Sling TV vs Philo: Content, Price & DVR Comparison | 2026

Are you looking to cut the cord on cable TV but overwhelmed by the streaming options out there? This guide compares two popular live TV streaming services, Sling TV and Philo, to help you decide which is better based on channels, price, features and more. As a streaming analyst with over 10 years of experience researching cord cutting options, I’ve tested and compared every major live TV streaming service extensively. Below I’ll share my insights to help you determine if Sling TV or Philo is the right fit.

#What Does Sling TV Offer?

Sling TV was one of the first live TV streaming services when it launched in 2015. It stands out with its customizable channel add-ons and packages as well as support for more streaming devices.

Price: Starts at $40/mo Free Trial: 3 days Channels: 32+ depending on package Major Channels: ESPN, CNN, TNT, HGTV, FX

Sling offers three core packages:

• Sling Orange ($40/mo): 32 channels plus ability to add on packs/premiums

• Sling Blue ($45/mo): 42 channels plus add-ons

• Sling Orange + Blue ($60/mo): 46 channels plus add-ons

Add-on channel packs include:

• Sports Extra with NHL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, and more ($11+ per month)

• Comedy Extra with MTV, Game Show Network, more ($7+/month)

• News Extra with BBC World News, Cheddar, more (6+/month)

• ESPN and other major sports channels only available on Sling

Premium add-ons like HBO Max and STARZ are also available à la carte. Local channel availability varies by market.

Pros

• Inexpensive starting prices

• Lots of customizable add-on options

• Cloud DVR included

• Compatible with many streaming devices like Fire TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs

Cons

• Base packages have limited channels

• No unlimited DVR storage option

• Confusing packages and add-ons

• Channel lineups vary by region

Bottom Line: Sling is ideal for customizing a lineup on a budget.

For more personalized TV recommendations, see our Sling vs YouTube TV and Sling vs fuboTV comparison. Or check out how Sling compares to free services like Pluto TV.

#Philo Overview

Philo launched after Sling in 2017 as a low-cost streaming service focused exclusively on entertainment without sports and news. It keeps costs down but doesn’t have add-ons.

Price: $25/month Free Trial: 7 days Channels: 70+ Major Channels: MTV, Nickelodeon, Discovery, BET, Hallmark, AMC

For the single $25/month price, Philo offers:

• 70+ popular cable channels

• Unlimited cloud DVR storage

• 3 simultaneous streams

Pros

• Incredibly low monthly price

• 70+ cable channels in base package

• Unlimited DVR storage included

• Works with most streaming devices

Cons

• No sports, news or local channels

• Can’t customize channel lineup

• Smaller channel lineup than competitors

• Lacks support for some devices like Vizio smart TVs

Bottom Line: Philo is the best deal for entertainment-focused TV streamers on a strict budget.

#How Do Sling TV and Philo Compare on Features?

#Which Service Has Better Channel Lineups?

When it comes to channel selection, Philo has a superior all-around entertainment package while Sling splits content across its confusing Orange and Blue packages.

Philo has 14 of the top 20 cable channels viewers want based on a TiVo survey, including Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, and MTV. Sling Blue has 12 of the top 20, while Orange only has 5. So Sling Orange + Blue offers greater channel selection overall, but it comes at a significantly higher $55/month price.

Philo also provides a ton more entertainment and lifestyle channels compared to Sling Orange. Philo subscribers can access channels like Hallmark Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, Cooking Channel, Discovery Family, BET Her, UpTV, and OWN.

Philo

However, Sling is far better for sports coverage, with major national sports networks like ESPN, NFL Network, FS1, MLB Network, NBA TV locked behind its Orange/Blue packages and add-ons. Philo completely lacks any sports coverage.

Sling TV

Sling also offers all the major national news channels (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC World News) while Philo has no news programming.

So in terms of channel selection, Sling is superior if you want sports, news and overall channel count. But with its singular focus on entertainment, Philo delivers fantastic lifestyle content that outshines Sling’s base packages.

#Which Service Is Better for Most Cord Cutters?

For entertainment-focused cord cutters on a very tight budget, Philo delivers the best bang for your buck. You get 70+ cable channels and unlimited DVR for only $25, which is an unmatched deal. While it lacks sports and news content, as an entertainment package Philo can’t be beaten for the price.

Sling TV makes more sense if you need some sports and news programming in your lineup, albeit at a much higher starting price. Sling Blue with its base 42 channels plus some add-ons provides a nicely customized cable alternative. Though managing Sling’s packages and add-ons requires more work from the viewer compared to Philo’s simpler approach.

In the end choosing between Philo and Sling comes down to a budget versus customization decision:

Philo is best if you…

• Want to minimize monthly streaming TV costs

• Don’t need sports or news channels

• Prefer an easy, straightforward channel package

Sling is superior if…

• You want some sports/news programming

• Customization with add-ons appeals to you

• Channel count/variety trumps cost

#Bottom Line

Philo wins on price and simplicity at $25/month with 70+ channels and unlimited DVR. Sling TV wins on flexibility and content variety with sports, news, and customizable add-on packs starting at $40/month. Pick Philo if entertainment is all you watch. Go with Sling if you can’t live without ESPN or CNN.

#FAQ

#Is Philo or Sling TV cheaper?

Philo is significantly cheaper at $25/month for its single plan. Sling TV starts at $40/month for Sling Orange, $45 for Sling Blue, and $60 for the combined Orange + Blue package. Once you add Sling’s extra channel packs, the monthly cost can climb past $70.

#Does Philo have any sports channels?

No. Philo focuses entirely on entertainment and lifestyle programming, so it carries zero sports channels. If you need live sports, Sling TV includes ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network in its base packages, with additional sports channels available through the Sports Extra add-on.

#Can you get local channels on Sling TV or Philo?

Neither service is strong for local channels. Philo doesn’t offer any local broadcasts at all. Sling TV has limited local channel availability depending on your market, and you may need an over-the-air antenna to supplement either service.

#How much DVR storage does each service include?

Philo includes unlimited cloud DVR storage with every subscription at no extra charge. Sling TV includes only 10 hours of cloud DVR in its base plans, and there is no option to purchase additional DVR storage through Sling directly.

#What devices work with Sling TV and Philo?

Both services support Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android. Sling TV has broader device support that also includes Xbox, Samsung smart TVs, and LG smart TVs. Philo’s smart TV support is limited to Android TV OS models, so owners of Samsung or LG TVs would need a separate streaming device for Philo.

#Can you watch Sling TV and Philo at the same time on multiple screens?

Both services allow 3 simultaneous streams per account. One difference is that Sling Orange limits you to 1 stream, while Sling Blue allows 3. The combined Orange + Blue plan supports up to 4 simultaneous streams.

#Is Sling TV worth the extra cost over Philo?

That depends on your viewing habits. Sling TV is worth paying more if you regularly watch live sports, follow cable news, or want to build a custom channel lineup with add-ons. If you mostly watch entertainment channels like Hallmark, MTV, and Discovery, Philo gives you more of those channels for roughly half the price.