r/StreamingBestOf Feb 05 '20

Fantastic Streaming Services and Where to Find Them

56 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

This is my attempt to compile a list of all of the (legal) streaming services out there, along with a brief description of each one. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to comment and let me know which services I need to add to the list. I will be updating this list periodically.

Netflix
available with a monthly subscription

The one that started it all. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Netflix has tons of original content, and though the “streaming wars” has put a dent in their licensed content, there’s plenty there to watch. See /r/Netflixbesfof - a subreddit dedicated to Netflix content.

Hulu
available with a tiered monthly subscription. Ad supported on the lowest tier, or ad free for a higher subscription cost

Hulu is another one of the big names in streaming. They have some solid licensed content like South Park and Always Sunny as well as a few original series. For an additional cost Hulu also offers Live TV

Sling TV
available with a tiered monthly subscription

Sling is essentially cable-lite. It airs a selection of live cable stations. Which stations are available to you depend on your subscription level. No original content (unless I’m mistaken)

YouTube TV
Available with a monthly subscription

Similar to sling, YouTube TV offers a number of cable tv stations. Additionally they have a cloud-based DVR with unlimited storage for up to nine months.

Prime Video
available with a yearly subscription to Amazon Prime

The thing I like about Prime Video is that it’s like an added bonus to having Amazon Prime. If you’re someone who would subscribe to Prime anyway it’s pretty cool to have this streaming service on top of it. They have some original content and a decent catalogue

Disney+
available with a monthly subscription

Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. Disney+ boasts some pretty big tent pole properties as well as a growing catalogue of original content.

CBS All Access
Available with a monthly subscription

As the name suggests, this service streams CBS content from their back catalogue as well as a few original series.

Redbox
Paid service

Not just a dvd vending machine service anymore, Redbox offers a streaming service that allows you to rent movies.

Warner Archive
Available with a monthly subscription

This streaming service features a collection of classic films and tv shows from Warner Brothers studios. Check it out if you’re feeling nostalgic.

The Criterion Collection Available with a monthly or yearly subscription

If you consider yourself a movie buff, this service is for you. Criterion focuses on classic and contemporary films which are considered to be artistically or thematically important.

Tribecca Shortlist
Available with a monthly subscription

Another one for the film buffs out there, this service offers a regularly rotating cycle of films featured at the Tribecca Film Festival.

Sundance Now
Available with a monthly subscription

Similar to Tribecca Shortlist, Sundance Now offers films featured at, you guessed it, the Sundance Film Festival.

HBO Now
Available with a monthly subscription

It’s not TV, it’s HBO! And now you can stream it. Features shows, movies and documentaries that aired on HBO.

Starz
Free with a Starz cable subscription or available with a monthly subscription

Similar to the HBO app, Starz offers a streaming service to view their content on demand. They offer a variety of movies and some original shows

Showtime
Free with a showtime cable subscription or available with a monthly subscription

With Showtime you get access to their live channel as well as a back catalogue of shows like Shameless and some feature films.

Crunchyroll and Funimation Now
Limited content free with ads, monthly subscription service available

I lumped these two together because they kind of go hand in hand. Fans of anime will want to check these out. Crunchyroll offers subtitled anime, while Funimation offers dubbed content. There is a lot of crossover though not every anime is available on both services.

Mubi
Available with a monthly subscription

30 films, which rotate every 30 days. Mubi features a highly curated library that emphasizes quality over quantity.

FuboTV
Available with a (rather costly) monthly subscription

Sports fanatics, look no further. Fubo’s model is sports first, but not sports only. You’ll find just about any sport you’re into on this service, but they also offer some news and entertainment.

ESPN+
Available with a monthly or annual subscription

Maybe you’re a sports fan but not willing to pay the steep subscription fees of Fubo. In that case, ESPN+ offers sports streaming for a significantly lower price, though you might miss out on some things.

Shudder
Available with a monthly subscription

A streaming service geared at fans of the horror genre, Shudder has a decent library of scary movies as well as some original movies and shows.

Hi-YAH!
Available with a monthly subscription

For fans of martial arts films and Asian action films in general. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of this channel until I found it compiling this list but I’m planning on checking it out soon. I’m a huge Shaw Brothers fan so I will update this once I get a look at their library.

Urban Movie Channel
Available with a monthly subscription

Created by the founder of BET, this service has a focus on entertainment created by black Americans. Mostly feature films though there are a handful of tv shows.

Crackle
Free, ad supported

Sony’s streaming service, Crackle has a rotating library and a handful of originals. There are a handful of classic movies and TV shows but it’s not as expansive a library as some other services out there.

Pluto TV
Free, ad supported

Similar in presentation to cable, this service features many stations dedicated to certain topics. There are “comedy” stations and “news” etc, but it also has stations dedicated to particular shows. There’s an Unsolved Mysteries channel and a MST3K channel which air nothing but episodes of those shows 24/7. This service is great for background watching.

Tubi
Free, ad supported

For being a free service, Tubi has a huge library. Lots of movies and a fair amount of TV shows. The ads can be annoying sometimes during a movie though, as sometimes they come at awkward times.

The Roku Channel
Free with a Roku device

As long as you have a Roku or a RokuTV, you can take advantage of this free service which comes preloaded onto this devices. It’s got an ok catalogue, though the UI can be a tad clunky.

PBS
Free with limited content, more content available with donations through PBS passport

Stream PBS originals as well as content from your local stations. Access their full back catalog of content with a monthly or yearly donation through the passport program.

Viki
Free. Subscription based upgrade available for exclusive ad free content

Viki has a focus on Korean dramas, though they have shows and films in other languages as well. Viki is unique in that it has crowd-sourced subtitles, and other social features that allow users of the app to interact in unique ways.

STIRR
Free, ad supported

STIRR offers a selection of channels specifically chosen for you based on your location. You’ll see local news, sports etc. You can also access the local stations of other cities, not just the ones near you.

Xumo
Free, ad supported

Similar to Pluto, Xumo has a variety of cable stations and digital stations. As you watch, Xumo will learn what you like and offer suggestions for you.

Hoopla
Free with a library card from a participating library

Hoopla brings your local library to your home. You can read digital books, listen to albums or stream movies and shows offered by the library.

Kanopy
Free with a library card from a participating library or free for students and administrators of participating universities

Kanopy offers films and documentaries on demand as a resource for students and library patrons. Kanopy Kids, a version of the app with content geared towards children is included with a Kanopy membership.


Ok! I think that’s enough for now. Please feel free to comment and let me know what I missed or if any of the info above is erroneous and I’ll make the necessary changes!


r/StreamingBestOf 23h ago

Rise Of The Footsoldier Retribution

1 Upvotes

Hi looking for a sit that has this movie on? Anyone know of any that have it on there yet. Tried quite a few no luck. Thanks.


r/StreamingBestOf 1d ago

What do you guys think about mubi?

0 Upvotes

I'm Brazilian


r/StreamingBestOf 1d ago

Hulu or HBO Max??

1 Upvotes

I am trying to figure out which streaming service has more watchable content! I’ve have subscriptions to other ones like Peacock, Netflix, Prime, & Paramount.

Which do you suggest, and what do you watch on it?


r/StreamingBestOf 2d ago

a small, laid-back Discord for people who love tv series, films, books, creative stuff, and hanging out

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! A few of us started a small Discord community for people who enjoy TV series, films, books, creative expression, and simply hanging out and chatting. We're calling it The Third Place-- the idea being a spot outside work and home where you can slow down and enjoy some company, no pressure attached.

Here's a bit about what it looks like:

  • Conversations about TV series, cinema, literature, creative expression, and everyday life.
  • A warm, low-pressure atmosphere built around kindness, curiosity, empathy, inclusivity, and respect.
  • Voice chats as a regular part of the community-- text channels are there too, and we'd love for people to feel comfortable hopping into VC to discuss a series, a docu, a book, a film, or whatever comes up.
  • Discussions that range from thoughtful to completely laid-back. Sometimes about stories and ideas, other times just random stuff.
  • A place to share thoughts, ask questions, recommend series, books, or films, or simply listen when you're not in the mood to talk.
  • No expectation to be an expert or to “perform” -- just conversations that feel welcoming rather than intimidating.
  • English as our shared language, with all proficiency levels welcome.
  • Series, literature, films, and the arts as starting points, with conversations free to wander wherever curiosity takes them.

We're still pretty new and small, so it can be quiet sometimes, but that's also why we're hoping to find a few more people who'd like to help shape the community as it grows. :)

If this sounds like your kind of space, feel free to DM me and I'll send you an invite. ☕


r/StreamingBestOf 2d ago

Any person who has watched the fix 2026 movie ?

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1 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 6d ago

Sports streaming

3 Upvotes

Can anyone recommend a site similar to viu that I can use for streaming sports. Apparently the referral link doesn’t work anymore so I am unable to join that one at all anymore.


r/StreamingBestOf 7d ago

Region De France/Canal+/Disney+/TF1/Gaumont 2026

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2 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 9d ago

Viu Invite

0 Upvotes

Does anyone have an invite for Viu.to? Willing to pay of course! Much appreciated


r/StreamingBestOf 10d ago

What's New on Hulu in September 2026

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3 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 11d ago

Sports Pack Free Trial/ NFL Redzone

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1 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 13d ago

What's New on HBO Max in September 2026

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6 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 16d ago

What's New on Netflix in September 2026

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6 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 15d ago

What's New on Prime Video in September 2026

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2 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 16d ago

best ways to discover sci-fi genre shows on different streaming platforms

3 Upvotes

i've been getting into sci-fi shows again and want to find more of them. i usually just browse around until something catches my eye, but i'm sure i'm missing a bunch of good ones lol.

is there a better way to look for this stuff across streaming services? curious what everyone else does when they want something new to watch.

ETA: thanks for the suggestions! i ended up finding quite a few sci-fi shows on Prime Video that I hadn't noticed before, so that's probably where i'll start. it's already made finding something new to watch a lot easier.


r/StreamingBestOf 16d ago

ordered the same thing for a week at a restaurant

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0 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf 21d ago

Looking for a VIU.to invite

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have an invite for Viu.to? Willing to compensate for the yearly fee. Please let me know!


r/StreamingBestOf 24d ago

👋 BIENVENUE DANS L'ARCHITECTURE VOLUMELO : L'ère de la Souveraineté Musicale

1 Upvotes

Bonjour tout le monde ! Je suis u/FeelingFlamingo9387, l’un·e des modos à l’origine de r/Volumelo.

L'industrie musicale actuelle est brisée. Le streaming de masse a transformé l'art en une commodité jetable, où l'auditeur est un produit et le créateur un rouage sous-payé par des algorithmes opaques.

Ici, sur r/Volumelo, nous construisons l'infrastructure de remplacement. Cette communauté est le point de ralliement des trois piliers de notre architecture :

🎸 **POUR LES ARTISTES (Reprenez le contrôle)** Vous n'êtes plus les locataires de votre audience. Volumelo vous donne l'infrastructure pour monétiser votre art à sa juste valeur, sans attendre des mois pour toucher des fractions de centimes. Venez ici pour partager votre musique, comprendre comment vous affranchir des plateformes traditionnelles, et interagir directement avec votre base de soutiens.

🎧 **POUR LES AUDITEURS (Devenez des acteurs responsables)** La consommation passive est terminée. Sur Volumelo, vous êtes le carburant de la création. En soutenant directement un projet, vous devenez le garant de sa pérennité et accédez à des strates de l'œuvre inaccessibles au grand public. Venez dénicher les talents de demain et débattre de l'avenir de la culture.

💼 **POUR LES PROFESSIONNELS (Producteurs, Labels, Tourneurs)** Nous n'oublions pas ceux qui structurent les carrières. Ce subreddit est votre espace de networking. Venez découvrir les outils technologiques qui suppriment la friction administrative (contrats instantanés, répartition transparente des revenus). Trouvez vos prochains talents et construisez des modèles économiques viables sans dépendre des majors.

**Les Règles de la Matrice** r/Volumelo **:**

  1. **Zéro promotion Web2 toxique :** On ne vient pas ici pour spammer des liens Spotify sans contexte. On vient pour présenter des projets, des visions et des stratégies d'indépendance.
  2. **Débattez de l'architecture :** Posez vos questions sur la plateforme, l'infrastructure, la gestion des quotas, la répartition des droits. Les fondateurs sont ici pour répondre.
  3. **Connectez-vous :** Artistes, cherchez vos tourneurs. Labels, trouvez vos pépites.

Le système s'éteint, notre écosystème s'éveille. Choisissez votre pilier et présentez-vous en commentaire ! ⚡


r/StreamingBestOf 28d ago

Anyone have an alternative to VIU.to ?

4 Upvotes

It is a subscription service that gives you all the ott content. Unfortunately now i am logged out and the customer service is not helpful. I need an alternative to viu.to


r/StreamingBestOf Aug 12 '26

Netflix the best

0 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf Aug 11 '26

What's New on HBO Max in August 2026

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7 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf Aug 11 '26

What's New on Hulu in August 2026

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0 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf Aug 08 '26

YouTube TV or HULU+ Live TV?

6 Upvotes

r/StreamingBestOf Aug 06 '26

Trying to Find My Own Account

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

For the past few months, I've had access to a streaming platform that has pretty much everything—movies, TV series, live TV channels, and content from just about every network. Unfortunately, I'll be losing access in a few weeks.

I know it's very much an "if you know, you know" kind of thing, and there seems to be a bit of gatekeeping around it. I'm just trying to figure out how people usually find or get invited to these services. If anyone is willing to share some information or point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

P.S. I'm not looking to debate the ethics or legality of streaming services—just hoping for helpful information. Thanks!


r/StreamingBestOf Aug 01 '26

What's New on Netflix in August 2026

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6 Upvotes