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Philo is an entertainment-first live TV streaming bundle centered on lifestyle, reality, and factual networks. The base package advertises 70+ live channels, a large on-demand library, and unlimited cloud DVR that keeps recordings for up to one year. Accounts support multiple profiles and up to three simultaneous streams, and supported platforms span Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV/Android TV, select Samsung TVs, mobile apps, and web browsers (devices). Philo omits local broadcast stations and most sports networks to keep costs lower than full-bundle services; free trial availability varies by promotion (Philo).
Philo at a Glance
| Philo |
How We Evaluated Philo
Streaming now commands the largest share of U.S. TV usage, according to Nielsen’s The Gauge (2024). In live TV streaming, YouTube TV disclosed 8 million+ subscribers in 2024, making it the market leader (Alphabet via The Verge), while industry tracking shows continued large losses for traditional cable/satellite (Leichtman Research Group).
We benchmarked Philo against current alternatives, including full-bundle vMVPDs such as YouTube TV ($72.99/mo), Hulu + Live TV (from $76.99/mo with Disney+ and ESPN+), and Fubo (generally $79.99–$99.99+ and may include regional sports fees), as well as lower-cost, modular options like Sling TV (Orange $40, Blue $45, Orange & Blue $55) and ultra-budget Frndly TV ($7.99–$11.99) using each provider’s official plan pages.
Our comparison emphasized monthly price, channel breadth (especially locals and sports), free trial policies (which now vary by promotion across services), simultaneous streams, and cloud DVR capacity and retention. We also verified device support and TV Everywhere access via Philo’s help documentation. Finally, we considered consumer savings: rising vMVPD prices and SVOD increases mean cord-cutting savings have narrowed compared with prior years—typical outcomes today range roughly $10–$40 per month for households replacing cable with a live TV streamer (depending on local cable fees and add-ons), and higher savings for SVOD-only setups (Xfinity fees; Spectrum fees; YouTube TV pricing; Hulu pricing; Fubo pricing; Sling pricing; streaming price inflation).
Philo vs. Other Live Streaming Services
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Key Philo Considerations
Affordable, appealing live TV streaming
Philo’s single plan is positioned well below full-bundle services: it lists at a budget price while competitors commonly range from the low-$70s to $100+ for locals and sports. For context, current headline prices include YouTube TV at $72.99, Hulu + Live TV from $76.99 (includes Disney+ and ESPN+), and sports-centric Fubo typically $79.99–$99.99+ (regional sports fees may apply). Modular Sling TV (Orange $40, Blue $45, Orange & Blue $55) sits in the middle, while Frndly TV undercuts everyone with a smaller, family-focused lineup. Free trials increasingly vary by promotion across providers.
Philo’s interface is straightforward across devices—Home, Guide, Saved, Search, and Settings—with fast universal search. Household features include multi-user profiles (including kid-friendly profiles) so each person’s Saved and watch history stay separate (profiles; Saved library). Supported platforms include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV/Android TV, many Samsung smart TVs, iOS/Android, and major web browsers (devices). Philo also supports TV Everywhere logins for many included networks (availability varies by network; see Philo Help).
Strong but limited channel lineup
Philo focuses on entertainment and lifestyle networks and intentionally omits local broadcast stations (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS) and major national sports networks (e.g., ESPN, FS1, TNT). You’ll find popular brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery, Hallmark, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon among its 70+ channels (see channels). If you need locals or broad live sports coverage, consider full-bundle options such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo; a modular setup with Sling plus an over-the-air antenna for locals can also work depending on your market.
Unlimited cloud storage
Philo includes unlimited cloud DVR with recordings kept for up to one year (details). Among major competitors that advertise “unlimited” DVR, retention windows are typically shorter—YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV STREAM generally keep recordings for up to nine months. Fubo uses large hour-based storage (often 1,000 hours) with no time-based expiration, while Sling includes 50 hours (200 with an add-on) retained while under the cap.
Simple, secure sign-up
Philo uses a passwordless sign-in: enter a mobile number or email and you’ll receive a one-time code or sign-in link; TVs and streaming devices are paired at philo.tv/activate (Philo Help; Terms). This approach reduces password reuse and credential-stuffing risk, but SMS/email codes are still single-factor. For best protection, follow guidance on phishing-resistant MFA and SIM-swap awareness from CISA and the FCC.
The Bottom Line
With streaming now the largest share of U.S. TV usage (Nielsen), Philo offers strong value for entertainment-first households that don’t need locals or major live sports. You get 70+ channels, up to three streams, multi-user profiles, and an unlimited DVR with a 1-year retention window—all at a significantly lower price than full-bundle vMVPDs like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. Given industry-wide price increases, cord-cutting savings have narrowed, but Philo remains a cost-effective way to watch popular entertainment channels if you can live without local stations and big-league sports (Philo).
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