Foxtel Now vs Foxtel: What's the difference?

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 55 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. 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 55 channels covering everything from drama, news, and music to special channels for the kids, with premium drama channels like Fox Showcase (the home of HBO’s acclaimed shows) and Fox One (home of premium drama channel FX) included.

This means you can watch certified hit shows like The Wire, Sex and the City, Game of Thrones, Westworld, and Sons of Anarchy, as well as newer releases And Just Like That…, The Flight Attendant, Our Flag Means Death, and more.

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 Essentials, alongside a set of bonus channels – bringing the base line-up to 32 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, on the other hand, has some other drama channels separated in a channel pack called Drama Extra. These extra channel packs can be added to get access to live sports, a wide range of movies or premium drama.

Part of the base packs on Foxtel Now and also the Foxtel Plus bundle, the Fox Showcase channel has exclusive rights to everything from acclaimed network HBO – giving Australia access to much-acclaimed shows like Mare of Easttown, Lovecraft Country, The Outsider, Veep, Euphoria, Watchmen, The Undoing, Big Little Lies 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.

What sport is on Foxtel?

Sports fans are well catered for by the range of 12 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 and beIN 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 55-channel Foxtel Plus bundle, which all subscribers get. You can add Sports HD, Movies HD, Kids, Favourites and, of course, 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.

Premium viewing with Platinum Plus Bundle

If you want the whole lot, the Platinum Plus Bundle containing over 90 channels plus high definition, multiroom casting and a Netflix subscription included is your best option. Do watch out for special offers, as free or reduced-price installation or the iQ4 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 Essentials pack – which incorporates the “Pop” and “Lifestyle” packs – at $25/month. After that, you can add any of the premium packs — Drama Extra, Sport, Movies, Docos and Kids. While the packs bear similar names to those in the hardware Foxtel streaming services, not all the channels available on the iQ4 box have made the transition over to Foxtel Now. Stream Foxtel Now with the following:

Price comparison: Foxtel vs Foxtel Now vs Foxtel from Telstra

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 $69 per month. Foxtel Plus consists of 55 channels of drama, comedy, reality, music, documentaries, news, and lifestyle.

It’s now combined with the Favourites pack, which has 10 extra channels of crime, history, home and reality. You can bundle with Movies HD for also $69/month, then Sports HD at $74/month, Premium Bundle for $99/month, and the Platinum Plus for $120/month, which includes Multiscreen and a Netflix Standard plan.

Foxtel Now pricing

Foxtel Now’s pricing starts at only $25 per month to gain access to 32 channels of drama, reality, comedy, docos and more. To add premium drama channels like BBC First, Fox One, Universal, Fox Crime, BBC UKTV, Fox Sleuth, and Fox SciFi, you’ll need to pay for an additional $10 per month.

If you want to get Foxtel Now bundles, you’re looking at the following monthly plan fees: Essentials + Drama Extra at $35, Essentials + Sport at $54, Essentials + Movies at $45, and All Packs (including Kids and Docos) at 104 per month.

Foxtel from Telstra pricing

Another alternative to watch Foxtel is Foxtel from Telstra, which offers the exact Foxtel entertainment bundles but cheaper. The Foxtel Plus bundle is only $49 per month while Sports HD and Movies HD are only $50 per month.

Meanwhile, you get bigger discounts with the Premium bundle, which is only $70 per month via Telstra, as well as the Platinum Plus priced at only $99 per month. The reduced pricing applies for 12 months you’re connected to Foxtel from Telstra.

Free trials for Foxtel

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 deep discounts offered on their plans that are well worth keeping an eye out for. If you’re a Telstra customer, you can also subscribe to Foxtel Now via your Telstra account. The Foxtel Now from Telstra offer then gets you one month of free Foxtel Now streaming.

Last audited 11 November 2024

How to access Foxtel and Foxtel Now

Foxtel Pay TV 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 iQ4 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 at the end of 2017, 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 – something you’ll also find on the latest Telstra TV box, 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, Telstra TV, 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 iQ4 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 iQ4 is only available with satellite installations, which are now the default for all new Foxtel customers.

The iQ4 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. With the Foxtel iQ5, you can simply subscribe, get your iQ5 delivered, connect it to your Ethernet or Wi-fi network, sign in and be ready to go – no installation to worry about, no satellite dish on the roof or cables to be run through the walls. The idea is that you simply plug it in, and you’re all done.

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 — provided of course, that the service is available in your area. Otherwise, you can just opt for Foxtel Now.

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 TV shows for free.

Compare streaming TV services: Comparison guide

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: