Sometimes, we can get sick of the Hollywood pazazz. We crave something more insightful, down-to-earth, and demonstrative of unique and raw talent. For those of us who value these, independent movies seem to scratch an itch unlike any major film production.
Lucky for us, there are a variety of streaming services that offer a choice selection of really fantastic indie movies. Here is a list of the best streaming services with excellent taste.
Fearless is a Toronto-based streaming service built around inclusivity. Their focus is on showcasing films highlighting stories from LGBTQ+ people, Women, BIPOC, and stories on disability. They also enable creators to directly submit their work on either a Free license basis (for creators only interested in traction) or a paid/exclusive license.
Price: $5/month
Free Trial: 14 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Chromecast, iOS, Website
Mubi is a movie-streaming service featuring a curated selection of 30 movies on a daily rotation, as well as a large library of movies from previous rotations. The subscription costs $10.99 per month or $95.88 for an annual subscription. If you just want to browse the database before paying up front, you can sign up for a free account for access. Mubi has a Now Showing section, with the newest entries to the library on a given day (the library is updated daily), and a Library section featuring a back-catalog of other highlights and previously “showing” movies. You may see a section called 'Live' for live broadcasts once in a while. Aside from the options to stream via web browser, Mubi also has mobile apps for Android and iOS, media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and you can subscribe to Mubi as a Prime Video channel. While Mubi is not available on the Xbox One, you can access the service on a PlayStation 4 console.
Price: $10.99/month
Free Trial: 30 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV
Magnolia Selects can be accessed via an array of iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as desktops and Roku devices. It is also available as a channel through Sling TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Subscriptions with unlimited access to Magnolia Selects cost $4.99 per month or a discounted $49.99 per year.
Another plan is available for “sub-genre subscriptions” that gives access to specific genres (action, comedy, horror, documentary) for only $2.99 per month.
Topic is an online streaming service operating in the US and Canada.
In the US, a monthly subscription currently runs at $5.99 per month or $56.99 per year.
Topic can be accessed via Apple iOS, and AppleTV, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku, in addition to Amazon Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, Roku Premium Channels, and Bell Fibe.
Price: $5.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku
Sundance costs $6.99 per month, with an annual subscription that goes for $59.99.
In addition to watching Sundance Now on the web, you can stream from the service’s apps for mobile, (Android and iOS) and media streaming (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku).
Sundance Now does not offer any apps on game consoles, such as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
Over 50 streaming services bundled into one, this is Struum's value proposition. But there is a catch: you don't get to watch content on these platforms as much as you want. You get 100 "credits" every month, and watching a movie will cost 6-7 credits. Watching one episode of a series will cost 3-4 credits.
Another catch, the streaming services featured are not exactly the big ones, at least not right now. They currently feature: Tastemade, Tribeca, Cheddar News, Kocowa, Dekkoo, Magellan TV, History Hit, Gusto, Young Hollywood, Indieflix, Filmbox, Echoboom Sports, Social Club TV, Cinedigm, Magnolia Pictures, Little Dot Studios, Group 9, Stingray Music, Filmhub, BBC Select, REVOLT, France Channels, InsightTV, Docubay, FuelTV, The Great Courses Signature Collection, Shout! Factory, OUTtv, SVTV, CGOOD TV, Alchimi.
Price: $4.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS
Spamflix is a video rental service dedicated to showcasing the most offbeat and avant-garde films. The service prides itself on its absurd line-up of titles, which it claims will "surprise, shock, entertain and amaze" users. These genre films span borders and come from all parts of the world; upon purchase, which usually starts at $5, they will be available to watch for 72 hours or 3 whole days. Spamflix also offers themed film packs, online games, and for true-blue fanatics, an updated movie newsletter.
Price: free for channels available
Device availability: Android, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, Website
Popcornflix is an online streaming service that offers movies and TV shows to watch for free. The unique thing about it is that it offers originals from film schools and some web series they produced themselves.
Price: free for channels available
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku
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
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.
Price: $5.99/month
Free Trial: 7 days
Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Xfinity Flex
Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 12 cheapest Live TV streaming services for cord-cutting.
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.