Free during beta
The cable box experience
for IPTV
A desktop TV guide that puts the EPG first. Connect via Xtream Codes or M3U, browse 50,000+ channels, set reminders, and surf channels — all with your keyboard.
A desktop TV guide that puts the EPG first. Connect via Xtream Codes or M3U, browse 50,000+ channels, set reminders, and surf channels — all with your keyboard.
Built for IPTV power users who want the familiar cable box experience on desktop.
Browse 50,000+ channels in a familiar TV guide grid. Color-coded categories, quality badges, and channel logos at a glance.
Press / or Ctrl+Space to instantly search and start watching. Smart scoring prioritizes your favorites and recently watched channels. Open with no query to see your recent channels for zero-keystroke switching.
Browse channels without leaving what you're watching. Navigate programs with arrow keys, see channel details, now playing, and up next — all in one overlay.
Connect multiple IPTV providers, M3U playlists, or free channels. Each account gets isolated favorites, reminders, and guide data. Switch instantly from Settings.
Follow shows and get notified when they air. Set one-time reminders or follow recurring shows across the guide.
30+ shortcuts for power users. Quick Tune, channel surfing, mini guide, fullscreen — navigate everything without a mouse.
Favorites, Recent, Guide, HD+, search, and category filters. Recent sorts by most recently watched.
Get started in 60 seconds. Connect via Xtream Codes, M3U playlist URL, or browse free channels.
Dark, OLED Black, Midnight Blue, Emerald, and Light. Pick what suits your setup.
Full H.265/HEVC playback with automatic codec handling. No extra software needed.
Arrow keys to flip channels, P for previous, Now/Next info bar on every switch.
Switch audio tracks and subtitles on the fly. Quality selector for manual bitrate control.
Add multiple server URLs with automatic failover. Test connections during onboarding.
Guide data cached locally for instant startup. Background refresh keeps it fresh.
Export and import your favorites. Native file dialogs, no data lock-in.
Full EPG grid with 50k+ channels
Browse channels while watching
Clean player with Now/Next info
Quick Tune — search and play instantly
Get started in 60 seconds
Powerful filtering and search
5 built-in themes
Smart reminders and notifications
30+ keyboard shortcuts
Cathode is free during the beta. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Supports Xtream Codes API and M3U playlist URLs. Or try free channels with no provider needed.
Windows 10 or later. WebView2 runtime required (included in Windows 11).