What to Look for In the Best IPTV Service

This article originally appeared on techmagazines.net

IPTV service is an acronym that stands for Internet Protocol Television, and it is taking the market by storm. Consumers have been cutting the cord for years, and they love all the freedom offered through the best IPTV services. IPTV service gives consumers more control over what they watch and what they pay for instead of being at the mercy of the broadcasters’ schedules.

The best IPTV service offers more than just the option of being the master of your own entertainment. It offers large savings and global access opportunities without signing any long-term contracts. For those who are just now cutting the cord, it can be difficult to know what to look for in the best IPTV service for their personal use. Here are some tips to help.

Verified

You may come across verified and unverified options when considering the best IPTV service for your entertainment needs. Unverified IPTV services offer the biggest savings option, typically costing between $10 and $20 monthly. However, these savings do come at some pretty big trade expenses.

Unverified IPTV service providers first present some legal and ethical questions. Some of them are streaming content that they probably don’t have a license to stream. While this gives consumers large cost savings, it also presents some security vulnerabilities.

Even the best IPTV services get hacked and shut down when unverified. This can leave your personal data vulnerable to security breaches and black-market sellers. Many don’t feel it’s worth putting their personal data at risk to save a few bucks on unverified IPTV services.

Virtual Private Network

The best IPTV service will work well with a Virtual Private Network or VPN. A VPN encrypts your personal connection when you sign on to the internet, even if it’s just to watch television. Using a VPN with the best IPTV service will prevent hackers, app developers, and even the government from tracking the content you’re accessing online.

While they claim that tracking your data is only used for marketing purposes, there is still a privacy issue there. Even government entities get hacked by unscrupulous people, and the best way to prevent your personal information from being stolen is to keep it private.

No IP Location Lock

The best IPTV service is not location locked. When an IPTV service is location locked, that means the digital content can only be accessed from the IP address where it was first registered. This is almost always the home. Having a location-locked IPTV service is not the most functional option for today’s society.

While nothing is wrong with this, it prevents you from accessing your digital streaming content unless you are at home using that IP address. Tablets, smartphones, and other devices may require their own subscription because they are likely using another IP address when they are not sitting at home.

Multiple Connections

Most IPTV services will offer multiple connections, but it is something to check when you sign up. The most common number is 3, meaning you can have 3 devices connected and streaming content simultaneously. If you have a family with several members who want to watch something different, you’ll want at least 3 connections with your IPTV service. Even if you live alone, you may prefer to have 3 connections, offering one for your television, one for your smartphone, and one for a tablet or any other combination that may work for you.

Most IPTV services count each screen as a separate connection, no matter what device it’s on. While you can often purchase additional connections, it can be inconvenient when you want to view something. It’s best to consider this upfront and purchase the number of connections needed for your family when you initially sign up for service.

The Best IPTV Service

There are many other things you can look for in an IPTV service provider. You may want access to a DVR or cloud, video on demand, an electronic program guide, and more. It’s really your personal choice. However, to have the very best IPTV experience you want to ensure that you use a verified option that works well with a VPN. You’ll also want to choose the best IPTV option that is not IP location locked so that you can view your content from anywhere, on any device. Be sure to purchase the connections needed for your family and get ready to enjoy customized entertainment options from the best IPTV service.