Switching to a cable TV streaming app is a simple manner to save cash whereas persevering with to look at your favourite exhibits and films. Nonetheless, some streaming apps will be nearly as costly as your present cable plan.
Fortunately, Philo is an reasonably priced option to watch cable channels for less than $25 per 30 days. Whereas different providers could cost as a lot as $73 a month for an entry-level bundle, Philo makes reducing the twine cost-effective. I additionally like that you would be able to watch comparable exhibits at a fraction of the associated fee.
This evaluate might help you resolve if the service is best for you.
What’s Philo?
Philo presents over 70 channels for $25 a month, making it one of many most cost-effective cable streaming apps obtainable.
The service additionally presents:
- Limitless DVR with one yr of storage
- Watching on as much as three units at a time
- Creating as much as 10 consumer profiles
It’s necessary to notice that you simply received’t get cable information, sports activities channels or native stations with this service. Not having these channels is perhaps an inconvenience when you’re a sports activities fan or don’t have a TV antenna.
That stated, Philo is a superb manner to save cash when you don’t watch sports activities or native programming.
I discover my information by way of different on-line platforms and like having the ability to watch my favourite exhibits and films by way of this platform with lowered commercials, too. I can quickly subscribe to different providers to look at my favourite sports activities groups and nonetheless spend lower than a year-round cable subscription.
Who’s Philo For?
Should you watch life-style and leisure channels, Philo could possibly be a very good answer for you. It’s an amazing choice for family-friendly channels, and its limitless cloud DVR is useful for folks with busy schedules.
This platform will also be glorious when you don’t need to pay further for sports activities programming. Sports activities packages are one of many primary causes that different cable TV options are considerably costlier.
For viewers who need to watch sports activities or native stations, Philo won’t be the precise cable different.
I like this streaming service as my household can watch new programming like the most recent Hallmark Christmas film, reruns of well-liked sitcoms, and timeless films on demand. Having over 50 free channels can be handy to keep away from downloading extra streaming apps for further content material.
How A lot Does Philo Value?
Philo presents a seven-day free trial after which prices $25 per 30 days.
The streaming service solely presents one month-to-month plan that features 70+ channels and limitless DVR. This plan is called a “skinny bundle” because it solely presents a few of the hottest cable channels.
You’ll be able to add a couple of premium film channels for an additional month-to-month charge.
With Philo, you don’t should signal a contract. As a substitute, you pay month-to-month. There are not any cancellation charges to pause or cease your subscription. I like this flexibility as I have a tendency to look at TV within the winter months however am outdoors nearly all of summer time as an alternative to have enjoyable at evening.
You’ll be able to pay to your month-to-month membership with a bank card, debit card, or PayPal account.
Add-Ons
In contrast to different cable options, Philo doesn’t supply many add-ons.
There are solely three obtainable channel add-ons, together with:
- Films & Extra ($3/month)
- MGM+ ($6/month)
- Starz ($10/month)
No extra upgrades can be found. For instance, you may’t pay extra for the flexibility to stream on extra units without delay or ad-free streaming.
How Does Philo Work?
Philo requires an web connection and an internet-connected gadget like a sensible TV, laptop computer or smartphone. Different streaming apps have the identical primary necessities.
You’ll be able to watch channels dwell with customary commercials. It’s additionally doable to entry an on-demand library for a lot of channels and document dwell programming with the cloud DVR.
I like searching for movies on demand (VOD) because the industrial breaks are one minute. As compared, dwell broadcasts and DVR replays have approximate three-minute industrial stretches. The present or film web page highlights VOD choices with restricted commercials.
You may also stream free TV apps by way of Philo to fulfill your content material wants. This comfort additionally prevents having a number of viewer accounts to recollect passwords for or set up on new units.
Supported Units
Philo works on many units, making it straightforward to look at your favourite exhibits from almost wherever.
It’s doable to look at Philo on these units:
- Roku: All present units
- Amazon Hearth TV: All present units
- Apple TV: OS 15.0 or later
- Android TV: 5.0 or larger
- Chromecast: 2nd era or later utilizing the Philo Android cellular app
- Samsung TV: 2017 fashions or later
- PC: Any supported net browser
- Mac: Any supported net browser
- Android cellular units: OS 5.0 or larger
- iOS cellular units: OS 15.0 or larger
- Amazon Hearth pill: OS 5.0 or larger
You’ll be able to watch Philo on nearly any TV or cellular gadget that connects to the web. This implies you may watch at house, throughout your commute or whereas touring.
Really useful Web Speeds
As much as three units can stream on Philo concurrently. If every gadget is on the identical web connection, your web velocity influences the video playback high quality and buffering frequency.
Chances are you’ll get the next video decision with these bandwidth speeds:
- 13+ Mbps: Stream HD video on a number of units on the identical community
- 7 Mbps: Stream one HD video (a number of units could buffer or have SD)
- 3 Mbps: Stream SD video on all units however could expertise buffering
- Beneath 3 Mbps: Decreased video high quality that will buffer or load slowly
These beneficial web speeds are much like different streaming apps.
The video high quality is 720p for dwell content material and 1080p for on-demand content material. Different streaming apps have comparable video high quality.
It’s value testing the playback high quality for Philo earlier than canceling your TV service to keep away from potential cancellation and reconnection charges.
I discover the playback high quality to be aggressive with different streaming providers. Since my web connection velocity is slower as a consequence of dwelling in a rural space, I can join as much as two units without delay with out buffering or SD playback.
What Channels Does Philo Have?
You’ll be able to stream over 70 life-style, leisure and information channels to simply watch dwell TV.
Among the finest channels embody:
- A&E
- AMC
- Comedy Central
- DIY Community
- Nice American Household (together with Nice American Religion & Residing)
- Hallmark Channel (together with Hallmark Drama and Hallmark Films & Mysteries)
- HGTV
- Historical past
- Nickelodeon
- Oprah Winfrey Community (OWN)
- Paramount Community
- Science Channel
- TLC
- Journey Channel
- UPtv
Subscribers can watch dwell programming from the 70+ cable channels for exhibits and films.
Whereas family-friendly programming is out there, the service at the moment doesn’t supply parental controls. As a father or mother of younger kids, I want the app would supply this function to assist block out a few of the programming that’s solely applicable for adults.
The dwell broadcasts use the Japanese time zone content material schedule. It’s doable to document dwell exhibits to look at as much as 12 months later due to the DVR function. To me, the on-demand library is spectacular when you take pleasure in watching older exhibits and films. These perks make it straightforward to combat inflation at house.
Free Channels
Subscribers can even combine over 20 free channels into their Philo membership.
The next choices are at the moment obtainable:
- Cheddar Information
- Rooster Soup For The Soul
- Cinevault
- Crackle
- Ebony TV
- Gusto TV
- Nashville Channel
- Exterior
- RetroCrush
- The Bob Ross Channel
- USA At the moment
- Vevo
These channels can be found immediately from the supplier and seem routinely within the channel information. For instance, Crackle streams free exhibits and films when you’re prepared to look at commercials.
Premium Channel Add-Ons
There are three premium channel add-ons obtainable that will please film followers. The MGM+, Films & Extra, and Starz platforms every supply unique exhibits and films unavailable on different cable channels.
It’s additionally doable to purchase these add-ons outdoors of Philo for a similar worth. That stated, you could have to obtain a standalone app to look at the channels with out this streaming service.
All add-on packages embody a seven-day free trial however cost a special month-to-month charge.
Films & Extra
Films & Extra is essentially the most reasonably priced add-on. It prices $3 per 30 days after the seven-day trial.
Premium channels embody HDNet Films, REELZ, Sony Films, FMC, Films!, and Fandor.
MGM+
The MGM+ add-on presents a free seven-day trial. After the trial ends, it prices $6 per 30 days.
With this add-on, you may watch MGM+, MGM+ Marquee and MGM+ Hits.
Starz
The Starz add-on prices $10 per 30 days after the free trial. As its larger price ticket implies, its extra more likely to function new releases and the preferred films.
This add-on contains Starz, Starz Encore and Starz Children & Household.
Excluded Channels
Earlier than signing up for Philo, it’s necessary to ensure your favourite channels aren’t excluded from the lineup.
Some well-liked cable channels are lacking from Philo embody:
- CNN
- Disney
- ESPN
- Fox Information
- Fox Sports activities Community
- Native channels (i.e., ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS)
- MSNBC
- SyFy
As a substitute of watching the information in your native affiliate, CNN or Fox Information, there are some options. Three choices embody Accuweather, BBC America, and Cheddar Information.
If channels like Disney and ESPN are necessary to your loved ones, take into account Sling TV. The Sling Orange bundle prices $40 month-to-month and contains the Disney, ESPN, and CNN channels.
Key Options
Listed here are a few of the finest Philo options that include every subscription.
Information
The interactive channel information is simple to make use of as you may scroll although the listings in alphabetical order. You’ll be able to seek for content material by tapping class bubbles, reminiscent of motion, crime & drama, household, and music.
For full customization, you may kind within the title of your favourite present or film into the search bar. The search outcomes show latest and upcoming listings together with comparable content material.
TV In all places
It’s doable to stream Philo from nearly any TV, pc or cellular gadget. The service is out there in all 50 US states together with the territories and commonwealths when you use the Philo app.
Nonetheless, you could favor the comfort of the TV In all places app. It companions with most cable networks and streaming apps to dwell stream channels in your subscription plan.
TV In all places will be handy when you subscribe to a number of dwell TV providers as you solely want to put in one app as an alternative of an app for every service. You’ll be able to change accounts between Philo and different platforms.
One draw back of the TV In all places app is that not each channel is out there for every gadget. You will have to make use of the Philo app to look at the 60+ channels on any gadget.
DVR Capabilities
The service presents limitless cloud DVR for any present or film on the streaming schedule. Recordings self-delete after 12 months and also you received’t encounter storage limits.
Since not each program presents on-demand playback, the DVR function can make sure you don’t miss your favourite present or film.
Different streaming platforms restrict space for storing to a particular variety of hours. It could be doable to pay further for limitless DVR storage with the opponents, however Philo doesn’t supply this selection.
Chances are you’ll take into account recording dwell content material to quick ahead by way of commercials or while you don’t have time to take a seat down and watch the dwell broadcast.
I recognize that Philo continues recording new airings of exhibits you DVR, so that you don’t miss one other episode. You’ll be able to cease recording new episodes simply to keep away from cluttering up your saved content material library.
On-Demand Library
Along with the cloud DVR, Philo presents over 60,000 exhibits and films obtainable on demand. Most of this content material comes immediately from the cable channels.
You’ll be able to watch new and basic productions. It could even be doable to quick ahead by way of commercials for many on-demand content material.
You will notice a VOD tag when previously-aired films and episodes can be found for streaming. I additionally like visiting the “Prime Playable” and curated sections such because the “Bingeable Collection” and “Newly Added Films” to seek out extra issues to look at.
72-Hour Rewind
Many exhibits can be found to look at once more inside 72 hours of airing. These choices will be completely different from the on-demand library and handy when you overlook to schedule a DVR recording.
Cellular App Distant
The Philo cellular app for Android and iOS units streams all channels. It could actually additionally double as a distant management when streaming from a TV.
Positives and Negatives
Listed here are some the reason why you could or could not select to make use of Philo.
Professionals
- Over 70 channels
- On-demand exhibits and films
- Limitless cloud DVR
- Low month-to-month value
- Stream on three screens without delay
Cons
- Just one plan choice
- No sports activities or native channels
- Requires quick web connection to stop buffering
- No parental controls
- Lacks 4K UHD video high quality
Incessantly Requested Questions
Need to know extra about how Philo works? Listed here are a number of generally requested questions.
Clients can contact Philo by on-line chat or calling a customer support quantity to troubleshoot issues. There’s additionally a primary on-line data library.
Sure, it’s doable to stream on as much as three units on the similar time. Customers can even document dwell exhibits and films with the DVR function to look at later.
Sure. T-Cellular subscribers can even save $10 month-to-month for the primary 12 months of utilizing Philo. Certified prospects can go to the T-Cellular promotions part to activate this supply.
The streaming platfom retired its referral program in 2022 that allow present customers and their referred buddies take pleasure in a reduction. You may also search for offers in money again apps like Rakuten to rise up to $12.50 again after your first month.
Sure. Because you pay for Philo month-to-month and there’s no contract, it’s straightforward to cancel.
To cancel a Philo subscription, go to the account administration web page, then faucet the “Cancel my account” button to finish the cancellation course of.
Canceling the subscription will cease the auto-renew function and received’t invoice your cost card on the subsequent due date.
The cancellation course of is analogous for the premium add-ons.
Philo shares your viewing historical past and geographic knowledge to supply customized advertisements. It’s doable to choose out of gross sales, sharing, and focused promoting in your profile settings with one button faucet.
Options to Philo
Philo is without doubt one of the most cost-effective streaming apps, however its comparatively restricted channel lineup could offer you a cause to think about one other service.
Sling TV
Sling TV is essentially the most reasonably priced Philo different with two packages that value $40 per 30 days or $55 to bundle each. Every bundle has completely different channel lineups, however each supply 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Beneath are the premier channels from every Sling bundle:
- Blue bundle: FX, FS1, NFL Community and choose Fox and NBC native channels
- Orange bundle: Disney, ESPN and Freeform
Hulu
Hulu presents an on-demand plan for $7.99 per 30 days. This allows you to watch most exhibits and films in the future after airing. It additionally offers you entry to the Hulu Originals library.
Paying $75.99 month-to-month for the Hulu + Dwell TV plan offers real-time entry to native and cable channels. The on-demand library can be customary. Further packages present entry to Disney+ and ESPN+ with or with out advertisements.
Whereas the dwell TV plan prices extra, you get native and sports activities channels. You may additionally be capable to stream Hulu without cost.
FuboTV
Sports activities followers can discover one of the best content material with fuboTV to look at US and worldwide sports activities. Many native channels can be found as properly.
The entry-level Starter plan begins at $74.99 per 30 days and contains:
- 182 channels
- 4K video high quality
- Watching on 10 screens without delay
- As much as 1,000 hours of cloud DVR
YouTube TV
YouTube TV prices $72.99 per 30 days and presents greater than 100 channels, together with native channels.
The service additionally presents limitless cloud DVR and on-demand content material. This streaming plan generally is a higher choice to get sports activities and native programming. For example, that is the unique supplier of NFL Sunday Ticket.
Is Philo Price It?
Philo generally is a easy manner to save cash whereas watching your favourite channels. Having the ability to stream on a number of screens and the limitless DVR storage are additionally good perks. I just like the big selection of family-friendly programming plus a few of the finest exhibits and films and a low worth.
Nonetheless, different platforms could possibly be higher if you wish to watch sports activities or native channels. Make sure you establish the channels you want earlier than selecting a streaming service and reducing the twine.