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.
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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.
Similar to Xumo or Pluto TV, KlowdTV is a streaming service that offers users a free way to watch Live TV. And as with both, the selection is limited to news channels like France24 and right-wing channels.
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.
Price: $10.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
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.
Price: free for channels available
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku
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
Hidive focuses mainly on anime shows and films. Its offerings include classical anime, popular anime films and shows, as well as hidden gems of the anime world, put together for those who love anime and don’t want to wait for the releases of their favorite shows.
They add new content via simulcasts which means that you’ll be able to stream new anime shows online as they’re released in real-time. This service is great for anime lovers who don’t want to wait months for their favorite anime shows to be released on DVD. Hidive is an independent anime streaming company based in Texas that was launched in 2017.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Android, Android TV, Fire TV, iOS, Website, Xbox
Hi-Yah is a niche streaming service for martial arts and Asian action content in general. The cheap monthly price of $3.99 makes it a service that's easy to add to more wholistic streaming platforms.
Price: $3.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, Website, Xbox One
Haystack TV is an independently-run streaming service that delivers live and on-demand news, 24/7. It's ad-supported so it's somewhat free, but if you want to get rid of the commercials and dive straight into the latest news, you can subscribe to Haystack Premium for $4.99/month or try it for free for 30 days.
The convenient thing about Haystack is that it allows you to navigate not just by channels but by topics as well. It also picks up news from more than a hundred TV stations around the US (check if they cover your area here) which saves you the trouble of switching services when looking for local news.
Price: free for 12 channels available
Free Trial: 30 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Roku TV, Website
Channel lineup: ABC News, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Quicktake, CBS News, Cheddar, Deutsche Welle, Euronews, Local news channels, Newsmax, Newsy, Yahoo! Finance
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
Flix Premiere is a subscription-based service that streams underrated and hard-to-find independent films. Founded in 2015 by Martin Warner, Flix Premiere is a treasure trove of fresh but forgotten gems—movies deemed too small or unprofitable are finally given a fighting chance here. The company states that it sources much of its content from prestigious festivals like Berlinale, Cannes, TIFF, and more.
The streamer, currently available in the US and the UK only, is for hardcore cinephiles and anyone who prefers films over TV shows. The subscription is at $6.99/month, and the service offers a 30-day free trial.
Price: $6.99/month
Free Trial: 30 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Website, Xbox
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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.