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Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu: Which Is Better For You?[2024]

Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu: Which Is Better For You?[2024]

Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu – It’s never easy to choose any one subscription from the world's 3 widely used and famous entertainment services.

Therefore, we have compared all the platforms: Philo, Discovery Plus and Hulu, to choose the best entertainment subscription pack for you.

Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu: Let's begin!

Philo

Philo is a live TV subscription service with a lot to give audiences, named after the inventor of the television, Philo Farnsworth. Philo offers a variety of live TV channels with gap between policy from entertainment and food programs to reality television and cartoons.

Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu

What Will I Do About Philo?

AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Cooking Channel, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, IFC, Lifetime, Logo, and the Travel Channel are among the 63 channels available from Philo. Cheddar Big News, Hallmark, OWN, PeopleTV, SCI, and Tastemade are among the other channels available. Newsy and Crime + Investigation are the most current additions. The Orange and Blue plans from Sling TV are the most similar.

It is worth noting that Philo's entire roster performs regardless of where you are in the United States; none are restricted by geography. In the other hand, unlike rival platforms like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, you would not be able to watch local channels.

How far does Philo set you back?

Philo only offers a single $20 monthly package. There were two tiers previously: one for $16 a month and the other for $20 per month. For $20 a month, you can view all 63 channels and use all of the service's services. The only networks with add-ons are Epix and Starz.

Epix, Epix HD, and Epix 2 are included with the Epix add-on, which costs $6 a month. The Starz add-on costs $9 a month and features Starz, Starz Encore, and Starz Kids & Family networks. Philo also provides a seven-day free trial and a referral service.

Locast, for example, is the cheapest live TV subscription service we have tested, costing just $5 a month. Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans each cost $30 a month, or $45 if purchased together. Monthly subscriptions to Hulu + Live TV and AT&T TV Now launch at $55. The monthly fee for FuboTV is $59.99. At $64.99 a month, YouTube TV has the highest starting price of any live TV subscription service currently available.

On-demand video streaming platforms are far less expensive. Apple TV+, for example, is just $4.99 a month, while Disney+ is $6.99 and Amazon Prime Video is $8.99. Netflix Standard (the cheapest option we recommend) and HBO Max are both more costly, at $12.99 and $14.99 a month, respectively.

Others, such as Pluto TV, mainly have pre-programmed programming that is shown on several outlets at the same time.

Compatible Devices: You can access Philo on your favorite streaming media player, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Web Browser, Mac, Fire Tablet, iOS, and Android.

Video Quality: Philo streams in high definition: On-demand in 1080p and Live TV in 720p. Note that quality will automatically adjust depending on your available bandwidth, thus, making sure you always have the best picture for streaming.

Unlike Discovery Plus and Hulu, Philo don’t offer any 4K content.

Pros:

  • Low-cost 63-channel lineup
  • Streaming efficiency that is consistent
  • Apps for mobile devices that is nice
  • DVR that is easy to use

Cons 

  • There is no local coverage.
  • There are no games and just a few news sources.
  • There are no parental controls available.
  • Ads appear in some saved and on-demand video.

Discovery Plus

Discovery Plus is the most recent subscription service to join the fray.

Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, HGTV, and Food Network all have shows on the website, which opened in the United States on January 4th. There are also hundreds of new Discovery Plus Originals available, as well as convenient 24/7 online services for iconic programs.

Discovery Plus plans start at $5 per month for ad-supported streaming and $7 per month for commercial-free streaming. A full year of service is also available for free to some Verizon subscribers.

philo vs discovery plus vs hulu

Content library

Discovery Plus is a content library that knows its niche, with a large library of shows aimed at lovers of reality TV, nature shows, food, true crime, and education. Fans of filmed dramas and comedies, on the other hand, would have to look elsewhere. Discovery Plus is solely a service for Discovery network enthusiasts, and its catalog has a lot of value in that regard.

The content is jam-packed with classic titles taken from all of Discovery's brands and networks, including “Dirty Jobs,” “The Crocodile Hunter,” “Mythbusters,” and “Unwrapped.” “Cocktails and Tall Tales,” “Luda Can not Cook,” and “Monster Garage” are among the latest Discovery Plus Originals.

The initial series, in fact, have innovative ideas, such as rapper Ludacris learning to prepare various dishes. The entire schedule offers a diverse range of high-quality shows focusing on the house, cooking, and culture.

We counted 91 “Discovery Plus Originals” that had whole episodes or previews signaling that they would be available shortly. However, not every original software was under the Discovery Plus Originals umbrella, as we discovered at least 12 under the Magnolia Network tab on the website (rebrand of DIY Network).

Price, schedules, and special offers

Discovery Plus is $5 per month for commercial-supported viewing and $7 per month for commercial-free download. Each package includes a seven-day free trial.

Verizon is now offering up to a 12-month free trial of Discovery Plus to a small group of consumers. The offer is valid for new Fios subscribers, new 5G broadband customers, and all unlimited phone service customers on the ad-free network.

Discovery Plus, unlike some other providers, only provides subscription plans, but there is no discount if you opt for a whole year in advance. However, the service does sell gift cards with its ad-free package for 12 months ($83.75) or six months ($41.75).

Compatible Devices: Discovery+ is available on most smartphones, tablets, desktop browsers, and most connected devices, including Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Amazon Fire Smart TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, Xfinity, and Roku.

Video Quality: Some of its content is available to stream in 4K resolution for 4K-enabled Amazon Fire TV devices, along with the 4K Apple TV set-top box.

Pros

  • For nonfiction lovers, there is a wide range of material available. 
  • TV is excellent for binge-watching 
  • Very inexpensive.
  • A large number of exclusive shows

Cons

  • The user interface is cumbersome.
  • There is no way to queue and download individual shows
  • There is no way to replay them offline.
  • HDR funding is not available.
Discovery Plus vs YouTube TV: Comparison [2022]
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Hulu

For good cause, Hulu is one of the most popular TV and movie streaming services. With a vast range of popular shows from networks like ABC, Fox, and NBC that you can stream right after they air, as well as a growing library of critically acclaimed original programming, it is the ideal counterpart and counterpoint to Netflix. If you have $6 a month to spare and are willing to trade a few advertisements for it, this is a good choice.

There is a lot of television (and movies too)

Hulu's Originals catalog is not as large as Netflix's or Amazon Prime's, with just about 140 titles mentioned at the time of publishing. It does, however, have critically acclaimed shows such as The Handmaid's Tale, PEN15, The Act, The Great, Normal People, and Ramy, as well as original films like Palm Springs. Fyre Fraud, Margaret Atwood: A Word After A Word After A Word Is Power, and Hillary are only a few of the high-profile documentaries created by the channel. Other networks' programs, such as The Mindy Project and Veronica Mars, were also picked up by Hulu.

Hulu's real asset is the thousands of TV programs, all of which are added the day after they air on networks like ABC, NBC, and Comedy Central on live television. (Though NBC launched its own streaming service, Peacock, last year, NBC shows are still available on Hulu for the time being.)

Although Hulu has most newer episodes of a show, it does not always have complete seasons — for example, ABC's Grey's Anatomy only has the latest season and none of the previous seasons available to stream. Some series, on the other hand, have both seasons and episodes available. Others, such as the BBC's Killing Eve, do release entire seasons after they have broadcast.

Hulu already has a large selection of movies. It also gets new releases that other streaming services don't, including Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Parasite, the 2020 Best Picture nominee.

Hulu vs HBO Max: Complete Comparison [2022]

Plans for Hulu pricing

Hulu now sells a $13 package that includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, effectively making ESPN Plus online. If you are a college student, you can get Hulu for only $2 per month, or for $5 a month if you package it with Spotify and Showtime.

Compatible Devices: You can access Hulu on supported devices. These including iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones and tablets, Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, LG TV, Samsung TV, Fire tablets, Xbox One, Vizio Smartcast TV, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xfinity Flex, and X1 set-top boxes.

Video Quality: You can stream Hulu content in numerous high-definition video qualities like 720p, 1080p, 4K Ultra HD and 60fps high-definition video qualities.

However, you need to keep in mind that quality will automatically adjust depending on your available bandwidth and makes sure that you always have the best picture quality to stream.

Watching Hulu’s Streaming Library: You can stream selected content in Standard Definition (1.5Mbps), High Definition 720 (3Mbps), High Definition 1080 (6Mbps) and 4K Ultra HD (16Mbps).

Watching Live TV:  If you are a Live TV subscriber, you can stream your favorite live TV broadcasts and Cloud DVR recordings in up to 720/60fps or 1080p/60fps on compatible devices.

Hulu With 4K Ultra HD: Hulu’s library of 4K Ultra HD supported content is continuously growing and mostly consist Hulu Originals. But you’ll require a compatible device to stream 4K Ultra HD programs.

Hulu with HDR: You can stream selected Hulu Originals in HDR, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision on select devices, such as Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube devices, Apple TV 4K, Roku, Vizio, and Chromecast Ultra.

Pros

  • The standard package is reasonably priced.
  • DVR backup in the cloud for 50 hours
  • Updates on New Episodes in a Hurry
  • Provides a wide range of TV programming from a number of channels.

Cons

  • Advertisement-supported (unless you pay extra to remove ads)
  • When you pay more, only two screens are used.
  • Add-ons that are prohibitively expensive
  • Various pricing systems and options are available.

Hulu vs Philo vs Discovery Plus Channels Line Up

Philo: Philo offers over 64 channels, including A&E, Animal Planet, MTV, MTV Classic, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, People TV, We tv, Vice, TV One, Comedy Central, BET, BET Her, aspire TV, AXS TV, American Heroes Channel, Food Network, Destination America, and more.

Discovery Plus: You can access a wide range of channels through Discovery Plus, this includes A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery, DIY Channel, Food Network, Destination America, Cooking Channel, History Channel, HGTV, Magnolia Network, ID, OWN, Planet Earth, Science Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, and Life Time.

Hulu Live TV: With Hulu Live TV+, you can access live local channels, entertainment & lifestyle channels, family & kids’ channels, movies channels, news channels, and sports channels.

There are so many add-ons such as add-on premium channels, sports add-on, entertainment add-on, Espanol add-on, Network add-on, and Feature add-ons.

This was all about Philo vs Discovery Plus vs Hulu. Chose wisely!

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