Deciding whether to cut the cord and ditch cable TV is an easy call. (Do it.) But choosing which streaming service (or services) to go with is a whole other matter. We pit Philo vs YouTube TV to see how a budget “skinny bundle” stacks up against a comprehensive service at the other end of the price spectrum.
In addition to live TV channels, both services have libraries of on-demand movies and shows. They also offer unlimited DVR capacity, 3 simultaneous streams, and a 7-day free trial. But that’s where the similarities end. Read on to see how they differ.
Quick overview of Philo and YouTube TV
Philo was founded in 2017. And while it’s a fairly new player on the streaming scene, Philo’s owners include A&E, AMC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount. Currently the lowest-priced streaming service with live TV, it also supports TV Everywhere, meaning you can use your Philo account to sign in to all of its partner networks directly.
YouTube pretty much invented internet video, but it took until 2017 to launch YouTube TV. Unsurprisingly, it’s wasted no time becoming an industry leader. It offers local affiliates for all major TV broadcast networks, premium sports channels, and a growing library of on-demand content.
Our quick reference table gets things started with 6 key points about both services.
| Philo | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $25/month | $72.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | 7 days |
| Number of Channels | 70+ | 100+ |
| DVR Capacity | Unlimited (1 year) | Unlimited (9 months) |
| Device Support | Web, Android, iOS, Fire Tablet, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Android TV | Web, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, TiVo Stream, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Nest Hub |
| Simultaneous Streams | 3 | 3 (anywhere) |
Best pricing: Philo vs YouTube TV
Price is Philo's main selling point. It costs just over ⅓ of what YouTube TV will set you back.
Philo Base
Try 7 days free
- Unlimited cloud DVR saved for 1 year
- Stream on three screens
- Shows movies and 70+ channels
- 7-day free trial
$28/month
If saving money is your key motivator in choosing a streaming service, you can't do better than Philo. It’s even less than Sling TV, making it the cheapest live TV streaming service on the market.
If the 70+ base channels aren’t enough, there are three add-ons available: Movies & More for $3/month, MGM+ for $6/month, and Starz for $9/month. All of those together with the base plan total is still far less than most live TV services, such as Fubo and Hulu with Live TV.
While YouTube TV is more than twice the price of Philo, its price is at the low end of the mid-tier services. And it does so without sacrificing content.
Two main channel bundles are available, Sports Plus ($10.99/month) and Entertainment Plus ($29.99), but extra channels are mostly added à la carte for a variety of prices.
Best free trial: Philo vs YouTube TV
Both services offer a 7-day free trial, but Philo's is better in two ways.
First, Philo’s free trial includes add-ons while YouTube TV’s trial does not. Second, if you cancel during your YouTube TV trial period, you immediately lose access to its programming.
Philo, on the other hand, lets you watch until the end of the 7 days no matter what. Therefore, you can follow “free trial best practices” and cancel as soon as you sign up, then uncancel if you choose to stay with the service.
Best channels and add-ons: Philo vs YouTube TV
YouTube TV delivers up to 100+ channels, which is almost double what you get with Philo. Furthermore, YouTube TV has a long list of channels you can add à la carte, while Philo’s add-ons are limited to a 5-channel bundle, MGM+, and Starz.
However, the biggest difference between the 2 services is local programming and sports. YouTube TV delivers both, while Philo keeps its price down by offering neither.
What to watch on YouTube TV
YouTube TV broadcasts local affiliates for the big 4 networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) in 98% of US markets. You can enter your zip code on the website to see what’s available in your area.
Sports is one area where YouTube TV shines. While it’s not up there with Fubo or DirecTV Stream in terms of sports channels, it offers an impressive list. And even though some channels, like beIN Sports and Stadium, are only available with the Sports Plus bundle, you get a lot with the base plan. Channels include:
- CBS Sports
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN U
- FS1, FS2
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NFL Network
The list of add-on entertainment channels is long, but here’s a sample of the premium available:
- AMC+ – $6.99/month
- Cinemax – $9.99/month
- Max – $14.99/month
- Starz – $9/month
- Showtime - $11/month
YouTube also has an on-demand library, which includes a lot of content from its partner channels. You’ll mostly find previous episodes from a show’s current season rather than complete past seasons.
For an extra $19.99/month, the 4K Plus add-on gets you 4K streaming, unlimited streams (at home), and a DVR with downloads for offline viewing.
Check out our YouTube TV Channel List from A-Z for the full list of channels.
What to watch on Philo
Instead of local stations, sports and news, Philo focuses on movies and TV shows. The good news is that it includes a lot of must-have channels in its 70+ channel base plan.
- A&E
- AMC
- BET
- Discovery Channel
- History
- Paramount Network
Philo also has 3 add-ons available. And while the MGM+ and Starz packages are limited to 3 channels each, your Philo login credentials grant you full access to the native platforms for both services.
Movies & More ($3/month)
- Cinémoi
- HDNet Movies
- MGM HD
- Reelz
- Sony Movies
MGM+ ($6/month)
- MGM+
- MGM+ 2
- MGM+ Hits
Starz ($9/month)
- Starz
- Starz Encore
- Starz Kids & Family
In addition to its live TV channels, Philo also boasts an on-demand library of 60,000 movies, shows, and specials, which is one of the biggest in the industry.
Take a look at the Flixed Philo Channel List for the full list of all 70+ channels available on Philo.
Best DVR and offline viewing: Philo vs YouTube TV
YouTube TV lets you download shows to watch offline, but only on mobile devices and only with the 4K Plus add-on. It’s not cheap at $19.99/month, but in addition to watching offline, it also gets you 4k streaming and unlimited simultaneous streams at home.
You can’t download shows from Philo and there’s no upgrade to do so.
Both services offer unlimited DVR storage, but Philo keeps your shows for a full year, compared to 9 months with YouTube TV.
Check out our Philo DVR and Offline Viewing article for complete details.
Best device support: Philo vs YouTube TV
You can watch YouTube TV on far more devices than Philo. In addition to major web browsers, it supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, TiVo, Xfinity Flex, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Nest, and select smart TVs.
Philo supports web browsers, Android, iOS, Fire Tablets, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and Android TV.
For complete details on each service’s supported devices, check out our Philo Device Support and YouTube TV Device Support articles.
Best simultaneous streaming: Philo vs YouTube TV
Both services let you watch up to 3 streams at the same time with their standard package, but only YouTube TV lets you upgrade to more.
The 4K Plus add-on ($19.99/month) lets you watch unlimited streams on your home network.
With Philo you’re limited to 3 screens without an option to add more. While that should be enough for most, it could pose a problem for larger families who are considering Philo as their only streaming service.
Which is better: Philo vs YouTube TV?
YouTube TV offers nearly twice as many channels and many things Philo does not, including traditional broadcast TV networks, premium sports channels, optional 4K streaming and downloadable content for offline viewing.
However, if shrinking your monthly TV bill is your main priority, Philo is a fraction of what YouTube TV costs. Even with all its add-ons, Philo is still more than 20 bucks a month cheaper than YouTube TV.
Douglas Wright • Author
Douglas Wright is a freelance writer based in Japan. A former web designer and technical writer, he left beautiful Vancouver for bustling Tokyo, where he spent a decade recruiting for software and high-tech firms. No longer commuting through the world’s busiest train station, he writes fiction and a wide range of formats for clients around the world. When he gets AFK, he’s either outdoors with his two boys, streaming a show with his wife, or reading a book over a French-pressed, hand-ground coffee.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. She began working as an editor for Flixed in 2023. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.
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