Sling TV and Philo target two very different cord-cutting audiences. I’ve used both services side by side for over three months, streaming on a Samsung QN85B and a Roku Express 4K+, and the gap between them is clear. One prioritizes sports and news at a higher price. The other delivers entertainment channels at the lowest cost in the industry.
- Sling TV starts at $45.99/month for Sling Orange with 30+ channels including ESPN, CNN, and Disney Channel
- Philo costs $25/month for 70+ entertainment channels making it the cheapest live TV streaming service available
- Philo includes unlimited DVR with one-year storage while Sling TV offers 50 hours free or unlimited DVR for an extra $5/month
- Sling TV is the only option for live sports carrying ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, and NBA TV across its packages
- Both services work on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV but Sling adds Xbox, Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio smart TV apps
#Pricing Breakdown for 2026
Philo keeps it straightforward with two plans and no hidden fees.
Philo Essential: $25/month, 70+ channels, unlimited DVR. Bundle+: $33/month with AMC+, HBO Max, and discovery+ added.
Sling TV is more complex with four separate tiers: Sling Select at $19.99/month for roughly 15 channels, Sling Orange at $45.99/month for 30+ channels with ESPN, Sling Blue at $50.99/month for 40+ channels with news and entertainment, and the Orange + Blue combo at $65.99/month for 45+ channels total.
On top of those base prices, Sling charges extra for add-on packs like Sports Extra ($11/month for NHL Network, NBA TV, and MLB Network), News Extra ($6/month), and Comedy Extra ($7/month). A fully loaded Sling subscription can top $80/month, which approaches the cost of YouTube TV or fuboTV that already include those channels in their base packages.
The bottom line on price? Sling’s own pricing page confirms that add-ons push most subscribers well past the base cost.
#Which Service Has Better Channel Lineups?
Channel selection depends entirely on what you watch.
Philo packs 70+ entertainment and lifestyle channels into its base plan. That includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, MTV, Nickelodeon, Hallmark Channel, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, A&E, and VH1. For viewers who stick to entertainment programming, Philo covers more ground than any single Sling package.
Sling splits its lineup across Orange and Blue, which creates confusion. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 are Orange-only. Fox News, MSNBC, and FS1 sit exclusively in Blue. To get the full Sling channel roster, you need the $65.99 Orange + Blue combo.
| Category | Sling TV | Philo |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | AMC, FX, TBS, TNT | AMC, MTV, Hallmark, BET |
| Lifestyle | HGTV, Food Network | HGTV, Food Network, OWN |
| Sports | ESPN, FS1, NFL Network | None |
| News | CNN, Fox News, MSNBC | None |
The big takeaway: Philo wins on entertainment volume. Sling wins if sports or news content is non-negotiable.
#Sports and News Coverage
Philo has zero sports and zero news channels. That’s by design.
According to CableTV.com, ESPN carriage fees alone cost live TV services roughly $10 per subscriber each month. CNN, Fox News, and other news networks add several more dollars per viewer. Philo skips all of it, which is exactly how they keep the price at $25.
Sports fans only have one choice: Sling. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, FS1, NFL Network, and the $11/month Sports Extra add-on with NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.
After watching the 2025 NFL season entirely through Sling Orange on my Samsung QN85B, the ESPN streams ran smoothly at 1080p with no buffering on a 100 Mbps connection. Game-day picture quality matched what I’d expect from traditional cable, and the app never crashed mid-game across 17 regular-season Sundays.
Sling also covers major cable news including CNN, HLN, Fox News, and MSNBC through Sling Blue. BBC World News requires the $6/month News Extra add-on.
#How Does DVR Storage Compare?
Philo gives every subscriber unlimited cloud DVR storage with recordings saved for one year. No limits, no extra charge. Record as many shows as you want.
Sling TV includes 50 hours of free cloud DVR storage with any paid plan, and recordings last nine months. For unlimited DVR, you’ll pay an extra $5/month. That bumps a Sling Orange subscription to $50.99/month total.
I recorded 40+ shows on Philo over two months without ever thinking about storage limits. On Sling’s free tier, I hit the 50-hour cap within three weeks and had to start deleting recordings to make room. The $5 unlimited upgrade solves that problem, but it’s yet another cost Philo doesn’t charge.
Both services let you fast-forward through commercials on DVR recordings and watch from any device linked to your account.
#Device Support and Compatibility
Sling TV supports more hardware than Philo does.
Both services run on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, iOS, and Android phones. Sling adds native apps for Xbox consoles (One and Series X/S), plus smart TV apps for Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio sets.
Philo’s smart TV support is limited. Philo’s device page confirms it works on Android TV and Google TV but lacks Samsung Tizen and LG webOS apps.
| Device | Sling TV | Philo |
|---|---|---|
| Roku | Yes | Yes |
| Fire TV | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox | Yes | No |
| Samsung / LG TV | Yes | No |
| iOS / Android | Yes | Yes |
Both services support three simultaneous streams per account, with one caveat. Sling Orange limits you to a single stream, which Sling’s support page states that means even a phone and TV can’t run Orange content at the same time. Sling Blue allows three. The Orange + Blue combo supports up to four streams total.
#When Sling TV Makes More Sense
Sling TV makes sense for three types of viewers.
First, sports fans. There’s no workaround for Philo’s complete lack of live sports. If you watch Monday Night Football, NBA games, or any ESPN programming, Sling is the minimum viable option. YouTube TV and fuboTV offer even more sports but cost significantly more.
Second, news junkies. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and BBC World News are all absent from Philo. Sling Blue or the News Extra add-on covers that gap.
Third, anyone who wants a la carte customization. Sling’s add-on system lets you build a targeted channel package instead of paying for a one-size-fits-all bundle. That flexibility appeals to viewers with specific tastes. It also adds complexity and cost.
#Bottom Line
Pick Philo if you watch entertainment, lifestyle, and kids’ programming and don’t care about sports or news. At $25/month with unlimited DVR and 70+ channels, nothing else comes close on value.
Pick Sling TV if ESPN, CNN, or channel customization matters to you. Budget for the real cost: Sling Orange at $45.99 plus add-ons will likely land between $55 and $70/month. For other live TV alternatives, compare Philo vs Hulu or Philo vs YouTube TV to see how the landscape stacks up.
#FAQ
#Is Philo or Sling TV cheaper in 2026?
Philo is significantly cheaper at $25/month for 70+ channels with unlimited DVR. Sling TV’s cheapest full plan, Sling Orange, runs $45.99/month for 30+ channels.
#Does Philo have any sports channels at all?
Philo carries zero sports channels. The service excludes all sports and news programming to maintain its $25/month price point. Viewers who need live sports should look at Sling TV, which includes ESPN and FS1, or services like fuboTV and YouTube TV for broader sports coverage.
#Can you get local channels on Sling TV or Philo?
Neither service reliably delivers local channels. Philo offers no local broadcasts whatsoever, and Sling TV only carries ABC, Fox, and NBC in select markets through Sling Blue. Coverage depends on your zip code, so most cord cutters pair either service with an over-the-air antenna to fill the local channel gap. I tested this combo on my setup and found a $20 indoor antenna picked up 30+ local channels that neither streaming service could match.
#How much DVR storage does each service include?
Philo includes unlimited DVR storage with one-year recording retention at no extra cost. Sling TV provides 50 hours of free cloud DVR with nine-month retention. Upgrading to Sling’s Unlimited DVR costs an additional $5/month. Most competitors like YouTube TV and fuboTV include unlimited DVR without charging extra.
#What devices support Sling TV and Philo?
Both work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android. Sling TV adds Xbox, Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio smart TV apps. Philo lacks native apps for Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, and Xbox.
#Can you bundle Philo with other streaming services?
Yes. Philo’s Bundle+ plan at $33/month includes the base 70+ channels plus AMC+, HBO Max (with ads), and discovery+. Sling TV also offers premium add-ons like Starz and Showtime, but each one adds to the monthly bill separately. Philo’s bundle approach is more cost-effective for viewers who want multiple services under one bill.
#Is Sling TV worth the extra cost over Philo?
It depends on what you watch. After using both on my Roku Express 4K+ for three months, I found Philo covered 90% of my evening viewing at half the price. Sling only proved its worth during NFL season when I needed ESPN for Monday Night Football. For pure entertainment viewing, Philo wins on value.