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. Let’s dig in to compare your options.
Winner on Price: Philo
Philo clocks in at $25 / month and Fubo is $91.99 / 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 HBO 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 25 of the top 35 cable channels, which tops Philo’s 18. Overall, Fubo has 213 channels while Philo offers 74.
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.
Every top cable channel available on Philo is also available on Fubo.
Neither service allows access to WarnerMedia 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 YouTube TV.
Channel Upgrades
Philo only offers one tier of service.
Fubo allows you to add a package of additional channels for $8/month.
This upgrade package gives you American Heroes, At Home with Family Handyman, BET Her, BET Jams, BET Soul, Cheddar, CNBC World, Cooking Channel, Destination America, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FXM, Great American Faith & Living, GINX Esports TV, Great American Adventures, GSN, INWONDER, JusticeCentral.TV, Law&Crime, LOGO, MLB Network, MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTV2, MTVU, Nat Geo Wild, NBA TV, NHL Network, Nick Music, Nicktoons, Outside Television, Pac-12 Network, PokerGO, Revry, Science, SEC Network, SEC Network+, Sony Movie Channel, TeenNick, Tennis Channel, and Zona Futbol.
| Fubo | Philo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “fubo” | “Elite” | “Philo” | ||
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | ||
| $91.99 | $101.99 | $25 | ||
| 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 | - | - | ✓ | |
Winner on Local Channels: Fubo
Fubo offers ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo, The CW, and Univision. However, fuboTV lost access to 160 local CBS affiliates in early 2023. If this is a concern to you, other services like DIRECTV STREAM or Hulu Live TV would make sense.
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, and NHL Network.
For $11/month, you can add Sports Plus to Fubo for ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Fight Network, IMPACT Wrestling, MLB Network, MLB Network Strike Zone, NBA TV, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, SEC Network+, SportsGrid, Stadium, Stadium Plus, Tennis Channel, and Zona Futbol. NFL RedZone is an absolute game-changer for any football fan.
For $6/month, you can also add International Sports Plus to Fubo for Next Level Sports, ESPN Deportes, FOX Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, TyCSports, and Zona Futbol.
| Fubo | Philo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | ||
| $91.99 | $25 | ||
| 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, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports West, Bally Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Marquee Sports Network, MASN, Monumental Sports Network, MSG, MSG Sportsnet, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NESN, Rockies.TV Channel, Root Sports Northwest, Space City Home Network, and YES Network.
Philo offers none.
College Sports Networks
When it comes to college sports, Fubo wins again. It offers ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.
Philo offers none.
Winner on Included Features: Draw
DVR
If you’re the kind of person who records a lot of TV, you will prefer Philo, since it has an unlimited DVR, although you can only keep shows for 30 days.
Fubo gives you a 1000-hour DVR.
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.
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.