Sling TV vs. Philo
Philo is the cheaper pick at $25 a month for entertainment channels and unlimited DVR. Sling TV costs $19.99 to $60.99 but is the one with ESPN, FOX News and CNN.
SlingBestGuide Score: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
PhiloBestGuide Score: 3.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.Quick verdict
These two services barely overlap, so the right pick depends on what you watch. Philo is the better value for entertainment and lifestyle viewers: $25 a month gets 70+ channels such as A&E, AMC, HGTV, Discovery and TLC, unlimited DVR kept for a year and three streams. Sling TV is the only one of the two with sports and news, with ESPN on Essentials and Orange, FOX News and NFL Network on Select and Blue, and CNN on every plan. Neither carries a full set of local stations, so an antenna helps with both.
On this page12 sections
Sling vs. Philo side by side
"Edge" marks the better option on that line for most people. Sling leads on 3, Philo on 4.
Ratings and complaint records
Our score and sub-scores from each company's review, with the facts both reviews list.
Price: which is cheaper?
At the entry level, Sling is actually cheaper on paper. Sling Essentials (ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel and about 10 more channels, one stream) and Sling Select (FOX News, FS1, NFL Network and more, three streams) each cost $19.99 a month. But those plans hold only 10 or so paid channels each.
Philo’s Essential plan costs a flat $25 a month for more than 70 channels, unlimited DVR and 75,000+ on-demand titles. Its Bundle+ plan costs $33 a month and adds HBO Max Basic with Ads, AMC+ and discovery+, which Philo says saves $22 a month against buying those apps separately.
Sling’s fuller plans cost more: Orange and Blue are $45.99 each and the pair costs from $60.99. Add $5 for unlimited DVR and the gap grows. Measured by channels for the money, Philo wins easily; measured by the cheapest way to get ESPN or FOX News, Sling wins because Philo does not carry them at all. Taxes apply to both, and Sling’s “from” prices can be higher in markets where local channels are included.
Channels: Orange and Blue vs Philo
The lineups are built for different viewers. Sling Orange has more than 30 channels, including ESPN, Disney Channel, TNT, TBS and CNN. Sling Blue has more than 40, including FOX News, FS1, NFL Network, USA, Bravo, FX, Discovery and TLC. CNN is on every Sling plan, and MSNOW is on Blue.
Philo lists more than 70 channels focused on entertainment and lifestyle. Its homepage names A&E, AMC, BET, Discovery Channel, HGTV, History, Lifetime, Nickelodeon and TLC, and its channel page also shows networks such as Comedy Central, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, MTV, Paramount Network and OWN. Philo does not carry ESPN, FOX News, CNN or other news and sports networks.
Overlap is limited to a few channels such as Discovery and TLC. If your viewing is reality shows, home and food programming, true crime and classic cable dramas, Philo covers more of it for less. If you watch games, cable news or NBCUniversal channels such as Bravo and USA, Sling is the one that has them.
Sports, news and local channels
Philo has no live sports channels and no local broadcast stations, so it is not a fit for anyone who follows a team or wants network news. To get ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC with Philo, you would add an over-the-air antenna, and games need a separate sports service.
Sling covers national sports and news at a low price. Orange has ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TBS, Blue has FS1 and NFL Network, and Sports Extra adds channels such as SEC Network, ACC Network or NFL RedZone, depending on the base plan. For news, CNN comes with every plan, and Blue adds FOX News and MSNOW.
Local channels are thin on both. Sling Blue and the Orange and Blue bundle include ABC, FOX and NBC only in select markets, Sling says Orange has no local channels, and CBS is not listed. An indoor antenna is the usual fix with either service. Note that Sling cannot record antenna channels on its cloud DVR.
DVR, streams and free trials
Philo is more generous on recording. Its paid plans include unlimited cloud DVR, and recordings are kept for up to one year. Philo allows three streams at once and up to 10 profiles on one account.
Sling includes 50 hours of cloud DVR on every plan, and Unlimited DVR, which also adds Replays, costs $5 a month. Streams depend on the plan: one on Essentials and Orange, three on Select and Blue, and up to four on a bundle.
Philo offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers. Sling does not offer a free trial; it points people to Sling Freestream, a free tier with more than 600 live channels that needs no credit card. Philo also has a free channels tier that needs no card. Both services are month to month. Sling bills in advance and says it gives no credits or refunds for partial months after you cancel, so plan to cancel shortly before your renewal date.
Can you combine Sling and Philo?
Yes, and because the lineups barely overlap, the two can work as a pair. Sling Essentials ($19.99, for ESPN) plus Philo ($25) comes to $44.99 a month before taxes, which is a little less than Sling Orange alone and covers ESPN, Disney Channel and Philo’s 70+ entertainment channels with unlimited Philo DVR. Swap Essentials for Sling Select ($19.99) if FOX News and NFL Network matter more than ESPN.
That pairing still leaves out most local channels, CBS and regional sports networks, so an antenna or a bigger service is still needed for local teams and many NFL games. If you want everything in one app, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV cover locals and sports but cost several times as much as Philo.
Remember that the Essentials plan streams on only one screen at a time. If two people want ESPN at once, Sling Orange and Blue or another service would be the better route.
Pros and cons
Sling
Pros
- ESPN or FOX News live from $19.99 a month
- No contract; pay month to month
- Pick and add only the channel groups you want
- Free Freestream tier with 600+ channels
Cons
- Local ABC, FOX and NBC only in select markets
- ESPN plans (Essentials and Orange) allow only 1 stream
- Only 50 hours of DVR unless you pay $5 more
- No refunds for partial months
Philo
Pros
- $25 a month for 70+ entertainment channels
- Unlimited DVR on paid plans, with recordings kept for a year
- Bundle+ adds HBO Max Basic with Ads, AMC+ and discovery+ for $8 more
- 7-day free trial and a free channel tier with no credit card
Cons
- No live sports, local broadcast channels or major cable news
- Trustpilot score of 1.5 out of 5, mostly one-star reviews
- No refunds for the current billing period after you cancel
- Only 3 streams at once
Also consider
-
YouTube TV 4.3 Households replacing cable that want local networks, unlimited DVR and NFL Sunday Ticket in one app. -
Hulu 4.2 Households that already pay for Disney+, Hulu or ESPN and want live local and cable channels on the same bill. -
DirecTV 4.0 Sports fans who need their regional sports network for local games and are willing to pay a cable-like price for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Philo cheaper than Sling TV?
For a full lineup, yes. Philo costs $25 a month for 70+ channels with unlimited DVR, while Sling Orange or Blue costs $45.99. Sling's Essentials and Select plans start lower at $19.99 but include about 10 paid channels each.
Does Philo have ESPN or sports?
No. Philo carries no live sports channels. Sling has ESPN on Essentials and Orange, and FS1 and NFL Network on Select and Blue.
Does Philo have local channels?
No. Philo does not carry ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC. Sling includes ABC, FOX and NBC on Blue in select markets only.
Does Philo have CNN or FOX News?
No. Sling carries CNN on every plan and FOX News on Select and Blue.
Which has the better DVR, Sling or Philo?
Philo. It includes unlimited DVR and keeps recordings for up to a year. Sling includes 50 hours and charges $5 a month for unlimited.
Does Sling TV or Philo have a free trial?
Philo offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers. Sling has no free trial but offers Sling Freestream, a free tier with 600+ channels.
How many screens can I watch at once?
Philo allows three streams. Sling allows one on Essentials and Orange, three on Select and Blue, and up to four on a bundle.
Which has AMC and HGTV?
Philo includes AMC, HGTV, A&E, History, Lifetime and TLC in its $25 plan. Sling's Orange and Blue pages do not list AMC or HGTV in the base lineups.
Sources (6)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Sling TV, Compare plans (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Sling TV, Sling Orange (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Sling TV, Sling Blue (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Philo, Plans and features (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Philo, Channel lineup (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Sling TV, Freestream (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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