Exploring streaming services beyond what you already use can be difficult, especially when you don’t know where to start. There are options for everyone, and regardless of what you are looking for, you might be able to find a new go-to service once you try out these underrated gems.
1 Kanopy
When I stumbled upon Kanopy, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a free streaming service that you can access with a library card or your school credentials. It seemed too good to be true until I signed up and started scrolling through a well-organized library of narrative films, dramas, and documentaries.
Kanopy’s website is a dream for film students and enthusiasts. The interface is very Amazon Prime-esque, so navigating through the website feels very similar to browsing through any other mainstream streaming service.
Depending on how your library’s or school’s collection looks (this depends on any restrictions or budgets that have been set), you can get a lot out of Kanopy. The service offers films, educational videos, and documentaries neatly sorted by subjects. Every major gets something, whether you are a theater kid or a law student.
While your choices could be restricted by how many films your institution has opted to access, I find Kanopy a nerdy haven of high-quality films for a range of subjects. Apart from leisure, Kanopy’s offerings are also resourceful for academic research (with easy citation options). You can also share and embed film links easily. While I found the languages for closed captions limited, the transcripts are accurate and easy to follow.
You can download the free Kanopy app (with no ads) from the App Store, Google Play Store, Roku, FireTV, and Samsung TV.
Sure, some might argue that Kanopy is not completely free: you pay the cost through your library fees and tuition. But why waste the opportunity to access a free, comprehensive streaming service when money is already leaving your wallet?
2 Hoopla
This two-in-one free virtual library and streaming service is a hidden gem that can satisfy all your reading and streaming cravings. With Hoopla, you can borrow movies, shows, e-books, comics, audiobooks, and music for a set period, then download (and stream) your collection within the expiry date. Even after you return these, you can borrow your favorites again.
I was immediately hooked by the way Hoopla functions, despite my initial skepticism of something that does not look like your typical streaming service.
Like Kanopy, Hoopla’s collection is restricted to what your library has opted for but offers a lot for free. You can also use a “Kids” mode and start streaming your favorite movies and shows as soon as you borrow them. Although all media can only be downloaded onto mobile devices, Hoopla can be integrated with any streaming device and downloaded through the App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon App Store.
3 Curiosity Stream
This documentary streaming service made big promises: “If it’s out there, it’s in here.” After many failed pursuits to find a service that offers a decent collection of documentaries that I didn’t exhaust in one week, Curiosity Stream got my hopes (and curiosity) up with this promise.
With its catalog of documentaries running in the thousands, Curiosity Stream delivered on its promise. You can find a documentary for every niche, ultra-specific interest you want to learn more about.
Streaming is pretty high-quality, with a picture-in-picture option that I found handy when I needed to look up something the narrator was talking about.
Although I felt that there could be some work done towards better previews for shows and seasons in the home tab, Curiosity Stream is a very resourceful starting point for any documentary geeks looking to immerse themselves in a curated collection of high-quality content (which you can also download).
Curiosity Stream also gives you good device integration options and is available on your preferred web browser. The subscription is relatively inexpensive for what you get out of it ($4.99/month or $39.99/year), and you can even get a Smart Bundle ($9.99/month or $69.99/year). This bundle gives you access to four more services (Tastemade, Kidstream, Curiosity University, and SOMM TV) and the ability to stream on different devices simultaneously.
4 Acorn TV
If you are looking to expand your palette of shows from around the world at a relatively low cost, Acorn TV is a streaming service you need to check out. Featuring an impressive collection of British, other European, Australian, and Canadian shows, Acorn TV keeps you hooked with new weekly additions to its catalog of shows. The service also offers some interesting originals and exclusives.
Although it could use some work, such as a better recommendation system and the ability to download shows offline, Acorn TV is still an underrated gem for streaming.
You can watch these international and exclusive shows on a range of devices. If you are an Apple user, you can download Acorn TV from the App Store to Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and Android users can also download the app from the Google Play Store. Acorn TV is also available on Roku’s Channel Store, Amazon Fire TV, Xfinity, or your preferred web browser (although Google Chrome is recommended). If you are an Amazon Prime user, you can subscribe to Acorn TV through Amazon Prime.
You can subscribe to Acorn TV for $7.99/month or $79.99/year after a 7-day free trial.
5 Criterion Channel
One of the most exhaustive libraries of films I have come across belongs to Criterion Channel, which features a vast collection of contemporary, international cinema. Owned by the Criterion Collection, this streaming service offers you nearly 3,000 films to choose from, exclusive premieres, and even a Criterion 24/7 live stream that helps you pick your next favorite movie.
Taking a look at the film collection makes you realize that Criterion Channel is a blend of a comprehensive film archive and a well-organized, easy-to-use streaming service.
Criterion Channel’s search interface has been my favorite one so far. You can search for movies by country of origin, release year, director, and more. You can even add specific filters for genres (such as film noir, avant-garde, and samurai) and decades, which made me discover films I would not have come across on my own.
You can stream Criterion Channel on Fire TV, Android and Apple devices, Roku, Xbox One, and more devices. Your subscription options are $10.99/month and $99.99/year.
There are hundreds of streaming services out there that you could stumble upon, depending on the niche you are looking for. I find that specialized streaming services are always fun to use since you get to discover movies and shows that fit your interests like a glove.
