Philo Review: Price, Channel Lineup & Live Sports Reality
Compare Philo monthly plans, live sports channels, regional blackout rules, and supported devices.
Philo Review: Verdict, Cost & Sports Coverage
WhereSports Editorial Desk • Audited October 2026
The Verdict
Our Verdict: If you are looking for live NFL, NBA, MLB, or college sports, do not sign up for Philo: it carries zero sports channels and zero local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC stations. However, dropping expensive sports fees is the exact reason Philo is so cheap for entertainment. In 2026, Philo costs $25/mo for the Essential plan (70+ live cable channels like AMC, HGTV, Discovery, Food Network, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon) or $33/mo for the new Bundle+ plan, which includes all 70+ live channels plus HBO Max (Basic with Ads), discovery+, and AMC+ ($28+/mo of streaming apps included). Many cord-cutters pair Philo ($25/mo) with a $25 TV antenna and ESPN Unlimited or Peacock to save $30+/mo over YouTube TV.
Best For
- Entertainment-first households who never watch live sports and refuse to pay $82.99/mo for YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV
- Smart cord-cutters who pair Philo ($25/mo) with a free over-the-air TV antenna (for local NFL on CBS/FOX/NBC/ABC) to cut their cable bill in half
- Bargain hunters choosing the $33/mo Philo Bundle+ plan to get 70+ live channels plus HBO Max (Basic with Ads), discovery+, and AMC+ on one bill
- DVR power users who want unlimited Cloud DVR storage that keeps recordings for a full 12 months and lets you fast-forward through commercials
Pricing Reality
In 2026, Philo restructured its pricing into a Free tier (100+ FAST channels), Essential ($25/mo), and Bundle+ ($33/mo) with zero hidden fees:
- Zero Live Sports Channels: Philo has no ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, USA Network, NFL Network, or local ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC stations. Do not subscribe expecting major live sports.
- The $33/mo Bundle+ Value Hack: Upgrading from Essential ($25/mo) to Bundle+ ($33/mo) costs only $8/mo extra, but it includes HBO Max (Basic with Ads, normally $10.99/mo), discovery+ ($5.99/mo), and AMC+ ($6.99/mo).
- Pair with an Antenna + Standalone Sports Apps: If you only watch Sunday NFL games or one sport, pairing Philo Essential ($25/mo) + a $25 indoor antenna + Peacock ($12.99/mo) or Paramount+ ($8.99/mo) is $35/mo cheaper than an $83/mo cable bundle.
- True Price at Checkout: Philo charges zero regional sports fees, zero local broadcast fees, and zero equipment rental charges.
Devices & Account Features
- Supported Devices: Available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google TV, Chromecast.
- Simultaneous Streams: Up to 2 concurrent streams per account (depending on tier).
- Cloud DVR & Replays: VOD Replays.
- Subscription Model: Direct digital sign-up with online account cancellation.
In-Depth Platform Analysis & Coverage
Co-owned by A&E, AMC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery, Philo is a budget live TV streaming service in the United States that keeps its price low by excluding expensive sports networks and local broadcast stations.
In 2026, Philo offers a Free tier (100+ free FAST channels), the $25/mo Essential plan (70+ live cable channels including AMC, Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, History, MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon), and the $33/mo Bundle+ plan, which adds HBO Max (Basic with Ads), discovery+, and AMC+. All paid plans include unlimited 1-year Cloud DVR and 3 simultaneous streams.
What We Like (Pros)
- Lowest-priced live cable TV replacement in the US ($25/mo Essential or $33/mo Bundle+) with zero hidden broadcast or RSN fees
- The $33/mo Bundle+ plan includes HBO Max (With Ads), discovery+, and AMC+, saving over $15/mo vs. buying those apps separately
- Unlimited 1-year Cloud DVR lets you fast-forward through commercial breaks on recorded shows
- Also offers a 100% Free tier with 100+ ad-supported channels and a 30-day DVR with no credit card required
What to Consider (Cons)
- Carries zero major live sports channels (no ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, USA Network, CBS Sports Network, or RSNs)
- No local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC stations (requires an indoor TV antenna for local NFL and network broadcasts)
- Live linear TV channels stream in 720p HD at 60fps rather than 1080p Full HD (though on-demand content is 1080p)
- Does not include major cable news channels like CNN, FOX News, or MSNBC
Subscription Packages & Pricing
Free tier requiring no credit card, giving you 100+ ad-supported live channels (crime, reality, classic TV, and movies) with a 30-day Cloud DVR.
- 100+ free live ad-supported streaming channels
- Includes 30-day Cloud DVR storage for free channels
- No credit card or paid subscription required
- Watch on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV & mobile
Core live cable replacement packing 70+ top entertainment and lifestyle networks (AMC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon) plus 100+ free channels.
- 70+ live cable channels (AMC, HGTV, Discovery, History, MTV, BET, TLC)
- Unlimited Cloud DVR that saves recordings for 365 days
- Fast-forward through commercials on DVR recordings
- Up to 3 simultaneous streams & 10 household profiles
Best-value entertainment bundle: includes all 70+ live channels from the Essential plan plus full subscriptions to HBO Max (Basic with Ads), discovery+, and AMC+.
- All 70+ live cable channels & 1-year unlimited Cloud DVR
- Includes HBO Max (Basic with Ads, a $10.99/mo value)
- Includes discovery+ ($5.99/mo value) & AMC+ ($6.99/mo value)
- Up to 3 simultaneous streams across TVs, phones & tablets
Optional monthly add-ons you can attach to Essential or Bundle+: Movies & More (+$3/mo for Reelz, Sony Movies, HDNet Movies), MGM+ (+$7/mo), or STARZ (+$10.99/mo).
- Movies & More (+$3/mo): Reelz, Sony Movies, HDNet Movies & FMC
- MGM+ (+$7/mo): MGM+ live channels & commercial-free movies
- STARZ (+$10.99/mo): STARZ live channels & on-demand catalog
- Full 1-year Cloud DVR support on all add-on channels
What Leagues & Sports Can You Watch on Philo?
Official broadcasting rights and live competition schedules carried by Philo.
Recently Aired Matches on Philo
Recent sports matches and tournament games previously broadcasted across Philo channels.
Live TV Channels & Station Lineup
Official television networks and sports broadcast feeds carried by Philo.
Where Philo is Available
Select your regional sports TV hub to browse local channels and schedules.
Supported Devices & Streaming Apps
Native applications and verified hardware compatibility for Philo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Philo have any live sports channels or local stations?
No. Philo intentionally leaves out expensive live sports networks (no ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, USA Network, or regional sports networks) and local broadcast stations (no ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC) so it can keep its monthly price at $25 to $33/month. If you want local NFL games alongside Philo, plug a $25 indoor HDTV antenna into your TV for free local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC channels.
What is the difference between Philo Essential ($25/mo) and Philo Bundle+ ($33/mo)?
Both plans include the exact same 70+ live cable TV channels, 100+ free FAST channels, 3 simultaneous streams, and unlimited 1-year Cloud DVR. For an extra $8/month, the $33/month Bundle+ plan includes full subscriptions to HBO Max (Basic with Ads, normally $10.99/mo), discovery+ ($5.99/mo), and AMC+ ($6.99/mo).
Can I skip commercials on Philo's Cloud DVR?
Yes! Whenever you save a show or movie to your unlimited Cloud DVR (which keeps recordings for up to 365 days), Philo lets you fast-forward right through the commercial breaks. Commercials are only unskippable when watching live TV in real time or watching standard video-on-demand (VOD) episodes.
What is included in Philo's Free tier?
Even without entering a credit card or paying for a monthly plan, anyone can use the Philo app to watch over 100 free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels covering true crime, classic sitcoms, reality TV, and movies, complete with a free 30-day Cloud DVR.
How many devices can stream Philo at the same time?
A single Philo account lets you create up to 10 separate user profiles and stream on up to 3 devices at the exact same time across Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Samsung and Vizio Smart TVs, iOS, Android, and web browsers.