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Kodi vs YouTube TV

Kodi logo

Kodi

Software

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Y

YouTube TV

Software

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kodi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and YouTube TV differ
AttributeKodiYouTube TV
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvWeb
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that Kodi does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Kodi

  • Media centernot YouTube TV
  • Home entertainmentnot YouTube TV

YouTube TV

No use cases recorded yet. See the YouTube TV review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

Pricing, plan by plan

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

YouTube TV

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the YouTube TV review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi review

Choose YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from Kodi on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is Kodi or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and YouTube TV at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or YouTube TV?
Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kodi and On request for YouTube TV.
Does Kodi or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. YouTube TV runs on Web.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Yes. Kodi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YouTube TV starts at On request.
What is Kodi best used for?
Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that YouTube TV cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization.
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