OTT vs. IPTV: Which One Is the Best for You?

Online streaming services are getting more popular because of many reasons. They provide better content, save money, and give you options to choose the content you want to stream.

Six years earlier, there were 76% of traditional cable TV users in the USA, but today this number has dropped to 56%. Nobody prefers to sit in front of the TV at an exact time to enjoy their movies and shows. Traditional cable is also more expensive than OTT and IPTV services.

More reasons like these are helping OTT and IPTV services to rule the streaming market. Let us see their primary differences that can help you decide which one might be more suitable for you.

OTT

OTT means Over the Top; which streams content over a publicly accessible Internet connection. OTT follows an open ecosystem in which the content transmits over the internet, unlike traditional cable or TV that use wires.

You do not need wires or a set-top box to stream OTT content. A good internet connection might be enough. OTT streaming is compatible with almost every smart device like smartphones, TVs, PCs, laptops, etc.

Advantages of OTT :

A variety of plans that can cost lesser than traditional cable TV,
A vast content library,
No wires,
Minimal installation and setup process,
A variety of OTT platforms are available.

Cons of OTT:

No internet means no content,
You can not access live TV and cable-only shows.

IPTV

IPTV stands for Internet Protocol TV. It delivers content(audio and video) to the computers connected to the network based on Internet protocol. IPTV uses a dedicated and managed network to transfer content.

It does not follow an open ecosystem like OTT. It transmits content over the internet but to a dedicated set-top box. Your device should be connected to a committed broadband-based connection to use IPTV services.

IPTV services are also compatible on several devices like laptops, PCs, Firesticks, Roku, etc. Several people use Amazon Fire Sticks to stream content from IPTV. It allows you to stream content on a larger screen and gives you free IPTV options. According to streaming experts, these are some of the best IPTV services for Android TV, PCs, and Firesticks.

Pros of IPTV:

Videos in High-quality with fewer interruptions,
You only need a small set-up-box that you can install easily,
On-demand TV,
Live TV.

Cons of IPTV:

Subscription-based packages,
Slow internet can cause problems.

Primary Differences between OTT and IPTV

OTT delivers the content through an unmanaged, open-internet network. IPTV transmits it through managed and dedicated networks.
You do not need a set-top box to stream OTT content because it transmits content over the internet. You might need a dedicated set-top box or device to stream IPTV content.
In OTT, you can not pay only for what you want to see. You have to buy a subscription whether you like its complete library. You can purchase bundles or packages according to the content you like.
No live sports are streaming on popular OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, etc. IPTV offers sports packages.
You can use OTT on any device. IPTV requires a device that you can connect to the set-top box.
Scope of OTT is global, whereas the scope of IPTV is local.

Final Verdict

IPTV and OTT have their advantages and disadvantages. You might want to know about their differences to get a clearer picture. You might also need a clearer idea about the content you need to stream.

If you only need to stream movies and TV shows on any device you like, you might want to choose OTT. But in that case, you might need to buy one or two extra subscriptions to watch live content.

IPTV gives you access to exclusive videos and live sports, but it might be more expensive than OTT.

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