sneak peek, you have access to live TV channels of almost all the European countries and from the US/UK as well. There are also separate lists of live TV channels with working links that are maintained by various Kodi users. Overall, Phoenix Reborn TV is still the king of live TV channels and you will not be disappointed at all. Add to the fact that it’s completely free and works great for the most part.
- Install Phoenix Reborn TV from Phoenix Repository
- Compatible with Kodi 18 Leia (currently at Kodi 18.7 Leia) and older versions including Kodi 17 Jarvis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best live TV Addon for Kodi?
Frankly, there is no one-size-fits-all addon for live TV as it depends on the user’s geography, type of preferred content, like news, sports, and more. We have tried to cover all kinds of live TV addons so you can have a complete experience while watching live TV on Kodi. I would highly recommend you to go through the list to find the addon of your choice.
Q. How Do I Watch Live TV on Kodi in 2020?
You just need to install the live TV addon on your Kodi and you will be able to access live channels under the “Add-on” tab.
Q. How Do I Set Up Live TV on Kodi?
We have written a step-by-step guide on how to install and set up live TV addons on the top of this article. We recommend you to go through the instructions.
Q. How Do I Get Live TV on Kodi Firestick?
To get live TV on Firestick, you need to install Kodi first. Follow our tutorial on how to install Kodi on Amazon Fire TV Stick. After that, you can follow the same step as mentioned above to install live TV addons.
How to Stay Safe While Streaming with Kodi
We will end this article, with some safety and privacy concerns. If you are using Kodi to manage offline media, there are not many safety concerns. Just update Kodi regularly so you are on the latest security patches.
If you are using it for streaming, it’s always better to stay away from pirated content. Also, never download Kodi builds, add-ons, skins, or more from malicious websites. So make sure to get downloads that have been verified by reputed sources. Don’t just download anything from the internet.
Finally, if you want to ensure that you are always protected, you can use VPNs while streaming content on Kodi. But remember that free VPNs won’t cut for streaming. You will have to get a paid VPN that offers unlimited data and excellent download speeds.
Install Live TV Add-ons for Kodi and Stay Updated
So that ends our list of best live TV addons for Kodi. Go ahead and install the add-on best suited to your interest. I have tried to cover everything from news, sports, entertainment, etc. Most of the addons are free, and frankly, they work really well. So check them out and let us know which Live TV add-on is your favorite.
