20 Best Lesser Known Streaming Services in 25

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.

$8.99/month | 53 channels | 7 days free trial
Frndly TV is currently the most affordable live TV streaming service. That's because they operate lean and they don't offer much sports channels. However, they do offer 50+ family-friendly channels at a great rate for households in Middle America. Streaming device provider Roku also recently acquired the service, so it's an easy way to add live TV if you already have a Roku premium membership.
$6.99/month | 7 days free trial
SUNDANCE NOW comes from the makers of the Sundance Film Festival. That means their streaming library is made of festival favorites and beloved indies from American cinema. They also add exciting award-winning and original series like Riviera, Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale, and State of the Union every week to their ad-free platform, but Amazon users can check out some content through their add-on channel.
$12/month
Tired of the way mainstream media portrays men? TysonPlus explores a different side to masculinity with their intersectional stories, prioritizing queer and BIPOC voices for a new perspective. You can check out the growing streamer's library through a monthly subscription.
Shout! Factory TV is operated by Shout! Studios, a boutique DVD and Blu-ray distributor. It's because of this that its streaming service holds retro classics that you'll love watching at home. You don't actually have to pay to start watching, but a monthly subscription gives you access to more content without any ads.
$6.99/month | 7 days free trial
OVID TV showcases powerful narrative and documentary films about issues from around the world. It's one of the best places to find a new perspective through cinema. US subscribers can view their collection without any ads through a monthly or yearly subscription.
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial
With its beginnings as a nighttime cable show in the 80s, Night Flight Plus hosts edgy, alternative media best viewed after hours. That includes, of course, episodes of Night Flight, as well as hundreds of weird cartoons, conspiracy theory features, heavy metal shows, and horror, all available commercial-free.
$7.99/month | 7 days free trial
MHz Choice was originally made for diplomats, so it's no surprise that the streamer holds some of the best foreign films around the globe. The streamer offers these gems with English subtitles, without any ads through a subscription on their own platform. Amazon Prime Video or Roku Channel subscribers can also add MHz Choice to their plans.
$4.99/month | 7 days free trial
Magnolia Selects is the streaming service curated by indie studio Magnolia Pictures. Like plenty of streamers on the list, it hosts a lot of indie fare through its base subscription or through their Sling and Amazon channels, but viewers would appreciate its skinny sub-genre bundles for horror, comedy, and more at $2.99.
$6.99/month | 14 days free trial
K-drama and K-pop fans, this is for you. KocowaTV hosts K-dramas, films, and other shows from Korea on their platform, airing new episodes from the country in as little as 12 hours for subtitling. You can start watching for free, but a monthly subscription keeps the ads at bay.
$10.99/month | 7 days free trial
Foreign film lovers might want to try out Klassiki. Klassiki is dedicated to classic and modern films from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, an area rarely covered in more mainstream streamers. You also enjoy exclusive program notes, reviews, and interviews from different critics and filmmakers in the region.
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial
With its arthouse picks, Kino Film Collection would be best for viewers who want new experimental movies and restored classics every week. Through a monthly or yearly subscription, you can access around 4,000 titles from the Kino Lorber's library ad-free. Still deciding? If you already have Prime, you can check out their add-on channel as well.
$4.99/month | 7 days free trial
It's already in the name, but Indieflix supports independent cinema not just through hosting their films but also through paying them directly by their revenue sharing system. Fans can pay through a monthly or yearly subscription, but if you have a library card, you can watch their library for free.
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial
Do you love anime? You might want to try out Hidive for their hidden gems and classic titles from the genre. They also prioritize their simulcasts, so fans in the US can watch new shows at the same time as Japanese fans do at a better price than other anime streamers.
$3.99/month | 7 days free trial
Needing some action in your life? Hi-Yah streams the best action and martial films from Asia directly through their platform or through their Roku and Amazon add-ons.
$7.99/month
If you're looking for queer representation, Here TV has got your back. It claims to have the largest library of LGBTQ content online, including award-winning films, in-depth documentaries, and original shows of their own. The streamer is also active in the community, regularly sponsoring events and partnering with queer charities, so each subscription really goes to their cause.
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial
Formerly a film club, Film Movement eventually became a film distributor. You can still order physical DVDs and Blu-rays of their collection, but it's now easier to access their exclusive content through a direct subscription or through Amazon Prime as an add-on channel.
$7.99/month | 14 days free trial
Fearless also streams LGBTQ+ content, but they support the community in a different way. The streamer promises simple and transparent deals for queer creators to be paid fairly through their platform, so part of each subscription goes straight to the artists involved. They also host stories about women, BIPOC, and disabilities as well.
$7.99/month
If South Asian content is more your vibe, Eros Now hosts the largest collection of Indian films online. You can watch the best of Bollywood directly through their app or through add-ons on Amazon and Sling.
$6.99/month | 7 days free trial
With a recommendation from Quentin Tarantino himself, Arrow Player has become best known for their cult classic collection. From Westerns, Sci-fi, Action, and more, you can watch their library through a direct subscription.
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial
Formerly known as Urban Movie Channel, ALLBLK offers a wide variety of African American films and shows from Black creators on the platform. You can access their library with a direct subscription, or as an add-on channel through Sling, Roku, and Amazon Prime.
Read also: The cheapest live TV services for cord-cutting in 2025

Usually, we review underrated works from Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu because it's likely that you already have a subscription to one of them. But we like doing lists like these to show cord-cutters that they have options. This list prioritizes streaming services that aren't as well known, but highlight some niches you might enjoy. These services also tend to show other sides of cinema at a better price, though some of these services might be available as add-ons to these streamers. Nonetheless, we hope that this list helped you if you were looking for other alternatives.