5 Best Kodi builds of 2023 – Fully tested and approved

The best Kodi builds of 2023 are listed right here!

The Kodi media player is a high-powered but barebones media player greatly enhanced by its thriving add-on infrastructure. You can install addons one-by-one, or just install a specialized build that comes with a library of popular add-ons and a unique skin (or theme).

If you’re new to Kodi, builds can reduce the time it takes to get up and running and change the default look to something that suits you a little better. However, it’s important you carefully vet any build you’re thinking about using since they often come packaged with copyright-infringing addons (which we recommend deleting).

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.

Best Kodi Builds 2023

There are hundreds of Kodi builds available across the web, and while we haven’t tested everything that’s out there, we have managed to find a few that stand out. It’s worth mentioning that we’re predominantly looking for aesthetics and usability since most builds aren’t exactly well-organized or pleasing to the eye.

Here’s a list of the best Kodi builds:

1. No Limits Magic Build
2. Misfit Mods Lite
3. Doomzday – The Small Build
4. Breezz Lite
5. Blue Twilight

SPECIAL NOTE: Kodi builds can put you at risk if you install the wrong ones or allow them to install and update addons without your knowledge. We highly recommend you ONLY use these builds for the skins, customization options, and legitimate addons they include, and that you delete any infringing addons, you find within them. 

The best thing to do when starting with a build is to have a fresh Kodi installation. To do this, just browse Kodi’s website and get the latest stable version. This way, you can avoid potential conflicts between your build and any other add-ons you may have already installed.

Warning: your Kodi streams are not secure

Kodi addons tend to scrape streams from online sources, so your ISP can track you and see exactly which sites you’re pulling from. Not only that, but some addons stream content from P2P networks, meaning your IP address is visible to anyone else who’s sharing or downloading the same file. There is a way to stop this: connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

VPNs encrypt your data, which hides your activities from service providers, hotspot owners, and hackers. They also route this traffic through servers elsewhere, meaning your true IP address is never revealed.

Among the best options we’ve tested for Kodi build users is NordVPN. It’s extremely fast and packed with security features, as well as a verified no-logs policy. With dedicated apps for almost every platform, including Amazon Fire Stick, it’s a great choice for anyone hoping to securely stream Kodi.

Reader deal: NordVPN is offering our readers 60 percent off the price of a two-year plan. For alternate choices, see our list of the best VPNs for Kodi.

Best Kodi Builds of 2023

When we talk about the “best” builds below, what we mean are the builds that have the best user interface for Kodi and provide the best overall experience. These are also the builds everyone is talking about, meaning we’ve only listed builds that are heavily user-approved. We also walk you through how to install each Kodi build below.

1. No Limits Magic Build

Installable from: No Limits Wizard

Compatibility: Kodi Leia

The Kodi No Limits Build comes in several flavors, including versions with adult sections and those without. You can also install a Lite or Full version of the build, so the download size can vary depending on your chosen version.

Unlike some other builds, Kodi No Limits Build lets you install over top of your current build so you don’t have to completely erase or delete add-ons that are already installed. However, note that installing a build on top of another build might break something in the installation, so it’s a good idea to do a fresh install.

Inside, you’ll find sections for TV Shows, Movies, Sports, Live TV, and more. Kodi No Limits Magic runs on the Aeon Nox SiLVO skin, which you can download and install separately from the developer. If all you’re looking for is that great Kodi skin without having to go through the process of deleting unwanted addons, we recommend installing the skin instead of the build.

2. MisFit Mods Lite

Installable from: Misfit Mods Wizard

Compatibility: Kodi Leia, Matrix

MisFit Mods Lite is one of the most attractive Kodi mods around. Delivered with a rather explosive loading screen, the entire theme is designed with a heavily specialized format that makes it easy to access the best features that Kodi has to offer.

You’ll find this build in the MisFit Mods Wizard. If you’re installing it on a limited-resource device, like the Amazon Firestick, make sure you choose the “Lite” version, as indicated in the title of this section. The build can be slow to load even with the Lite version because of all of the thematic modifications, so make sure you’re using the one best suited for your device.

3. Doomzday – The Small Build

Download location: Ezzerman’s GUI Wizard

Compatibility: Kodi Matrix

Doomzday actually has quite a few different builds available, but we’re focusing on The Small Build today. It’s nice and lightweight, with a subtle design and just a few add-ons included (although you’ll want to delete these since they’re all copyright-infringing). This build is pretty customizable, too; its menus can be horizontal if you’d prefer, and plenty of wallpaper addons are supported in case you get bored of the metallic effect.

4. Transcendent

Download location: Ezzerman’s GUI Wizard

Compatibility: Kodi Matrix

Transcendent has a clean, modern user interface with a customizable home screen and Trakt integration built-in. It does, however, come with many copyright-infringing addons and a default wallpaper that’s a bit of an eyesore, so we’d recommend addressing both issues as soon as possible.

5. BREEZZ Build

Download location: BreeZZ 19 Wizard

Compatibility: Kodi Matrix

The BReeZZ Build offers a minimalistic skin and strips many of the less-used options out of Kodi’s main menus. There’s also a red variant, though you can always switch out the background image to something different instead of installing a whole other build to change colors.

Now, this addon does include a few copyright-infringing addons. For that reason, we strongly suggest deleting these before moving on to adding your own.

How to install a Kodi build

Most Kodi builds aren’t downloaded individually. Instead, they’re installed directly from another addon called a wizard.

Here’s how to install a Kodi build:

1. Open Kodi and go to the File Manager via the gear symbol
2. Select Add source and enter the current address of the repo your preferred wizard is in
3. Return to your home screen and select Addons, then go to the package symbol on the top left
4. Click on Install from zip and click on the source you just added
5. Click on the repo you’d like the file to install
6. Once installed, go to your Program add-ons section in Kodi to launch the build wizard
7. Locate the appropriate build, then install the version matching your current Kodi version

How to delete unwanted pirate add-ons

The main reason you’re installing Kodi builds is to get the extra features not typically located in a bare Kodi media center install. However, builds often include a variety of copyright-infringing addons. Thankfully, you can delete these and replace them with legitimate TV addons pretty easily.

This process will look different in different builds as the skins change how your Kodi looks and feels. Nevertheless, you can follow this generic process with almost any build:

• Find the name of the add-on you want to remove.
• Right-click on the addon, and then click on Information.
• You will now see a screen that gives you options, such as “Disable”, but most importantly, one that says “Uninstall”.
• Click on the Uninstall button.

Your unwanted addon will now be uninstalled from your Kodi build. Note, however, that this will not actually delete the unwanted add-on entirely. If you want to completely remove an addon, you will need to find the zip file for the build you installed, open it, and delete the appropriate plugin.

Beware: Some Kodi builds may contain malware

Unfortunately, when you download a Kodi build, there’s no way to really know what addons or addon repositories are getting added to your Kodi installation until after the build is installed.

All of the builds on this list have been tested and deemed safe at the time we tested them.

However, it’s worth remembering that your build zip file may have been updated or hijacked to include addons or programs you don’t expect. In other words, you may unintentionally install malware during the process.

This happened to one Kodi user and tester, who posted a warning about it on the popular third-party Kodi Reddit forum, /r/Addons4Kodi. That user found that he had installed a cryptocurrency coin mining trojan while testing different builds.

We recommend running an antivirus program on any device you use with Kodi. That’s because once-popular addons, such as GAIA and Bubbles, have previously been hijacked, spreading malware without users’ knowledge. Luckily, there are many free, high-quality antivirus apps for Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

Kodi Builds: Frequently Asked Questions