Philo TV Review

Philo is a live TV streaming service that launched in 2010 and now claims around a million subscribers. The service offers a variety of on-demand titles, as well as more than 60 live channels for subscribers to select.

Philo is the most affordable live TV streaming service on the market, making it perfect for certain subscribers. However, it's missing some important channels that many people want. Because of its channel selection, Philo is best for entertainment and lifestyle enthusiasts who don't need sports and local channels.

*Streaming service package information accurate as of 08/10/2022.

You're probably wondering how Philo stacks up to other live TV streaming services. As you can see from the table above, Philo is currently the most affordable streaming service of its kind, with a price tag of just $25/mo. It's not uncommon for similar services to cost $65/mo. or more. 

Philo stacks up well against its competitors in other ways too. It offers unlimited cloud DVR hours, which isn't the case with every streaming service. It also has a seven-day free trial, which is becoming less common these days.

However, Philo only offers around 60 channels. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV both offer more than 85 channels, and other live TV streaming services, such as fuboTV, offer more than 100 channels. Philo does have more channels available than Sling TV, but it's missing some key channels that certain viewers might like. (See the below box for more information on which.)

How Much Does Philo Cost?

While many other live TV streaming services have complicated pricing structures and multiple plans to choose from, Philo offers a far simpler structure. There's just one plan, and it has a price tag of $25/mo., making it the cheapest live TV streaming service on the market.

Keep in mind that while many streaming services allow you to upgrade your plan for an ad-free viewing experience, Philo doesn't offer this option. All titles will stream with ads. However, you can easily skip the ads when you're watching via recorded DVR.

Philo Channels and Add-ons

As mentioned previously, Philo doesn't have some of the channels you'd expect from a live TV streaming service. There's no access to local channels, national news, or sports channels. Instead, this streaming service is primarily geared toward entertainment and lifestyle content, with popular channels including AMC, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, DIY Network, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, Paramount Network, TLC, and more.

You can also customize your plan more by adding a few different entertainment add-ons. You can add Movies & More for $3/mo., EPIX for $6/mo., and Starz for $9/mo.

Philo Top Channels Compared

As we mentioned, Philo doesn't give you access to local channels. Below is a breakdown of which popular live TV streaming services carry your favorite local channels and which don't.

Philo Features

Live TV and on-demand library

For live TV, Philo offers more than 60 popular entertainment and lifestyle channels. Additionally, you'll have access to a large on-demand library of more than 60,000 movies, TV episodes, and specials.

User profiles and simultaneous streams

Philo allows you to create up to 10 different user profiles so that each member of your family can customize their viewing experience. You can also have up to three people streaming on different devices so that multiple family members can enjoy their favorite show at the same time.

Unlimited cloud DVR hours

One of the most impressive features that Philo offers is its unlimited cloud DVR hours, which allow you to record all of your favorite shows and store them for up to 12 months. Philo's DVR hours stand out among such competitors as Sling TV, which only offers 50 DVR hours. Philo also stores them for 12 months, while YouTube TV only stores recordings for nine months.

Philo supported devices

You can stream Philo from any of its supported devices, which include web browsers, Apple iPhone and Apple iPad, Android phones and tablets, Android TV (Google TV), Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Google Chromecast.

Is Philo worth it?

At just $25/mo., Philo is an excellent value. If you especially like to watch entertainment and lifestyle titles, then you'll probably find this live TV streaming service to be more than worth the cost.

However, if you also watch sports, news, or local channels, then Philo probably isn't the best fit, and you'd be better off spending your money on a live TV streaming service that gives you those channels.