Here’s a guide to all the TV streaming services you could ever want
Recently, a constant complaint when it comes to television is that it’s hard to keep up because there’s just so much of it. Well, we’re here to let you know that there’s even more than you realized.
Not long ago, it was crazy to imagine that there would be more than just the four major networks and now, some of the best shows on television are being made on Sundance or FXX. Over the last few years, the overflow of TV has found its way to the internet, where Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime aren’t just putting out content, they are putting out A LOT of it, much of it to critical and commercial acclaim. While those three have separated themselves from the streaming competition, there are plenty of other places to go for content, whether you’re looking to watch anime, catch-up with some Jersey Shore alums, or find out when winter is finally coming.
Here is a rundown of your lesser-known online streaming options.
ACORN TV
If British murder mysteries, comedies, and even documentaries are your cup of tea, then this American-based subscription service, with its extensive lineup of programming from across the pond, is perfect for you. Bonus: It also offers shows from Australia and Canada.
Sample Programming: And Then There Were None, Miranda, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
Cost: $4.99/month
COMIC-CON HQ
Love comic conventions but never want them to end? Well, thanks to a collaboration between Comic-Con International and Lionsgate, fans can now subscribe to a geek culture-oriented streaming service that features original programming featuring fan-favorite actors, as well as other shows (Spaced) and movies (Kill Bill) that fit in with the geeky sensibility.
Original Series: Con Men, Kings of Con, Mark Hamill’s Pop Culture Quest
Cost: $4.99/month
CRACKLE
For those streaming on a budget, look no further. Sony’s Crackle is completely free and has a wide range of TV and movies, from the cancelled-too-soon cult favorite Happy Endings to critically acclaimed flicks like Do the Right Thing.
Original Series: The Art of More, a Kate Bosworth drama about New York auction houses; StartUp, a crime drama starring Martin Freeman and Adam Brody about Miami gangsters who team up with a hacker to create a digital currency; and Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Cost: Free
FULLSCREEN
Home to such social media stars as Shane Dawson and Grace Helbig, Fullscreen offers a variety of original series and movies. Also available on the streaming service are old favorites, including Dawson’s Creek and Chappelle’s Show.
Original Series: Shane and Friends, Present Tense, Filthy Preppy Teen$.
Cost: $5.99/month
GO90
The Verizon-owned streaming service delivers original series, content from VICE and Funny or Die, and live sports. Go90 has all the bases covered with original shows in the reality, comedy, drama, and sports genres. There’s an added perk for Verizon users, who can stream go90 and not have it count towards their data usage.
Original Series: Snooki & JWOWW: Moms with Attitude: The Jersey Shore alums are back, this time getting drunk on motherhood; The 5th Quarter: Mockumentary that will feature untold and untrue sports stories. Among the names appearing in the first season are Adam Pally, Blake Griffin, and George Lopez; Top Grier: Vine star Hayes Grier heads home to North Carolina to try and run a farm.
Cost: Free
SEESO
The comedy-specific subscription streaming service offers not just an extensive library of British and American sitcoms and stand-up specials, but also more recent programming and next-day access to new episodes of Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Seth Meyers.
Original Series: Flowers, Take My Wife, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
Cost: $3.99/month
YOUTUBE RED
This enhanced experience of the YouTube platform allows you to watch videos without ads and even download them onto mobile devices to watch offline. It also offers access to its slowly growing library of original content featuring series created by and featuring certain popular YouTubers. What’s more, videos on the mobile app keep playing uninterrupted — perfect for when you accidentally exit to answer a call or text.
Original Series: Escape the Night, Lazer Team, Scare PewDiePie
Cost: $9.99/month
CBS ALL ACCESSStream CBS live, plus watch old episodes of CBS shows on demand. The service offers up a library of more than 8,500 episodes, including current shows like Elementary and throwbacks like Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. You can also catch NFL games. Something tells us you’ll be signing up so you can watch exciting originals coming soon, too.
Original Series: The Good Wife spin-off, The Good Fight, and Star Trek: Discovery
Cost: $5.99/month for limited commercials, $9.99/month for commercial-free streaming
CW SEED
The digital home of The CW (and even The WB) features a whole host of shows both new and old, animated and live action. Binge gone-too-soon series like Pushing Daisies, Constantine, and Hellcats.
Original Series: DC’s Vixen, VeryMallory, I Ship It
Cost: Free
HBO NOW
In the past, if you wanted to go inside the New Jersey mob or go north of the wall, you’d have to subscribe to HBO on your cable platform. But now, the network’s extensive catalog is being offered as a standalone service. HBO Now includes the full runs of historic series such as The Wire and The Sopranos, plus the current seasons of hits like Westworld and Last Week Tonight.
Sample Programming: None yet, but Jon Stewart has a development deal to create daily online content for the service.
Cost: $14.99/month
SHOWTIME ANYTIMEViewers can subscribe to Showtime without paying for a cable package. The service allows users to access Showtime content on the Internet as well as on Apple and Roku devices.
Sample Programming: The Affair, Homeland, Masters of Sex, Shameless
Cost: $10.99/month
STARZ PLAYCable subscribers to Starz can get mobile access to all Starz offers through Starz Play via Apple, Windows, Chrome, Xbox One, Kindle, Nook, and Android devices. Viewers have full access to Starz original series and available movies.
Sample Programming: Outlander, Power, The Girlfriend Experience
Cost: Free with cable subscription to Starz
THIRTEEN PASSPORT
Get access to every show on Channel Thirteen (PBS’ flagship channel), which includes Downton Abbey, Poldark, and tons more public television.
Cost: Free with $5/month membership to Thirteen, which comes with other member benefits like theater discounts
TUBI TVTubi TV offers an escape from subscription fees by allowing users to stream popular movies and television shows for the low, low cost of… well, absolutely nothing. But with a free streaming service comes ads, as you probably could’ve guessed. Tubi TV is available on Android and iOS mobile devices as well as OTT streaming devices such as Roku, Apple TV, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Cost: Free
CRUNCHYROLL
Anime lovers can get their fix with this streaming platform, which features hundreds of Japanese series, including Bleach, Dragon Ball Super, and Naruto Shippuden. Crunchyroll is free, but for a small monthly fee, subscribers get the benefit of no ads and being able to stream many series within an hour of their broadcast in Japan.
Cost: $6.95 for premium membership per month, $11.95 for premium+ membership per month
SCREAMBOX
Though you probably could’ve guessed by its name, we’ll reassure you that your chances of finding a cute romantic comedy on Screambox are pretty slim. That’s because Screambox is home to hundreds of uncut and commercial-free horror movies and television programs from all around the world. The service is currently available on Xbox 360, iPad, Roku, PlayStation, Android tablets, Samsung Smart TVs, and Kindle Fire TVs.
Cost: $4.99/month
SHUDDER
Shudder has a library of films to satisfy any horror fanatic, whether your favorite subgenre is gore, slasher, supernatural, or psychological. Also included in the user experience is Shudder.TV, the app’s own channel with horror films and television shows personally picked by curators. Shudder is currently available on iOS and Android devices and Roku.
Cost: $4.99/month
SPUUL
Spuul offers 10,000 hours of Bollywood flicks in all different genres. The movies are available for streaming in more than six different Indian regional languages, and you can download any movie you want to watch offline.
Cost: $4.99/month
VIKI
Viki specializes in Asian movies and TV shows (specifically Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese content). The title is a combination of the words video and wiki and crowdsources subtitles in multiple languages from fans.
Cost: $4.99/month
FILMSTRUCKFilmStruck is the love child of Turner Classic Movies and The Criterion Collection. Film experts curate the site with a revolving door of classics. Movie buffs will get lost in the array of titles and behind-the-scenes extras brought together by expert film connoisseurs. It’s also the exclusive streaming location for The Criterion Collection.
Cost: $6.99/month
FANDOR
Part movie streaming service, part film publication, Fandor is committed to the community. You’ll find news, original video essays, and quality hand-picked films in all different genres. Fandor gives 50 percent of revenue to the films’ rights holders.
Cost: $10/month
MUBI
Mubi is the ultimate destination for film buffs — the service streams a curated selection of indie flicks, foreign films, and hundreds of critically acclaimed mainstream favorites like Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas. The site also has a magazine that showcases interviews, movie reviews, and behind-the-scenes peeks, and a digital platform for fans to discuss what they’re loving.
Cost: $5.99/month
TRIBECA SHORTLISTActors, directors, and more industry insiders curate this selection of must-watch movies.
Cost: $4.99/month
BROADWAYHD
Theater fans, rejoice! This service works with Thirteen to round up filmed productions of plays and musicals in one place so you can experience Broadway without going broke. They also have plans to film even more shows under the BroadwayHD Originals banner.
Original Titles: Old Hats, The Woodsman
Cost: $7.99/show or $14.99/month
TWITCH
Twitch is the ultimate spot for gamers and offers a platform for video game fans to converge and interact as they play.
Cost: Free with Amazon Prime
PEN
The PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly Network is the free new streaming channel from PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly. Watch unlimited, full-length episodes at PEOPLE.com/PEN or download the app for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo, Chromecast, Xfinity, iOS, and Android devices.
Original Series: EW Reunites, Bingeworthy, EW: The Show, The Jess Cagle Interview
Cost: Free
