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Entertainment · head to head

Castbox vs Philo

Castbox logo

Castbox

Entertainment

Podcast & radio app for everyone

From
Free
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

  • Only Castbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castbox app frequently crashes, requiring users to reload it to continue listening; 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: Castbox covers Podcast app, Philo covers Unlimited cloud DVR.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castbox and Philo actually diverge.

Attributes where Castbox and Philo differ
AttributeCastboxPhilo
Starting priceFree$33/month
Pricing modelUnknownPer household per month, single plan
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Radio, AudiobooksWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
Founded2016Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Castbox

  • Podcast app
  • Radio
  • Discovery
  • Offline listening
  • Sync
  • Smart devices
  • Podcast services
  • Account security

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.

Castbox

  • Podcast listeningnot Philo
  • Radio streamingnot Philo

Philo

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

Where each one falls short

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

Castbox

  • App frequently crashes, requiring users to reload it to continue listening
  • Approximately half of saved podcasts do not automatically refresh or send notifications for new episodes
  • Free version displays unskippable minute-long ads that sometimes play as blank screens
  • Interface is described as cluttered with excessive focus on mainstream podcast recommendations
  • Tracking requirements for certain features like background playback limit privacy

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

Castbox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50+ million podcasts
    • On-demand radio
    • Audiobooks
  • Premium$undefined/custom
    • Ad-free listening
    • Advanced features
    • Contact for pricing

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 Castbox if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Radio, Audiobooks.
  • You also want radio.
Castbox 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 Castbox or Philo better?
Neither clearly leads. Castbox starts at Free and Philo at $33/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castbox or Philo?
Castbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castbox and $33/month for Philo.
Does Castbox or Philo run on more platforms?
Castbox runs on iOS, Android, Web, Radio, Audiobooks. Philo runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV.
Can I use Castbox for free?
Yes. Castbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Philo starts at $33/month.
What is Castbox best used for?
Castbox is most often used for podcast listening, radio streaming. Of those, podcast listening and radio streaming are not what Philo is typically brought in for.
What can Castbox do that Philo cannot?
Castbox covers Podcast app, Radio, Discovery, Offline listening. Philo covers Unlimited cloud DVR, Around 70 channels, No contracts, Multiple simultaneous streams.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castbox: Is Castbox free and does it have paid tiers?

Castbox offers a free version with ads and limited features. A premium subscription is available but details on pricing were not disclosed on the main site. Free tier includes access to 50+ million podcasts, radio programs, and audiobooks.

Source
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.

Castbox: What languages and regions does Castbox support?

Castbox supports content in 70 languages from 175 countries, making it one of the most internationally accessible podcast platforms.

Source
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.

Castbox: Can I search for specific content across all episodes with Castbox?

Yes, Castbox pioneered an in-audio search feature using natural language processing that lets listeners search for keywords and topics across more than 50 million episodes.

Source
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.

Castbox: What tools does Castbox offer for podcasters?

Castbox provides a Creator Studio with robust analytics for creators to measure subscribers, streams, and downloads. However, creators requiring comprehensive editing and production tools may find Castbox limited compared to specialized production software.

Source
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