There are hundreds of Kodi addons available, but only a few are worth installing on your devices. We’ve reviewed and tested scores of popular and lesser-known Kodi addons, including third-party addons like Numbers, Seren, Fen, Gaia, Hummingbird, as well as official Kodi addons like YouTube, Xumo, and PlutoTV. The best Kodi addons that still work in 2023 might surprise you.
Whether you’re looking for movie or TV addons to stream, we’ve got you covered.
Our list sifts through the junk to help deliver the best Kodi addons still working in 2023. And this month, we’ve got an all-new Quest TV addon with dozens of hours of free content!
Check back next month as well for more updates!
Quick links:
- JUMP STRAIGHT TO BEST OVERALL ADDONS FOR 2023
- JUMP STRAIGHT TO BEST MOVIES ADDONS
- JUMP STRAIGHT TO BEST SPORTS ADDONS
- JUMP STRAIGHT TO BEST ADDONS FOR TV SHOWS
Warning: Kodi should only be used for content to which you have the legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech advocates the use of Kodi for piracy.
Always use a VPN with Kodi
If a Kodi addon were to be hijacked, the user’s computer would be at the mercy of the attacker. By using a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack, hackers could gain access to all of the victim’s internet history, saved browser information, and even login credentials. Also, many service providers limit the download speeds of their customers in an effort to combat online video streaming.
A VPN can help secure your computer against corrupted addons used for spying purposes. You will also find a solid VPN will help eliminate spying from your ISP and reduce instances of buffering and speed throttling.
The 30+ best Kodi addons for January 2023
There are the best official Kodi addons as of 2023. While some have regionally restricted content, you can unblock them from anywhere using a VPN like NordVPN.
Here’s our list of the best Kodi addons:
- Pluto.tv – A free-to-use addon for streaming more than 200 channels live
- PBS Kids – Completely free and packed with kid’s shows
- WNBC Programs – Free access to recently-aired episodes of NBC shows
- iPlayer WWW – Live TV and on-demand content for the BBC iPlayer
- 7plus – Free access to live and on-demand content from Australia’s Channel 7.
- Free Live TV – Hundreds of live streams available covering everything from local news to 24/7 Bob Ross marathons.
- Shout Factory TV – TV and movies-on-demand and broadcast live
- Comet TV Live – Live TV focusing on action and sci-fi content
- Xumo – Live TV covering a large number of genres and completely free
- Zattoo Box – Free live TV from major European and British TV networks
- ConTV – A Kodi addon for free comics, TV shows, movies, anime, and much more
- NHK Live – Complete live and on-demand access to NHK content
- Quest – Collects free-to-watch episodes of top Quest TV shows. USA only.
- Crackle – A fully-legal streaming service with thousands of movies
- Popcornflix – Another free-to-watch service offering a huge selection of titles
- Netflix – TV and movies-on-demand directly from Netflix thanks to Kodi DRM
- Sling TV – Live TV from major US networks.
- Disney+ – The Kodi add-on for access to Disney+ on Kodi
- HBO Max – Yet another major streaming service makes its way to Kodi
- Paramount+ – Brings a wealth of high-profile TV shows and movies, plus live streaming TV.
- discovery+: An internationally-available streaming service with thousands of hours of TV and movies.
- Binge – An Australian streaming service with tons of popular TV shows
- ESPN – An addon that lets ESPN and ESPN+ subscribers stream live sports
- Hulu – Easily access your Hulu and Hulu with Live TV broadcasts in Kodi
- YouTube – On-demand and live content addon for YouTube
- Dailymotion – Live and on-demand content spanning a massive number of genres
- Vimeo – Offers thousands of free short films, documentaries, and videos examining everything from fashion to anime and more.
- Twitch.tv – Full access to Twitch video game and other streaming channels
- EZ Maintenance+ – A plugin that makes maintenance tasks like clearing Kodi’s cache as easy as possible
- Trakt – Watchlist tracking for TV shows and movies
Best Kodi addons for free TV and movies
1. Pluto TV
Pluto.tv is one of the best free streaming services around. It offers hundreds of channels, covering everything from classic movies to reality TV, ensuring that you’ll never be short of something to watch. While there is a small selection of on-demand content, the vast majority is unavailable after it airs, so if there’s something that catches your eye, it’s best to watch it rather than miss out.
This addon can be found in the official Kodi repo.
2. PBS Kids
Although lots of Kodi addons offer kid’s TV shows, it can be hard to find ones that don’t mix this in with content for other ages. PBS Kids, however, exclusively has early-years content, including full seasons of favorites like Arthur, Let’s Go Luna! and Curious George. In other words, it’s perfect for anyone looking to occupy their little ones for a while.
PBS Kids is available from the official Kodi repository.
3. WNBC Programs
NBC makes recently-aired episodes available via its website, but with the help of WNBC Programs, you can actually stream these directly from Kodi. There are no live broadcasts, but you’ll be able to catch up on new episodes of The Tonight Show, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent without paying a cent.
WNBC Programs is included in the official Kodi repo.
4. iPlayer WWW
The iPlayer WWW Kodi addon takes content from the BBC’s iPlayer streaming platform. It offers live and on-demand TV shows, radio stations, and movies. iPlayer WWW is free to use but requires a valid UK TV License. Additionally, its content is region-locked, so to watch from outside of the UK, you’ll have to connect your VPN to a British server.
Location: Kodi Addon Repository
5. 7plus
Prolific Kodi addon creator Matt Huisman continues to hit it out of the park. Fresh from the release of their HBO Max and Disney+ addons, they’ve added a way to watch the Australian network Channel 7 via Kodi. Users are free to stream live or watch on-demand, without even having to sign in.
The 7plus addon is contained in the SlyGuy repo, along with addons for 9now and 10play.
6. Free Live TV
The Free Live TV addon provides access to hundreds of free-to-air live streams including those from regional US news channels, over-the-air networks, and free streaming services like Pluto TV. Best of all, there’s no signup or login required.
The only catch is that some of the streams are region-locked, so you’ll need a VPN to watch local channels during your travels abroad. Additionally, this addon will only work on Kodi 19.3 or later.
Free Live TV is available via the developer’s GitHub.
7. Shout Factory TV
Perhaps one of the best addons to come around in a long time, Shout Factory TV provides users access to dozens of cult classic TV shows and movies. This free addon is completely legal to use and offers up a huge load of Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes, Rifftrax episodes, movies and TV shows across a dozen genres, and even stand-up comedy routines.
The developer has noted that this addon works properly with Kodi 19, and announced that moving forward, older versions of Kodi will not be supported by this addon.
8. Comet TV Live
Comet TV Live is a unique and free live TV addon that offers up a host of movies. From cult classics to some really high-quality gems, you’ll find a lot of interesting sci-fi TV shows and movies streaming live to your Kodi installation.
9. Xumo
Similar in style and scope to Pluto TV, Xumo has over 100 completely free channels you can watch on your web browser or via an app. It’s also 100 percent legal, making it a great IPTV option for Kodi. The addon is brand new as well from developer Lunatix, making it a solid entry in the official Kodi addon market.
10. Zattoo Box
Hands down one of the best options available on Kodi, the Zattoo Box Kodi addon offers easy access to Zattoo Box, the free live TV service available in Europe. You’ll find that this service requires an account to work, but you can sign up for free on the Zattoo Box website. Note that if you’re outside of the main region where Zattoo Box is available, you will need a VPN to both sign-up and stream content.
Available channels include the BBC and ITV. There are over 200 channels for free, with a paid option as well.
11. ConTV
You’ll love this new Kodi addon if you also like free movies, TV shows, anime, cartoons, and other geek culture items. Formerly known as Viewster, this addon (and website) underwent a change of hands and branding in the past few months. It is now known as CONTV and delivers free content across a variety of genres.
12. NHK Live
NHK Live is a must-have for anyone interested in Japanese culture and news. This addon offers free, English-language TV shows as well as live broadcasts from a variety of NHK channels.
This addon is included in the official Kodi repo.
13. Quest
Quest is a new addon from veteran developer MetalChris. It allows users in the US to stream Quest TV shows like Salvage Hunters for free, and you don’t even have to log in with a cable provider first.
This addon isn’t available in the MetalChris repo and currently has to be downloaded from the Kodi forum.
14. Crackle
Crackle is a streaming service that has a varied selection of films and TV shows. It’s free to use and offers some better-known titles, like 2003’s Underworld. Crackle region locks their content, so to watch, you’ll need to connect your VPN to an American server.
Location: Kodi repo
15. Popcornflix
Popcornflix has a large selection of free-to-watch movies spanning every conceivable genre. While most of these films aren’t well known, some, like Korean horror Train to Busan and We Need to Talk about Kevin are critically acclaimed. Note: although Popcornflix is technically available worldwide, this addon won’t work unless you have a US IP address.
Best Kodi addons for streaming services
One of the great things about having a media center is that all of your content is gathered in one place, and there’s no need to remember which show is on which streaming service. Here are a few addons that’ll let you integrate your existing subscriptions right into Kodi:
16. Netflix
Netflix users can now access their Netflix streams directly through Kodi. As of Kodi 18, Kodi offers Digital Rights Management support (DRM), which is essential to allowing account logins for subscription-based services like Netflix.
You can download and install this addon from the developer’s GitHub page.
17. Sling TV
A perfect addon for those who want US TV, the Sling TV addon connects to your official Sling TV account, even when you’re using the free trial period. Major networks are available, including ESPN, Fox Sports, HGTV, AMC, and more.
Sling TV is only available in the US. However, you can access it from abroad using a VPN.
Location: Official Kodi repo
18. Disney+
It’s finally here! The Disney+ Kodi addon is finally available, and it’s beautiful in all of its streamlined form. This addon cuts through the messy and slow interface that’s currently available on Disney+, making it easier to navigate Disney+ and get to the content you want.
As a reminder: the Disney+ Kodi addon will only work if you have a Disney+ account.
You’ll find the Disney+ Kodi addon in the Sly Guy repository.
19. HBO Max
One of the biggest changes to the streaming landscape recently has come from HBO Max. This is not only home to a ton of high-profile shows (including The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones), but has also been the only place to watch releases like Wonder Woman 1984 outside of theaters.
This addon is geo-restricted, so you’ll need a US IP address to use it. Obviously, you’ll also need a subscription (prices start at $15 USD per month).
Location: SlyGuy repository
20. Paramount+
Another month, another major streaming service brought to Kodi. The Paramount+ addon allows you to stream hundreds of TV shows and movies, as well as live TV on almost any device you like. However, you will need a Paramount Plus account ($4.99 USD per month), as well as a US IP address (if you’re trying to use the service while traveling abroad).
The Paramount+ addon can be found in the SlyGuy repository.
21. Discovery+
Discovery Plus is a new service that offers access to content from the Discovery Channel, TLC, the Food Network, Animal Planet, and more. It costs $4.99 USD per month in the US, but is available in lots of other countries too. Notably, this Kodi addon has been tested (and confirmed to work) with nearly a dozen libraries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Spain, and India.
There is one slight catch. At the time of writing, you can’t log into the Kodi addon directly. Instead, you can log into the website and use a script to export cookie information, which is then linked to Kodi. This sounds complex but it’s actually quite simple; you can read more info here.
You can download this addon from the developer’s GitHub page.
22. Binge
Australian broadcaster Foxtel recently launched its own streaming service, Binge, and fans can now watch all of their favorite movies and TV shows right here on Kodi. You will need an account (prices start at $10 AUD per month) and an Australian IP address to use this service, but with titles like Game of Thrones, True Detective, and The Walking Dead, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Location: SlyGuy repository.
23. ESPN
If you’re a sports fan, you’ll appreciate this. The ESPN addon lets you stream games live or catch up at a better time, without ever leaving Kodi. Better still, it has a huge selection of on-demand content, and if you’re an ESPN+ customer, you can stream all of that service’s programming here too.
Users will have to sign in before they can watch anything. This can be done by either entering your cable provider details or signing in with a supported over-the-top service.
24. Hulu
Hulu is one of the best-known streaming services out there, so it’s surprising that it’s taken so long to get its own Kodi addon. All of the content you’d expect is accessible, and Live TV subscribers can stream broadcasts using this addon as well. Note that you will be asked to sign in before you can actually watch, though.
Best Kodi addons for user-generated content
The following addons provide access to libraries of content that don’t fit neatly into one of the classifications above. They cover everything from vlogs to viral content to cutting-edge documentaries, so they’re great for when you can’t decide what to watch.
25. YouTube
Everybody knows YouTube – it’s the largest video sharing platform on the internet. The YouTube Kodi addon maintains most of the functionality of the website and allows you to access your playlists, watch history, and channel subscriptions.
NOTE: YouTube recently changed the way that their API works, which broke the YouTube Kodi addon, and any others that relied on this (FilmRise, Documentary Storm, and so on). If you can’t wait for an official fix, it’s possible to use these addons as normal after setting up a personal API key. This only takes a few minutes!
26. Dailymotion
Dailymotion is another user-driven content platform, which means it’s perfect for those times when you’re not sure quite what you want. With thousands of hours of content being added every day (as well as live streams spanning every conceivable genre), you’ll never be short of something interesting to watch.
Location: Kodi addon repository
27. Vimeo
Vimeo is a little like YouTube, but it has a larger focus on culture and society. For instance, you’ll find plenty of indie documentaries, cooking shows, and artistic short films. A great choice for anyone interested in learning something new.
28. Twitch
Any gamer worth their plats knows about Twitch (even if they don’t watch streamers). If you want quick and easy access to your favorite Twitch channels, you can get it through the Kodi addon. What’s more, the Twitch.tv slims out the UI, making it much easier to navigate around and find channels. And because of how it works, Kodi cuts out all of the annoying advertisements you’d normally have to wade through on the Twitch.tv website and app,
You can install this addon from the official Kodi Addon Repository.
Best miscellaneous Kodi addons
The addons below don’t contain any of their own content. Rather, they provide additional functionality to Kodi or enhance the user’s experience in some way.
29. EZ Maintenance+
EZ Maintenance+ gives users the ability to quickly and painlessly perform a range of maintenance tasks, like backing up and restoring, clearing Kodi’s cache, and resetting the app to default settings. You can also view and upload logs here directly if you’d rather not spend time installing additional addons for this purpose.
This addon can be downloaded directly from the developer’s GitHub page.
30. Trakt
Trakt is an online service that keeps track of your media consumption. When you use the Trakt Kodi addon, it automatically adds movies and TV shows you’ve watched to your Trakt profile. This allows you to easily find the last episode you watched, even when using Kodi on a different device.
Location: Kodi Addon Repository (program addons)
Top unofficial Kodi addons (and the risks they present)
Please note these are the top unofficial Kodi addons based on popularity. It’s important to be aware of these addons and understand the risks they present as they populate many lists of so-called best Kodi addons.
Unofficial addons are more likely to contain malware, are less reliable, and will often carry pirated content. For these reasons, we recommend you avoid these and instead pick from our list of the best official Kodi addons.
- Covenant – A once-popular movie and TV show addon
- Seren – A current addon that requires other integrations
- Exodus – One of the first widely popular movie and TV show addons
- cCloudTV – A former and popular live TV streaming addon
- Gaia – A once-popular addon that infected users’ machines with malware
- Venom – An addon for streaming movies and TV shows on-demand
- Exodus Redux – A revised version of Exodus that is not maintained
- Real Debrid – A multi-hoster service that requires payment
- Premiumizer – Another multi-hoster service that requires a subscription
- Yoda – An on-demand movie and TV show addon
- Seren – Yet another multi-scraper that many users pair with real-debrid
- Fen – Another multi-scraper with real-debrid support for movies and TV shows
Many once-popular third-party Kodi addons have been killed off in the past few years. Anti-piracy efforts either drove their developers underground or forced many to leave the scene altogether. Most of the addons that are no longer available are already ones we tend to recommend users avoid anyway, which include Venom, Fen, FoxyStreams, Gaia, and others in those families.
Lastest Kodi developments
It’s been a quiet few months for Kodi! Version 19.4 was released in March and mostly just fixed a few bugs. The last real news came back in June 2021, when the Kodi community suggested names for the next version. Historically, each release has had a sci-fi-themed name, and each has begun with the next letter in the alphabet (“Krypton”, “Leia,” “Matrix,” and so on). Ultimately, it was decided that Kodi 20 would be known as “Nexus,” Thanks to the developer’s hard work, the beta is now available!
Other than this, the biggest change was in January 2021, with the release of the first official Kodi 19.x build. This came with a series of updates to the way installed addons are maintained. Many of these were technical changes, but there was one in particular that’s worth making a note of. Simply, addons that you manually install from a zip file or URL will no longer be updated.
To learn more about Kodi updates, check the official development team’s regularly updated blog section.
Keeping up with Kodi addons
The best thing that can happen to the Kodi community is, well, little to no news. After a rocky few years thanks in no small part to the third-party add-on community, Kodi is back on track to being a silent but growing app for media playing.
Keep on up the latest changes to current Kodi versions. You can read more on that directly from the Kodi Foundation changelog.
Want to stay ahead of addon releases? Check out the Kodi Foundation’s video addon forum.
