Frndly TV is a live TV streaming service that offers one of the lowest monthly subscription prices on the market in 2023.
And with access to family-friendly channels offered by content producers including Hallmark and A+E Networks, it could be a cost-saving option for people who are looking to cut the cord and leave cable behind.
In total, Frndly TV offers more than 40 live TV channels for as little as $6.99 per month. That price sounds great, but you’ll probably find it doesn’t serve as a full replacement for services that offer more of what cable TV does such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
In this article, Team Clark answers questions about a few important things you need to know before you decide whether Frndly TV is right for you.
Frndly TV offers three plans that cost between $6.99 and $10.99 per month. There are no long-term commitments, and you can cancel these plans without any penalty.
The three plans are Basic ($6.99), Classic ($8.99) and Premium ($10.99). Each of these has a seven-day free trial available to new customers, so you can test things out before you make a decision.
The channel lineup is the same for all plans, but there are differences in video quality, the number of simultaneous streams and cloud DVR capabilities.
If you enjoy streaming in high definition, you’ll need to pay for the Classic or Premium subscription, as the Basic package includes only a standard definition stream.
You’ll also need a Classic or Premium subscription if you want to be able to stream on multiple devices at the same time.
There are more than 40 channels included with Frndly TV, including Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama.
And in late 2021, Frndly TV reached an agreement with A+E Networks to add seven more popular channels, including Lifetime and The HISTORY Channel.
Here’s a look at the full channel lineup for all three of Frndly TV’s package options.
The list of channels available on Frndly TV has grown significantly since its 2019 launch, but the menu still leaves a lot to be desired for streamers seeking a full replacement for cable TV.
You’ll notice that live sports, news and local channels are absent from this list as are many major channels including TBS, TNT and USA Network.
If you’re looking for some improvements in this area, you may want to reference Team Clark’s live TV streaming channel tool to find the service that offers the channels you want for the lowest possible monthly price.
A service such as Philo can double the available channels at $25 per month, while YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream offer more robust channel packages at higher prices.
If you want cloud DVR capabilities with Frndly TV, you’re going to need more than just the Basic package.
The Classic and Premium packages both include cloud DVR at no additional cost. This functionality is in addition to viewing streams in high-definition, which is also not included with the Basic package.
You can record as many programs as you want at the same time with this cloud DVR. And since the storage is unlimited, you don’t have to worry about that filling up the memory space on your account. You’ll be able to fast forward and rewind on your DVR recordings.
The major difference between the cloud DVR functionality on the Classic and Premium plans is the duration of the storage.
Recordings are available for three months on the Classic plan, but an upgrade to Premium extends the life of your DVR recordings to nine months.
Frndly TV can be streamed on a smart TV, streaming media player, computer, tablet or wireless phone.
You’ll need high-speed internet to watch, and if you want to see it on your television you’ll need to add the Frndly TV app to your smart TV or streaming media player.
Popular devices that have the Frndly TV app available for download include:
You can also find the Frndly TV app in both the Apple App Store and pm Google Play for use on wireless phones and tablets. The streaming service also can be accessed via web browser on the official website.
Frndly recommends an internet speed connection of 5 Mbps for HD quality streaming and 1.5 Mbps for SD quality.
The value in Frndly TV as a discount live TV streaming service is in the eye of the beholder.
If you’re a fan of Hallmark and Lifetime programming, there is no better live TV streaming deal on the market for you. This is a great opportunity to get those families of channels on the cheap.
If you want to watch the big game on ESPN or get the latest news commentary on CNN or FOX News, you’re likely to find this streaming service rather useless even with the cheap price tag.
Frndly TV offers fewer channels than YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV, but the price is much better.
Perhaps the closest competitor is Philo, which offers a more expansive menu of channels with a similar approach for $25 per month.
And if you’re a fan of Christmas movies, Frndly TV a great option for scratching that itch with Hallmark. You can pay for a couple of months and then cancel your subscription (without any obligation) for the remainder of the year.
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