Cord cutters who are looking to stream their favorite channels but are on a budget should check out Philo and Frndly. Both are budget-friendly options that carry a lot of bang for you buck. Both are subscription based which means you do not have to sign a contract to watch your favorite movies and shows on live channels.
Below is a breakdown of each service to help you determine which fits your needs the best.
What Device Do I Need to Watch?
First, you need to make sure you have the correct device before you begin streaming your favorite shows and movies on Philo and Frndly. All you need is an internet connection and any of the following compatible devices:
Channel Lineup
Philo lineup includes over 70 live channels, while Frndly‘s subscribers can watch over 40 channels live and on-demand (channel listings are subject to change).
| Channels | Philo | Frndly |
| A&E | ✓ | ✓ |
| AccuWeather Network | ✓ | |
| AMC | ✓ | |
| American Heroes Channel | ✓ | |
| Animal Planet | ✓ | |
| aspireTV | ✓ | |
| AXS TV | ✓ | |
| BabyFirst | ✓ | |
| BBC America | ✓ | |
| BBC World News | ✓ | |
| BET | ✓ | |
| BET Her | ✓ | |
| BYUtv | ✓ | |
| Circle | ✓ | |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| CLEO TV | ✓ | |
| CMT | ✓ | |
| Comedy Central | ✓ | |
| Cooking Channel | ✓ | |
| Cowboy Way Channel | ✓ | |
| Crime + Investigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Curiosity Channel | ✓ | |
| Decades | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deck the Hallmark | ✓ | |
| Destination America | ✓ | |
| Discovery Channel | ✓ | |
| Discovery Family | ✓ | |
| Discovery Life | ✓ | |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| Dove Channel | ✓ | |
| Dove Family Movies | ✓ | |
| Dove Kids | ✓ | |
| FETV | ✓ | ✓ |
| FMC | ✓ | |
| Food Network | ✓ | |
| FYI | ✓ | |
| Game Show Network | ✓ | |
| getTV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Great American Family | ✓ | ✓ |
| Great American Living | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grit | ✓ | |
| GSN | ✓ | |
| Hallmark Channel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Drama | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | ✓ | ✓ |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| Heartland TV | ✓ | |
| Heroes & Icons | ✓ | ✓ |
| HGTV | ✓ | |
| History | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ion | ✓ | |
| Ion Mystery | ✓ | |
| IFC | ✓ | |
| INSP | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investigation Discovery | ✓ | |
| Law&Crime | ✓ | |
| Lifetime | ✓ | ✓ |
| LMN | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local Now | ✓ | |
| Logo | ✓ | |
| Magnolia Network | ✓ | |
| MeTV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| Military History | ✓ | |
| Motor Trend | ✓ | |
| Movies | ✓ | |
| MTV | ✓ | |
| MTV Classic | ✓ | |
| MTV Live | ✓ | |
| MTV2 | ✓ | |
| Nick Jr. | ✓ | |
| Nickelodeon | ✓ | |
| Nicktoons | ✓ | |
| Oprah Winfrey Network | ✓ | |
| Outdoor Channel | ✓ | |
| Paramount Network | ✓ | |
| Pixel | ✓ | |
| Pop TV | ✓ | |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| QVC | ✓ | |
| Recipe.TV | ✓ | |
| REVOLT | ✓ | |
| Science Channel | ✓ | |
| Smithsonian Channel | ✓ | |
| Sportsman | ✓ | |
| Start TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Story Television | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sundance TV | ✓ | |
| Tastemade | ✓ | |
| TeenNick | ✓ | |
| TLC | ✓ | |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| Travel Channel | ✓ | |
| TV Land | ✓ | |
| TV One | ✓ | |
| UPtv | ✓ | ✓ |
| VH1 | ✓ | |
| Vice | ✓ | |
| WE tv | ✓ | |
| FMC* | ✓* | |
| HDNet Movies* | ✓* | |
| REELZ* | ✓* | |
| Philo | Frndly | |
| Sony Movies* | ✓* | |
| MGM+* | ✓* | |
| MGM+ Hits* | ✓* | |
| MGM+ Marquee* | ✓* | |
| STARZ* | ✓* | |
| STARZ Encore* | ✓* | |
| STARZ Kids & Family* | ✓* |
*Channels are add-ons
Plans, Pricing, Add-Ons & Features
Philo
Philo offers subscribers 70+ live channels for the low price of $25 per month. Popular channels include A&E, AMC, BET, Food Network, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, VH1, and more.
You can stream on up to three devices at the same time and users can create up to 10 profiles per account. Plus, record your favorite shows with unlimited DVR and save them for a year.
Although the streamer only has one plan, if you’re interested in adding on more channels, you have a few different options and they each come with a 7-day free trial:
- MGM+: For an additional $6 per month, the MGM+ add-on features thousands of the latest hits, fan favorites, original series, documentaries, and comedy specials – all commercial-free streaming on MGM+, MGM+ Marquee, and MGM+ Hits.
- STARZ: The STARZ add-on gives you access to today’s hits, classic movies, and bold original series – all commercial-free on STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, and STARZ Kids & Family for $9 more per month.
- Movie & More: At an additional $3 per month, the Movies & More add-on is the lowest-priced option and it features award-winning films, cult classics, celebrity stories, documentaries, and more on HDNet Movies, REELZ, Sony Movies, and FMC.
Try Philo for free for one week
Frndly
Frndly offers 40+ channels live and on-demand for $6.99 per month. Plus, subscribers can try it out for for the first days and watch popular channels including A&E, Hallmark, Lifetime, Vice, and more. The service has a loopback feature that allows users to rewatch shows 72 hours after the initial airing.
Unlike Philo, Frndly does not offer any add-ons but subscribers can choose from three different plans that offer all 40+ channels.
- Basic: Frndly’s starter package includes 40+ channels live and on-demand, SD video quality, and users can watch one screen at a time for $6.99 per month.
- Classic: For $8.99 per month, subscribers can watch all the channels Frndly has to offer in HD video quality. Plus, the plan includes unlimited DVR recordings that you can keep for 3 months and you can watch 2 screens at a time.
- Premium: The Premium plan unlocks everything that Frndly has to offer. For 10.99 per month, subscribers can watch all 40+ channels in HD video quality with unlimited DVR recording that you can keep for 9 months. Plus, you can watch on 4 screens at a time.
Try Frndly for free for one-week
Which Service Should You Pick?
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly streaming options then Philo and Frndly are two of the best services on the market. If you’re looking to spend less than $20 per month and still have the ability to watch live channels then Frndly is a friend to your budget. However, if you’re looking to spend a little bit more and watch more channels then Philo is a perfect choice. Depending on your needs and your viewing habits, you cannot go wrong with either!