Philo and Sling TV are quite different streaming services, but they do have some similarities. Both services offer a smaller channel package, and both come in at a price of less than $50 per month. As of this week, the two live TV streaming services share another similarity: neither offers a free trial of any kind to new customers.

Philo has officially discontinued its former offer of a seven-day free trial as of Nov. 19. Now, customers who want to sign up for the service’s $33-per-month Core plan will be asked to make their first month’s payment upfront, before they start enjoying the channels in their package.

Why is Philo ending its practice of offering a free trial? As the streaming service explains, the change is meant to bring more long-term subscribers who will engage meaningfully with Philo, instead of customers who sign up for the trial period, then cancel.

Philo does still have a free offering available; the service offers a wide selection of free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, which viewers can access whether or not they sign up for a paid Philo account. The streamer will use this free service as a gateway to familiarize audiences with its user experience.

At the very least, the ending of Philo’s free trial is not being accompanied by a price increase. The streamer’s Core plan will continue to cost $33 per month going forward. Philo last raised the price of the Core package in September, so it would have been quite surprising to see a new price adjustment now; when Philo raised its rates, it also added free discovery+ and HBO Max access for subscribers as well.

7-Day Trial

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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

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