A Philo subscription unlocks access to more than 70 live TV channels for just $28 a month. With services like Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV costing around three times as much, Philo is a good option for those looking for an affordable way to stream live TV.
The number of channels included with Philo is actually much greater than 70, as the live TV service also provides access to a good number of free channels as well. However, subscribers do not have to pay anything each month to access these free channels.
With that in mind, those considering signing up to Philo should primarily focus on the selection of paid channels, and whether this selection meets their needs.
Paid Channels Included With Philo’s Base Plan
- A&E
- AccuWeather Network
- AMC
- American Heroes Channel
- Animal Planet
- aspireTV
- AXS TV
- BBC America
- BET
- BET Her
- Catchy Comedy
- CLEO TV
- CMT
- Comedy Central
- Cooking Channel
- Crime + Investigation
- Dabl
- Deck the Hallmark
- Destination America
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- EarthX
- FETV
- Food Network
- FYI
- Game Show Network
- get
- Great American Faith & Living
- Great American Family
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Family
- Hallmark Mystery
- Heroes & Icons
- HGTV
- HISTORY
- IFC
- INSP
- Investigation Discovery
- Law&Crime
- Lifetime
- LMN
- Logo
- Magnolia Network
- MeTV
- MeTV Toons
- MeTV+
- Military History Channel
- MotorTrend
- MTV
- MTV Classic
- MTV Live
- MTV2
- Nick Jr.
- Nickelodeon
- Nicktoons
- Oprah Winfrey Network
- Paramount Network
- Pop TV
- REVOLT
- Science Channel
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- Story Television
- Sundance TV
- Tastemade
- TeenNick
- TLC
- Travel Channel
- TV Land
- TV One
- UPtv
- VH1
- Vice
- WE tv
As mentioned, Philo also provides paid subscribers with the same selection of FAST channels as free users. With more than 100 free channels available, Philo subscribers currently get access to more FAST channels than paid channels.
Although a paid subscription is not needed to access these channels, paid subscribers will still get access to these channels as part of their live TV package.
Free Philo Channels
See the full list of FAST channels.
Is Philo The Right Choice For You?
Overall, Philo offers a good selection of channels and especially when considering a subscription only costs $28 a month. That said, the lineup is far more suited to those looking for entertainment, reality TV and kids programming.
It is this careful balancing of channels and content that makes it possible for Philo to maintain its lower price point, making it a good option for those looking for an affordable live TV package.
If, however, access to local channels is important, then it is likely that Philo is not going to be the right live TV solution for you. Philo is also not going to be a good option for those wanting access to news and/or sports channels.
In particular, the lack of sports is something to be aware of before signing up, as subscribers will need to make additional arrangements if they want to watch live sports.
Another area where Philo is weaker than other live TV streaming services is premium channels. For example, Philo subscribers can only add a small selection of add-ons to their base plan, including ALLBLK, Hallmark+, MGM+, Movies & More, and Starz.
Unlike most of the other add-ons, Movies & More costs $3 a month and unlocks access to Fandor, FMC, HDNet Movies, REELZ, Sony Movies, and Movies!
As long as the lack of access to local, news, and sports isn’t a concern, we think Philo is worth a subscription. With a 7-day free trial also available, it is possible to check Philo out before making a decision and paying for a subscription.
$28/mo
- 70+ channels
- AMC+
- Unlimited DVR
Philo TV vs The Competition
Before signing up to Philo it is important to decide if the channel lineup works for you. If it doesn’t, then it might be worth considering an alternative live TV service.
The closest in terms of price is Sling TV. While Sling’s channel lineup may prove to be a better match for some homes, and especially those in need of news and sports, Sling TV costs a minimum of $46 a month, making it a more expensive option overall.
Philo vs Sling TV
What’s the difference and which is best?
Then there’s Frndly TV. With Frndly TV’s plans starting at just $7.99 a month, it is an even cheaper option than Philo. However, the lower price does result in a very different channel lineup, and some homes may find the selection to be even more limiting than Philo’s. Frndly TV also suffers from the same local, news, and sports issues as Philo.
Frndly TV vs Philo
Which cheap live TV service is best?
If neither Frndly TV nor Sling TV are meeting your needs, then it may be time to consider paying more each month for a service with a richer channel lineup.
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