Philo review 2024: Everything to know before subscribing

Is Philo worth it? For some cord-cutters, it will be just right. For only $25 per month, Philo offers quite a bit of live TV and on-demand content. You’ll find more than 70 channels here, along with 70,000 show episodes, movies and other specials. There’s only one basic plan, so all this content is available to all subscribers. If you want to add premium movies and shows, you’ve got three options, all of which are available with a free seven-day trial:

• MGM+: This includes thousands of hit shows and movies in MGM+, MGM+ Marquee and MGM+ Hits for $6 per month.
• STARZ: You’ll get many of today’s top series and films with STARZ, STARZ ENCORE and STARZ Kids & Family for $10 per month.
• Movies and More: This adds a few extra channels to your subscription, including HDNet Movies, REELZ, Sony Movies and FMC, for only $3 per month.

Philo’s channel lineup includes many of the most popular news, entertainment and family networks. You’ll find entertainment channels like A&E, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Food Network and MTV alongside popular news networks like BBC World News. Family channels include Animal Planet, Discovery Family, Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon. Some popular channels are noticeably absent, including CNN, TNT and USA, but it’s a decent lineup for entertainment and family programming.

Philo’s biggest weak spot is its lack of sports and local programming. You won’t find any of the top sports channels here — MotorTrend is about all you’ll get. You can’t stream any local channels, either, so you’ll still need an antenna if you want to view affiliates for stations like ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. These programming gaps keep our Philo review from hitting quite the high notes of some other streaming services.

Philo DVR

For our Philo TV review, we found that one of Philo’s best features is its unlimited DVR. You can save current and upcoming episodes of your favorite shows as they air, and they’ll stay in your saved queue for up to a year. 

The Philo DVR is about as simple and straightforward as possible, too. Simply click “Save” on an episode to add it to your DVR. You can also click “Save” on a series, and Philo will record every new episode from that point for you. There doesn’t appear to be a way to do this for entire channels, however.

Philo viewing experience and video quality

I had no trouble using Philo on various devices. It was easy to stream live and on-demand content on my iPhone, web browser and Apple TV, and I didn’t have any problems with connectivity or buffering. Keep in mind that this heavily depends on your Wi-Fi connection and device capabilities.

Philo’s viewing experience is generally good, though not quite up to par with some of the more expensive streaming options on the market. Philo streams all live content in 720p and on-demand content at 1080p, which are fairly standard quality levels for many streaming services. However, it tops out at 30 frames per second (fps), which means you won’t get quite as smooth of a viewing experience as you would with streamers that offer 60 fps. Likewise, you can find ultra-high-definition (4K UHD) content on some of Philo’s competitors.

Philo user profiles

Philo allows you to create up to 10 user profiles, whereas most other services limit you to six users. That makes Philo great for large households, as each user can customize their own viewing experience. 

However, Philo’s lack of parental controls is a serious knock against the platform. There’s a wide range of content on the platform, from family viewing to mature programs. Unfortunately, parents have no way to limit what’s available on their kids’ profiles.

Philo for sports fans

Is Philo worth it for sports fans? Simply put, if sports are your priority, you should check out other sports streaming services like Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM. Philio isn’t built for sports fans, and you won’t find any of the major sports networks here. This helps Philo keep its price low, but it limits its appeal to viewers who only want other types of entertainment.

How does Philo compare?

Philo occupies a unique place in the streaming world. It’s far less expensive than other services, which makes it a great choice for viewers who primarily want entertainment and family programming. However, its competitors offer much larger channel lineups and live sports options.

In terms of value on the dollar, Philo is one of the best options available. For only $25 a month, you get access to more than 70 channels and 70,000 on-demand movies and episodes. In today’s streaming market, that’s a steal. The unlimited DVR is a huge plus, and the few add-on options are a nice, affordable bonus.

However, with Philo, you’ll trade savings for some serious content gaps. Major networks, especially of the sports variety, are missing entirely. To decide if Philo is worth it for you compared to other streamers, you’ll need to closely compare channel lineups. The low price point is only advantageous if you still get most of the programming you want.

How to subscribe to Philo

It’s easy to get started with your Philo subscription and seven-day free trial. Simply visit Philo’s subscription page and take the following steps:

1. Enter your email address.
2. Open the email you receive and tap on the “Sign up for Philo” button or enter the code in your browser.
3. Enter your payment information on the next screen.
4. Proceed to your Philo home screen and start watching.

After your seven-day free trial, you’ll be charged automatically on the same day each month. You can cancel anytime, but you’ll have access until the end of the current billing cycle.

How to cancel a Philo subscription

You can cancel your Philo subscription in a few easy steps:

1. Visit your Philo account in a web browser (not a mobile or streaming device app).
2. In your account, click the profile avatar at the top right.
3. Click on the “Settings” tab.
4. Scroll to the bottom and select “Cancel my subscription.”
5. Confirm by again selecting “Cancel subscription” in the pop-up box.

Unlike some other streaming platforms, there is no option to pause your Philo subscription and resume later.

Is Philo worth it?

All in all, Philo is a budget-friendly streaming option for viewers who primarily want entertainment programming. You’ll find a lot of popular networks here, but sports and some other major channels are conspicuously absent. Based on our Philo review, you’ll enjoy this low-cost option if it has most of the channels and on-demand content that you like. If you prefer a more well-rounded streaming experience or simply want live sports, you should look elsewhere. 

FAQ

Can I watch Philo for free?

Philo offers a seven-day free trial for users who want to try out the service without paying anything. Your card will be charged $25 automatically when your trial ends.

Why is Philo TV so cheap?

Philo is able to keep its pricing lower than competitors because it offers a more limited selection of live TV channels. Excluding sports programming from its lineup helps to keep Philo’s costs much lower than other streaming services.

Can I watch sports on Philo?

For the most part, you can’t watch any sports on Philo. The service does include MotorTrend, so you’ll find some live racing events here. However, for most live sports coverage, you’ll need to check out other streaming options like Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM.