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Entertainment · head to head

Philo vs YouTube TV

Philo logo

Philo

Entertainment

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

From
$33/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube TV logo

YouTube TV

Entertainment

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
$59.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Philo and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where Philo and YouTube TV differ
AttributePhiloYouTube TV
Starting price$33/month$59.99/month
Pricing modelPer household per month, single plansubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TVWeb

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 Philo

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

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that Philo does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Philo

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

YouTube TV

  • Watching live sports with multiview capability to watch up to 4 games simultaneouslynot Philo
  • Accessing 100+ broadcast and cable channels for entertainment and showsnot Philo
  • Streaming news coverage from CNN, FOX News, and local stationsnot Philo
  • Sharing household accounts with up to 6 individual family membersnot Philo
  • Recording unlimited content with DVR storage across devicesnot Philo

Where each one falls short

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

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.

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

Pricing, plan by plan

Philo

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

YouTube TV

$59.99/month
  • YouTube TV Standard$82.99/month
    • 100+ channels
    • Unlimited DVR storage
    • 6 individual accounts
  • YouTube TV Sports$64.99/month
    • 30+ sports channels
  • YouTube TV Promotional (New Users)$59.99/month
    • Standard plan
    • First 3 months promotional rate
  • Add-Ons$1.99/month
    • 4K Plus ($9.99/month)
    • Entertainment Plus ($29.99/month)
    • Sports Plus ($10.99/month)

Which should you pick?

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

Choose YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from Philo on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is Philo or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. Philo starts at $33/month and YouTube TV at $59.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Philo or YouTube TV?
Philo starts at $33/month and YouTube TV at $59.99/month.
Does Philo or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
Philo runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV. YouTube TV runs on Web.
What is Philo best used for?
Philo is most often used for a household that gets local news over an antenna and does not need it duplicated in a streaming bundle, someone who wants reality, lifestyle and general cable channels and has no interest in sports at all, a budget cord-cutter comparing the lowest possible monthly cost among mainstream live tv services, a second household or vacation home subscription where a full sports-inclusive bundle is not worth the cost. Of those, a household that gets local news over an antenna and does not need it duplicated in a streaming bundle and someone who wants reality, lifestyle and general cable channels and has no interest in sports at all are not what YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can Philo do that YouTube TV cannot?
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.

YouTube TV: Do I need a contract or annual commitment for YouTube TV?

No, YouTube TV has no contracts or hidden fees. You can cancel anytime.

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.

YouTube TV: Can multiple household members watch YouTube TV at the same time?

Yes, YouTube TV allows up to 4 simultaneous streams and supports 6 individual household accounts with personalized recommendations for each member.

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.

YouTube TV: How much DVR storage does YouTube TV include?

YouTube TV includes unlimited DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing you to record as much content as you want.

Source
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