The popular streaming service Philo recently announced it would increase rates for new customers from $20 to $25/month beginning June 8th, 2022. This means today is the LAST DAY to sign up and lock in the $20/month price before the increase goes into effect!
As a streaming advisor, I want to provide an in-depth look at what Philo offers, who it‘s best suited for, and help you decide if it‘s worth signing up today to save $5/month or $60/year.
First, what is Philo? Philo TV is a live TV streaming service that offers over 60 popular cable channels for only $20/month. The lineup focuses on entertainment, lifestyle and knowledge channels from Discovery, Viacom, AMC and more.
Philo keeps costs low by not including sports channels like ESPN in their base package. This makes it a great fit for non-sports fans looking for the most popular cable channels at an affordable price.
Now, here‘s a preview of everything we’ll cover in this cord-cutting guide:
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Philo’s new $25/month unlimited DVR plan
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Which channels are included?
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Pros and cons compared to Sling TV, Hulu and YouTube TV
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Supported devices like Roku, Fire TV and mobile
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Tips for using Philo on Fire Stick
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On-demand library and personalized recommendations
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Who should upgrade to the new $25 monthly plan?
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How to take advantage of Philo’s free trial
Let’s dive in!
Philo‘s New $25/Month Plan with Unlimited DVR
The main reason for Philo‘s price hike is to provide unlimited DVR storage as part of the service. Previously, Philo would only store recordings for 30 days with the $20/month package.
With the new $25/month plan, subscribers can save unlimited recordings for up to one year! This makes it easy to record full seasons of your favorite shows to binge later.
According to Philo CEO Andrew McCollum, the price change enables them to "continue investing in great programming, products and partnerships."
For current subscribers, you will keep the $20 legacy price and 30-day DVR. But you have the option to upgrade to the new $25 unlimited DVR plan at any time.
As a streaming analyst, I think the unlimited DVR will be a huge value-add for Philo users who record a lot of shows and movies to watch later. It eliminates the headache of episodes being deleted from your DVR after just 30 days.
Philo Channel Lineup
Philo has over 60 popular live cable channels across the categories of entertainment, lifestyle, and knowledge.
Here are some of the top networks included in Philo‘s channel lineup:
- AMC
- A&E
- Comedy Central
- Discovery Channel
- Food Network
- HGTV
- History Channel
- Lifetime
- MTV
- Nickelodeon
- Paramount Network
- TLC
- Travel Channel
- VH1
The main categories NOT covered by Philo are sports, local TV, and news channels like ESPN, FS1, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News.
Philo is targeted at non-sports fans looking for a budget live TV option. The knowledge category does include channels like BBC World News, CuriosityStream, and Science.
In 2022, Philo also added on-demand content and live channels from AMC+, Hallmark Movies Now, and Starz as add-on options starting at $6/month.
This expanded their on-demand library beyond the standard inclusion of shows from channels like Discovery, Food Network, MTV and VH1.
How Philo Compares to Other Live TV Streaming Services
Philo stands out in the streaming space for its low $20 price and focus on top entertainment/lifestyle channels. This compares to starting prices of $35 for Sling TV, $65 for YouTube TV, and $70 for Hulu + Live TV.
However, the lower price means you do miss out on sports, local channels, and news that are standard in other options.
Here’s a quick rundown of how Philo stacks up to competitors:
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Sling TV: Start at $35/month for 30-40 channels. More add-on options including news, sports and premium channels. Only 10 hours DVR included.
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Hulu + Live TV: $70/month for 75+ channels. Includes sports, news and on-demand shows/movies. 50 hours DVR included.
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YouTube TV: $65/month for over 85 channels. Most comprehensive option but also most expensive. Includes unlimited DVR.
Based on these comparisons, Philo shines for entertainment-focused cord-cutters who don‘t care about live sports. While it may not replace cable entirely, it‘s a cost-effective supplement.
The unlimited DVR and most cable channels for just $25 makes Philo one of the best values in streaming. But you have to decide if the channel lineup meets your needs.
Devices Supported by Philo
Philo apps are available on all major streaming platforms and mobile devices. This includes:
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Roku players and Roku TVs: Supported on all Roku models. You can also use the Roku mobile app.
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Fire TV and Fire tablets: Download the app from the Amazon app store. Works with all Fire TV models.
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Apple TV: Add Philo directly from the tvOS App Store. AirPlay also supported.
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Google and Android TV: Android phone and tablet app available. Chromecast-enabled.
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iPhone and iPad: iOS app to watch Philo on the go.
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Web browser: Use Philo directly through Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge without any downloads.
No matter which streaming device or platform you use, you’ll be able to access the Philo app. I’ll provide some tips specifically for Philo on Fire TV and Fire Stick coming up next.
How to Use Philo on Fire TV & Fire Stick
Philo integrates seamlessly with Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices like the Fire Stick, Fire Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube.
Here are a few tips for the best Philo experience on Fire TV:
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Easy setup: Download the Philo app from the Amazon App Store and log in with your Philo credentials. The app will appear on your Fire TV home screen.
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Watch on multiple Fire TVs: Since Philo allows 3 concurrent streams, you can have the app on multiple Fire TVs without paying extra. This even works outside your home with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max thanks to its WiFi 6 support.
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Use Alexa Voice Remote: You can open the Philo app, play live channels, launch recordings and search for content just by asking Alexa. For example say “Alexa, play HGTV on Philo.”
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Mobile app integration: Use the Fire TV mobile app as a remote to control playback or browse channels from your iPhone. You can also download shows to your phone to watch on the go.
Overall, Fire TV provides seamless access to everything Philo has to offer. The Alexa integration makes it easy to control Philo completely hands-free.
Philo‘s On-Demand Library and Personalized Recommendations
Beyond the 60+ live channels, Philo also provides on-demand shows, movies and exclusives to watch anytime. Here are some highlights:
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Content from all Philo channels: Full episodes from networks like HGTV, Food Network, MTV, Discovery. Updated regularly.
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Exclusive originals: Philo-exclusive shows like Emmy winner Best Leftovers Ever.
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Movies: Hundreds of movies to stream on-demand from Philo partners. Genres include comedy, drama, action, and more.
I‘m impressed by Philo‘s recommendation engine for suggesting relevant movies and shows. It provides personalized picks based on your viewing history and favorite channels.
The home screen also highlights trending shows and timely collections like “UFOs Declassified” tied to Unidentified flying objects Day. This makes it easy to discover new things to watch tailored to your interests.
While Philo‘s on-demand catalog can‘t match Netflix or even Hulu, it‘s a nice supplement with useful recommendations.
Who Should Upgrade to Philo‘s New $25 Plan?
Current Philo members on the legacy $20/month pricing have the option to upgrade to the new $25 plan to unlock unlimited one-year DVR storage. Here are some cases when upgrading makes sense:
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Heavy DVR users: If you consistently bump up against the 30-day limit and lose recordings, unlimited storage is extremely valuable.
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Binge watchers: The 1-year limit makes it easy to save full seasons to watch on your own schedule.
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Channel surfers: Record everything airing on your favorite channels and never worry about deleting old episodes.
However, subscribers who only tune into live channels now and then can probably stick with the 30-day $20 plan to save $5 each month.
Ultimately, unlimited DVR is Philo‘s biggest selling point now against competitors. If you get a lot of value from recording and keeping shows, the upgrade cost is easily justified.
Try Philo Free with the 7-Day Trial
If you aren’t sure whether to subscribe and want to test Philo first, take advantage of their free trial.
When you sign up at philotv.com, you get full access to all live channels, DVR and on-demand library for 7 days.
The trial lets you explore everything Philo offers across your devices completely risk-free.
Once the trial ends, you can decide to continue with either the $20/month 30-day DVR plan or upgrade to $25/month for unlimited recording storage. Of course, you can also cancel anytime if Philo doesn‘t meet your needs.
Given today is the last chance to lock in the $20 legacy pricing before rates increase for new members, now is the perfect time to take the service for a spin.
Sign up using [this link] to start your 7-day Philo free trial and experience the value firsthand.
Lock In the $20 Price Before It‘s Gone for Good!
Philo has provided an affordable live TV streaming solution tailored to entertainment lovers since launching in 2017.
While the $5 price hike marks the end of an era, Philo still delivers exceptional value at only $25/month. You won‘t find another service with 60+ top channels and unlimited DVR at this price point.
Today represents the final opportunity to get grandfathered into the legacy $20 plan as a new customer. If you act now, you can save $60 per year compared to members who sign up after the increase takes effect.
Take Philo for a spin with the 7-day free trial and if you like the channel selection, sign up today to lock in massive savings.
As a streaming analyst, I think Philo is still a winner for budget-focused cord cutters even after the increase. Don‘t miss the chance to subscribe at the lower price before it disappears for good!
I hope this guide provided everything you need to decide if Philo‘s live TV streaming service is right for your home. Let me know if you have any other questions!
