4 Amazing Streaming Services You Probably Don’t Know About (That Are Way Better Than Netflix)

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Streaming services have become incredibly complicated and are increasingly annoying. As someone who writes about these services professionally, I’m personally very frustrated with an industry that used to be so promising. Streaming began as a way to save money and get access to more of the entertainment you enjoy, but it’s now evolved into a system focused on maximizing profits from subscribers. Prices keep rising, the quality of content is decreasing, and most platforms are aggressively pushing advertisements onto users.

It’s become clear that streaming services haven’t lived up to their original promise. How often are you disappointed when Netflix cancels a show you love, especially one they didn’t even promote well? And how many times have you noticed the streaming giant – and most other services – increasing prices while also making it more difficult to share your account with family? Streaming, initially led by Netflix, is letting us down, but thankfully, a few services are genuinely trying to provide a good experience and deliver a product subscribers will enjoy.

If you’re feeling unhappy with how things are with streaming services, I want to share some great options with you. While buying physical copies of movies and shows and getting traditional, affordable cable are the best ways to avoid streaming drawbacks, there are still services that deserve your attention. Here’s a list of four excellent streaming services you may not have heard of. They all offer a better experience than Netflix and other major platforms, and they’re significantly more affordable. If you’re hoping to improve your streaming experience, these are the services to check out.

4. The Criterion Channel

You might not know the Criterion Channel as a streaming service, but you’ve probably heard of the Criterion name. Criterion is a company that works to preserve films and promote film education. They’re most famous for their Criterion Collection of physical media (like DVDs and Blu-rays), and their Criterion Closet videos have become incredibly popular.

As a huge movie fan, I think the Criterion Channel is fantastic – it’s all about showing really great films, and going beyond just the movies themselves with extra features that let you explore them in more depth. Honestly, it gives you access to some of the best films available on streaming right now. What I especially love is that every month they add new, thoughtfully put-together collections – it’s like getting recommendations from other movie lovers. Right now, in October, they’ve got collections dedicated to the films of John Woo, the essential works of John Carpenter, and a really interesting series of body horror films.

As a film lover, I’ve found that the Criterion Collection offers a really unique selection compared to services like Netflix. They focus entirely on important films – classics and international cinema, really. While they *do* have some newer movies, don’t go looking for big-budget superhero flicks or movies just based on popular franchises. To me, it’s the best service out there for anyone who’s truly passionate about film. It’s the premiere destination for film fans like me.

PRICE: A monthly subscription to The Criterion Channel is $10.99, while an annual subscription costs $99.99. The service is completely ad-free and frequently offers deals for new subscribers, including discounts and free trial periods.

3. Dropout.TV

Let me be upfront: Dropout has quickly become my go-to streaming service over the past year, and that’s why I wanted to share my thoughts. I’d estimate that Dropout.TV makes up around 80-85% of everything I watch – I still prefer watching movies on DVDs and Blu-rays. When I first subscribed to Dropout, I had no idea I would enjoy the amazing community and funny people there so much.

If you haven’t heard of it, Dropout is essentially the next version of CollegeHumor. It rebranded after Sam Reich became CEO. The platform focuses on improv and sketch comedy, and it’s also become well-known for its Dungeons & Dragons actual play shows-some of the most popular, right up there with Critical Role.

Fans of Dungeons & Dragons have Dimension 20, a series where people actually play the game, and it’s usually led by Brennan Lee Mulligan. Interestingly, he’s now also running Campaign 4 for Critical Role, which everyone is really excited about. Many consider him to be the best Game Master in the business, and it doesn’t take long to understand why if you watch just a few minutes of any Dimension 20 episode.

I’m a huge fan of everything on Dropout, but Game Changer is definitely their biggest hit. It’s hosted by Reich, and the whole premise is amazing – the contestants show up to play a game, but they have *no* idea what the game even is! It’s constantly changing, and every episode manages to be a surprise. Sometimes it’s something simple, like trying to get second place instead of winning, but they’ve even gone to extremes, like locking the players in an escape room *before* they even got to the set! And if you love Game Changer, you absolutely have to check out Make Some Noise. It’s a spinoff that feels like a fresh, modern version of Who’s Line Is it Anyway?

What I love most about Dropout – and why I constantly recommend it – is the amazing community that Sam Reich, Zac Mulligan, and the whole team have created. It’s a welcoming environment focused on bringing people happiness and fun. The performers on these shows are real friends who support each other, and that translates to a cozy, warm, and accepting experience for the audience. Game Changer, Make Some Noise, and all their shows make you feel like you’re hanging out with old friends and just trying to have a good time.

And it isn’t controlled by a wealthy tech executive or a huge media company, meaning Dropout’s aim has never been to maximize profits by raising prices and lowering quality. Actually, since Dropout.TV started, the monthly price has only gone up once – by just one dollar. Even before that increase, Dropout gave everyone a full month’s notice and promised to honor the original price for existing subscribers. They are remarkably open and honest, which is a very welcome change in the streaming landscape. It’s insanely refreshing, to be honest.

PRICE: After a one-time price adjustment, a Dropout.TV subscription now costs $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually. Similar to Criterion Channel (and unlike Netflix), Dropout has absolutely no advertisements. They always offer a free trial for new users, and I highly recommend giving it a try. In my opinion, Dropout.TV is the best streaming service available. Plain and simple.

2. Kanopy

I’ve discussed Kanopy previously, and I still believe it deserves much more recognition. It’s a streaming service with a film collection comparable to Criterion’s, but it’s completely free to use.

Kanopy is a totally free way to stream movies and TV shows. What makes it different from other free services is that it has no ads-it’s free because it’s connected to your public library. So, what’s the catch? You need a library card to use it. If you have library access, Kanopy offers a simple, free way to enjoy fantastic movies and shows.

The way Kanopy works is a little different from other streaming services. Instead of unlimited streaming, you receive a certain number of “tickets” each month through your library to rent movies and TV shows. You use these tickets to borrow a title for a few days, after which it becomes unavailable until the start of the next month when your tickets refresh. For instance, I personally receive 30 tickets each month, and most movies cost around three tickets each. This means I can usually watch about 10 movies per month. It’s a unique system, but it allows access to a great selection of films.

Currently, you can find titles like Anora, There Will Be Blood, Terrifier 3, Scary Movie, Donnie Darko, and Presence available on Kanopy.

Another service like Kanopy is called Hoopla. It’s also free and works with your local library. Hoopla offers music and books, as well as films and TV shows, but I preferred Kanopy because its movie selection is better.

PRICE: As previously discussed, Kanopy is available at no cost. All you require is a valid library card.

1. Shudder

Out of all the streaming services mentioned here, Shudder is likely the best known. If you enjoy horror movies, you’ve probably heard of Shudder, and many of you may already be subscribers.

Shudder is a streaming service dedicated entirely to horror, and it offers what many consider to be the best collection of horror content available anywhere. While it features a regularly updated selection of classic horror films, Shudder has also become well-known for creating its own original series and movies (and notably, many of these originals are still released on physical media, which is unusual for most streaming platforms).

This service excels at building a community for horror enthusiasts, largely thanks to its signature original program, The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs. The weekly series revives the nostalgic Friday night movie experience that was once a TV tradition, and it allows viewers to connect through the delightfully strange and scary movies it features. Every episode of The Last Drive-in feels fresh and new, and you might be surprised by how much you learn from its knowledgeable host.

PRICE: Shudder is available for $8.99 a month if you choose the monthly plan. If you prefer to pay yearly, the subscription costs $89.99. New users can always try Shudder with a free trial, and the service is completely ad-free.

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2025-10-03 23:43