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ATV Launcher or SolaTV: Android TV launcher comparison
ATV stands for Android TV, so any launcher for an Android TV set can be called an “ATV launcher”. The app with that name, ATV Launcher by DStudio Canada, is sold in Google Play only as the Pro version for $2.99: the free version was removed from the store, and its last release came out in 2018. SolaTV is entirely free and adds an IPTV player with a TV guide and catch-up to the home screen. On ten criteria SolaTV scores 92 out of 100 and ATV Launcher 60: it is stronger in styling and installs on Android 6.0.
SolaTV
A light, free launcher with built-in IPTV: playlist, TV guide, catch-up. No ads, no analytics.
Download →ATV Launcher
A paid launcher with rich styling: styles, widgets, folders. The free version is gone from Google Play.
Main differences between SolaTV and ATV Launcher
ATV Launcher builds the home screen from styles, layouts and widgets; SolaTV puts apps, new movies and TV from your playlist on one screen. ATV Launcher has no IPTV of its own: it needs the channels and programs permission to show Watch Next and Recommended rows of other apps.
The payment model differs too. ATV Launcher Pro is bought once, with no subscription or in-app purchases, and the free version 0.0.11 from 2018 no longer opens in Google Play. SolaTV is free with no paid features and is distributed as an APK from solatv.ru.
| Criterion | SolaTV | ATV Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| LightnessInstall file size | 10APK 3.9 MB, no animations | 5APK size not published |
| No adsAds and promoted rows on the home screen | 10No ads | 10No ads |
| PrivacyData collection and analytics | 10No analytics, no advertising IDs | 5Update check sends a device ID, cannot be disabled |
| PriceWhat is free and what is paid | 10Free, no paid features | 3Paid only: $2.99 one-time |
| IPTVTV from your own playlist | 10M3U, groups, XMLTV guide, 7-day catch-up | 2No M3U player, only app rows |
| SearchMovies, channels, apps and voice | 10Movies, channels and programs, voice input | 4No own search in the description |
| CustomizationApp order, rows, wallpapers, colors | 7Order, hiding, 5 colors, tile size | 1016 styles, layouts, widgets, folders |
| CollectionsMovies and series on the home screen | 7TMDB collections with posters, not personalized | 4Watch Next and Recommended app rows |
| DevicesWhich TVs and boxes it installs on | 8Android 8.0 and newer, any brand | 10Android 6.0 and newer |
| Home screenHow it becomes the default and how to restore the stock one | 10Sets itself on Android TV and Google TV, one-button undo | 7System role dialog or Home button service |
| Totalout of 100 points | 92 | 60 |
The 32-point gap comes mostly from price, IPTV, search and privacy. ATV Launcher takes points for styling and Android 6.0 support.
Where ATV Launcher is stronger
- Styling. 16 section styles, 10 layouts, 7 tile types, backgrounds for tiles, rows and folders, image and video wallpapers, icon packs and a custom top bar.
- Widgets and folders. Widgets sit inside rows, folders can be locked with a password, apps can be hidden.
- Older devices. ATV Launcher Pro installs on Android 6.0, SolaTV on Android 8.0 and newer.
- Google Play. Purchase and updates go through the store; the latest version came out on October 16, 2026.
On Android 10 and newer ATV Launcher offers to become the home screen through the system dialog. On Google TV, where Google’s launcher keeps a higher priority, it has a “Home Button Redirect” service: it catches the Home button and is off by default.
Where SolaTV is stronger
| Feature | SolaTV | ATV Launcher Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $2.99 one-time |
| TV from a playlist | M3U, XMLTV guide, 7-day catch-up | No |
| Search | Movies, channels and programs, voice input | Not listed in the description |
| Data | No analytics, update check without a device ID | Update check with Android ID, Android version and language, cannot be disabled |
| Russian interface | Russian and English | Russian is missing from the interface language list on the site |
According to atvlauncher.com, the ATV Launcher update check sends, at launch and about once a day, the Android ID (which the server immediately replaces with a one-way code), the app version, the signing fingerprint, the Android version, the device type and the language. The Google Play listing of the same version declares crash logs, diagnostics and approximate location, while the site says there is no analytics.
SolaTV and ATV Launcher home screens
A free ATV launcher for Android TV
There has been no free ATV Launcher in Google Play since the ca.dstudio.atvlauncher.free page stopped opening. The 2018 file 0.0.11 can be found on third-party sites, but it gets no updates and targets the Android of its time. A free ATV launcher with updates today is SolaTV: download the APK, about 4 MB, Android 8.0 and newer.
Frequently asked questions
What does ATV mean in a launcher name?
ATV is short for Android TV. An “ATV launcher” means any launcher for a TV or box on Android TV, while ATV Launcher in capitals is a specific app by DStudio Canada.
Is there a free version of ATV Launcher?
As of October 26, 2026, Google Play has only ATV Launcher Pro for $2.99. The free version was removed from the store, and the 4PDA thread marks its link as removed.
Does ATV Launcher have a Russian interface?
The Google Play description is translated into Russian, but the list of 19 interface languages on atvlauncher.com has no Russian. A Russian interface is confirmed only for the old free version from 2018.
Can I move my ATV Launcher setup to SolaTV?
There is no transfer: apps are added to the SolaTV home screen again with a long press of OK on a tile in “All apps”. Before “Make default” in SolaTV it is better to turn off “Home Button Redirect” in ATV Launcher.