Is the Philo Free Trial Really Free?

✦ Edited and fact-checked by Mia Carter, our Contributing Writer with over 27 years covering tech and mobile apps.

Free for now, but not forever

Philo’s free trial is real, but it comes with fine print worth reading before you sign up. The Essential plan is free for seven days, and the clock starts ticking once you activate the trial.

Skip the cancellation date, and you’re automatically billed for a full month. That’s not a trick unique to Philo; it’s how nearly every streaming free trial works.

This guide breaks down exactly what the Philo free trial includes, how to sign up, how to cancel before you’re charged, and how it stacks up against other live TV streaming trials.

What does the Philo free trial include?

Philo’s 7-day free trial applies to its Essential plan, the service’s $25-a-month tier. During the trial, you get access to Philo’s full Essential channel lineup, including more than 70 live pay TV channels such as AMC, BET, Hallmark, Lifetime, MTV, and Nickelodeon, plus 100+ free ad-supported streaming channels and more than 75,000 on-demand titles.

You’ll also get unlimited cloud DVR, with recordings saved for up to a year. After the seven days, Essential renews at $25 a month plus tax when billed directly through Philo unless you cancel before the trial expires. Pricing may vary through third-party billers.

One important restriction: Philo’s $33-a-month Bundle+ plan does not include a free trial (Philo’s official plan announcement). Bundle+ includes everything in Essential plus the AMC+ library, HBO Max Basic with Ads, discovery+, All Reality, and additional on-demand content. If you want to test Philo’s paid service for free, Essential is the option that currently includes the trial.

The trial is limited to new Philo customers and can be used only once per household. If you’ve previously subscribed to Philo or already used a Philo free trial, you aren’t eligible for another one.

How do I sign up for the Philo free trial?

You can sign up for Philo’s Essential plan through Philo.com or a supported device. The exact steps vary slightly by platform.

1. Go to Philo.com and select the Essential plan.
2. Enter your email address and accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
3. Enter the verification code Philo sends to your email address.
4. Enter your payment information and accept the Terms of Service.
5. Click “Subscribe” to start your 7-day free trial.

If you sign up through a supported streaming device or third-party billing platform, the steps may differ slightly. Follow the signup and billing terms shown on your device before confirming your subscription.

How do I cancel my Philo free trial?

If you’re billed directly by Philo, you can cancel from your account settings without making a phone call.

1. Sign in at Philo.com.
2. Click your profile avatar and select “Account.”
3. Click “Cancel my subscription.”
4. Click “Continue to cancellation,” then select a reason for canceling.
5. Click “Complete cancellation” to confirm.

To avoid being charged, cancel before your free trial expires. If you’re billed through a third party such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Roku, Samsung, or Vizio, follow Philo’s instructions for that specific biller because the cancellation process and deadline can differ. Philo notes that some third-party billers require cancellation at least 24 hours before renewal or by another deadline set by the biller.

What other live TV streaming services have free trials?

Philo isn’t the only live TV streamer letting you test before you subscribe. Trial availability and length can change by plan, promotion, and customer eligibility, so confirm the offer shown at checkout.

Data effective as of post date.

Philo Free Trial FAQ

CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.