UHF alternative
Yagi vs UHF
UHF is a polished player with a generous free tier. Yagi is built for the Mac as much as for iPhone and iPad. Here is the honest difference.
Checked against the App Store listings in .
The short version
A beautifully polished player with a generous free tier: catch-up, rewinding live TV, PiP and downloads are all free, and Pro removes the ads and adds sync. It plays Plex, Jellyfin and Emby too. Recording works through its companion server on a computer, and on a Mac it runs as the iPad app.
- 4.7 from 2.9K ratings
- Updated this month
- 12 languages
- Built-in VPN
Where each one is ahead
The rows in our table where one of them does more than the other, or where the other's listing doesn't say.
- Apple TV app
- Media servers
- TV guide
- Catch-up
- Recording (partly)
- Subtitle files or OpenSubtitles
- Native Mac app
- Several streams at once
- Continue watching
- Instant Subtitles
- Subtitles translated into your language
- Continue on another device
- Handoff
- Collects no data at all
- Family Sharing
- In 20 languages or more
Feature by feature
"Not stated" means the developer's listing and site don't say, not that the app can't.
| Feature | Yagi | UHF |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | ||
| Native Mac appBuilt for the Mac, not the iPad app run on one | Yes | Partly The iPad app |
| iPhone and iPad | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV app | No AirPlay from iPhone, iPad or Mac | Yes |
| Playlists | ||
| Xtream Codes login | Yes | Yes |
| M3U playlist link | Yes Live channels | Yes |
| Media serversPlex, Jellyfin, Emby, SMB | No | Yes Plex, Jellyfin, Emby |
| Live TV | ||
| TV guide | Partly With Xtream, not M3U | Yes Scrolling limited when free |
| Program reminders | Yes | Paid extra Pro |
| Pause and rewind live TVWithout the provider's catch-up | Yes Up to 2 hours back | Yes What is buffered |
| Catch-upYour provider's archive of past programs | No | Yes |
| Recording | No | Partly Needs UHF Server on a computer |
| Several streams at once | Yes A window each on Mac | Not stated |
| Movies and series | ||
| Movies and series | Yes With Xtream | Yes |
| Continue watching | Yes | Not stated |
| Downloads to watch offline | Yes Whole seasons | Yes |
| Instant SubtitlesSubtitles made on the device when a movie has none | Yes | No |
| Subtitles translated into your language | Yes | No |
| Subtitle files or OpenSubtitles | No | Yes |
| Across devices | ||
| Sync between devices | Yes iCloud | Paid extra Pro |
| Continue on another device | Yes | Not stated |
| Handoff | Yes | Not stated |
| Picture in Picture | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy and price | ||
| No trackingPer the App Store privacy label | Yes | Yes |
| Collects no data at allPer the App Store privacy label | Yes | No |
| No ads | Yes | Paid extra Pro |
| Try before paying | Yes 7-day trial | Yes Free tier |
| Family Sharing | Yes | Not stated |
| In 20 languages or more | Yes 50 | No 12 |
Devices
| App | iPhone | iPad | Mac | Apple TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yagi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| UHF | Yes | Yes | Partly iPad app | Yes |
What it costs over the years
US prices, on the cheapest way to keep every feature. Prices in your App Store may differ by country.
| App | To try it | To pay for it | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yagiyearly | 7-day free trial | $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year, Family Sharing | $9.99 | $29.97 | $49.95 |
| UHFPro, yearly or once | Free tier with ads | Pro: $1.99 a month, $17.99 a year or $49.99 once | $17.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 |
Privacy labels
Yagi: Data Not Collected. The developer says the app collects no data at all.
UHF: Not linked: Other User Content, Customer Support, User ID, Crash Data, Performance Data, Product Interaction.
From the App Store privacy label each developer declares. UHF on the App Store
Questions
Is UHF free?
UHF has a free tier with ads, and Pro costs $1.99 a month, $17.99 a year or $49.99 once. Yagi has no free tier: it's free for 7 days, then $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year.
Does UHF have a Mac app?
It runs on Macs with Apple silicon as its iPad app. Yagi is a native Mac app.
Can I use my UHF playlist in Yagi?
Yes. Your playlist belongs to your provider, not to the player. Enter the same Xtream Codes server, username and password, or paste the same M3U link. Many providers allow only one or two streams at a time, so stop playing in the other app first.
Does Yagi have an Apple TV app?
Not yet. Yagi runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and sends the picture to an Apple TV with AirPlay.
Where do these facts come from?
From each app's US App Store listing and its developer's own site, read in October 2026. Where a listing doesn't say, the table says "Not stated" rather than guessing.
More comparisons
Try Yagi free for 7 days.
On iPhone, iPad and Mac, with the Xtream or M3U playlist from your own provider. No account, no ads, no tracking.
Download on the App StoreFree for 7 days. Then $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year, on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Cancel anytime in your App Store settings. Prices in your App Store may differ by country. Works with Family Sharing.
Yagi doesn't come with channels: it plays the playlist from your own provider.