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.
40 Best Niche Streaming Services Available Right Now
Cultpix is a streaming subscription service made especially for genre fans. But 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.
Crunchyroll is a video-on-demand streaming website that specializes in anime and is available in 170 countries. It has also recently absorbed a competitor, FUNIMATION, offering an even bigger catalog. You can opt for either a free ad-supported plan or subscribe to the paid tier. The free version doesn't include simulcasts or access to all of Crunchyroll's content, but for $7.99 per month the premium tier removes those limitations. You can access Crunchyroll via web browser (www.crunchyroll.com), while the Crunchyroll app is also available on all major platforms, mobile devices including Android and iOS, and media streaming devices including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV Chromecast, and Android TV, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Price: $7.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Roku, Xbox
Criterion Channel is a curated movie-streaming service that offers ad-free and on-demand access to films from The Criterion Collection in HD. It is currently only available in the US and Canada. The subscription costs $10.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Like Netflix, the Criterion Channel also offers a physical rental service. The number of movies you can rent each month, for a flat monthly rate, depends on how quickly you can return them. You don't need to subscribe to The Criterion Channel to buy or rent physical media on DVD and Blu-ray, but subscribers may get discounts. With the introduction of Criterion24/7, Criterion Channel also entered the Live TV world, offering a great alternative to channels like Turner Classic Movies.
Price: $10.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox
As the name suggests, Classix is the ultimate repository 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 charge of $3.99 (no renewal fee) users can get access to even more titles, including full seasons of shows like Bonanza and The Pink Panther. The streamer works well on most major devices, and even though the films don't have the crisp, restored resolution of their more popular contemporaries, they're still a ball to watch.
Price: free for channels available
Device availability: Android, Apple TV, iOS, Website
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 get access to even more content.
Price: free for 24 channels available
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Comecast Xfinity, Google TV, iOS, LG, Roku, Roku TV, 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, 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.
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, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG, Roku, Roku TV, 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: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 30 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, 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.
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.