Entertainment · iOS
Philo: Shows, Movies & Live TV
by Philo
Philo carves out a clear lane in the crowded streaming market by skipping sports and news entirely and passing those savings on to subscribers. The Essential plan bundles 70-plus live channels, including recognizable names like AMC, Nickelodeon, HGTV, and Lifetime, alongside a 75,000-plus title on-demand library. A Bundle+ tier adds HBO Max, AMC+, and discovery+. At 106 MB the app is lean, and its 4.75 store rating across 69,000 ratings suggests the experience largely holds up in daily use.
The No-Sports Trade-off
Philo's entire value proposition rests on one deliberate omission: no sports, no news. That keeps the price low and the channel lineup focused on entertainment and lifestyle networks. If you live for NFL Sundays or cable news, this is a hard stop. But for households that primarily watch scripted dramas, reality TV, food and home channels, or kids programming, that trade-off is genuinely reasonable rather than a compromise.
Content Depth and Flexibility
Seventy-plus live channels plus 75,000 on-demand titles is a meaningful library, not a token one. The Bundle+ plan stacking HBO Max, AMC+, and discovery+ on top is a notable option for users who want prestige content without juggling separate subscriptions. No contracts and a 7-day free trial lower the risk of trying it. The app has been updated as recently as June 2026, which points to active maintenance rather than a neglected product.
Who This App Actually Suits
Philo fits cord-cutters who prioritize entertainment variety over live sports or breaking news. Families with younger kids benefit from Nickelodeon and similar channels. Reality and lifestyle TV fans get a dense on-demand back catalog. Anyone already paying separately for discovery+ or AMC+ should do the math on Bundle+ before renewing those standalone subscriptions, because consolidation here could mean real savings.
Pros
- 70-plus live channels covering entertainment, lifestyle, and kids programming
- 75,000-plus on-demand titles adds genuine depth beyond just live TV
- Bundle+ option consolidates HBO Max, AMC+, and discovery+ in one place
- No contracts and a 7-day free trial reduce commitment risk
- App is actively maintained, updated as recently as June 2026
Cons
- Zero sports or news channels, a hard dealbreaker for many households
- On-demand library size alone does not reveal content quality or recency
- Bundle+ pricing requires careful comparison to standalone subscription costs
- No free tier, only a time-limited trial before a paid plan is required
- 106 MB app with in-app purchases means total cost is not fully transparent upfront