As live television channels become available on online streaming services at budget deals, viewers are steadily cutting their ties with cable television networks. Philo is one of the most popular online streaming services that live-streams TV channels. Launched in 2017, Philo offers the cheapest deals for its monthly subscription package. However, does the budget deal come without cons? This article offers you a detailed review of Philo to help you make your choice of subscription. Know more about Philo Reviews.
Philo Reviews
Philo offers viewers real-time access to live television channels from national cable networks. The selection of channel genres ranges from entertainment to comedy, reality TV to cartoons. You get access to over 65 channels, be it Comedy Central or National Geographic at a monthly subscription rate of $25. For people on a budget, Philo became a popular choice quickly after its launch.
Pros of a Philo Subscription:
Affordable Price:
The most attractive facet about Philo has to be its affordable subscription fee. At a monthly subscription price of $25, Philo charges almost one-third of the fee charged by competing streaming services offering access to live television channels like Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
HD quality viewing at a low price:
Although Philo might charge its viewers a relatively low price, it does not compromise on viewing quality. Professional reviewers have repeatedly commended the HD quality viewing with 720p for live TV and 1080p for on-demand content that Philo offers. Further, Philo’s interface works on a variety of devices and platforms seamlessly.
A solid “look back” option:
While services like Hulu allow limited recording of not more than 50 hours which you can increase only with an additional fee, Philo’s cloud DVD allows unlimited recording of live TV shows within one year without any extra charge. At the same time, Philo allows you to watch content aired on live TV over the previous 72 hours even if you have not recorded it.
Cons:
No sports or news channels:
If you are into sports and prefer to keep yourself updated with the daily news, Philo with sports and news channels, focusing solely on entertainment and lifestyle channels. Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV are better choices in this case offering access to almost all the major news and sports channels.
No local channels:
Popular local channels like Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS are unavailable with Philo which are again available with other online streaming services offering live-stream access to cable television like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Sling TV.
A limited on-demand movie library:
Unlike a streaming service like Hulu which attracts cinephiles, Philo’s on-demand movie and shows catalog is quite short, limited to shows and movies recently aired on live television. Further, these movies are available in a highly-censored form edited for airing on television.
What are the contract terms for Philo?
A good thing about Philo is its flexible subscription terms. It is contract-free, that is, users can cancel their subscription to Philo at any time without incurring a penalty.
What are the add-on plans that Philo offers?
Although Philo does offer some add-on plans with its package of 67 channels, options are quite limited. The only networks you can add on to Philo are STARZ and Epix. While an additional fee of $9 is charged for STARZ, an additional $6 is charged for Epix which increases Philo’s range of selection of movies considerably. However, Philo’s add-on plans are constricted when compared to Sling TV, fuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV which offers a range of packages, including allowing viewers to make their customizable selection of channels and an on-demand library.
Conclusion:
Although Philo offers access to affordable live television, it comes with its own set of limitations. However, your viewing preferences determine whether you consider Philo’s lack of news and sports channels a drawback. If you are into entertainment and reality TV and rarely look up sports or news, Philo offers the best deals for you with a wide range of channels at your fingertips at a price deal no other streaming service offers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Is Philo ad-free?
All the main channels featured on Philo contain advertisements. While Philo does not offer any ad-free package, the programs recorded on the cloud DVR allow the viewer to skip some ads. However, not all ads can be skipped even for recorded shows.
- Do viewers get a free trial on Philo?
Yes. Viewers get a seven-day trial on Philo. This trial puts no limitation on the channels accessible to the viewer. Philo’s add-on packages like Epix and STARZ also offer seven-day trials with no limitations imposed on the content accessed.
- Does Philo have a parental control system?
No. Philo offers no parental control system. If you are looking for child lock options, Youtube TV is the best choice for you.