Fubo vs. Philo - Which Should You Choose?
Fubo vs. Philo - Which Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a new live TV streaming service, is Fubo or Philo a better choice? The decision may depend on what you value most. Both are excellent streaming options with lots of pros and cons. If you’d like a quick comparison, check out The Streamable’s Service Matchmaker.
Overall, Fubo is a better option if you want to watch sports or live events. Philo is a better option for saving money or general entertainment. Both have free trials, so you can try them both without any contract or obligation.
Now, let’s dig in to compare your options.
Winner on Price: Philo
Philo clocks in at $28 / month and Fubo is $94.99 / month, so Philo wins, hands-down. Obviously, there are reasons Philo is a fraction of the cost, but it might make a lot of sense, especially if you’re spending money on other services like Netflix or Max. If you’re looking for a live TV option, Philo’s price is nearly impossible to beat.
Winner on Overall Channels: Fubo
When it comes to the base tiers, Fubo holds the edge. Fubo has 19 of the top 35 cable channels, which tops Philo’s 18.
Fubo offers these channels that Philo doesn’t: Bravo, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, E!, ESPN, Fox News, Freeform, FX, FXX, MSNBC, Syfy, and USA Network.
But Philo should be your choice if you prefer A&E, AMC, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, History, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, TLC, Travel Channel, and WE tv.
If you max out each service with all the available add-ons, Fubo offers 226 channels while Philo offers 75.
Neither service allows access to Warner-owned channels like CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS or TNT. If you need those channels, you’ll need to consider another service like Hulu Live TV or DIRECTV STREAM.
| Fubo | Philo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “fubo” | “Elite” | “Deluxe” | “Philo” | ||
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | ||
| $94.99 | $114.99 | $124.99 | $28 | ||
| A&E | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| AMC | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| BET | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| Cartoon Network | - | - | - | - | |
| CNN | - | - | - | - | |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Discovery | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Disney Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| Disney Junior | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| Food Network | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Fox News | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| Freeform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| FX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| FXX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| HGTV | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| History | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Investigation Discovery | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Lifetime | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| MTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| TBS | - | - | - | - | |
| TLC | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| TNT | - | - | - | - | |
| Travel Channel | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| truTV | - | - | - | - | |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | |
| VH1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| WE tv | - | - | - | ✓ | |
Channel Upgrades
Philo only offers one tier of service.
Fubo’s primary upgrade is Fubo Extra for $8/month.
This upgrade package gives you ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, At Home with Family Handyman, BET Her, BET Jams, BET Soul, CNBC World, Curiosity Channel, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FXM, Great American Faith & Living, GINX Esports TV, Great American Adventures, GSN, INWONDER, JusticeCentral.TV, LOGO, MLB Network, MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTV2, MTVU, Nat Geo Wild, NBA TV, NHL Network, Nick Music, Nicktoons, Outside Television, PokerGO, Revry, Scripps News, SEC Network, SEC Network+, Sony Movie Channel, TeenNick, Tennis Channel, and Zona Futbol.
There are smaller channel packages for Fubo if you have specific interests.
| Fubo Add-on | Price | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| News Plus | $3 | AfricaNews, Bloomberg+, Bloomberg TV, Cheddar, CNBC World, Euronews, i24 News, Law&Crime, NewsNet, Revry News, ROI TV, and The TYT Network |
| Latino Plus | $20 | Centroamérica TV, Cine Latino, Cine Sony, ESPN Deportes, Estrella News, FOX Deportes, GOLTV, Hola TV, Meganoticias, Nat Geo Mundo, Nuestra Tele, Pasiones, Telefe, Tr3s, WAPA América, and Zona Futbol |
| Adventure Plus | $5 | INTROUBLE, MAVTV, Outdoor Channel, Outside Television, Sportsman Channel, and Waypoint |
| Fubo Select | $7 | TED, MagellanTV Now, WatchMojo, Love Stories TV, Space Science Now, Wild Oceans, History & Warfare Now, Confess by Nosey, Maverick Black Cinema, Xploration Station, PECAN TV, Mythical 24/7, Comedy Twisted Mirror, The War Channel, Documentary+, DangerTV, AKC.tv |
You can also add services like Fox Nation, Paramount+ with Showtime, or STARZ.
Winner on Local Channels: Fubo
Fubo offers ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo, The CW, and Univision.
Philo doesn’t offer local channels.
Winner on Sports Channels: Fubo
Pro Sports Networks
If you’re a sports fan, Philo is not for you.
Fubo’s base package offers access to MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NHL Network.
For $11/month, you can add Sports Plus to Fubo for ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Fight Network, GOLTV, IMPACT Wrestling, MLB Network, MLB Network Strike Zone, NBA TV, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, SEC Network, SEC Network+, SportsGrid, Stadium, Tennis Channel, TyCSports, and Zona Futbol. NFL RedZone is an absolute game-changer for any football fan.
For $7/month, you can also add International Sports Plus to Fubo for Next Level Sports, ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, TyCSports, Willow TV, and Zona Futbol.
Users can also use Fubo to watch MLB.TV and NBA League Pass for an additional fee.
| Fubo | Philo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | ||
| $94.99 | $28 | ||
| MLB Network | + $8 | - | |
| NBA TV | + $8 | - | |
| NFL Network | ✓ | - | |
| NFL RedZone | + $11 | - | |
| NHL Network | + $8 | - |
Regional Sports Networks
Fubo offers Altitude, Arizona's Family Sports, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Chicago Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, FanDuel Sports Network Great Lakes, FanDuel Sports Network Indiana, FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, FanDuel Sports Network North, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma, FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest, FanDuel Sports Network Sun, FanDuel Sports Network West, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, Marquee Sports Network, MASN, MSG, MSG Sportsnet, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NESN, Rockies.TV Channel, Root Sports Northwest, Space City Home Network, Utah 16 (KUPX), and YES Network.
Philo offers none.
College Sports Networks
When it comes to college sports, Fubo wins again. It offers ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network.
Philo offers none.
Winner on Included Features: Philo
DVR
Both services offer an unlimited DVR, but Philo keeps your recordings up to one year, while Fubo will delete them after nine months.
Lookback/72-hour Rewind
Fubo’s lookback feature lets you watch sports and entertainment shows that aired in the previous three days that aren’t available on demand. Some of these shows allow you to skip commercials. Philo also allows you to see shows that you didn’t record, up to three days after they aired. This feature adds a lot of additional shows that aren’t normally available on demand.
Multiview
If you have an Apple TV streaming device, Fubo allows you to watch up to four channels at once.
Fubo’s multiview feature on Apple TV
AMC+
Philo includes free ad-supported AMC+. You’ll see originals, exclusive movies, and award-winning series, such as Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” and “Mayfair Witches,” “Dark Winds,” “Mad Men”, “Into the Badlands,” “Orphan Black,” “Snowpiercer,” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.”
AMC+ also includes access to Shudder, the home for horror, Sundance Now, featuring thrilling mysteries and dramas, and IFC.
Verdict
Your decision comes down to whether you need sports and local channels. If those are important to you, Fubo is the obvious choice. But if you’re the kind of person who spends most of their time on other video services, Philo can give you some taste of live TV without the hefty bill.
If you’re a sports fan, this isn’t close. The optionality of Fubo is hard to beat. Your ability to load up on sports packages and cut them loose month-to-month is a tempting offer. With almost any upgrade package available, Fubo’s packages give you more bang for your buck.