What Is Philo?

Philo is a U.S.-based, overthetop (OTT) streaming service that launched its consumer
offering in November 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco
Decider+15Philo+15Reddit+15. It provides 70+ live entertainment and lifestyle channels,
plus AMC+, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited included in the base tier
Apple+6Tom’s Guide+6CableTV.com+6.

It does not include local broadcast networks, major sports networks, or broad news offerings—the only news channel offered is BBC World News Reddit+4Business
Insider+4Decider+4

Pricing & AddOns

Base Plan: $28/month (sometimes discounted at $25 for legacy users) with a 7day
free trial for new subscribers Reddit+15Philo+15Decider+15.

Unlimited Cloud DVR: Save any live or recently aired show, with recordings kept for 12 months and  fastforwarding available on DVR playback Philo+5Philo Help
Center+5Michael Saves+5.

Streaming Limits: Up to 3 simultaneous streams per account, 10 user profiles
supported Apple+8Philo Help Center+8What to Watch+8.

Premium AddOns:

Starz: ~$9–11/month
MGM+: ~$6–7/month
Movies & More: ~$3/month (includes channels like REELZ, Sony Movies, etc.)
Reddit+15CableTV.com+15TVGuide.com+15.

Key Features Being Compared

Summary at a Glance

Feature

Highlights

Price

Free (ad-supported)

Channels

250+ live channels (US), rotating on-demand catalog

Platforms

Mobile, web, smart TVs, game consoles

Content Types

News, sports, movies, classic shows, niche channels

UX Experience

Familiar cable-like guide; no subscription required

Weaknesses

No DVR/pause, heavy ad load, limited new content, UI reliability varies

Strengths

Cost-free, easy access, channel variety

Final Verdict

Pluto TV offers an appealing free-TV alternative for casual viewers and cord-cutters who want a
familiar channel-surfing experience without the cost. It excels in offering diverse, ad-supported
live and on-demand content for free, making it a go-to for background entertainment,
nostalgia-driven browsing, or occasional viewing.

However, if you value fresh content, ad-free streaming, or greater playback control, you
might still want a paid option like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu.

Comparison

Comparison with Other Services

Looking for the best live TV service? Compare Streamo with traditional cable to see which option suits your needs better.

Device Support & Streaming Quality

Philo works across a wide range of devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast,
supported Samsung / Vizio smart TVs, Android / iOS, plus web browsers (Chrome, Firefox,
Safari) Frugal Rules+1Michael Saves+1. Notably, it does not support gaming consoles like
PlayStation or Xbox Business Insider.

Streaming resolution:

Live feeds capped at 720p
On-demand content up to 1080p Full HD
No 4K or 5.1 surround sound—audio is stereo (2.0) only Tom’s
Guide+1Reddit+1.

Bandwidth needs:

SD: ~3 Mbps
HD (1 stream): ~7 Mbps
HD (2+ streams): ~13 Mbps Business Insider+3Frugal Rules+3Tom’s Guide+3.

Supported Devices

     Compatible with nearly every platform: iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV,
Chromecast, Android TV, Samsung/Vizio/Sony smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, and web
browsers (Windows/macOS) Tom’s Guide Digital Trends Paramount .

Key Features & Advantages

Zero cost: No subscription, hidden fees, or contracts—just ads during programming,
similar to cable TV breaks TechRadar+6plutotv.global.ssl.fastly.net+6How-To Geek+6.

LiveTV experience: A channel-guide interface with themed, full-day playlists mimicking
cable channels—great for passive and casual viewing How-To
Geek+2TechRadar+2Reddit+2.
Large breadth of content: Classic movies and series, niche entertainment, news and
sports channels, and rotating programming additions Digital Trends+1Reddit+1.
Accessible and simple: Easy to use on any supported device, with no login needed
(though signing in unlocks personalization) Reddit.

From a Redditor:

“It’s such terrible service. Stops, starts, lags. But I love the shows and movies.”
Reddit+1Reddit+1 Reddit+3Reddit+3Reddit+3

Another:

“I use it more than Hulu and Netflix combined.” The Sun+15Reddit+15Reddit+15
 

Limitations & Drawbacks

Frequent ads: Many users find the ad breaks repetitive and long—roughly 4 breaks per
30-minute show (similar to cable speed) TechRadar TechRadar .
 
Content limitations: Focuses on older and classic titles; lacks many new releases or premium originals. On-demand selection lags behind paid services TechRadar.

No DVR or pause on live TV: Cannot pause or rewind linear streams. Some app
updates removed on-demand controls previously available (though a later iOS update
reportedly reintroduced them) TechRadar.

App reliability concerns: Especially on Firestick and older devices, users report
frequent glitches, crashes, freezing, and UI bugs. Some say the interface has gotten
worse over time Reddit+3Reddit+3Reddit+3.

User review:

“The way you pull up info… is horrendous.” Reddit.