Best Underrated Streaming Services, From AppleTV+ to Kanopy

Netflix (Hulu), Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ are some of the most well-known streaming services. They’re like the modern-day equivalent of basic cable channels—they reach the biggest audience and have the most-watched shows. But just like basic cable channels don’t always have the best shows, the best streaming content isn’t necessarily on these platforms.
A few streaming services are often overlooked because of the sheer amount of content that they provide. You may not be familiar with the names of these platforms, but you’ll surely know some of the shows and movies they offer. It might surprise you how many times these hidden gems are more popular than platforms that have a better name.
Apple TV+
Apple might be a big name in tech, but it’s still building its credibility in the streaming wars. A lot of people have Apple TV+ and don’t even realize it, since Apple offers free access with the purchase of new Apple devices. Whether you have a free trial you can cash in or are willing to pay $4.99 per month to give this service a try, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by shows like Comedy Hit Ted LassoThe stunning psychological thriller Separation live up to the hype, but it’s Apple’s extended library of content including Best Picture winner CODAThis will keep you busy.
Criterion Channel
If you’re a cinephile, you’ve certainly heard of the Criterion Collection, an effort to preserve and highlight some of the most important films in history. The Criterion Channel is your opportunity to access all the company’s great work to keep the love of cinema alive. The library contains nearly 3,000 films from American cinema history and modern masterpieces. Plus, you’ll get curated recommendations from top filmmakers so you can see what inspires them. For $10.99/month, it’s a great option if you love the art of filmmaking and great movies.
Learn More The Best Original Shows on Disney+—And the Worst
CuriosityStream
Educational programming and documentaries are sometimes the best streaming options. Imagine a streaming service that has nothing else. CuriosityStream, a streaming service for lifelong learners. The $19.99 annual subscription allows you to access thousands of documentary-length videos and continuing series covering any topic of interest. With exclusives from big names including Stephen Hawking and David Attenborough, it’s packed with familiar voices sharing new experiences.
Shake
Do you love a good scare? You are looking for things to bump into in the night? Shudder is your go-to source for all things creepy crawly. This is a streaming service for folks who don’t shy away from the creepy crawlies. You can stream mainstream horror films on most streaming platforms, but Shudder prefers the deeper cuts. Shudder’s top-level curation will please horror-lovers. They have a variety of collections that are specific to each genre and can help you find new favourites. For under $6 per month, it’s a scary-good deal.
Kanopy
A canopy can be described as a big covering like a tent. It’s fitting, then, that Kanopy is the big tent of the streaming world. You will find more than 30,000 films in the library, as well as many pulls from different sources. You’ll find award winners from the Criterion Collection, classics from movie giant Paramount, documentaries from HBO, and much more. Kanopy comes completely free with a university or library email account. It’s hard to go wrong for that price, and Kanopy more than lives up to expectations.
Learn MoreThe Era of Unapologetic, Bad Taste is Here
Tubi TV
Ads make the world go ‘round. Tubi TV is also influenced by advertisements. However, you may be able to overlook the fact that Tubi TV will occasionally show you an advertisement due to the vast amount of quality content it offers in return. Tubi TV taps into the offerings a of number of major studios—including MGM, Paramount, and Lionsgate—to cobble together a library of more than 40,000 titles that you can watch for free. This includes timeless classics such as American History X, Roger Rabbit: Who is the Framer?, The fifth element,There are many others.
Mubi
Is it difficult to choose what you want to see? You wouldn’t be wrong, considering the vast amount of content that is available today. Mubi makes it much simpler. Mubi is built on a community made up of movie lovers. It provides content that sparks conversation. On top of an on-demand library, Mubi ($10.99/month) offers a “Film of the Day” option that pulls from the world of independent and international cinema. Once you’ve watched the selected flick, you can talk about it with Mubi’s extensive community. It’s like having Letterboxd built right into your streaming platform.
Learn More These are the 10 best TV shows of 2022 so far
Pluto TV
Hulu is one of the streaming sites that has been exploring live programming. It offers access to top cable TV channels and on-demand library. Pluto TV, a free alternative to this service is great. The platform isn’t quite live: it taps the library of popular networks such as MTV, Food Network, and Fox Sports to create streaming content that you can jump into any time. You’ll even get specific channels dedicated to the James BondFilms or Dr.. Just like when channel surfing, you can just jump in whenever you want. It’s what cable TV would be like if your favorite shows were always on.
Register to Get More of the Story, TIME’s weekly entertainment newsletter, to get the context you need for the pop culture you love.
Here are more must-read stories from TIME