50 Best Streaming Services on Apple TV

PBS channels around the country are free on television, and thanks to the PBS app, they're now free to stream as well. The PBS app gives you on-demand access to many of the network's famously educational shows, including Nova and PBS News Hour, as well as the nearest local station in your area. You don't need an account to start watching on the PBS app, although you might have to activate it beforehand. Again, PBS is free, but if you want to support your local PBS station and gain extended access to even more films and TV shows, then you can purchase a PBS Passport membership, which costs around $5/month or $60/year.

Pantaflix is an internet-based, video-on-demand service that lets you pick and watch what you want among its wide variety of offers, which includes films, documentaries, TV shows, and children’s entertainment. This is for the viewer who wants to stream but would rather rent individual content rather than pay for a full-blown subscription. Pantaflix boasts no commitments and guarantees easy access to content you like. The service was launched in Germany in 2016.

Ovid.tv is an on-demand streaming platform dedicated to independent movies, and is currently available in the US and Canada. 

In the US, Ovid.tv costs $6.99 per month or $69 per year.

You can access Ovid.tv via mobile platforms including Android and iOS, as well as media streaming devices including Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku. However, Ovid.tv does not offer any apps for game consoles at the moment. 

If you're an Xfinity internet customer, you're eligible to sign up for the Now TV and Peacock Premium bundle, a hefty live TV and on-demand streaming package that gives you access to films and TV shows from Universal, NBC, Bravo, Hallmark, History, and AMC, as well as 24/7 coverage from live channels like BBC News, NBC News Now, the Food Network, Discovery, and IFC. The beauty of this bundle is that covers the essentials of traditional TV, namely news, entertainment, and sports (Peacock is home to a number of live sporting events), while also giving you all you need on the on-demand front. Even better? It only costs $20/month, Now TV's regular price, since Peacock Premium is added to the bundle completely free—no need to pay an additional $6/month, which is what the service would normally cost outside of this bundle. 

The Now TV and Peacock Premium Bundle also comes with 20 hours of cloud DVR, and you can stream it on three concurrent screens. Apart from a subscription to Xfinity, there are no other strict requirements when claiming this offer.

NowTV is an internet television service that is subscription-based and operated by the British television satellite provider, Sky. NowTV provides access to award-winning shows and films, as well as various sports channels. This service is for those who will love having high-profile movies, TV shows, and sports coverages all in one place. Launched in 2012, it's currently only offered in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Italy. NowTV has a variety of membership options, although it should be noted that their sports television subscription is separate from their TV and film subscription. 

Noggin is a subscription service catered specifically to preschool-age children. Powered by Nickelodeon's sister channel Nick Jr., Noggin boasts an extensive line-up of ad-free shows such as Peppa Pig, Blues Clues, and PAW Patrol. Aside from thousands of titles like this, the streaming service also has educational games, eBooks, and shorts, as well as exclusive Spanish-language content. With access to five accounts and multiple parental controls, Noggin is reasonably priced at $7.99 a month. It's also a strong competitor to YouTube TV and Netflix's own child-targeted content.

If you lived through the '80s, you may have heard of Night Flight, the nighttime cable channel that aired punk rock music videos, low-budget monster flicks, psychedelic documentaries, and adult cartoons, among many others. It went under at the turn of the '90s but has recently returned to join the streaming wars, seemingly bigger and better than ever. As a subscription-based streaming service, Night Flight Plus gives you access to classic gems, plus new content from partner studio companies. It's basically a time capsule with extra room for all the new niche movies it could've aired during its prime. If you're looking for carefully curated nostalgic picks, Night Flight Plus is a great choice to consider.

NFL+ is the league's official streaming service that gives you access to live and local regular season and postseason games, on-demand programs, and even tools for your next fantasy football game. As of 2023, NFL+ also offers the NFL Network and NFL Redzone channels in its plans, making it a solid option for true-blue football fans hoping to finally cut the cord.

A regular subscription costs $6.99/month and includes everything in the above, except for NFL Redzone and replays of full games, highlights, and all-22 coaches films, which are only available in NFL+'s premium subscription, priced at $14.99/month. Both plans offer free trials and are available on most major streaming devices, with the exception of live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, which can only be viewed on phones and tables. 

NewsOn is a free streaming service that lets you access live TV newscasts from over 200 local stations around the United States. According to the platform, it has partnered with ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX and their respective local affiliates to cover up to 91% of the country (a full list of their local channels can be seen here).

You can also watch previous news, sports, and weather reports on NewsOn from up to 48 hours ago and select your favorite stations so that they appear first on the homepage. No registration is required, and it allows you to watch local channels wherever in the country you may be. 

Good news for Verizon mobile customers: you're eligible to bundle two of streaming's powerhouse players, Netflix and Max, for just $10/month. Verizon's Netflix + Max bundle includes both of the streamers' ad-supported plans, which go for $7 and $10 respectively, and shaves more than 40% off their usual price. Not only is this package a steal, it's also a rare move on Netflix's part, which isn't usually too keen on bundles. The Netflix + Max is also stackable, meaning you can pair it with another $10-bundle from Verizon (we suggest the Disney-Hulu-ESPN bundle to get the most out of the discounts). 

This bundle is available to Verizon customers on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans, just don't forget to enroll in the provider's myPlan subscription first. 

The Netflix + DirecTV Stream Bundle lets you link your Netflix account to your DirecTV Stream account so you can receive a single bill (from DirecTV) for both subscriptions. For now, the bundle doesn't offer discounts, nor does it integrate Netflix on the DirecTV Stream app. It's also only available to those subscribed to Netflix's premium account. Still, the bundle is handy for those who already have too many bills to worry about, so if you've been wanting to streamline your entertainment apps, then this offer is worth checking out. 

For Verizon postpaid wireless subscribers, Verizon is offering a unique bundle that allows you to get Netflix Premium free for a year if you subscribe to Masterclass via Verizon's +play platform. An annual Masterclass subscription costs $120/year, but if you use +play, you only need to pay $90/year or $7.5/month for the service. In other words, it's a Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal that can save you more than $200 in annual costs. 

The bundle is part of Verizon's attempt to draw in users to their +play platform, which is an online service that helps you manage multiple subscriptions in one neat place. Notably, you can't directly watch or pay for streaming services on +play, but it regularly offers discounts, so it's worth checking out. Before making big purchases, however, make sure you read through Verizon's FAQs and terms and conditions here. 

If you're a T-Mobile customer, you've likely already heard of the phone service's "Netflix on Us" bundle. Depending on your T-mobile plan, you're eligible for a Netflix subscription at no additional cost, regardless of the streamer's price hikes. The most common Netflix plans it provides customers with are the Netflix Basic subscription (valued at $10/month), which is ad-free and available to watch on a single device, and the Netflix Standard subscription (valued at $16/month), also ad-free and available to watch on two devices. T-Mobile says you can also upgrade your phone plan if you want to get the Netflix Premium subscription for free. 

Eligible T-Mobile plans start with a single line of the Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and Magenta MAX plans, all of which get the Netflix Basic subscription for free. 

If you purchase a one-year subscription of STARZ on Verizon's +play platform, you can get 12 months of Netflix Premium for free via the Netflix & Starz bundle. This saves you up to $240 in annual costs, since you'll only have to pay $75 (or about $6/month) for both Starz and Netflix for an entire year. After the 12 months are up, Verizon automatically charges you the regular monthly price of Netflix Premium, which is now $23/month. If you have an existing Netflix account, you can link it to this offer and transfer your billing to +play. 

The +play platform is an online hub that centralizes subscriptions so you can access them all in one neat place. At the moment, it's only available to Verizon wireless, 5G Home, and LTE Home customers.

One of the many deals offered by Verizon's +play platform is the Netflix & NFL+ bundle, which is exclusively available to Verizon wireless, 5G Home, and LTE Home customers. The bundle combines Netflix Premium, which allows you to watch ad-free on up to four devices, with NFL+, which has everything from all-22 coaches films to NFL Redzone. Outside of +play, this would cost you around $30, but Verizon's bundle is available for a discounted rate of just $25/month. 

If you already have a Netflix subscription bought outside of the +play platform, Verizon allows you to transfer your billing to avail of this deal. If you did buy a subscription on the +play platform, however, you might have to wait till the end of your billing cycle before you can sign up for this deal. Existing NFL+ subscriptions can't be transferred to +play or linked to this bundle.  

NASA+ is the space agency's official, ad-free, and on-demand streaming service. It carries original shows and movies that feature NASA's discoveries on the cosmos and beyond and intimate interviews with the astronauts and scientists behind these projects. There are also animated kids' shows and Spanish-language content for younger viewers and families to enjoy, as well as high-definition intergalactic videos set to interesting sounds, in case you're not in the mood to watch anything too heavy. The app, which can be downloaded on iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV, is completely free and requires no sign-up to access.

If you're a hardcore baseball fan, you'll be delighted to know that you can tune in to your favorite pastime via MLB.TV, the league's official streaming service. A subscription allows you to watch out-of-market games, as well as Minor League matches, local Pregame and Postgame shows, and expert commentary through MLB Big Inning, on all major streaming services live and on-demand. If you want to follow every team, you can pick their All Teams package for $25/month ($70 yearly) but if you're only interested in a single team, you can pick their Single Team package for $20/month ($60 yearly). It's important to note, however, that only out-of-market games can be watched live. Due to blackout restrictions, you'll have to wait 90 minutes after a local or national game has aired before viewing it. Another important reminder: if you're still on the cord and have the MLB Extra Innings cable TV package, you're likely entitled to a free MLB.TV subscription. Contact your provider to check whether you're eligible.

Remember those thrashy (but fascinating!) films that would air on TV late into the night, long after the proper programs had their run? Those titles have found a new home in Midnight Pulp, a free streaming service that lets you watch films and TV shows on-demand and live. It specializes in the weirdest content you can imagine; whether that's a 1960s Star Trek knockoff, a B-movie erotica, or a laughable monster flick, they likely have it here. Midnight Pulp also offers a live TV stream that's active 24/7 with channels that offer much of the same—with the exception, perhaps, of RetroCrush and AsianCrush, which have solid lineups of anime and dramas. Midnight Pulp also offers more titles (many of which are adult-themed) ad-free if you pay for their premium $4.99/month tier. 

Lifetime Movie Club is a subscription video service that gives you access to thousands of original titles, many of which can also be found on its cable counterpart the Lifetime Channel. Lifetime movies are known for being unapologetically dramatic and occasionally sinister, so if you're one to indulge in such content, then this might be for you. Lifetime Movie Club also welcomes new movies to its library every Friday, as well as hosts a handful of syndicated shows, including the much-beloved Grey's Anatomy.

There are many streaming services out there dedicated to specific and underrepresented communities. Black-oriented streamers alone account for a significant portion. But Kweli TV stands out for its far-reaching and careful curation. It hosts films and series from all over the world, many of which are festival winners and official selections coming straight from Africa and the Caribbean. It also claims to dedicate 60% of its revenue to content creators, so you can be sure that your money goes to a good cause. On top of all this, Kweli TV also has a 24-hour live streaming service; a worthwhile package for just $5.99 a month.

Whether you're a Korean expat living in North America or a true-blue Hallyu fan, you'll find much to like in OnDemandKorea, also sometimes known as Korea on Demand. The streaming service has both live TV and on-demand content, which it makes available in three tiers. The basic plan is ad-supported and free, the premium plan costs $10.99/month and gives you exclusive ad-free content, while the premium + box plan costs $19.99/month and gives you all the benefits of the previous plans plus five simultaneous viewings and 100 live channels. Korea on Demand also gives you the option to pay yearly to help you save up to $200 in costs. In terms of content, the platform has an impressively wide range. On the on-demand side, it has more than 500 films that range from mainstream to indie, while on the live TV side, it has multiple channels that cover news, entertainment, variety, and sports. It's important to note, however, that the entire site is in Korean and not all titles have English subtitles, making it most suited to native or advanced speakers of the language.

Klassiki is a streaming service dedicated to classic and modern films from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The platform's team carefully curate the titles that go into their library, and every week, they handpick a special film for you to enjoy. Since Klassiki is still new, their library is not too stacked (they have about 50 titles as of this writing), but the leanness is perfect for those who value quality over quantity. A monthly subscription costs $10.99 (£9.99 if you're in the UK), and along with on-demand content, you get exclusive program notes, reviews, and interviews from different critics and filmmakers via their journal section.

Film lovers will be happy to know that they can rent (and in some instances, purchase) the latest indie and film fest darlings, as well as hard-to-find classics and international gems, with Kino Now. The platform is powered by the New York-based film company Kino Lorber, so it has more than a thousand titles to its name, all of which are carefully curated in playlists like "Cannes Winners," "New York Times Critcis’ Picks," "Visionary Black Directors," and "Women Filmmakers." They also have collections from visionaries like Jean-Luc Godard, Jafar Panahi, Jia Zhangke, Joanna Hogg, and Alfred Hitchcock. You don't need an account to start renting the titles, and you can pay using any credit card recognized in the US as it uses Stripe to process payments. Rented movies are available for seven days from the time of purchase. 

iTunes is one of the oldest media apps currently in use. While many people know it as a music player, iTunes has since evolved to offer digital movies and TV shows for rent or sale. The bigger and newer releases can cost up to $20 to purchase, but iTunes also has past hits, modern classics, award-winning pictures, and even local films you can rent for as low as $2. Purchased films and TV shows are available for as long as the studio allows them to be, but rentals are a different story. Once you've rented a particular title, you have up to 30 days to start watching it. And after you start watching it, you'll then have 48 hours before it expires. iTunes comes pre-installed on Apple devices, but it's also available on Windows PCs and Android Smart TVs.

Largely known as China's Netflix, iQiyi is a popular and wide-ranging streaming platform that hosts the best of East Asian content. Among its catalog are Asian blockbusters, Chinese variety shows, Japanese anime, and of course, Korean dramas. iQiyi also has multiple deals with studios all over the world, including Netflix, so it's able to stream global content to its Chinese audiences. 

Perhaps the best part about iQiyi is that it comes for free; no need to pay to see its plenty and diverse titles, although you will be subject to some ads. To avoid ads and avail of perks such as concurrent viewing and download privileges, iQiyi offers a VIP membership that costs $2 per month.

IndieFlix is an online streaming service dedicated to independent filmmaking and is available in 85 countries. 

In the US, you can access IndieFlix for $6.99 per month, or a one-year subscription at a discounted $69. Patrons of IndieFlix may access IndieFlix free of charge. 

Available to American Express Platinum cardholders, the Hulu AMEX bundle is a deal that gives you up to $20 in credits every month on your statement account (that's $240 saved in a year), provided that you use your card to subscribe to any Hulu product on their website. The bundle covers both Hulu's on-demand and live TV services, as well as Hulu's Disney+ and ESPN+ package. You have to remember to enroll your card to start receiving the benefit, but once you do, your credit should appear around six to eight weeks after the purchase has been made. 

If you're already subscribed to any of Hulu's existing plans (currently, those are with ads, no ads, and live TV), you can choose to boost your subscription with a Starz add-on for an extra $8.99 a month. This rounds up your library of Hulu originals with Starz's own collection of prestige series such as Gaslit, Outlander, and Serpent Queen, as well as their cult-status comedies like Party Down, Minx, and Ash vs. Evil Dead. Additionally, you can stream Starz live and log on to the app, if you have it, with your Hulu credentials. 

While this simplified bundle is certainly interesting, it's even more appealing for TV fans out there who have much to gain from this pairing. 

Hoopla is a digital library that partners with public libraries across the US to grant their patrons free access to the wealth of media they have online and on the go. This includes movies and television shows, but Hoopla also has a vast collection of ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, and albums it offers members. You can check their website to see if your library card is valid, and if it is, you can continue on to registration (with no extra fees) and start viewing their available titles. Hoopla rotates its selection every week or so, but generally, it has a good mix of old films, cult classics, past hits, and foreign movies. Occasionally, it will also have the latest blockbusters. For television, it's recently partnered with the BBC and a couple of manga publishers to deliver content from around the world. 

The History Vault has all the best of The History channel: excellent documentaries, informative series, travel shows, and of course, historical specials. The difference is that the streamer offers all this on-demand and ad-free, with curated collections and exclusive titles to boot. Some programs that are no longer available on the cable channel can also be found in the Vault. If you're a fan of quality deep dives on everything and anything related to history and humanity, then this streamer is for you.