How Much Is Philo? Essential and Bundle+ Pricing Explained

A Philo subscription starts at of $25 a month, making it a cheaper alternative to many other live TV streaming services, and a good option for homes looking for an affordable way to stream live TV.

Philo offers two main live TV packages, and neither is particularly expensive. In fact, signing up for the more expensive package could actually save you money, depending on your existing subscriptions.

Philo Essential vs Bundle+

Philo offers two different base packages to choose from – Essential and Bundle+. Although different, one of the good things about Philo is that choosing a package doesn’t mean choosing between channel lineups or features.

Instead, all subscribers get access to the exact same channel lineup, the same FAST channels, and the same features, including an unlimited DVR.

Where the packages do differ is in terms of the price and add-ons. For example, while the base Essential plan costs $25/mo, Bundle+ costs $33/mo and unlocks access to additional add-ons.

Here’s a closer look at the differences between the two packages.

Basically, Bundle+ also includes access to All Reality, AMC+, Discovery+ and HBO Max, and all for only $8/mo more.

How Upgrading to Bundle+ Could Save You Money

For homes already paying for any of these additional streaming services, it could actually work out cheaper to subscribe to the more expensive Philo package and cancel the separate subscriptions.

As an example, the HBO Max Basic with ads plan costs $10.99/mo when signing up directly. Considering this subscription is included with the Bundle+ package, canceling the direct subscription and taking advantage of the one included with Philo reduces the cost of the live TV package down to around $22 a month.

And that’s without taking into consideration Bundle+ also includes All Reality, AMC+ and Discovery+.

If also signed up to AMC+, that’s another $8/mo you can deduct from the cost of accessing Philo’s live TV channel lineup.

All in all, Philo subscribers get almost $30 in additional streaming value with these premium subscriptions. When deducting the $8/mo cost of upgrading from Essential to Bundle+, subscribers save $22 each month compared to subscribing to all of these premium services separately.

Price Comparison: Philo vs the Competition

Right now, the most popular live TV streaming services in the US, in order, are YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, and Sling TV.

Here’s how Philo’s minimum price compares to the minimum price of the competition.

While the minimum price of DirecTV, Sling TV, and Frndly TV is cheaper, some may find Philo’s channel lineup better suits their needs.

What’s more, Philo has a history of not increasing in price as often as other services. Since the launch of the main Philo plan in 2017, the minimum price has only increased four times.

Even then, the cheapest package is still only $9 more than it was when Philo’s live TV package launched almost 10 years ago.

Overall, the lower price and lack of annual increases are two of the main selling points of Philo, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon

Editor’s Note: Although the price starts at $25/mo, this relates to signing up directly through Philo. If signing up through a third-party provider (including Amazon, Apple, Google, or Roku), a $4/mo surcharge may be applied, increasing the minimum cost to $29 a month.

Technically, You Can Use Philo for Free

Although most homes looking for a live TV package will need to choose between the Essential and Bundle+ plans, it is technically possible to watch Philo for free.

Along with the two paid packages, Philo offers a free tier that provides access to more than 150 FAST channels and a selection of on-demand programming.

These FAST channels are not traditional live TV networks but themed or genre-based channels. Due to this, they are unlikely to work as a replacement for the premium networks included in the paid packages.

Still, for those looking for another way to expand their live TV experience without spending any more each month, Philo’s free tier is an option.

Is Philo Right for You? Maybe

While the price is likely to appeal to many homes, Philo isn’t going to be the best choice for every home. The reason for this is simple – Philo is somewhat selective with the variety of channels it offers.

By being so selective about the channels it bundles together, Philo is better able to control the price it pays, and this is exactly how Philo is able to keep the cost to the consumer as low as it does.

In terms of the channel lineup, Philo is a live TV service that primarily focuses on entertainment and lifestyle programming.

If looking for a live TV package to catch up on the latest episodes of your favorite shows from networks like A&E, AMC, Discovery, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, and Paramount Network, Philo will be just fine.

However, if you are also looking for a live TV package that offers access to mainstream news, local stations, and/or live sports, Philo isn’t going to be the right choice.

Overall, at just $25 a month, it is hard to argue with the price. Philo is currently one of the cheapest live TV streaming services around and offers very good value. Even more so when considering the premium subscriptions you get when upgrading to the $33/mo Bundle+ plan.

The only caveat is the cheaper price directly impacts the channel lineup. If the selection of channels meets your needs then Philo might just be the live TV package you have been looking for.

Another good thing about Philo is that it does offer all new subscribers a 7-day free trial, making it easy to see if it is the right service.

★★★★☆

• 70+ channels
• AMC+
• HBO Max

$25/mo

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