Consumers can be forgiven for thinking that replacing a pay-TV plan with streaming services won’t save them any money these days, or may even cost them more. The price of streaming TV shows and movies has risen astronomically in the past half-decade, and live TV streaming services have risen in cost as well.

Through it all, however, Philo has managed to maintain a reputation as a value-friendly streaming platform that offers popular cable channels for a reasonable price. There are even on-demand streaming services attached to one Philo plan, upping the value even further.

But Philo maintains its low price by excluding specific channels from its lineup that many customers may miss. If you’re trying to sort out whether Philo is really worth your money, we’ll evaluate the streamer from a variety of angles to help you arrive at an answer.

Is a subscription to Philo worth it?

What is Philo?

Philo is a live TV streaming service that specializes in offering popular cable entertainment channels. Viewers can watch networks like AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, and more with a Philo subscription.

The service is able to offer its channels at such a low price by excluding many of the most expensive channels from its package. You won’t find sports networks like ESPN in the Philo package, nor will you be able to watch cable news channels such as CNN with your subscription.

How much does Philo cost?

Which top cable channels does Philo have?

As mentioned, Philo specializes in cable entertainment channels, while specifically omitting cable sports and news networks. It offers 18 of The Streamable’s top 35 cable networks, but notable omissions include Bravo, Disney Channel, FX, SyFy, and USA Network.

Does Philo have local channels?

No, Philo does not offer access to any local broadcast channels in either of its channel plans. Such channels are expensive for distributors to carry, and Philo would have to pass the cost along to subscribers if it were to add them.

If you are strongly considering Philo, but think of access to local channels as a deal breaker, remember this: you can purchase an over-the-air antenna to attach to your TV set and watch these channels with no subscription fees.

Is Philo a good value compared to other streamers?

This really depends on how much you value access to live sports. If you don’t watch a lot of sports or restrict your sports viewing to games you can watch on over-the-air broadcast channels, you’ll find Philo is a fantastic value compared to other services.

Sling TV offers similar-sized channel packages, but its cheapest plans start at $46 per month, and don’t include any free streamers. The only offering that really comes close to Philo at the moment is the [DIRECTV MyEntertainment] plan, which offers 60+ channels, as well as Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for $35 per month.

YouTube TV also has an Entertainment plan, but unlike DIRECTV and Philo, it includes local broadcast channels, necessitating a price point of $55 per month. Philo is nearly alone in the value it provides to viewers who don’t watch cable sports or news, and it’s definitely a good value compared to high-priced services like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV.

So, is Philo worth it?

If you’re not attached to the channels that Philo excludes from its package, the streamer is definitely a good value. Its channel plans offer a ton of great cable entertainment networks, plus features like unlimited Cloud DVR so you can record your favorites, and no limits on sharing your subscription with friends or family.

Picking the Philo Bundle plan will unlock $17 per month in additional value, as buying AMC+, HBO Max, and discovery+ separately would cost $25. Instead, you can add them to the Philo channel package for only $8 per month more than it would cost to exclude them, and each streamer has a huge library of TV shows, films, documentaries, etc.

Philo is 100% worth it for customers who don’t stream cable news or sports. As long as you’re a fan of the entertainment channels included in the package, you should very strongly consider getting a Philo subscription. You can even share one subscription with friends who don’t live with you and split the cost, something no other live TV streamer offers.

7-Day Trial

philo.com

Philo

Philo is a live TV streaming service designed for entertainment lovers, offering flexible ways to watch without the high price of traditional TV bundles. The service now features two paid plans — Essential and Bundle+ — alongside its existing free streaming offering, giving customers a range of options depending on how much live and premium content they want.

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The Essential plan costs $25 per month and includes 70+ live TV channels focused on entertainment and lifestyle programming, such as AMC, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, Nickelodeon, and Food Network. Subscribers also get access to 120+ free streaming channels, more than 80,000 movies and shows on demand, and unlimited DVR with one-year storage. Essential also includes a 7-day free trial for new customers.

For viewers who want more premium content, Philo offers the Bundle+ plan for $33 per month (formerly the Philo Core plan). Bundle+ includes everything in Essential, plus ad-supported AMC+ and access to the HBO Max (Basic with Ads) app. Users can also access discovery+ content directly within the Philo app. While Bundle+ adds a full premium streaming bundle for just $8 more per month, it does not include a free trial.

The service is available on most major devices, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, mobile devices, and web browsers. In addition to its paid plans, Philo also offers a free ad-supported streaming experience, allowing users to explore content before deciding whether to upgrade to a live TV subscription.

While it doesn’t include local broadcast stations or sports networks like ESPN, FS1 or NBC Sports Network, Philo remains one of the most affordable live TV streaming options for entertainment-focused viewers. With a simple lineup, generous DVR storage, and a clear path from free streaming to live TV and premium bundles, Philo is an appealing choice for cord-cutters who want to keep costs down while still enjoying a wide range of popular programming.

7-Day Trial

$25+ / month

philo.com