- Philo has discontinued its $16/month plan for new subscribers as of May 6, 2019. A single package is offered for $20/month.
- The live TV streaming service features plenty of entertainment networks, but sports and local stations aren’t offered. The $20 a month skinny bundle includes nearly 60 channels.
- Unlimited cloud DVR is included with a Philo subscription, and recordings can be saved for up to 30 days.
- Philo is compatible with Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV devices, but Google Chromecast isn’t supported.
- Only a mobile phone number is required to start a free trial of Philo. You’ll be asked to enter payment information after two days to extend the trial to a full week.
If you thought AT&T WatchTV was the only live TV streaming service available for around $20 a month, think again!
Philo is a cable and satellite TV alternative that caters to cord cutters who are serious about keeping their costs down with a plan that offers 59 channels for $20 per month.
It includes favorites like AMC, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, OWN, Nickelodeon and now Hallmark!
RELATED: Which live TV streaming service has the best channel lineup?
Philo Live TV Streaming Service: Everything You Need to Know
Team Clark signed up for a free trial and quickly discovered what makes Philo different from competitors like YouTube TV, AT&T TV Now and PlayStation Vue.
Here are five things you need to know before you sign up!
Table of Contents:
1. How Much Does Philo Cost?
Most of the leading live TV streaming services have starter packages that cost around $40 per month, but Philo is half that price.
Philo discontinued its $16 per month plan in early May 2019, leaving a single $20 package for new subscribers. Those who signed up before May 6 can continue with the cheaper plan.
Here’s how CEO Andrew McCollum explained the decision:
“At Philo, we care deeply about creating the best TV experience possible at an affordable price. Since we launched 18 months ago, most of the other companies in our space have raised their prices, in some cases multiple times. We didn’t want to do that. Still, when we looked at all of the costs of operating Philo—which increase over time—consolidating into a single $20 package was the best way for us to maintain the same offering we have today without raising prices for everyone, or having to cut back in places we strive to excel, like our customer support.”
Philo offers a two-day free trial that only requires a cell phone number to sign up — no credit card — but you can extend the trial to a week by adding payment information.
You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no long-term commitments.
2. What Channels Do You Get With Philo?
Philo’s lineup is unlike its competitors because it doesn’t include any local or sports channels. However, you will find plenty of reality TV shows, children’s programming, documentaries and movies while browsing the channels.
Philo Channel Lineup
| Philo: $20/month |
|---|
| A&E |
| AMC |
| American Heroes Channel |
| Animal Planet |
| aspireTV |
| AXS TV |
| BBC America |
| BBC World News |
| BET |
| BET Her |
| Cheddar Business |
| Cheddar News |
| Cleo TV |
| CMT |
| Comedy Central |
| Cooking Channel |
| Destination America |
| Discovery Channel |
| Discovery Family |
| Discovery Life |
| DIY Network |
| Food Network |
| FYI |
| Game Show Network |
| Great American Country |
| Hallmark Channel |
| Hallmark Drama |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries |
| HGTV |
| History Channel |
| IFC |
| Investigation Discovery |
| Law&Crime |
| Lifetime |
| Lifetime Movies |
| Logo |
| MotorTrend |
| MTV |
| MTV Classic |
| MTV2 |
| MTV Live |
| Nick Jr. |
| Nickelodeon |
| Nicktoons |
| OWN |
| Paramount Network |
| PeopleTV |
| REVOLT |
| Science Channel |
| Sundance TV |
| Tastemade |
| TeenNick |
| TLC |
| Travel Channel |
| TV Land |
| UPtv |
| VH1 |
| Vice |
| WE tv |
3. Does Philo Come With DVR Capabilities?
If Philo has the channels that you like, you’ll be glad to know that it includes unlimited DVR. Save any shows you want and they’ll be available to view for 30 days — with the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
In addition, the company says it lets users replay just about everything that’s aired within the last 72 hours.
4. How Do You Stream Philo on Your TV?
Like all live TV streaming services, you must have a high-speed internet connection and a supported device. Philo is available on Mac and PC on a web browser, Apple iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets — plus Roku.
5. Does Philo Allow for Multiple Streams?
If you have multiple people in your house who want to use Philo, a subscription allows three different streams to be played at the same time. The oldest stream will stop working at four streams.
Final Thought
I had no trouble using Philo during my free trial period. Its interface took a few minutes to get used to, but I found the TV guide function pretty user-friendly once I played around with it. I also had no issues with buffering.
Philo is priced below the competition, but the absence of ESPN, Bravo, CNN and Disney will be deal-breakers for many households.
Philo: Pros and Cons |
|
| Pros | Cons |
| Lots of entertainment networks for a very low price | Google Chromecast not supported |
| Unlimited DVR included | No local or sports channels |
| Three streams at a time allowed | |
If you’re willing to spend $40 per month, some of the other live TV streaming services offer bundles with channel lineups that will more closely resemble a traditional cable or satellite TV package.
