11 Best Unofficial Kodi Add-Ons (2023)

We use Kodi for convenient and, more often than not, free access to video content. In this article, we'll break down the strongest Kodi add-ons for access to unlimited video content.

Table of contents:

• What is a Kodi add-on
• Installing unofficial add-ons (step-by-step)
• ⚡ Best Kodi add-ons
  • Magic Dragon
  • The Crew
  • Tempest
  • Venom
  • Scrubs
  • Exodus
  • Seren
  • GAIA
  • World of Wrestling
  • FEN
  • Mercury
• The best add-on for Firestick
• The best add-on for iOS
• What should I do if the add-on does not work?
• What is RealDebrid and why is it not needed
• Ready-made Kodi builds

The most common type of Kodi add-on is the one for movies. Thanks to such plugins, we have the opportunity to watch films, TV series, and sports broadcasts.

What are the best add-ons and where to get them?

What add-ons allow you to get access to the maximum number of streaming platforms?

Where can I download an add-on for watching movies, TV series, and sports for free?

Keep reading, and you will find out the answers to these questions, as well as what Kodi add-ons are relevant today, and you can choose the most suitable one, taking into account the platform and purpose used.

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Kodi add-ons can be divided into two types. The official ones, are created by specific companies (for example, an add-on from NFL.com for watching NFL streaming broadcasts), and unofficial, created by third-party developers.

Next, I will talk about my experience of using unofficial add-ons since they have three advantages over the official ones: 

1. They combine several streaming platforms.
2. Most often they allow you to watch movies for free.
3. They don’t require authorization to enter.

I will also provide links and describe the installation process for the best add-ons for Kodi.

Attention!  

Before using unofficial Kodi add-ons, make sure the content you are streaming isn’t copyrighted.

What is Kodi add-on

Kodi is a cross-platform modular app, the functionality of which is determined by installed add-ons modules, which, following the example of web browsers, are called add-ons.

Kodi add-ons can be compared to apps on a smartphone. However, Kodi is more versatile, as you can access it on multiple different devices, like phones, computers, and smart TVs.

We are primarily interested in Kodi add-ons for viewing video content. There are other add-ons as well.

The main types of add-ons are listed below.

• Video
• Weather
• Game
• Music (audio)
• Pictures
• Information (news, podcasts etc.)
• Libraries
• Web interface (browsers)

Kodi add-ons are most popular on platforms that are inferior to computers in terms of functionality. These are TV consoles (Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV ), and gaming consoles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One).

Kodi also works great on laptops or smartphones, as good Kodi add-ons have no counterparts among other programs or apps. I have not seen applications that allow you to watch free movies or connect to several streaming sites all at once.

Some online services provide similar functionality, but they are inconvenient to use on platforms without keyboards or touchpads.

Installing Kodi

If you are just planning to use add-ons and you haven't installed Kodi, then you need to start by setting up the Kodi app.

This can be done in three ways:

1. Get the app from the official Kodi site
2. Download the application from any App Store, depending on your OS and manufacturer
3. Install ready-made builds with pre-installed unofficial repositories and add-ons.

Whichever method you choose, I advise you to install the latest 18 or 19 version of Kodi.

Installing the software doesn’t require additional tweaking, so anyone can do it. If you're having difficulties installing the Kodi app, then you can follow the step-by-step guide that I published in the article NFL on Kodi - Best NFL Add-ons.

Installing Kodi add-ons (step by step)

All add-ons are installed the same way. I will describe this process step-by-step. But first, you need to find the add-on you want. Kodi is designed in such a way that even if you know the name of the module, it won’t necessarily be available from the official add-ons directory. That's because Kodi only shows official add-ons, such as YouTube, DAZN, CNN, etc.

We are interested in more functional and “interesting” modules.

You need to do it in the following way.

1. Choose the add-on of your choice
2. Get the module via the link
3. Install the required add-on

Next, I will describe the process of installing advanced repositories and add-ons from them step-by-step using the example of the best add-on of 2022: Crew.

Installing an additional Kodi repository

• Step 1: Download the new repository
  1. Go to the System menu.

     

  2. Open File manager.

     

  3. Click on “Add source”.

     

  4. Add the URL of the repository (indicated in the description of add-ons in the article below) and its name. Here's an example with the Crew repository.

     

  5. Make sure that your repository appears in the list on the right, and there is a .zip file in it (if you click on it).

 If for some reason it wasn’t possible to connect the repository (sometimes the links aren’t available), install another add-on using a different repo. To do this, go back to point 3 of step 1.
If everything is ok, then go to the second step by going to the main menu.

• Step 2: Go to the repository installation menu

  

  

  

• Step 3: Allow installation from unknown sources

  

  If after step 2 you have such a window, then:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Enable Unknown sources.

     

     A Warning will appear. Click Yes in it. This is required to install any unofficial add-ons. The modules I have provided are completely safe.
  3. Return to the menu item for installing repositories by pressing Esc on the computer or by going back on other devices and repeating the last step of Step 2. Your screen should look like this:

     

• Step 4: Install the repository from the zip file

  

  1. Click on the zip file
  2. Enter your new repository by clicking on its name in the list.

Installing the add-on

• Step 1: Make sure the new repository is installed (optional)
  1. Go to My add-ons.

     

  2. Click All
  3. Make sure the installed repository is listed. Typically, it is at the top.

     

     If it isn’t there, try installing the repository again or install another one.
• Step 2: Go to the repository to install the add-on

  

  

• Step 3: Install the add-on
  1. Select the required add-on in the list of add-ons of the repository. You can also look at other add-ons. For example, the Crew repository has an excellent SportsDevil streaming add-on for the NFL and other sports channels.

     

  2. Click on Install.

     

     In the window that appears, click OK. These are additional modules required for the add-on to work. At this stage, the necessary files will be downloaded and installed. It takes about a minute. A short beep will inform you that the installation is complete. You will find yourself again in the list of add-ons, similar to point 1 of step 3. Congratulations, the add-on is installed!

Add-on launch

Most likely everything went well and you are ready to launch the freshly installed unofficial Kodi add-on on your device.

It can be done in three ways:

1. Find and click on the add-on icon on the main Kodi screen
2. Main screen> My add-ons> All> [Add-on name]> Open
3. Add-ons> “Box” menu> My add-ons> All> [Add-on name]> Open

Best Kodi add-ons (tested when posting the article)

All of the listed add-ons are intended for watching TV shows, TV shows, sports programs, films, and other video and audio content. If you are looking for modules for games or other less popular topics, then I advise you to use the search on the kodi.tv website.

To get acquainted with the real popularity of some Kodi add-ons, I attach charts obtained using the Google Trends service:

Now let’s look at each add-on in detail.

MAGIC DRAGON

Considered one of the most popular add-ons for Kodi, Magic Dragon offers all kinds of TV shows and movies - both new and old. If you're craving blockbusters, look for them in the New Movie Releases section, and if you want to show your kids a good movie or cartoon, there's a special children's section at your disposal. Also, don't miss out on the People Watching section, which includes increasingly popular content.

Once you have selected what you want to watch, specify the picture quality (usually HD or standard) and you can start streaming.

Magic Dragon installation:

• Click on the System Settings icon at the top left in the Kodi interface.
• Select File Manager.
• Click Add Source.
• Click No.
• Enter http://www.narcacist.com/repo/ and click OK.
• Name the file "Supremacy", check that the settings are correct, and click OK.
• In the main menu, select the Add-ons section and click on the add-ons package installer at the top left.
• Select Install from a ZIP file.
• Select Details, click repository.NarcacistWizard.zip, and install the file.
• Click Supremacy, Video add-ons, and scroll down to Magic Dragon.
• Install the add-on and start streaming.

Location of the repository to install the add-on: http://www.narcacist.com/repo/

THE CREW

I'll start with the best one. One of the most popular and well-known Kodi add-ons The Crew scored 10 out of 10 possible points when comparing its capabilities with other Kodi modules designed for watching movies.

I tested it on Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick and was completely satisfied with the result. You can even say that I am delighted with the convenience and functionality of The Crew. 

Starting the tests, I did not even expect that it would be able to so clearly and fully open up access to the latest news from leading video content publishers.

The Crew has many sections:

• Movies
• TV Shows
• CC (films)
• Sports
• IPTV
• Kids
• Comedy
• Radio

Sections are divided into subsections according to genres, content types, and many other characteristics.

Before viewing, the add-on takes content from 19 major streaming platforms. Moreover, the user can disable any of them.

Also, you can choose the quality and provider immediately before watching.

I downloaded the first episode I came across from the extensive collection of The Crew (The Queen’s Gambit), waited a few seconds while the system polled streaming providers, choosing the quality, and started watching:

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://team-crew.github.io/

TEMPEST

The following add-on deserves attention for supporting over 20 streaming platforms on which it searches for the requested content. It also knows how to download files, placing them either in local storage or in any other location specified by the user, including the network.

Otherwise, it is similar to The Crew, but I feel it works a little slower.

I tested the add-on on Firestick (read more in the article about installing Kodi on Firestick) and will gladly continue to use it for personal purposes. I liked the good selection of providers. I even have my favorite channels, which most often provide a stream in 720 and higher quality.

Installing Tempest will also install the Youtube add-on. This is because Tempest also allows you to watch the content of the Youtube service.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://tempest0580.github.io/

VENOM

Want to access both streaming providers and torrent sites from one add-on? Then Venom is the best option for you.

It's incredibly convenient! It only takes a few minutes to set up, and you'll have access to a plethora of content. More so, you won't have to activate torrenting in the add-on settings. Everything is already done by default.

Be wise and don't use torrents without protection! It is vital to secure your network activity with a VPN. It's simple and 100% effective. Read more in the article about VPNs for torrenting. 

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://123venom.github.io

SCRUBS

At first glance, this add-on has everything you need to watch movies for free. There are convenient subcategories by genre and a record large number of connected streaming providers, but ...

There are two reasons why I didn't like it very much:

1. The search process is quite slow due to a long search of 65 ISP hosts.
2. Even though tyou'll get loads of options to choose from, many of them don’t work. The add-on displays the message “No stream available”:

This doesn’t mean that the add-on is bad. It's just that it isn’t very user-friendly module.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: http://jewbmx.github.io

EXODUS

While Exodus is a great add-on, it has its flaws. It's been updated in 2019. That's not something you want to see, especially when other add-ons had more updates and are a lot safer.

But Exodus is still working, and it's cool.

What I like most about it is that it gets rid of any providers that don't offer the content anymore. Both streaming and torrenting. This significantly reduces the time it takes to search for content.

Otherwise, this is a classic movie add-on, similar to most of the above, in terms of menu structure and capabilities.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://i-a-c.github.io

SEREN

A strong add-on built according to a fundamentally new scheme that allows you to reduce search time. It works really fast!

I liked the functionality, which is similar to the Netflix app. Even if you paused or stopped watching the show, Seren will start playing content from the right place by itself when you want to continue.

But there are also some drawbacks. You won’t be able to use Seren without an active premium Debrid subscription.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://nixgates.github.io/packages

GAIA

Gaia is one of the largest video add-ons available today. If you compare the number of supported services designed to improve and facilitate the quality of use of the add-on, then it is difficult to find a similar competitor.

But this is the main disadvantage of Gaia. Complexity. The more Debrid services the add-on supports, the more problems the user has when choosing such a service.

After listing all the good add-ons, I will tell you why I think Debrid services are just pumping money out of us and what alternatives you can choose.

Another drawback of Gaia is that it hasn't been updated for a long time. As of today, only the 2019 version is available.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: http://repo.gaiakodi.com

WORLD OF WRESTLING

All previously described add-ons are more suitable for entertainment content like movies, TV series, and shows. But what about sports programs and matches?

If wrestling is your thing, try World of Wrestling. This add-on was created specifically for people who love wrestling.There you will find both online broadcasts and recorded shows.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: http://kodiuk.tv/repo/

FEN

Fen is a specialized add-on that works with Furk.net and EasyNews. These are Debrid services similar to Real Debrid. With it, you'll get high-speed and quality videos. However, the add-on requires valid subscriptions for these services.

Fen is interesting because it allows you to search for similar content. You won't have to use a web browser to search for similar materials. Fen added this feature in June 2020.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://tikipeter.github.io

MERCURY

The next add-on is relatively new but is rapidly gaining popularity due to its clean, optimized code. This allows you to reach the maximum speed of the add-on with a minimum load on the processor.

With Mercury, even relatively outdated set-top boxes and TV platforms will be able to display 4K videos.

Location of the repository for installing the add-on: https://dejavurepo.github.io/

Best Kodi add-on for Firestick

When we talk about Kodi, we mean cross-platform software. It can work with the same add-ons both on laptops and smart TV like, Android TV or Apple TV.

But in fact, there is a difference. While we can easily navigate Kodi on computers, it might be a bit more difficult doing that with remote controllers.

Thus if one add-on is very convenient on Windows, then it won’t necessarily be easy to use it on a console or smart TV.

When controlled via the remote control, there is a convenient long-press function. And not all add-ons take it into account.

I've tested over 30 videos of Firestick add-ons and compiled the top 10 add-ons:

1. The Crew
2. Tempest
3. Seren
4. Venom
5. Numbers
6. Kodzi
7. Elementum
8. Exodus
9. Marauder
10. Covenant

The best add-on for iOS

After analyzing how Kodi works on iOS, I've come to the conclusion that the add-ons listed under “Best Kodi add-ons” work best.

But you can also install several additional options because the functionality of most add-ons is similar. Not to mention, the design and structure of content sections are different, and it is difficult to evaluate them objectively.

List of additional add-ons for iOS with links to their repositories:

• OpenMeta – Movies, TV shows. https://a4k-openproject.github.io/
• Aspis – Movies, Live TV. http://2supremacy.uk/repo/

Planet MMA – MMA fights, UFC. http://onenation.info/Repo/

What should I do if the add-on does not work?

Are you having problems with a particular add-on? The first thing to do is to check the official Kodi forum. If you found the add-on in the official Kodi repository, there is a good chance you will find an add-on creator thread in the forum. The first post in such discussions usually offers valuable information about current bugs, often offering short-term solutions or a timeline on when a particular feature will be fixed. 

If you can't find the answers to your questions, you can create an account and ask for advice. Just remember: the people who create these add-ons are volunteers and users like you. They have a life outside of Kodi add-ons - work, family, etc. Treat these developers as you would like to be treated under the same circumstances, and you'll probably find that they are happy to help.

If an add-on you installed from a third-party repository doesn't work, don't ask about it on the official Kodi forums, unless there's an already existing thread about the add-on. Instead, look for an alternative forum where the developer of the add-on discusses the project.

What is RealDebrid and why is it not needed

Debrid provides services for caching the viewed content. If you watch a movie directly from a streaming provider or torrent site, then you are likely to experience slowdowns due to problems on the side of the provider.

This could be rush hour congestion or deliberate speed limiting to conserve resources.

And Debrid services help speed up browsing. They cache hundreds and thousands of video files and the Kodi add-on, connecting to such a service, can display videos at high speed and in high resolution without pauses and caching.

This is what Debrid services promise.

The source of broadcast interruptions isn’t a problem on the side of the streaming platform, but a limitation of the speed of streaming data by a local Internet provider (ISP).

I faced this problem myself. And Debrid accounts don't solve this problem!

It can only be solved by using a Kodi VPN. This happens because the traffic is masked and becomes invisible to the ISP. It cannot determine that you're streaming videos, meaning your ISP can throttle your bandwidth.

Note that a VPN isn’t effective unless your ISP has a speed limit. You can determine this by comparing the video quality on YouTube and in your Kodi. As a rule, YouTube isn’t restricted.

Thus, RealDebrid and similar services in most cases only drain our money, not making the work of add-ons for Kodi better.

Ready-made Kodi builds

If choosing, downloading, and installing add-ons doesn’t appeal to you, there is an alternative and very convenient way to start using them.

This is the installation of ready-made pre-installed Kodi builds.

Experienced specialists have made sure that they contain all the add-ons that the most demanding user may need.

If this is your cup of tea, go to “Best Kodi builds” article, in which I talk about most relevant builds.

I hope the article was useful for you and you were able to install a really high-quality current streaming Kodi add-on.

Please write your questions and comments in the comments below the article. I will be happy to answer them.

Dean Chester.