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Netflix vs Philo

Netflix logo

Netflix

Entertainment

Watch TV shows and movies anytime, anywhere

From
$6.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Philo logo

Philo

Entertainment

Cheap entertainment-only live TV streaming with no sports and no local broadcast channels

From
$33/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Netflix the entry plan caps video at 720p and allows one simultaneous stream and one download device; Philo there is no sports coverage of any kind, and no add-on exists to get it, so anyone wanting even occasional live sports needs a different service entirely.
  • They diverge on capability: Netflix covers Video streaming, Philo covers Unlimited cloud DVR.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Netflix and Philo actually diverge.

Attributes where Netflix and Philo differ
AttributeNetflixPhilo
Starting price$6.99/month$33/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer household per month, single plan
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devicesWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded1997Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Netflix

  • Video streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Multiple profiles
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Original content
  • Multi-device support
  • Parental controls
  • Auto-play next episode

Only in Philo

  • Unlimited cloud DVR
  • Around 70 channels
  • No contracts
  • Multiple simultaneous streams
  • Low base price
  • On-demand library

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Netflix

  • Streaming films and series on demand across TVs, phones and browsersnot Philo
  • Downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devicesnot Philo
  • Playing Netflix mobile games included with a subscriptionnot Philo

Philo

  • A household that gets local news over an antenna and does not need it duplicated in a streaming bundlenot Netflix
  • Someone who wants reality, lifestyle and general cable channels and has no interest in sports at allnot Netflix
  • A budget cord-cutter comparing the lowest possible monthly cost among mainstream live TV servicesnot Netflix
  • A second household or vacation home subscription where a full sports-inclusive bundle is not worth the costnot Netflix

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Netflix

  • The entry plan caps video at 720p and allows one simultaneous stream and one download device
  • 1080p and two simultaneous streams require the Standard plan
  • 4K Ultra HD, HDR and spatial audio are restricted to the Premium plan, which allows 4 streams and 6 download devices
  • Netflix states an account is for people who live together in a single household, so viewers outside the home need a paid extra member slot
  • Plan prices and availability differ by country and change when Netflix is bought through a partner package or add-on

Philo

  • There is no sports coverage of any kind, and no add-on exists to get it, so anyone wanting even occasional live sports needs a different service entirely.
  • It carries no local ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC affiliate feeds, so live local news and network prime time require an antenna or another service.
  • The channel count, at around 70, is meaningfully smaller than fuboTV or DirecTV Stream, so genre variety outside entertainment and lifestyle is limited.
  • News coverage is thin, with no major 24-hour cable news network included on the base lineup in the way some competitors carry CNN or Fox News.
  • Because it deliberately stays in one narrow lane, households whose needs change to include sports have to switch providers entirely rather than upgrading a Philo tier.

Pricing, plan by plan

Netflix

$6.99/month
  • Standard with ads$6.99/month
    • All but a few movies and TV shows
    • Unlimited ad-free series and movies
    • Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
  • Standard$15.49/month
    • All Netflix movies and TV shows
    • Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
    • Watch in HD
  • Premium$22.99/month
    • All Netflix movies and TV shows
    • Watch on 4 supported devices at a time
    • Watch in Ultra HD

Philo

$33/month
  • Philo$33/month
    • Around 70 entertainment and lifestyle channels
    • Unlimited cloud DVR
    • No sports or local broadcast channels

Which should you pick?

Choose Netflix if

  • You need video streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devices.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Netflix review

Choose Philo if

  • You need unlimited cloud dvr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV.
  • You also want around 70 channels.
Philo review

Questions people ask

Is Netflix or Philo better?
Neither clearly leads. Netflix starts at $6.99/month and Philo at $33/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Netflix or Philo?
Netflix starts at $6.99/month and Philo at $33/month.
Does Netflix or Philo run on more platforms?
Netflix runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devices. Philo runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV.
What is Netflix best used for?
Netflix is most often used for streaming films and series on demand across tvs, phones and browsers, downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devices, playing netflix mobile games included with a subscription. Of those, streaming films and series on demand across tvs, phones and browsers and downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devices are not what Philo is typically brought in for.
What can Netflix do that Philo cannot?
Netflix covers Video streaming, Offline downloads, Multiple profiles, Personalized recommendations. Philo covers Unlimited cloud DVR, Around 70 channels, No contracts, Multiple simultaneous streams.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Philo: Does Philo have any sports channels?

No, it excludes sports entirely, including ESPN and regional sports networks, and there is no add-on to get them.

Philo: Does Philo include local channels like ABC or NBC?

No, local broadcast affiliates are not included; you would need an antenna or a different streaming service for those.

Philo: Why is Philo so much cheaper than fuboTV?

Because it excludes the two most expensive categories of content to carry, sports rights and local broadcast retransmission fees.

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