Pros
ConsThe details
Named after the talented scientist and inventor, Philo T. Farnsworth, Philo is an excellent, budget-friendly streaming service. It boasts a decent number of channels, the majority of which showcase lifestyle and entertainment shows.
Important to note though is that Philo does not concern itself with creating original content as the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime do. It also doesn’t aim to completely replace cable as Hulu + Live TV does.
Streaming speed
Philo’s streaming speed is relatively similar to that of other platforms. If you’re planning to watch shows in SD quality, you need a minimum of 3 Mbps. If streaming in HD on one stream, a speed of 7 Mbps should be adequate. But for multiple streams, increase that to at least 13 Mbps.
Ease of use
Philo’s interface is certainly designed with users in mind. It’s easy to navigate even if you’ve never used a streaming platform before. The main screen is divided into several sections, namely:
- Home – It displays the top titles and upcoming episodes. It also classifies shows and films based on different themes like reality roundup, kids, comfort food, true crime among others. This way, you can go directly to the shows that pique your interest.
More importantly, the home screen keeps tabs on those shows you’ve not completed watching, enabling you to quickly resume if you wish.
- Guide – this is a grid-style schedule that displays the shows that are being aired live, what’s coming up next, and what will be aired in the future on every channel.
- Saved – this page gathers all the titles you’ve saved and recorded. So if you incorporate an item from the other menu pages, this is where it will show up.
- Search – this part lets you input words to find the specific content you’re looking for.
While the user interface is easy to navigate, there’s one area where Philo falls short. We’re referring to the maximum number of users permitted to access this platform.
Unlike Netflix which allows 5 profiles, Philo only allows three users to simultaneously utilize this streaming service. The oldest stream will automatically quit working when a fourth user launches it on the same subscription.
Content
Philo may not have the most expansive catalog, but it does have a decent number of shows. It has 63 channels in total, showcasing more than 50,000 movies and TV shows. Some of Philo’s most popular channels are: HGTV, Food Network, Nick Jr., Animal Planet, MTV, AMC and Comedy Central.
This streaming platform also offers on-demand content. If a particular show or film is being aired on a channel, you’ll likely be able to watch it on-demand. With regards to TV shows, the number of episodes differs with each show. For some, you can only watch an episode after it’s been aired. With others, Philo offers the full run.
The only issue that viewers have a problem with is the presence of ads on Live TV content. But this is usually inevitable. Besides, you’re allowed to skip the majority of ads if you’re watching a saved program that was aired previously.
What Philo lacks in offering a seamless viewing experience, it makes up for in accessibility. You can access Philo’s complete channel lineup regardless of where you are in the U.S.; there aren’t any location restrictions. That said, this means you won’t be able to access any local channels.
Value
Philo offers a single pricing package, which sets you back $20 each month. Initially, it offered two packages: a $16 and a $20 tier. But for just $20, you can now access all 63 channels available on the streaming service. You will also have complete access to the streaming platform’s features.
That said, there are a couple of add-ons that you can incorporate for a small extra fee. For instance, you can pay $6 additional for Epix add-on, which contains Epix, Epix 2 and Epix HD.
Final verdict
If you don’t fancy local news or sports channels, Philo is the ultimate streaming channel. It has an affordable price tag, and offers a good selection of lifestyle and entertainment channels.
