Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Updated October 24, 2026 • By Bilal Zouheir
AGMTW score, out of 10
Entertainment channels for $25 and nothing else: no sport, no news.
Value for money6.1
Cheap for sixty channels, but there is no sport and no news.
$25 a month. The cheapest live TV service in the same category is $8.99 ($16.01 less). Weighed against what it carries (content 7.7/10), that comes to 6.1 on value.
Content quality7.7
12 of the 20 most-watched cable channels, with real gaps.
Carries 12 of the 20 most-watched cable channels: HGTV, Hallmark Channel, History, TLC, Food Network, Discovery Channel, Game Show Network, INSP, TV Land, Investigation Discovery, A&E and AMC.
Apps and devices8.0
Solid app, available on 8 of the 12 major devices.
Rated 4.75 on iPhone and 4.41 on Android. Works on 8 of 12 devices.
Streaming quality7.5
1080p, stereo; no 4K at any price.
Base plan streams in 1080p.
Customization and add-ons3.5
One add-on pack
Philo sells a Movies and More pack; there are no other genre packs.
Best for Budget cord-cutting
Philo is one of the most interesting ways to cut the cord out there: it offers over 70 channels for as little as $25. If you don’t watch sports or a lot of local TV, but want access to everything else, it’s the perfect Live TV option. Their Bundle+ subscription adds access to AMC+, HBO Max, and Discovery+.
The original Philo plan without all the add-ons
Sign up for EssentialAdd MGM+, STARZ, Hallmark+, and ALLBLK for more content
Sign up for Bundle+Philo carries 96+ channels, including A&E, AccuWeather Network, AMC, AMC Plus, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, and more.
Once called Tivli, Philo is a streaming service that was first started in Harvard University by a Facebook co-founder. In August 2020, they announced that they reached the milestone of 750,000 subscribers.
If you already have other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Philo is the perfect option to get access to Live TV without spending too much money. At $25, it has an offer that beats much more expensive services. Plus, in terms of the channel lineup, it has a little bit for everyone, from news channels like BBC World News to the Discovery Channel, to Nickelodeon and Vice. If you're looking for more on-demand, their Bundle+ plan comes with Max and Discovery+ included.
Nothing beats the price: $25 is really cheap, one of the cheapest ways out there to get Live TV. And the fact that you get unlimited DVR -if you care about that kind of stuff- on top of that is kind of crazy. Just as a comparison, Youtube TV offers unlimited DVR but it costs three times as much.
How much does Philo cost?
Philo starts at $25/month. Plans range from $25.00 to $33.00/month.
Does Philo have a free trial?
Yes. Philo currently offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.
What channels does Philo include?
Philo carries 96 channels, including A&E, AccuWeather Network, AMC, AMC Plus, American Heroes Channel, and more.
What devices support Philo?
Philo is available on Airplay, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, iOS, iPhone, LG Smart TV, Roku, Samsung TV.
Can I cancel Philo anytime?
Philo is a month-to-month subscription with no long-term contract. You can cancel at any time without penalty.
Is Philo worth it?
Nothing beats the price: $25 is really cheap, one of the cheapest ways out there to get Live TV. And the fact that you get unlimited DVR -if you care about that kind of stuff- on top of that is kind of crazy. Just as a comparison, Youtube TV offers unlimited DVR but it costs three times as much.
Five criteria, each scored out of 10. The overall score is their weighted average: content 50%, value 20%, apps 20%, streaming quality 10%. Live TV packages are also scored on customization and add-ons (20%), with the other four scaled to 40%, 16%, 16% and 8%.
Value for money
0The most expensive service of its kind.
10The cheapest service of its kind, with full content.
Content quality
0None of the 20 most-watched cable channels, or nothing from our recommended list.
10All 20 channels, or the deepest catalog of titles we recommend.
Apps and devices
0A one-star app that runs on none of the 12 major devices.
10Five-star apps on all 12 major devices.
Streaming quality
0Below 720p.
104K on the plan we price.
Customization and add-ons
0A live TV package with no add-on packs to build on.
10Eight or more add-on packs at $15 a month or less.