Netflix keeps increasing its prices. Live TV cord-cutting services cost almost as much as cable. It's all getting kind of out of hand.
The cheapest on-demand streaming services are the ad-supported ones like Tubi and Vudu, which are completely free. Then, there are services that cost around $5 to $10: Apple TV+, Hulu with ads, Funimation, Topic, and a few others. In this list, we count down the cheapest on-demand streaming services.
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.
Price: $6.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku
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.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
MagellanTV’s content focuses mostly on documentaries. New movies and series are added weekly, so the library is frequently updated. This streamer is for people who love learning about science, space, and the earth. MagellanTV provides a thoughtfully curated selection of films that focus on current events and global topics of importance. The cheapest subscription it offers is $4.99/month and it has a 14-day free trial. It was launched in 2019.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Google Play, iOS, Roku, Samsung, Vizio
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.
Price: $3.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
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.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku
Hopster TV is a kids-oriented streaming service that offers a variety of educational and entertaining shows. It also offers games, books, and songs in the platform, allowing kids to navigate between depending on their mood.
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.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Website
A sure treasure trove for history buffs, History Hit TV is a dedicated service featuring original documentaries, series, dramas, interviews, and films spanning all sorts of time periods and eras. It was founded by renowned historian Dan Snow, who hosts a hit podcast of the same name and whose other content can be found in the streamer. History Hit TV also claims that 10% of its profits go into history education projects around the globe.
Price: $6.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Website, Xbox One
GuideDoc is a global online streaming and distributing service for documentary films.
The service is currently available for US$7.99 per month and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
GuideDoc apps exist for iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android Tablets, Google TV, Apple TV, ChromeCast and Airplay. At the time of writing, GuideDoc does not offer an app for other services like Roku, Fire TV and game consoles.
Price: $7.99/month
Amazon Kids+ is a streaming service for kids 3 to 12. it features animation content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street and Cartoon Network, but also access to educational apps, games, and e-books. It costs $4.99/month if you already have Amazon Prime or $7.99/month if you don't.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 30 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Fire tablets, iOS
Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.
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.