40 Best Niche Streaming Services Available Right Now

At a time when mainstream streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ stretch their coverage to the utmost limit, it's nice to know that there are plenty of alternative platforms out there that carefully curate movies and series for their small but dedicated fanbase. Whether that means streaming cult and horror titles (our picks are Shudder and Screambox), East Asian dramas (Viki and Asian Crush), independent cinema (Criterion and Mubi), or the oldest TV shows you can think of (Shout TV), a good non-conventional service knows its bounds well and treats content like the specialty that it is. Below, we list the best niche streaming services that are available right now, plus some other information (like price and device compatibility) you might want to know. 

Our recommended three best niche streaming services available right now:
Mubi $14.99 Watch
Crunchyroll $7.99 Watch
Criterion Channel $10.99 Watch

Dekkoo caters to the queer community and offers exclusively gay content. Their website claims to provide access to the largest selection of gay entertainment offered anywhere. Dekkoo has a 3-day free trial, then charges $9.99/month. If you’re craving more queer in your life and love gay films and TV series, then this service is for you. Dekkoo was launched in 2015 by Derek Curl and Brian Sokel.

Price: $9.99/month

Free Trial: 3 days

Device availability: Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Website, Xbox One

CuriosityStream is an American streaming service that focuses on documentary movies and shows and is available in more than 175 countries. In the US, pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for the basic plan, with an upgrade to the 4K Monthly plan available for $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. CuriosityStream can be accessed via web browser as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and has a mobile app that is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Price: $4.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Cultpix is a streaming subscription service made especially for genre fans. Not only does it cover the entire gamut of old, weird, and beloved cinema (it has everything from horror, sci-fi, erotica, martial arts, and fantasy from before the '90s), it also collects such titles from all around the world, giving it a unique global edge over the many other cult streaming services out there. Japanese Kaij, Danish erotica, Italian Westerns—you name it, Cultpix most likely has it. And just to prove its perverse sense of humor, a subscription to Cultpix costs $6.66/month.

Price: $6.66/month

Device availability: Airplay, Chromecast, Website

Classix is a treasure trove of vintage titles; from film noir and screwball comedies to westerns and cartoons, it's all here. The service is completely free of charge, a true haven for classic fans, but for a one-time, in-app charge of $7.99 (no renewal fee), users can get access to even more titles, including full seasons of shows like Bonanza and The Pink Panther. At the moment, the streaming service is only available on Apple devices via the App Store.

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Apple TV, iOS

Cineverse

Cineverse is a free streaming service that has both on-demand content and live channels, all of which feature a broad range of content. The new streaming service's mission is to offer as many titles as it can, so you won't find a lot of blockbusters or big studio productions here (unless they're available for rent on ROW8), but you will have access to a ton of vintage, international, and niche films and TV shows. Our personal favorites include Howard's End, Mustang, and The Little Shop of Horrors. Since the streaming service is free, you'll encounter a lot of ads, but you can always subscribe to Cineverse's premium version, which costs $2.99/month, to get rid of the commercials and access to even more content.

Price: free for 24 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Comecast Xfinity, Google TV, iOS, LG, Roku, Tizen Samsung, Vizio, Website

Channel lineup: Asian Crush, AsianCrush, Bloody Disgusting, CONtv, CONtv Anime, Crime Hunters, Docurama, El Ray Network, Fandor, GustoTV, Lodestar, Maverick Black Cinema, Midnight Pulp, Retro Crush, RetroCrush, Row8, Screambox, So…Dramatic, So…Real, The Bob Ross Channel, The Country Channel, The Dove Channel, The Elvis Presley Channel, The Film Detective

If you have a taste for Black-oriented films, particularly those made in the late 20th century featuring funky settings and action sequences, then Brown Sugar just might be for you. The streaming subscription service mainly curates titles from the so-called Blaxploitation era, while also offering newer content such as a documentary about Beyoncé and a movie starring Denzel Washington. It has a wide array of titles thoughtfully dedicated to those who appreciate this kind of content, and at only $3.99 a month, it's a niche service seriously worth considering. 

Price: $3.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Website

BroadwayHD is a streaming service that offers users the ability to watch live and recorded theater productions from the comfort of their own homes. The company was founded in 2015 by Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, two Tony Award-winning producers, and is headquartered in New York City. It has a vast on-demand catalog of productions that includes favorites like Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods, and more. Broadway HD is also available as an Amazon Prime add-on, which you can try free for 7 days (and subscribe for cheaper too).

Price: $19.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Website

Britbox is a streaming service born out of an alliance between two British broadcasters: BBC and iTV. If you like British humour, British detective shows, or anything British TV, it's the place for you. You won't be the only one, by October 2020, the platform had 1.5 million subscribers, a number that's growing.

Price: $8.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV

Asiancrush is a streaming service that brings plenty of Asian content, especially Korean, Japanese, and Thai content, to Western audiences. The lineup is pretty extensive, ranging from popular movies and beloved dramas to classics and indies (our favorites include Burning, House of Hummingbird, and All About Lily Chou-chou). They also have exclusive collections composed of shows, shorts, and K-pop showcases you won't find anywhere else on this side of the Globe. Asiancrush is mostly free, and therefore ad-supported, but users can opt for a paid monthly plan that costs $4.99 for no ads and more content. Notably, the service also has a live TV section, but as of this writing, it only hosts two channels: an Asiancrush live feed and Retrocrush.

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio, Website

Arrow is a streaming service for cult cinema, with a particular focus on horror and classics. If you love niche films and hidden gems, then this is for you. You'll also appreciate Arrow Player if you're into hand-picked content as it boasts a highly curated and carefully refined selection of titles. Quentin Tarantino has recommended the service a few times!

Price: $6.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One

Originally launched as "UMC" (Urban Movie Channel), allblk is a premium streaming service that offers users access to a wide variety of Black-centric movies, TV shows, and original programming. The service is owned by AMC, and was originally started by Robert L. Johnson, the founder of BET.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, iOS, Roku

While programming depends on your geographical location, Acorn TV in the US focuses on TV shows from dozens of international networks in countries of the Commonwealth, from British channels like the BBC and ITV as well as Oceanic shows from Australia and New Zealand. Aside from British shows, there’s also a solid selection of content from other major European networks from France, Italy and Ireland.

Price: $7.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku

Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.

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The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.

That's all from us for the 45 Best Niche Streaming Services Available Right Now!