Frndly TV is a live TV streaming service that offers one of the lowest monthly subscription prices on the market in 2024.
And with access to family-friendly channels offered by content producers including Hallmark and A+E Networks, it could be a cost-saving option for people who are looking to cut the cord and leave cable behind.
In total, Frndly TV offers more than 40 live TV channels for as little as $7.99 per month. That price sounds great, but you’ll probably find it doesn’t serve as a full replacement for services that offer more of what cable TV does such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
In this article, Team Clark answers questions about a few important things you need to know before you decide whether Frndly TV is right for you.
This article was updated in April 2024 and I review it every three months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.
April 2024 Updates
Latest Frndly TV Updates
- Frndly TV introduced a new user interface in February 2024. This include a homepage redesign and easier access to the channel menu.
- Laff and CourtTV were added as new channels to all Frndly TV packages in January 2024.
- Frndly TV announced a $1 per month price increase for all three of its packages in September 2023.
- MeTV+ was added to the Frndly TV channel list in October 2023. This is a sister station to MeTV, which is one of the more popular “classic” TV channels and is already a part of the Frndly TV subscription package.
- Samsung users now can download the Frndly app on their smart TV. Frndly TV announced in June 2023 that it is now compatible with Samsung TVs produced in 2018 or newer.
- Frndly TV now has a “72 Hour Look Back” feature that “automatically captures shows that have aired as far back as 72 hours so you never miss an episode.”
Table of Contents
1. How Much Does Frndly TV Cost?
Frndly TV offers three plans that cost between $7.99 and $11.99 per month. There are no long-term commitments, and you can cancel these plans without any penalty.
The three plans are Basic ($7.99), Classic ($9.99) and Premium ($11.99). Each of these has a seven-day free trial available to new customers, so you can test things out before you make a decision.
The channel lineup is the same for all plans, but there are differences in video quality, the number of simultaneous streams and cloud DVR capabilities.
| Frndly TV – Basic | Frndly TV – Classic | Frndly TV – Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $7.99 | $9.99 | $11.99 |
| Free Trial | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days |
| Local Channels Included | No | No | No |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Cloud DVR Hours | None | Unlimited | Unlimited |
If you enjoy streaming in high definition, you’ll need to pay for the Classic or Premium subscription, as the Basic package includes only a standard definition stream.
You’ll also need a Classic or Premium subscription if you want to be able to stream on multiple devices at the same time.
2. What Channels Do You Get With Frndly TV?
There are more than 40 channels included with Frndly TV, including Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama.
And in late 2021, Frndly TV reached an agreement with A+E Networks to add seven more popular channels, including Lifetime and The HISTORY Channel.
Here’s a look at the full channel lineup for all three of Frndly TV’s package options.
| Frndly TV – Basic ($7.99) | Frndly TV – Classic ($9.99) | Frndly TV – Premium ($11.99) |
|---|---|---|
| A&E | A&E | A&E |
| BabyFirst | BabyFirst | BabyFirst |
| BYUtv | BYUtv | BYUtv |
| Catchy Comedy | Catchy Comedy | Catchy Comedy |
| Circle | Circle | Circle |
| Court TV | Court TV | Court TV |
| Cowboy Way | Cowboy Way | Cowboy Way |
| Crime + Investigation | Crime + Investigation | Crime + Investigation |
| CuriosityStream | CuriosityStream | CuriosityStream |
| Dove Channel | Dove Channel | Dove Channel |
| Dove Family Movies | Dove Family Movies | Dove Family Movies |
| Dove Kids | Dove Kids | Dove Kids |
| FETV | FETV | FETV |
| FMC – Family Movies Classic | FMC – Family Movies Classic | FMC – Family Movies Classic |
| frndlyTV | ||
| FYI | FYI | FYI |
| Game Show Network | Game Show Network | Game Show Network |
| GetTV | GetTV | GetTV |
| Great American Family | Great American Family | Great American Family |
| Great American Living | Great American Living | Great American Living |
| Grit | Grit | Grit |
| Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel | Hallmark Channel |
| Hallmark Drama | Hallmark Drama | Hallmark Drama |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Hallmark Movies & Mysteries |
| Heartland TV | Heartland TV | Heartland TV |
| Heroes & Icons | Heroes & Icons | Heroes & Icons |
| History | History | History |
| INSP | INSP | INSP |
| Ion | Ion | Ion |
| Ion Mystery | Ion Mystery | Ion Mystery |
| Laff | Laff | Laff |
| Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Movie Network | Lifetime Movie Network | Lifetime Movie Network |
| Local Now | Local Now | Local Now |
| MeTV | MeTV | MeTV |
| MeTV+ | MeTV+ | MeTV+ |
| Military History | Military History | Military History |
| Movies! | Movies! | Movies! |
| Outdoor Channel | Outdoor Channel | Outdoor Channel |
| PixL | PixL | PixL |
| Pursuit | Pursuit | Pursuit |
| QVC | QVC | QVC |
| Recipe.TV | Recipe.TV | Recipe.TV |
| Start TV | Start TV | Start TV |
| Story Television | Story Television | Story Television |
| The Weather Channel | The Weather Channel | The Weather Channel |
| UPtv | UPtv | UPtv |
| Vice | Vice | Vice |
| Waypoint TV | Waypoint TV | Waypoint TV |
The list of channels available on Frndly TV has grown significantly since its 2019 launch, but the menu still leaves a lot to be desired for streamers seeking a full replacement for cable TV.
You’ll notice that live sports, news and local channels are absent from this list as are many major channels including TBS, TNT and USA Network.
If you’re looking for some improvements in this area, you may want to reference Team Clark’s live TV streaming channel tool to find the service that offers the channels you want for the lowest possible monthly price.
A service such as Philo can double the available channels at $25 per month, while YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream offer more robust channel packages at higher prices.
3. Does Frndly TV Include DVR?
If you want cloud DVR capabilities with Frndly TV, you’re going to need more than just the Basic package.
The Classic and Premium packages both include cloud DVR at no additional cost. This functionality is in addition to viewing streams in high-definition, which is also not included with the Basic package.
| Frndly TV – Basic | Frndly TV – Classic | Frndly TV – Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud DVR Hours | None | Unlimited | Unlimited |
You can record as many programs as you want at the same time with this cloud DVR. And since the storage is unlimited, you don’t have to worry about that filling up the memory space on your account. You’ll be able to fast forward and rewind on your DVR recordings.
The major difference between the cloud DVR functionality on the Classic and Premium plans is the duration of the storage.
Recordings are available for three months on the Classic plan, but an upgrade to Premium extends the life of your DVR recordings to nine months.
Frndly TV also now has a “72 Hour Look Back” feature that “automatically captures shows that have aired as far back as 72 hours so you never miss an episode.”
4. What Equipment Do I Need To Stream Frndly TV?
Frndly TV can be streamed on a smart TV, streaming media player, computer, tablet or wireless phone.
You’ll need high-speed internet to watch, and if you want to see it on your television you’ll need to add the Frndly TV app to your smart TV or streaming media player.
Popular devices that have the Frndly TV app available for download include:
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Google Chromecast
- Apple TV
- Android TV
- Samsung smart TVs
You can also find the Frndly TV app in both the Apple App Store and pm Google Play for use on wireless phones and tablets. The streaming service also can be accessed via web browser on the official website.
Frndly recommends an internet speed connection of 5 Mbps for HD quality streaming and 1.5 Mbps for SD quality.
Pros and Cons: Frndly TV
| Pros | Cons |
| You can stream more than 40 live channels for as little as $7.99 per month. | Channel selection is not as comprehensive as live streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. |
| All three Hallmark channels and seven A+E networks highlight an improved channel menu. | Live sports and news are not available. |
| Unlimited cloud DVR, HD and multiple streams are available for an additional $2 per month. | The Basic package doesn’t include HD or DVR functionality. |
Final Thoughts
The value in Frndly TV as a discount live TV streaming service is in the eye of the beholder.
If you’re a fan of Hallmark and Lifetime programming, there is no better live TV streaming deal on the market for you. This is a great opportunity to get those families of channels on the cheap.
If you want to watch the big game on ESPN or get the latest news commentary on CNN or FOX News, you’re likely to find this streaming service rather useless even with the cheap price tag.
Frndly TV offers fewer channels than YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV, but the price is much better.
Perhaps the closest competitor is Philo, which offers a more expansive menu of channels with a similar approach for $25 per month.
And if you’re a fan of Christmas movies, Frndly TV a great option for scratching that itch with Hallmark. You can pay for a couple of months and then cancel your subscription (without any obligation) for the remainder of the year.
