DIRECTV vs Philo: Every Plan Compared
By The Spool Editors · Published June 16, 2026 · Updated June 16, 2026
DIRECTV and Philo barely belong in the same comparison, and that is exactly why it is useful. Philo is the cheap, sports-free entertainment option; DIRECTV is the full cable replacement. Here is every plan, so you can see which side of that line you are on.
At a Glance
| DIRECTV | Philo | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $25.00/mo |
| Most channels | 185+ | 70+ |
| Local channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Live sports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regional sports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Unlimited DVR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Streams at once | 20 | 3 |
| Full live TV (sports + locals) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
Which One Is Right for You
The Plans That Actually Compete
DIRECTV sells tiers and genre packs; Philo sells one base plan plus add-ons. Here is every plan on each side, with what it really costs.
DIRECTV
Philo
Price Breakdown & Hike History
DIRECTV starts at $59.99/mo and Philo at $25.00/mo, but the sticker price is the trap. With DIRECTV, the regional sports fee can add up to $19.99 on the Choice tier and up. With Philo, the base price is flat but extras stack on top.
DIRECTV: DIRECTV is raising its genre packs on June 25, 2026, with MyEntertainment going from $35 to $43 a month.
Philo: Philo rose from $20 to $25 in 2024 and added a $33 bundle tier in 2025.
Channel Lineups Head-to-Head
Philo runs one lineup of 70+ channels with locals and RSNs folded in where they exist. DIRECTV scales from a 90+ channel base up to 185+ on Premier, so the channel count depends entirely on which tier you buy. For most households the question isn't the raw number, it's whether your specific channels are in the plan, which is what the next section is for.
Your Local Channels & Your Team's RSN
This is where the decision usually gets made. Both services carry local stations in most markets, but coverage and regional sports vary city by city and team by team.
- Check exactly which service carries your city's ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox with our local channels guide.
- See whether your team's games are on a regional sports network, and who carries it, in our sports streaming guides.
The Features That Decide It
| Feature | DIRECTV | Philo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/mo | $25.00/mo |
| Free trial | 5 days | 7 days |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited Cloud DVR | Unlimited (kept 1 year) |
| Simultaneous streams | 20 at home, 3 on the go | 3 |
| Accounts / profiles | Multiple profiles | Up to 10 profiles |
| 4K | Limited 4K via Sports Pack add-on | No |
| Regional sports (RSNs) | Extra fee (up to $19.99) on Choice, Ultimate, Premier | None |
| Local channels | Included where available | None |
Add-Ons & Hidden Costs
DIRECTV add-ons: Max, Paramount+, STARZ, AMC+, Discovery+, Hallmark+, Peacock, NBA League Pass, DirecTV Sports Pack, and International packs. The big hidden cost is the RSN fee on Choice and up.
Philo add-ons: HBO Max, STARZ, MGM+, and Movie & lifestyle add-ons. The hidden cost here is that 4K, extra Spanish channels and more sports each cost extra on top of the base plan.
How to Try Each One Free
DIRECTV runs a 5 days free trial fairly consistently. Philo offers one 7 days. With either, the move is the same: start the trial, watch what you need, and cancel before the first charge. For one-off live events, that trial window is often all you need.
The Cheapest Way to Get What You Want
Work backward from your must-haves. If you only need entertainment and news, DIRECTV Entertainment at $59.99 undercuts everything. If you need regional sports, compare DIRECTV Choice plus its RSN fee against Philo's flat $25.00, and the gap narrows fast. If you want simple and done, Philo's single plan is the least to think about.
DIRECTV vs Philo FAQ
- Does Philo have sports?
- No. Philo carries no live sports and no ESPN-style channels at all. If you want any live sports, Philo is the wrong service and DIRECTV is the pick.
- Does Philo have local channels?
- No. Philo has no local ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. DIRECTV includes local channels in most markets, which is a major reason it costs more.
- Is Philo worth it over DIRECTV?
- If you only watch lifestyle, reality and entertainment channels, yes, easily, at $25 versus $59.99 and up. If you want sports or locals, it is not a real substitute.
- Do both have a free trial?
- Yes. Philo offers a 7-day free trial and DIRECTV a 5-day one.
DIRECTV vs Philo: The Verdict
These are not the same product. Philo is $25 for 70+ entertainment and lifestyle channels, with no sports and no local stations, built for people who want reality, lifestyle and classic TV cheaply. DIRECTV is a full live service with sports, news and locals from $59.99. If you do not care about live sports or local channels, Philo saves you a small fortune. The moment you do care, Philo simply cannot help, and DIRECTV is the pick.
Last updated: June 16, 2026