Best for streaming discovery
Google TV vs MX Player vs PLAYit: which video app should you choose?
Choose Google TV to discover and stream films and shows, MX Player for format flexibility and subtitle controls, or PLAYit for an all-in-one player with a built-in video downloader.
At a glance
| App | Google Play | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Google TVGoogle LLC | 3.9 out of 52,879,818 ratings | Free | Yes$0.01 - $999.99 per item | Teen | |
 MX PlayerAmazon Mobile LLC | 4.2 out of 514,147,136 ratings | Free | Yes$0.49 - $239.99 per item | Everyone | |
 PLAYit-All in One Video PlayerPLAYIT TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. | 4.5 out of 56,942,660 ratings | Free | Yes$0.99 - $25.99 per item | Teen |
Ratings and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 13, 2026. Listings change over time.
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How we compared them
All three apps handle video on Android, but they serve different viewing habits. Google TV focuses on finding and streaming movies and shows, while MX Player and PLAYit are more oriented toward playing media on your device.
This comparison weighs their listed features, trade-offs, pricing and Google Play figures to help you decide whether you want a streaming guide, a flexible local player or a player with downloading and music features.
How we compared them
We compared the Google Play ratings, install figures, prices, in-app purchase ranges and ad status for Google TV, MX Player and PLAYit, along with their stated features and known trade-offs. Store figures were read on November 13, 2026.
This is a feature and store-information comparison, not a hands-on performance test. No data safety declarations were supplied for these apps, so data safety is not part of the comparison.
Best fordiscovering and streaming movies and shows
Google TV
Google LLC
- Google Play
- 3.9 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 10B+
- Age rating
- Teen
Google TV is the clearest choice for finding films and shows and streaming them in one place. Its Google services integration, multiple profiles and broad entertainment library give it a discovery and streaming role that MX Player and PLAYit do not match.
The trade-off is that available content can vary by region, some features require a subscription, and streaming depends on a stable internet connection. It is free and has no ads, but its 3.9 Google Play rating is lower than the ratings for MX Player and PLAYit.
What we like
- Movies-and-shows discovery and streaming
- Google services integration and multiple profiles
- No ads
What to know
- Content availability varies by region
- Streaming needs stable internet; some features require a subscription
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Best forplaying varied video formats with subtitle controls
MX Player
Amazon Mobile LLC
- Google Play
- 4.2 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 1B+
- Age rating
- Everyone
MX Player is the strongest fit for people who want a dedicated media player. It supports a wide range of video formats, hardware acceleration, playback-speed controls and subtitle syncing—useful options that are not the focus of Google TV or PLAYit. Its 4.2 rating and 1,000,000,000+ installs also make it the most widely installed of these two player-focused apps.
Unlike Google TV, MX Player has no built-in streaming service, and it includes ads in its free version. Some features require payment, while older devices may find it resource-intensive and 4K playback can be difficult on some devices.
What we like
- Wide video-format support
- Hardware acceleration and playback-speed controls
- Subtitle support with syncing
What to know
- Free version contains ads
- No built-in streaming service
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Best forplaying videos and music with built-in downloading
PLAYit-All in One Video Player
PLAYIT TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD.
- Google Play
- 4.5 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Installs
- 500M+
- Age rating
- Teen
PLAYit combines video and music playback, supports multiple formats and includes a built-in video downloader. That mix makes it more of an all-in-one media utility than Google TV, while offering a download feature not highlighted for MX Player. Its 4.5 Google Play rating is the highest of the three.
The app is free to download but contains ads and offers in-app purchases. Compared with MX Player, its advanced playback feature set is more limited; occasional bugs and an internet requirement for some features are also trade-offs.
What we like
- Video and music playback in one app
- Built-in video downloader
- Highest Google Play rating of the three
What to know
- Contains ads and offers in-app purchases
- Fewer advanced features than MX Player
Which one should you pick?
Best for format and subtitle controls
MX Player
Best for built-in video downloading
PLAYit-All in One Video Player
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which app is best for streaming movies and shows?
Google TV is the best fit for discovering and streaming movies and shows. Content availability varies by region, and some features require a subscription.
Which app is best for playing local video files?
MX Player is a strong choice for local files because it supports many formats and offers hardware acceleration, playback-speed controls and subtitle syncing.
Which app includes a video downloader?
PLAYit includes a built-in video downloader, alongside video and music playback.
Which of these apps contains ads?
MX Player and PLAYit contain ads. Google TV does not.
Reviewed compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and prices are shown for reference and can change.