Philo vs Sling TV 2026: Price, Channels & Sports
Philo offers more entertainment and lifestyle channels (60+ channels) at a lower starting price ($25/month), while Sling TV provides better sports coverage with ESPN, TNT, and regional sports networks, plus cloud DVR with longer retention (50 hours vs 30 hours).
Philo
Budget-friendly streaming TV service focused on entertainment and lifestyle channels.
Budget-conscious viewers who love entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle programming, and want to stream on multiple devices simultaneously without sports needs.
Sling TV
Budget-friendly live TV streaming service with customizable channel packages starting at $40/month.
Sports enthusiasts who need ESPN and regional sports networks, plus those wanting to customize their channel mix with separate Orange/Blue package options.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryPhilo offers more entertainment and lifestyle channels (60+ channels) at a lower starting price ($25/month), while Sling TV provides better sports coverage with ESPN, TNT, and regional sports networks, plus cloud DVR with longer retention (50 hours vs 30 hours).
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Philo if you prioritize entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle programming, and want the lowest price with generous simultaneous streaming on 3 devices. Choose Sling TV if you're a sports fan needing ESPN, TNT, and regional sports networks, and you want more cloud DVR storage for recording shows.
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Choose Philo if
Best pickBudget-conscious viewers who love entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle programming, and want to stream on multiple devices simultaneously without sports needs.
Choose Sling TV if
Sports enthusiasts who need ESPN and regional sports networks, plus those wanting to customize their channel mix with separate Orange/Blue package options.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Starting Price:✓ Philo wins($25/month vs $40/month)
- Total Channels Included:✓ Philo wins(60+ channels vs 30-50 channels)
- ESPN Included:✓ Sling TV wins(Yes (Sling Orange) vs No)
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(streams) | 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 | $40.00 | |
| Live TV Channels (Base Plan)(channels) | 60+ | 30-50 | |
| Free Cloud DVR Storage(hours) | 30 hours | 50 hours | |
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(streams) | 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 | |
| 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
- 60+ channels(winner)Total Channels Included30-50 channels
- NoESPN IncludedYes (Sling Orange)(winner)
- 30 hoursCloud DVR Storage50 hours(winner)
- 3 devices(winner)Simultaneous Streams1 device (Orange) / 3 devices (Orange + Blue)
- 7 daysFree Trial Period7 days
- 5,000+ titles(winner)On-Demand Library Size3,000+ titles
- Starting Price
Philo
$25/month(winner)
Sling TV
$40/month
- Total Channels Included
Philo
60+ channels(winner)
Sling TV
30-50 channels
- ESPN Included
Philo
No
Sling TV
Yes (Sling Orange)(winner)
- Cloud DVR Storage
Philo
30 hours
Sling TV
50 hours(winner)
- Simultaneous Streams
Philo
3 devices(winner)
Sling TV
1 device (Orange) / 3 devices (Orange + Blue)
- Free Trial Period
Philo
7 days
Sling TV
7 days
- On-Demand Library Size
Philo
5,000+ titles(winner)
Sling TV
3,000+ titles
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 | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $25.00 | $20.00(winner) |
| Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD) | $300/year | $191.88(winner) |
Show 8 more attributesMonthly Subscription Price(USD) $25.00 — 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 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 17 more attributesSports Channel Count(channels) 0 channels — News Channel Count(channels) 0 channels — Live TV Channels(channels) 60+ 30-50 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 — Live TV Channels Included(channels) 30-50 channels — On-Demand Content Library(titles) Minimal (add-ons only) — 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(streams) | 3 streams(winner) | 1-3 |
| Maximum Simultaneous Streams(streams) | 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 10 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 — 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 | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $25(winner) | $40.00 |
| Cost for 3 Simultaneous Streams(USD/month) | $52.00 (base $40 + $12 add-on) | — |
| 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) |
| Free Trial Duration(days) | 7 days | 7 days |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 7 days | — |
| 4K Content Availability(percent of library) | No | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 7 days | 7 days |
| 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 | — |
| Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)(devices) | 3 | — |
| NFL RedZone Access | Not included | — |
| Sports Channels in Base Plan(channels) | 15-20 channels | — |
| Contract Requirement | Month-to-month | — |
| Channel Customization Options(package types) | 3 options (Orange/Blue/Combo) | — |
PhiloSling TVShow 8 more attributes
Show 17 more attributes
Show 10 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Philo
Pros
- Lowest starting price at $25/month for 60+ channels
- 3 simultaneous streams included on base plan (vs 1 on Sling)
- 5,000+ on-demand titles with extensive reality TV library
- No sports blackout restrictions
- Simple, single-tier pricing with no plan confusion
Cons
- No ESPN, TNT, or major sports networks
- Limited cloud DVR at 30 hours (less than Sling's 50 hours)
- Fewer premium cable news options compared to competitors
Sling TV
Pros
- Includes ESPN with Sling Orange tier ($40/month)
- 50 hours cloud DVR storage (67% more than Philo)
- TNT, TBS, and regional sports networks available
- Flexible dual-tier system (Orange/Blue) allows sports + entertainment customization
- International content through add-on packages
Cons
- Higher base price ($40/month for sports access vs $25 for Philo)
- Sling Orange tier limited to 1 simultaneous stream (requires Blue tier for 3 streams)
- Smaller on-demand library compared to Philo (3,000+ vs 5,000+ titles)
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
No, Philo does not include ESPN, TNT, or major sports networks. It focuses on entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle, and news programming. If sports are important, Sling TV is the better choice.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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