Philo vs Sling TV 2026: Price, Channels, DVR
Philo offers unlimited DVR and focuses on entertainment channels at a lower starting price ($25/month), while Sling TV provides more customization, 4K streaming, and broader channel diversity across sports and news at a slightly higher entry point ($40/month). Philo is ideal for cord-cutters wanting hassle-free recording; Sling TV suits those prioritizing sports and live news access.
Philo
Budget-friendly streaming TV service focused on entertainment and lifestyle channels.
Budget-conscious cord-cutters who love reality TV, cooking shows, home improvement, and entertainment content and want unlimited recording without complexity.
Sling TV
Affordable live TV streaming service with customizable channel packages starting at $15/month.
Viewers who want sports, news, and entertainment with the ability to customize their package, access 4K content, and maintain flexibility to pause service without commitments.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryPhilo offers unlimited DVR and focuses on entertainment channels at a lower starting price ($25/month), while Sling TV provides more customization, 4K streaming, and broader channel diversity across sports and news at a slightly higher entry point ($40/month). Philo is ideal for cord-cutters wanting hassle-free recording; Sling TV suits those prioritizing sports and live news access.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Philo if you primarily watch entertainment, cooking, home improvement, and lifestyle content and want the lowest entry price with unlimited DVR at no extra cost. Choose Sling TV if you need sports coverage, live news, 4K quality, and the flexibility to customize your channel package and pause service without penalties.
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Choose Philo if
Best pickBudget-conscious cord-cutters who love reality TV, cooking shows, home improvement, and entertainment content and want unlimited recording without complexity.
Choose Sling TV if
Viewers who want sports, news, and entertainment with the ability to customize their package, access 4K content, and maintain flexibility to pause service without commitments.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Starting Price:✓ Philo wins($25/month vs $40/month)
- DVR Storage:Unlimited recordings vs Unlimited recordings
- Simultaneous Streams:✓ Sling TV wins(Up to 4 streams (varies by plan) vs Up to 3 streams)
Key Facts & Figures
55 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Philo | Sling TV | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Starting Price(USD) | $25 | $40 | |
| Base Monthly Cost(USD) | $25/month | — | — |
| Total Live Channels(channels) | 70+ channels | — | — |
| Simultaneous Streams(devices) | 3 streams | 1-3 | |
| Sports Networks Included(count) | 0 networks | — | — |
| Price Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.36/channel | — | — |
| Annual Cost (12 months)(USD) | $300/year | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $25 | $15 | |
| Live TV Channels (Base Plan)(channels) | 60+ | 30-50 | |
| Free Cloud DVR Storage(hours) | 30 hours | 50 hours | |
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 3 screens | 4 screens | |
| Major News Networks Included(count) | 0 networks | 3-4 networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) | |
| Free Trial Duration(days) | 7 days | 7 days | |
| Max DVR Storage (Paid Upgrade)(hours) | 30 hours (no upgrade option) | 200 hours ($6.99/month) | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $25.00 | $20.00 | |
| Total Channels(channels) | 70+ | 30-50 channels | |
| Simultaneous Streams (Base Plan)(streams) | 3 streams | 1 stream | |
| Sports Channel Count(channels) | 0 channels | — | — |
| News Channel Count(channels) | 0 channels | — | — |
| Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD) | $300/year | $191.88 | |
| Monthly Subscription Price(USD) | $25.00 | — | — |
| Live TV Channels(channels) | 60+ | 30-50 channels | |
| Concurrent Streams(streams) | 3 | — | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 7 days | 7 days | |
| Annual Cost (if paid monthly)(USD) | $300/year | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $25/month | $40/month | |
| Base Channel Count(channels) | 60+ channels | 30-50 channels | |
| Simultaneous Streams (Base Tier)(devices) | 3 devices | 1 device | |
| On-Demand Library(titles) | 5,000+ titles | 3,000+ titles | |
| Maximum Monthly Cost (All Tiers)(USD) | $25/month | $75/month | |
| Simultaneous Streams (single account)(streams) | Up to 3 | Up to 3 | |
| Household Accounts(accounts) | Up to 3 | Up to 3 | |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 7 days | 7 days | |
| Cost Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.57 | $0.57 | |
| Local Channel Coverage(percent of US) | Limited regional availability | Limited regional availability | |
| DVR Storage (Standard)(hours) | 50 hours | 50 hours | |
| Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month) | $0 (baseline) | $0 (baseline) | |
| On-Demand Titles(titles) | Minimal (DVR-dependent) | Minimal (DVR-dependent) | |
| Total Available Channels(channels) | 40-50 | 40-50 | |
| Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)(devices) | 3 | 3 | |
| Cloud DVR Storage (Included)(hours) | 50 (upgradeable to 200) | 50 (upgradeable to 200) | |
| Live Channels (Base Plan)(channels) | 40 channels | 40 channels | |
| Sports Channels(channels) | 20 sports channels | 20 sports channels | |
| Live TV Channels Included(channels) | 30-50 channels | 30-50 channels | |
| Channel Customization Options(package types) | 3 options (Orange/Blue/Combo) | 3 options (Orange/Blue/Combo) | |
| Cost Difference for Annual Service(USD per year) | $479.88/year | $479.88/year | |
| Monthly Subscription Price (Entry Plan)(USD) | $15.99 | $15.99 | |
| Base Plan Channel Count(channels) | 30 channels | 30 channels | |
| Cloud DVR Storage (Standard Plan)(hours) | 50 hours | 50 hours | |
| Sports Channels in Base Plan(channels) | 15-20 channels | 15-20 channels | |
| Annual Cost (Entry Plan)(USD) | $191.88 | $191.88 | |
| Included Live TV Channels(channels) | 30-50 channels | 30-50 channels | |
| Cloud DVR Storage (Free Tier)(hours) | 50 hours | 50 hours | |
| Default Simultaneous Streams(streams) | 1 stream | 1 stream | |
| Cost for 3 Simultaneous Streams(USD/month) | $52.00 (base $40 + $12 add-on) | $52.00 (base $40 + $12 add-on) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $25/month(winner)Starting Price$40/month
- Unlimited recordingsDVR StorageUnlimited recordings
- Up to 3 streamsSimultaneous StreamsUp to 4 streams (varies by plan)(winner)
- Entertainment-heavy (A&E, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TLC)Channel Categories FocusBalanced (sports, news, entertainment, lifestyle)(winner)
- Standard definition only4K Streaming Support4K streaming available(winner)
- Fixed channel bundles onlyCustomizable ChannelsPick-and-choose channel customization(winner)
- Limited pause availabilityService Pause OptionPause anytime, free(winner)
- Starting Price
Philo
$25/month(winner)
Sling TV
$40/month
- DVR Storage
Philo
Unlimited recordings
Sling TV
Unlimited recordings
- Simultaneous Streams
Philo
Up to 3 streams
Sling TV
Up to 4 streams (varies by plan)(winner)
- Channel Categories Focus
Philo
Entertainment-heavy (A&E, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TLC)
Sling TV
Balanced (sports, news, entertainment, lifestyle)(winner)
- 4K Streaming Support
Philo
Standard definition only
Sling TV
4K streaming available(winner)
- Customizable Channels
Philo
Fixed channel bundles only
Sling TV
Pick-and-choose channel customization(winner)
- Service Pause Option
Philo
Limited pause availability
Sling TV
Pause anytime, free(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Philo | Sling TV |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Starting Price(USD) | $25(winner) | $40 |
| Base Monthly Cost(USD) | $25/month | — |
| Annual Cost (12 months)(USD) | $300/year | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $25 | $15(winner) |
| Free Trial Duration(days) | 7 days | 7 days |
Show 12 more attributesMonthly Subscription Cost(USD) $25.00 $20.00 Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD) $300/year $191.88 Monthly Subscription Price(USD) $25.00 — Free Trial Period(days) 7 days 7 days Annual Cost (if paid monthly)(USD) $300/year — Starting Monthly Price(USD) $25/month $40/month Maximum Monthly Cost (All Tiers)(USD) $25/month $75/month Free Trial Length(days) 7 days — Price Difference vs Cheapest Option(USD per month) $0 (baseline) — Cost Difference for Annual Service(USD per year) $479.88/year — Monthly Subscription Price (Entry Plan)(USD) $15.99 — Annual Cost (Entry Plan)(USD) $191.88 — | ||
| Total Live Channels(channels) | 70+ channels | — |
| Sports Networks Included(count) | 0 networks | — |
| News Networks Included(major networks) | Limited (no major news) | — |
| Live TV Channels (Base Plan)(channels) | 60+(winner) | 30-50 |
| Total Channels(channels) | 70+(winner) | 30-50 channels |
Show 18 more attributesSports Channel Count(channels) 0 channels — News Channel Count(channels) 0 channels — Live TV Channels(channels) 60+ 30-50 channels Sports Channel Access(null) Limited (select ESPN only) — Local Broadcast Channels(null) Not included — Base Channel Count(channels) 60+ channels 30-50 channels On-Demand Library(titles) 5,000+ titles 3,000+ titles Local Channel Coverage(percent of US) Limited regional availability — On-Demand Titles(titles) Minimal (DVR-dependent) — Total Available Channels(channels) 40-50 — Live Channels (Base Plan)(channels) 40 channels — Sports Channels(channels) 20 sports channels — On-Demand Content Library(titles) Varies by package (limited) — Sports Network Coverage(major networks) Limited (ESPN, Fox Sports not in base tier) — Live TV Channels Included(channels) 30-50 channels — Base Plan Channel Count(channels) 30 channels — Included Live TV Channels(channels) 30-50 channels — Major Sports Channel Inclusion(channels) Requires Sports Extra add-on ($11/month for 10 sports channels) — | ||
| DVR Storage Capacity(hours) | Unlimited recordings | Unlimited recordings |
| Simultaneous Streams(devices) | 3 streams(winner) | 1-3 |
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(screens) | 3 screens | 4 screens(winner) |
| Cloud DVR Storage(hours) | 30 hours | 50 hours(winner) |
| Simultaneous Streams (Base Plan)(streams) | 3 streams(winner) | 1 stream |
| Concurrent Streams(streams) | 3 | — |
Show 11 more attributesSimultaneous Streams (single account)(streams) Up to 3 — Household Accounts(accounts) Up to 3 — DVR Storage (Standard)(hours) 50 hours — Customizable Channel Selection(yes/no) Full à la carte customization — No-Contract Cancellation(yes/no) Yes, anytime — Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)(devices) 3 — Cloud DVR Storage (Included)(hours) 50 (upgradeable to 200) — 4K Streaming Not supported — Cloud DVR Storage (Standard Plan)(hours) 50 hours — Cloud DVR Storage (Free Tier)(hours) 50 hours — Default Simultaneous Streams(streams) 1 stream — | ||
| Price Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.36/channel | — |
| Cost Per Channel(USD per channel) | $0.57 | — |
| Bundled Premium Services(services) | None | — |
| Free Cloud DVR Storage(hours) | 30 hours | 50 hours(winner) |
| Max DVR Storage (Paid Upgrade)(hours) | 30 hours (no upgrade option) | 200 hours ($6.99/month)(winner) |
| ESPN Included | No | Yes (Orange tier) |
| Major News Networks Included(count) | 0 networks | 3-4 networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC)(winner) |
| 4K Content Availability(percent of library) | No | — |
| Simultaneous Streams (Base Tier)(devices) | 3 devices(winner) | 1 device |
| 4K Streaming Available | No (1080p max) | — |
| 4K Streaming Support | No | — |
| Supported Devices(count) | 50+ devices | — |
| NFL RedZone Access | Not included | — |
| Sports Channels in Base Plan(channels) | 15-20 channels | — |
| Contract Requirement | Month-to-month | — |
| Contract Length(months) | Month-to-month | — |
| Channel Customization Options(package types) | 3 options (Orange/Blue/Combo) | — |
| Cost for 3 Simultaneous Streams(USD/month) | $52.00 (base $40 + $12 add-on) | — |
PhiloSling TVShow 12 more attributes
Show 18 more attributes
Show 11 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Philo
Pros
- Lowest starting price at $25/month with no introductory rate tricks
- Unlimited DVR storage with automatic recording of entire TV series
- Zero sports blackouts since sports content is minimal
- Straightforward pricing with no hidden fees or required equipment
- Strong lineup of A&E, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, and TLC channels
Cons
- No 4K streaming capability, limited to standard definition
- Smaller overall channel count compared to competitors
- Limited sports and live news coverage
Sling TV
Pros
- Fully customizable channel selection with pick-and-choose flexibility
- 4K streaming support for enhanced picture quality on compatible devices
- Up to 4 simultaneous streams on most plans
- Pause service anytime without penalties or early termination fees
- Strong sports and news coverage across ESPN, CNN, Fox News, and regional channels
Cons
- Starting price of $40/month is 60% higher than Philo's entry level
- Channel costs add up quickly when customizing beyond base packages
- Ongoing legal disputes with Disney could affect channel availability and pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Philo starts at $25/month with no hidden fees or required add-ons, making it approximately 37.5% cheaper than Sling TV's $40/month base price. However, Sling TV users who only add a few customization channels may stay competitive. For viewers wanting premium channels and sports on Sling, costs quickly exceed Philo's flat rate, making Philo the winner for budget-conscious, entertainment-focused users.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
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