Hi there! If you‘re looking to cut the cord on cable but don‘t want to sacrifice access to tons of channels, CatchON TV may be an option worth considering. In this review, I‘ll provide an in-depth look at everything CatchON TV has to offer so you can decide if it‘s the right IPTV service for your needs.
First off, what even is IPTV? It stands for Internet Protocol Television. Unlike traditional cable or satellite, IPTV uses your broadband internet connection to deliver live TV channels and on-demand content directly to your favorite streaming devices and apps.
IPTV services have exploded in popularity recently among cord-cutters who want the experience of cable/satellite without the expensive monthly bills. Top services like CatchON TV promise thousands of channels for just a fraction of the price.
But is it legal? Is it safe? That‘s exactly what we‘ll explore in this guide. I‘ll take you through CatchON‘s features, channels, pricing, installation, and most importantly – is it legit and licensed?
By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to determine if CatchON TV is right for you. Let‘s dive in!
What is CatchON TV? Overview of the IPTV Service
CatchON TV is an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service that offers live TV channel streaming and on-demand content over the internet.
With CatchON TV, you get access to over 6000 live channels spanning categories like:
- Entertainment (Hallmark, BBC America, POP)
- Movies (IFC, Sundance, TCM)
- Sports (ESPN, NFL Network, MLB Network)
- News (CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg)
- Kids (Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network)
- International programming
- Music
- Plus tons more!
Here‘s a quick rundown of the key features CatchON TV offers:
- 6000+ Live TV Channels – Extensive lineup across categories
- On-Demand Library – Movies, shows, news, comedy and more
- Works on Firestick, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV (via Airplay), iOS, Android, and computers.
- Free 3-Day Trial – Test it out risk-free
- Pricing – Starts at just $20/month
- One Connection – Stream on one device at a time
Compared to cable or satellite, IPTV services like CatchON TV can provide tremendous value. But you do have to be more flexible given their third-party nature.
Next, let‘s explore that generous free trial opportunity…
Take Advantage of the CatchON TV Free 3-Day Trial
One of the best parts about CatchON TV is that it offers new users a free 3-day trial before requiring any payment.
This gives you a great opportunity to test and evaluate the service firsthand, including:
- Browsing the full channel lineup to see their selection
- Sampling video quality across different channels
- Assessing channel reliability and uptime
- Testing features like the EPG guide, on-demand library, favorites, etc.
- Accessing everything completely risk-free
Very few competitors offer this generous of a free trial. Being able to experience the actual live TV streams before paying is extremely valuable.
To sign up for your free trial:
- Visit the CatchON TV website
- Register for a free account
- Download the CatchON TV app file
- Install CatchON TV on your streaming device
- Log in using your trial account credentials
Once installed, you‘ll have 3 days of full access to evaluate if CatchON TV‘s combination of channel selection, features and pricing is right for your needs.
Now let‘s explore exactly which channels are included…
Channel Lineup Breakdown – 6000+ Options
As mentioned, CatchON TV boasts over 6000 live channels. This positions it among the largest channel offerings in the IPTV market.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the key channel categories and options provided:
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Entertainment: A&E, Lifetime, Hallmark, OWN, BBC America, MTV, VH1, POP and more.
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Movies: IFC, Sundance TV, FXM, TCM, TNT, TBS, AMC, and tons additional movie channels.
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Sports: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Stadium, beIN Sports, Willow TV and tons more. Extensive PPV event access.
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News: CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Bloomberg, Newsy, Cheddar, Sky News, Euronews and many others.
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Kids: Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Nick Jr., BabyTV, Universal Kids, PBS Kids and a lot more for children.
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International: Hundreds of channels from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Philippines, Lebanon and many other regions.
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Music: SiriusXM radio channels, Jelli music channels, iHeartRadio stations, Retro Radio and more.
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Documentaries/Education: Discovery Channel, History, Science Channel, Curiosity Stream, PBS Documentaries and much more.
In total, CatchON offers over 250 US channels, 150+ Canadian channels, and thousands more international selections according to user reports.
You also get access to premiums like HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, usually for an additional fee. Sports packages and Pay-Per-View are available as well.
For on-demand content, CatchON provides a collection of movies, shows, comedy specials, kids programs and more. It‘s a nice bonus, not the main draw.
Bottom line – with 6000+ options across virtually every category imaginable, CatchON TV offers impressive channel variety.
CatchON TV Packages & Pricing
When it comes to pricing, CatchON TV offers various subscription options:
- 1 Month – $20 per month
- 3 Months – $40 total (just $13.33/month)
- 12 Months – $80 total ($6.66/month)
As you can see, the longer subscription term you choose, the more you can save compared to going month to month.
However, I suggest starting with a 1 month plan when evaluating a new service like CatchON TV. Annual deals can lock you into a service that may experience shutdowns or other issues.
At $20 monthly for 6000+ live channels, CatchON TV is extremely affordable. Many competitors charge the same price for just 1000-2000 channels.
Access to premium channels, sports packages and PPV events will cost extra beyond the base subscription fee. For example, HBO is an additional $15 per month. UFC PPV fights are usually $60-$70 each.
But the basic package includes a ton of content for a reasonable price. If you want maximum channel selection on a budget, CatchON TV delivers significant value – especially when you try it risk-free first.
Next, let‘s walk through how to get CatchON TV up and running…
How to Install CatchON TV on Your Devices
As an unverified IPTV service, CatchON TV isn‘t available on any app stores like the Amazon Appstore or Google Play Store.
Instead, you‘ll need to install it directly onto your streaming device through a process called "sideloading". Don‘t worry though – it just sounds more complicated than it is!
Here are the simple steps to get CatchON TV installed:
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On your Firestick/Fire TV or Android streaming device, enable "Apps from Unknown Sources". This allows you to install unverified apps.
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Visit the CatchON TV site to download the latest APK file for the CatchON app.
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Open the Downloader app on your streaming device. Enter the URL of the APK file to install it.
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Once installed, open the CatchON TV app and log in with your account details.
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You‘re all set! You can now browse channels and streams just like any other streaming service.
It‘s a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. Once you have the app installed, the interface is intuitive and easy to use.
You get nice features like an electronic program guide, DVR capabilities, parental controls, closed captioning support and account management. Video playback is smooth streaming.
However, one catch is that external players aren‘t supported currently. You have to use the built-in CatchON TV player. But picture-in-picture mode is offered.
Overall, installation is quick and CatchON TV provides a functional viewing experience. Next, let‘s go over the pros and cons.
CatchON TV Pros & Cons – Key Takeaways
Let‘s recap the major benefits and drawbacks of CatchON TV as an IPTV service:
Pros
- Massive lineup of 6000+ live channels
- Generous free 3-day trial
- Affordable pricing from $20/month
- Supported on most major streaming devices
- 24/7 customer support via online chat
- No IP blocking based on location – works with a VPN
- Huge on-demand library included
- Access to premium channels & PPV
Cons
- Requires sideloading onto devices
- Legal status is questionable (more details below)
- Currently limited to 1 stream in base package
- No ability to use third-party video players
- Channel reliability varies more than traditional cable
As you can see, the extensive channel selection and free trial opportunity are major assets. However, the need for sideloading and legal uncertainty are definite disadvantages to factor in.
It comes down to weighing these pros and cons for your situation. Okay, next up – legality…
Is CatchON TV Legal? What You Should Know
This is a big question when it comes to services like CatchON TV. Unfortunately, the answer isn‘t so straightforward.
On the face of it, CatchON TV appears to be distributing copyrighted media content without proper licensing approval or agreements in place with content owners.
Some red flags pointing to the service likely operating illegally:
- App not available on any app stores
- Vague payment information/requests not to share openly
- Login with username/password instead of a paid account
- Extremely low pricing for premium content
These types of signals indicate CatchON TV does not have explicit permission or rights to stream the content they offer. There are definitely risks involved in using unofficial "grey market" IPTV providers.
Your internet service provider might send you warnings or even suspend your service if detected accessing illegal streams. Comcast, Verizon and others have cracked down on piracy.
To protect yourself, I highly recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN will encrypt your streaming activity and hide your IP address & location. It protects your privacy and anonymity.
Some top VPNs I recommend checking out are ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
While CatchON provides tremendous channel variety at super affordable pricing, please use caution given the unclear legality. Your streaming activity and privacy may be at risk otherwise.
Okay, moving on to how CatchON TV stacks up to competitors…
How CatchON TV Compares to Other Top IPTV Services
CatchON TV holds its own against competitors, but how exactly does it compare to some other top IPTV services?
Channel Selection – With over 6000 channels, CatchON offers larger variety than most. Only IPTVBoss touts more at 10,000+
Pricing – Starting at $20 monthly, CatchON comes in far cheaper than Sling TV at $40+ for just 50 channels. Great value.
Device Support – CatchON works on most major platforms making it widely accessible. Sling TV offers more universal app support though.
Stream Quality – Video quality is solid but channel uptime varies more than verified services like YouTube TV or Hulu Live.
Legality – Competitors like Sling, Hulu, and YouTube TV are 100% legal options for those wanting no risks.
Among budget IPTV services focused on quantity over quality, CatchON TV is a top choice. But Sling TV or Philo offer a legal IPTV experience for peace of mind.
Final Verdict – Is CatchON TV Worth Trying?
So what‘s the final verdict? Is CatchON TV worth trying out?
In my opinion, yes – the extensive lineup of 6000+ channels makes it enticing for the low $20 monthly fee. The free trial makes it easy to test the waters risk-free too.
However, you have to be comfortable using an unverified "grey market" IPTV provider with questionable legal standing. Privacy and safety risks are involved unless precautions are taken.
If you want 100% reliable and licensed streaming, you‘re better off using a legal IPTV option like Sling TV or Philo – even though channel selection is more limited.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your preferences as a cord-cutter. If you‘re fine using unverified services to maximize content, CatchON TV is tough to beat for the price and selection. But proceed with caution.
I hope this detailed and honest review helps you decide if CatchON TV is right for you! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.
Happy streaming!
Thomas
TROYPOINT Tech Editor
