Honest comparison of Strim vs M3U4U, Playlist Buddy, Xtream Editor, and other M3U playlist tools
| Feature | Strim | M3U4U | Playlist Buddy | Xtream Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ✅ Free | Freemium | Paid | Freemium |
| Open Source | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Group Filtering | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Large Playlists (50k+) | ✅ Optimized | ⚠️ Slow | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Good |
| Privacy (Client-side) | ✅ Yes | ❌ Server-side | ❌ Server-side | ⚠️ Mixed |
| Shareable URLs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Download / Copy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| CORS Proxy Support | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No |
| Mobile Friendly | ✅ Fully Responsive | ⚠️ Desktop First | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Desktop First |
| No Account Required | ✅ Yes (optional) | ❌ Required | ❌ Required | ⚠️ Some features |
Best For: Use Strim if you want a simple, fast, free tool that respects your privacy. Use M3U4U if you need advanced channel editing and don't mind paying for premium features.
Best For: Use Strim if you want a free, privacy-focused tool. Use Playlist Buddy if you're willing to pay for a polished commercial product with dedicated support.
Best For: Use Strim for simple group filtering and privacy. Use Xtream Editor if you need advanced features like channel reordering and logo editing.
Strim is the best choice for most users who simply want to clean their IPTV playlists by filtering out unwanted groups. It's free, fast, privacy-focused, and handles massive playlists better than the competition.
If you need advanced features like individual channel editing, EPG integration, or customer support, consider M3U4U (freemium) or Playlist Buddy (paid). For Xtream Codes-specific features, try Xtream Editor.
But if simplicity, speed, privacy, and cost matter to you — Strim is the clear winner.