Foxtel vs Foxtel Now: What's the difference?

In this Foxtel vs Foxtel Now comparison review, we’ll delve into the differences between two services.

Delivering pay TV to Australians for the past few decades – and growing constantly over the years – Foxtel has the most comprehensive range of TV content available, across multiple genres.

With over 50 channels included as part of the base Foxtel Plus bundle, you’re already enjoying far more choice than regular broadcast TV – and adding extra channel packs like Sports HD and Movies HD can enhance that experience even more, right up to the Platinum Plus Bundle which includes everything Foxtel has to offer, including a Netflix subscription.

Foxtel Now, on the other hand, is Foxtel adapted to the streaming era, with both live Foxtel channels and on-demand content delivered via your broadband internet connection to your mobile device, computer or TV.

Simply put, Foxtel Now provides access to most of the channels and content that satellite Foxtel does, but without the need for installation or lock-in contracts – making it perfect for people who move around a lot, and those unable to get access to the satellite version of Foxtel.

What’s the difference between Foxtel and Foxtel Now?

Whether it’s Foxtel via satellite or Foxtel Now via broadband, once connected you’ll have access to a vast range of content that you simply can’t find anywhere else.

With channels covering everything from first-run drama to premium sports to blockbuster movies, there’s something for everyone amongst Foxtel’s diverse channel line-up.

What can I watch on Foxtel?

For the best entertainment experience, Foxtel offers a variety of bundles, starting with the Foxtel Plus bundle, giving you over 50 channels covering everything from drama, news, and music to special channels for the kids, with premium drama channels like Showcase and Foxtel One for shows like Outlander.

You can also continue watching popular HBO shows like The Last of Us, The Wire, Sex and the City, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Westworld, and more via the newly launched Max app in Australia, as well as newer releases The Day of the Jackal, The Listeners, and Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

Other bundles that can be added include Movies HD and Sports HD, letting you tailor your viewing to exactly what you want. The iQ4 or iQ5 set top box that’s central to the Foxtel experience also makes bundling Netflix possible with a full app on-board, which makes for a very well-rounded and appealing entertainment package.

What can I watch on Foxtel Now?

Foxtel Now, meanwhile, also comes with a base set of channels, with the Pop and Lifestyle packs forming the entry-level channel bundle called Starter, alongside a set of bonus channels – bringing the base line-up to over 30 channels in total.

Still, what’s on Foxtel is what’s on Foxtel Now as well since they mostly have the same library of content. It’s just the way the channels are accessed that makes two services different from each other.

For example, Foxtel’s Foxtel Plus bundle has over 50 channels of drama, lifestyle, docos, and more. Foxtel Now offers mostly the same channels but not everything in Foxtel Plus is available on Foxtel Now’s Starter pack.

Part of the base packs on Foxtel Now and also the Foxtel Plus bundle, the Showcase channel has exclusive rights to everything from Foxtel, giving TV fans access to much-acclaimed local shows like The Last Anniversary, Colin from Accounts, High Country, The Twelve, Mr. Inbetween, Wentworth, and many more.

All of it is available to stream on demand in high definition, too, alongside thousands of hours of other content that’s included in your subscription price. There’s even a dedicated channel for those who like to binge-watch shows – Box Sets runs entire seasons, 24 hours a day for classic sitcoms like Gavin & Stacey, The Office, The Middle, 30 Rock, and The Nanny, just to name a few.

What sport is on Foxtel?

Sports fans are well catered for by the range of 9 HD channels available through both Foxtel and Foxtel Now in their optional Sports HD channel packs, including comprehensive live coverage of sports from Australia (including AFL and NRL) and around the globe, 24 hours a day.

In addition to the multiple Fox Sports channels you can access to watch the all the hottest and latest sporting events this year, you’ve got access to the international resources of ESPN as well, so there’s plenty of sports to watch every week.

Channels available on Foxtel

Foxtel splits its channels into separate packs that can be added individually to the base 50+ channel Foxtel Plus bundle (which now includes Favourites, Kids, and the Multiscreen feature), which all subscribers get.

You can add Sports HD or Movies HD and bundle them with a standard Netflix plan, with costs for each pack varying depending on what’s included, comprising Foxtel’s entertainment packages. Each channel pack also unlocks access to its on-demand content, increasing the value hugely.

For both the Movies and Sports packs, access to high definition (HD) channels is now included, and subscribers to the Movies HD and Sports HD packs also get free access to Foxtel’s new 4K channels – Australia’s first broadcast 4K television channels.

Foxtel also gets first dibs on new blockbuster movies like Oppenheimer, Barbie, Anyone But You, Dune: Part Two, Longlegs, and many more.

Premium viewing with Platinum Plus bundle

If you want the whole lot, the Platinum Plus Bundle containing over 90 channels plus high definition and a Netflix subscription included is your best option. Do watch out for special offers, as free or reduced-price installation or the iQ5 set-top box are often offered as part of advertised bundles.

Channels available on Foxtel Now

With Foxtel Now, your first move when subscribing is to get the base Starter pack – which incorporates the “Pop” and “Lifestyle” packs – at $35/month. For more content, you can add Sports + Movies or get everything with the Ultimate (All Packs) bundle.

Price comparison: Foxtel vs Foxtel Now

When subscribing for a service, pricing is a major factor to consider and there’s a great deal of difference between Foxtel and Foxtel Now.

Foxtel pricing

Foxtel’s entertainment bundles begin with Foxtel Plus + Favourites at $73 per month. Foxtel Plus consists of 50+ channels of drama, comedy, reality, music, documentaries, news, and lifestyle. It’s now combined with the Favourites and Kids packs, which has 12 extra channels of crime, history, home, reality, and kids channels, as well as Multiscreen.

You can bundle with Movies HD for also $98/month, then Sports HD at $103/month, Sport + Movies for $128/month, and the Platinum Plus for $145/month, which includes a Netflix Standard plan. All these plans include a Max Basic with Ads subscription valued at $11.99/month (after the $7.99/month introductory price).

Foxtel Now pricing

Foxtel Now’s pricing starts at only $35 per month to gain access to 30+ channels of drama, reality, comedy, docos and more. If you want to get Foxtel Now bundles, you’re looking at the following monthly plan fees: Sports + Movies for $84/month or Ultimate (including Kids and Docos) for $104/month.

Free trials: Foxtel vs Foxtel Now

Note that you can change your subscribed packs or cancel your subscription anytime – there’s no setup fee or lock-in contract. There’s a free Foxtel Now 10-day trial for new subscribers which opens up full access to every channel pack so you can road test them all and see which ones you want to keep. Watching Foxtel on your streaming TV has never been more convenient.

Foxtel’s satellite service, meanwhile, doesn’t offer a free trial – but there’s regular discounts offered on their plans that are well worth keeping an eye out for.

How to access Foxtel and Foxtel Now?

The Foxtel pay TV service is available right across Australia, thanks to satellite technology that beams high definition and 4K channels to you no matter where you are (do note, though, that on-demand content on the Foxtel iQ5 box requires a broadband internet connection). Foxtel Now, meanwhile, is available anywhere you have a broadband connection plan.

Compatible devices

Both Foxtel and Foxtel Now are available across the usual compatible devices, offering downloadable apps for Apple and Android devices, while also being available on PCs, Macs, smart TVs and more. For streaming on the go, Foxtel Now is more widely available across several portable devices that include gaming consoles.

Devices you can watch Foxtel Now with

Foxtel Now launched its own custom-designed streaming box, Foxtel Now Box, and for those that choose to go with the Foxtel Now option it’s an easy way to get Foxtel onto your screen in HD via your broadband connection at a low cost.

The interface is based on the familiar iQ interface for ease of use, where the Foxtel Now app does a superb job of streaming live channels and on-demand content. Apps are now also available on recent-model LG, Sony and Samsung smart TVs.

To learn more about its features and streaming capacities, check out our Foxtel Now review.

You can also access Foxtel Now on your PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Sony, LG and Samsung smart TVs, iOS/Android phone or tablet and Google Chromecast, with content available in HD where possible. Meanwhile, the older version of the app, Foxtel Play, is still available on Xbox One, Playstation 3, and older Smart TVs.

Devices you can watch Foxtel with

Foxtel via satellite, meanwhile, requires the installation of a set-top box, with the iQ5 the latest update to the device that both receives and records your Foxtel channels, as well as serving as an on-demand streaming hub. The iQ5 is now a a plug and play device which can be connected via the internet or a satellite depending on your home’s setup.

The prior iQ4 box, on the other hand, can record up to 345 hours of entertainment in SD or 172 hours of HD, and a constantly updated electronic program guide (EPG) makes it easy to find and record your shows. Foxtel Now simulates much of this in its apps, but it’s just as simple to navigate and use. Foxtel’s catch-up service, Foxtel On Demand, is included with both.

The iQ4 also bundles a smart remote control which has recently been upgraded to have full voice search functionality – you can find something to watch just by pressing a button and asking for what you want. For example, you could instantly find everything available to stream that stars Sean Connery – and you can even search using famous movie quotes!

Moreover, the arrival of the iQ5 significantly transforms Foxtel into a dynamic streaming company.

Which one is best for you — Foxtel or Foxtel Now?

At the entry package level, Foxtel’s Pay TV service definitely provides more value for your money, especially with the newly included Max plan — provided of course, that the service is available in your area. Otherwise, you can just opt for Foxtel Now, although the streaming service doesn’t include HBO content.

If you like a broad range of channels to choose from, the Platinum Plus Bundle from Foxtel might be the best thing for you. Otherwise, if you’re not too particular about all the extra channels — or if either cable or satellite installation is not an option — then picking and choosing selected channel packs from Foxtel Now potentially works out to be more cost-effective.

Either way, you’ll be getting access to a huge world of TV entertainment and information that you simply cannot get anywhere else.

Other streaming services with free trials

There are also other streaming services that offer value in terms of content and pricing. We’ve listed the most popular ones in Australia, as well those that offer free trials for new customers.

Check them out below and start streaming shows and sports for free.

Compare other streaming services

If you want to explore more and find amazing streaming services available in Australia, here are some helpful comparison guides that you can use as references: