Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu may be dominating the streaming wars, but did you know there are more than 200 streaming services around the world? From on-demand and live TV to broad and niche content, there are multiple services, each with its own strength, that are waiting to be discovered by cord-cutters like yourself. Some cater to specific communities, some are offered free, and some preserve whatever's left of a particular archive. Many are actually excellent. So, if you're looking to expand your lineup beyond the usual, read on as we explore the best streaming services you probably haven't heard about, till now.
50 Best Lesser Known Streaming Services
OutTV is one of the earliest LGBTQ+ oriented streaming services, dating back to a channel by the same name that was launched in 2001. OutTV offers a wide range of programming, from original series and movies to licensed content from other networks. Some of their most popular titles include "Canada's Drag Race" and "Call Me Mother".
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
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.
Price: free for 3 channels available
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV, Website
Channel lineup: CBS local channels, Local news channels, NBC local channels
Music Box Direct is the official streaming service of the iconic Chicago-based film theater and later distributor known as Music Box Theatre. As in their movie houses, Music Box's streaming service has some of the best indie movies from the country and around the world. There are two ways to watch on Direct: you can either rent new releases (many of which are simultaneously streaming in theaters) without having to make an account, or you can subscribe to the platform for $4.99/month, which gives you access to a plethora of on-demand films that Music Box has rights to. As of this writing, Music Box Direct is only available in the United States.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Website
MotorTrend OnDemand is a subscription service that specializes in motorsports and automotive content. It has 2,000 hours' worth of titles, which include historical archives, information programs, and reality shows. Roadkill and Ignition, original series that found their start on YouTube, have since been moved to the MotorTrend OnDemand platform, where they can be streamed exclusively. The auto-specific streamer also covers live racing events from all around the world, among them the Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain GT Series.
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.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense, iOS, LG, LG TV, Plex, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung, Vizio, Website
Channel lineup: Asian Crush, AsianCrush, Crime Hunters, Midnight Pulp, Retro Crush, RetroCrush, Screambox TV, Tokushoutsu
If you’re sick of the same old movies you’re seeing on this side of the world, then MHz Choice might come as a pleasant surprise for you. The streaming service specializes in international content, especially Nordic noir and British thrillers. Though the app itself can be a little clunky, at $8/month, it’s an affordable alternative to accessing quality foreign-language shows, films, documentaries, and more. It also recently merged with fellow subscription service Topic, so expect to see even more European fare there.
Price: $7.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV
LocalBTV is a streaming service that delivers live feeds from local TV stations around the United States. Free of charge and offering cloud DVR with up to 1 TB of storage, it's an accessible resource for those looking to cut the cord without having to cut ties with their community. As of this writing, LocalBTV has yet to stream major news networks like ABC or CBS, but it is working toward that goal. It's set to set up a paid premium version that carries nationwide networks and doubles the number of available local stations. For now, it's still a handy live TV service that covers 52 areas in the US.
Price: free for 24 channels available
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV
Channel lineup: Ace, BEKSports, CMC, CMC-USA, Cozi TV, Diya, France24, GetTV, ISciFi, Kpop, Local news channels, NewsNet, Nostalgia, NTD, Quili, QVC, RightNow, ShopLC, Sidewalks, Sportsnews, TCN, TCT, TeleXitos, The Country Network
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
KocowaTV is a streaming service for K-dramas and Korean content in general. Once a new TV episode airs in Korea, you can get it in as little as 12 hours - the time it usually takes for translation and subtitling. Non-paid users do complain quite a bit about the ads, but if that's something that doesn't bother you, this is a good way to access a variety of Korean content.
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.