People often ask whether IPTV and Netflix are the same thing, or whether one replaces the other. The short answer: they serve completely different purposes. Here's a clear breakdown of how they compare.
What Netflix Does (and Doesn't Do)
Netflix is an on-demand video service. You choose what to watch from a library of films, TV series, and original content, and watch it whenever you want. What Netflix does not include:
- Live TV — you can't watch BBC News, ITV live, or Channel 4 in real time
- Live sport — no Premier League, no F1, no Sky Sports, no TNT Sports
- UK Freeview channels — no BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5 live
- News — no Sky News, BBC News 24, or CNN live
What IPTV Does
IPTV is live television delivered over the internet. With a Best IPTV UK subscription, you get:
- 30,000+ live channels — including every UK Freeview channel, all Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Sky Cinema and international channels
- 80,000+ on-demand titles — films and full TV series, similar to Netflix
- Full EPG (TV guide) — see what's on and what's coming up on every channel
- 4K Ultra HD on supported channels and devices
IPTV vs Netflix: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Netflix (Standard) | Best IPTV UK |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | £18/mo | From £5.83/mo |
| Live TV channels | ❌ None | ✅ 30,000+ |
| Live sport | ❌ None | ✅ All Sky Sports, TNT |
| On-demand movies | ✅ Large library | ✅ 80,000+ titles |
| Original content | ✅ Netflix Originals | ⚠️ Limited |
| UK Freeview channels | ❌ No | ✅ All channels |
| News (live) | ❌ No | ✅ Sky News, BBC, CNN |
| 4K Ultra HD | ✅ Premium plan only | ✅ Included |
Do I Need Both IPTV and Netflix?
Many UK households use both — IPTV for live TV, sport, and news, and Netflix for its original series and films. Combined, they still cost less than a Sky TV subscription alone.
If you had to choose one: IPTV wins on value and content breadth. Netflix wins only if you specifically want Netflix Original series (Stranger Things, The Crown, etc.).
The Verdict
IPTV and Netflix aren't really competitors — they do different things. But if you're currently paying £43/month for Sky Sports and £18/month for Netflix, switching to IPTV at £5.83/month covers all your live TV and sport needs, leaving you the option to keep Netflix if you want it — all for less than a quarter of what you were paying Sky alone.