Frndly TV – 2024 Streaming Review

Aside from free streaming services, Frndly TV is the cheapest live TV streaming service you can get. It focuses on delivering wholesome, family-oriented live and on-demand content at an incredibly affordable price.

Frndly TV – Company Overview

Based in Denver, CO, Frndly TV was started by former Dish Network executives who saw a demand for cheap, quality family programming in the U.S. Frndly TV’s CEO is Bassil El-Khatib, who spent 12 years working in the industry, first at Dish Network, then at Sling TV.

Pros

• Unique programming from popular networks
• Budget-friendly pricing
• Every plan includes all channels
• Annual and monthly plans available

Cons

• No major news networks, local channels, or live sports
• Basic plan does not include DVR storage or simultaneous screens
• Does not have many personalization features

Highlights

Monthly Price Range: $6.99-$11.99
User Profiles: No
Number of Screens: 1-4
Highest Playback Resolution: 720p (HD)
Free Trial Period: 7-days

When it launched in October 2019, Frndly TV had just 12 live channels. Over the next few years, it grew to add more networks. Today, the family-friendly streaming service has 50 channels. It also offers on-demand movies and TV shows.

In December 2022, Frndly TV's subscriber count surpassed the 700,000 mark.

Why We Like Frndly TV

With plans starting at just $6.99 per month, Frndly TV offers over 40 live channels and a solid selection of on-demand content.

Frndly TV's channel line-up includes many networks that you may not find elsewhere, like all three Hallmark Channels, plus the Dove Channel, Game Show Network, and BabyFirst. The roster also includes more popular channels like A&E, History, Lifetime, VICE, and The Weather Channel.

What you won't find on Frndly TV are any major broadcasting networks, such as NBC or ABC, or live sports channels. There are also no local network channels.

Unlike many other streaming services that force you to pay more for additional channels, each Frndly TV plan gives you full access to all available networks. However, the lowest-tier plan is missing useful features like Cloud DVR storage and the ability to stream on multiple devices simultaneously.

While Frndly TV does not have many personalization options like user profiles, all plans do come with a handy 72-hour “look back” feature that lets you watch programs that aired as far back as 72 hours ago.

It's also nice that Frndly TV lets you choose between monthly and annual plans. While the annual plans are cheaper, some people may just want to use Frndly as a seasonal subscription. For example, if you like to watch movies from the Hallmark Channel during the Christmas season, you can purchase Frndly in November, then cancel in January.

Frndly TV Streaming – How It Works

Frndly TV works by charging you a monthly or yearly fee for access to all of its live channels and on-demand library of movies and TV shows.

All plans also give you the option to add Hallmark Movies Now for an additional subscription fee of $5.99 per month. This add-on lets you watch a variety of Hallmark movies and TV series on-demand, commercial-free. Some exclusive content is also included.

Plans and Pricing

There are 3 plan tiers to choose from. All Frndly TV plans give you access to the same 50 family-friendly networks and include a 7-day free trial.

Basic – $6.99-$7.99

Frndly's cheapest plan costs $6.99 billed annually or $7.99 billed monthly. It includes SD streaming on 1 screen. This plan does not have Cloud DVR recording.

Classic – $7.99-$9.99

For just $1-2 more than Frndly's starter plan, the Classic plan gives you unlimited Cloud DVR, which is stored for up to 3 months. You also get streaming in HD resolution (720p) and the ability to stream on up to 2 devices at once. This plan costs $7.99 billed annually or $9.99 billed monthly.

Premium – $9.99-$11.99

Like the Classic plan, Premium includes HD streaming and Cloud DVR. But, instead of 3 months, DVR recordings can be stored for up to 9 months. The number of screens you can stream on at once is also upgraded from 2 devices to 4.

Billed annually, Frndly's Premium plan costs $9.99. Or, you can opt for a monthly subscription, priced at $11.99.

How DVR Recording Works

Frndly TV offers unlimited DVR storage with its Classic or Premium tier plans. You can store an unlimited amount of recordings, but these recordings expire after a certain amount of time, determined by which plan you choose.

If you select the Classic plan, DVR recordings are stored for 3 months before being deleted. The Premium plan allows you to store recordings for up to 9 months. The Basic plan doesn’t include DVR recording at all.

Channels/Categories

With Frndly TV, the exact same channel lineup is included with all 3 plans. Most content is family-friendly, with categories focused on feel-good entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle, classic TV, and faith-based programming.

Feel-Good Entertainment

One of Frndly TV's biggest selling points is that it offers all three Hallmark channels: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Family, and Hallmark Mystery. For true fans of the “Heartland” series, there's Heartland TV, which streams episodes 24/7. You can also watch films from the Lifetime Movie Network.

Lifestyle Channels

Frndly TV has a diverse variety of lifestyle channels on a constant stream, including the Outdoor Channel, Great American Living, FYI, Recipe.TV, Cowboy Way, and more.

History aficionados will enjoy watching the History Channel, Military History, and the Curiosity Channel. Meanwhile, true crime fans can get their fill with A&E, ION Mystery, and VICE.

Reality TV

Frndly TV offers plenty of reality and knowledge-based programming. One of the most popular channels is the Game Show Network, featuring round-the-clock game show reruns.

Classic TV

If you love classic television series like “I Love Lucy,” “Bewitched,” or “The Lone Ranger,” Frndly TV has you covered. You can watch iconic series and movies from channels like MeTV, FMC, FETV, Catchy Comedy, and getTV.

Faith-Based Networks

Frndly TV offers a nice selection of faith-based programming networks. With a Frndly TV subscription, you can watch inspiring content from Dove Channel, Dove Family Movies, Dove Kids, BYUtv, and more.

Here is a complete list of Frndly TV's channels:

How To Watch Frndly TV

To watch Frndly, you just need a reliable internet connection and streaming device, like a smart TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

You can download the Frndly TV app for Roku, Amazon, Google Play, and Apple. 

Frndly TV is compatible with the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android Phones and Tablets
• Android TV
• Apple iPhones and iPads
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Google TV
• Roku Smart TVs and Streaming Sticks
• Samsung Smart TV (2018 or newer)
• VIZIO Smart TVs (with Smartcast)

You can also watch Frndly TV straight from your browser by logging in to the website.

At this time, there is no built-in Frndly app available for LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire tablets, Kindles, or Windows phones.

How To Sign Up for Frndly TV

The best way to sign up for Frndly TV is by visiting the Frndly TV website. Click on the ‘Watch 7 Days Free' button. This will bring you to a page where you can select which plan you want to subscribe to, and whether you want to be billed monthly or annually.

Once you select your plan and billing preference, you will be prompted to create a Frndly TV account by entering your email and choosing a password. After this, enter your payment method to complete the signup process.

You can also sign up for Frndly TV from your Amazon Fire, Roku, or VIZIO smart TV.

How To Cancel Frndly TV

Unlike cable TV, you are free to cancel Frndly TV at any time. The method of cancellation will depend on how you signed up for Frndly TV.

If you signed up for Frndly TV from the website, then login to your account and visit your Frndly TV Settings page. From here, click on ‘Manage Base Plan.' Then, from the ‘What to watch before you leave' page, click ‘Continue to Cancel.'

Follow the on-screen instructions until the message ‘Your subscription renewal has been successfully canceled' appears. Click on ‘OK' to finalize the cancellation process. After this, you should receive a cancellation confirmation email. If you do not, this means the cancellation is not finished.

If you signed up for Frndly TV through a third party, like your Amazon, Roku, or Vizio smart TV, then you will need to cancel through that company instead.

Once you cancel your Frndly TV subscription, you will no longer be charged once your monthly or annual billing period is over. You can continue watching Frndly TV until your subscription runs out.

Is Frndly TV Worth It?

For most people, Frndly TV is not a replacement for cable TV. But, for many, it does make a great add-on to more mainstream streaming services, like Hulu, Netflix, or Disney Plus.

Overall, Frndly TV fulfills its commitment to deliver quality, family-friendly content at an impressively affordable price. You should consider getting it if you're looking to supplement another TV streaming subscription with hard-to-find content from smaller networks.

However, if you're looking for a streaming platform that lets you fully cut the cord, check out our other reviews of the best TV streaming services. Our guides can help you find the perfect match for your viewing habits and budget.