Streaming has irrevocably changed the way people engage with movies and TV shows. Kanopy is a platform that functions as an on-demand video streaming platform for public and academic libraries. You can use the service for free if your library has tied up with the platform.
However, not everyone may have access to Kanopy content because it depends on partnerships with libraries. There may also be times when something you want to watch is not available on it. Therefore, we have compiled this list of the best Kanopy alternatives to help you find the stuff you want to watch.
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14 Best Kanopy Alternatives Free and Paid
Tubi TV
Tubi TV is the top platform for streaming free movies and TV shows. It has an extensive channel lineup and is home to thousands of feature films, indie movies, and originals. This is why Tubi TV is considered one of the best Kanopy alternatives.
You don’t need to create an account, but having one helps you bookmark favorites and resume playback after switching devices.
In addition to movies and TV shows, Tubi TV offers live sports, weather channels, and live news streams- both local and national. You can also watch reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Dance Moms here.
The on-demand library is quite impressive and features content from studios like Lionsgate, Warner Bros, and Paramount.
Tubi TV also lets you know which movies are newly added and which are leaving soon. You can browse genres or check out categories like Highly Rated or Trending Now to find something to watch.
Plex
The next Kanopy alternative on our list is Plex. It started as a media server but has now incorporated Tidal and free streaming TV as well. It is an easy jump if you already use Plex to store your media.
You can download the basic Plex app to watch content from various genres, such as drama, action, romance, and comedy. It is an ad-supported platform with tons of extra content due to its partnership with Crackle.
Plex offers 600+ channels, on-demand content like Broadchurch and Kitchen Nightmares, and live channels such as Hallmark and Stories by AMC.
You can save your watch history and resume watching the movie from where you left off if you have an account on Plex. The platform also lets you add titles to a watchlist and get alerts when they are available to stream.
Also Read: Jellyfin vs PlexTV which is better?
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is a Paramount-owned free streaming service and an excellent alternative to Kanopy. It started out as a live streaming platform offering multiple channels but is now mainly known for its on-demand and free content and 250+ live and linear channels. Pluto is a Paramount brand, so you can stream shows like Criminal Minds and Survivor here.
It is an easy-to-access app, and you can quickly switch between Pluto TV’s on-demand movie streaming and live TV service. Here, you can explore channels based on categories like news, sports, reality TV, comedy, and movies. Pluto’s watchlist feature is also available to users without an account.
Roku Channel
Roku Channel is the best choice for people who own Roku TV and streaming devices. This platform aggregates new and existing content and has over 350 live channels and 40,000+ titles, including a channel guide for its on-demand content.
You can find movies from studios like Lionsgate, MGM, Sony, and Warner on the Roku Channel. There are also live news and lifestyle channels, Roku originals like the Weird Al biopic, reality TV programs like Kitchen Nightmares, and popular shows like 2 Broke Girls available here. You can also stream anime on the Roku Channel.
This Kanopy alternative can be accessed on Roku devices, desktop web browsers, Amazon Fire TV, and its mobile app for Android and iOS.
Freevee
Freevee is a part of Amazon’s streaming business, which also includes Prime Video. Previously known as IMDb TV, it is an ad-supported platform with a surprisingly wide variety of movies and TV shows available for streaming. It additionally has a robust catalog of on-demand films and some 24/7 live channels.
You can stream popular movies like Crazy Rich Asians, The Blair Witch Project, and Lion on Freevee. Freevee also has some quality TV shows, including Midsomer Murders, Jury Duty, Puppy Love, Good Times, and Little House on the Prairie.
With ads, you can even watch full seasons of Prime Video originals like Homecoming and Upload for free. You don’t need a Prime membership to use Freevee, and you can access it via web browsers, the Freevee app, and even Prime Video.
Sling Freestream
Sling is rather expensive, with its live TV packages starting at $40, but Sling Freestream is different. A revamped version of Sling Free, it offers over 40,000 free on-demand titles and 400+ live channels. You can stream various kinds of content- news, entertainment, sports, and kids programming on the same platform with Sling Freestream.
It is one of the best Kanopy alternatives, and you can easily stream popular programs like Ryan’s World and Kim’s Convenience here. You can also create an account to have a more personalized streaming experience.
Sling Freestream lets you create profiles, use parental controls, and get better recommendations overall if you make an account. You can stream it via a web browser and the Sling app.
Crackle
Crackle is one of the best free Kanopy alternatives out there. It is an ad-supported platform that offers on-demand movies and TV shows, including web series and some original content.
You don’t necessarily have to make an account on Crackle. However, having one provides added benefits such as the ability to save favorites, adjust parental controls, save watch history and get personalized recommendations.
Crackle has over 300 shows, most of them older ones, such as The Carol Burnett Show, Alf, and Highway to Heaven. While the platform has a particularly excellent collection of B-movies, you can find content from every genre and era here.
Hoopla Digital
If you have a library card, then you should definitely check if your library has partnered with Hoopla. This is because this digital service can help you check out all kinds of stuff- books, movies, and TV shows. You can borrow a title for up to 72 hours. Your library decides the number of titles you can borrow in a month.
Hoopla Digital has no interruptive ads and offers both online streaming and a download option for offline viewing. Several mainstream titles like My Cousin Vinny, The Imitation Game, The Joy Luck Club, and Eagle Eye are available here. You can also stream instructional videos from The Great Courses, PBS Kids shows, and Acorn TV content on Kanopy.
Netflix
Netflix is, hands down, the best subscription-based alternative to Kanopy. Starting as a movie rental business, it is now the top streaming platform that has produced several critically acclaimed films and series. Netflix has a massive catalog, and no one comes close to its global content collection.
You can stream anything from network shows like Riverdale and Kim’s Convenience, originals like Breaking Bad, KDramas like My Demon and The King’s Affection, and anime such as Death Note and Spy x Family.
Netflix provides subtitles for all the content, and dubs are also available for a good number of shows and movies. It also has an intuitive user interface and recommendation algorithm.
Hulu
If paying for a subscription isn’t an issue, then do consider Hulu as a Kanopy alternative. It is a newer entrant in the market than Netflix, but it already has a decent library of movies, TV shows, and original programs.
Hulu has partnerships with top studios, bringing you shows like The Simpsons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Abbott Elementary, and Only Murders in the Building. It has been expanding its anime catalog as well, which includes popular series like My Hero Academia, One Piece, Black Clover and Attack on Titan.
While the Hulu base plan costs $7.99/month, you can get more value for money with bundled plans that also open up Disney+ and ESPN+ content along with the Hulu ones.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is a noteworthy Kanopy alternative that comes free with the Prime membership. It offers a massive collection of movies and TV shows that you can watch ad-free without breaking the bank. This includes several older classics and many original productions as well. From Fleabag to The Boys to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there’s a lot of quality content here to keep you engaged.
Prime Video is also at the top of the game when it comes to buying theatrical release rights. In other words, you can rent movies from the Prime Video store to watch before they are available for everyone. The only con is that navigating this platform can be confusing as the paid content is mixed in with free content.
Prime Video also lets you download content to watch it offline.
Max
HBO Max’s successor, Max, has the entire HBO library, all the DC Universe titles and almost every Studio Ghibli film you can think of. It is famous for hosting some of the best TV shows out there and is a bang for a buck with the quality it offers.
Many pop culture hits like Big Little Lies, Euphoria, Chernobyl, and Succession are all under the Max banner. Additionally, it has solid kids’ programming and offers excellent parental control tools.
The Max library is ever-expanding and now includes Discovery Plus unscripted content as well. All this, along with the quality of its catalog, makes it a top Kanopy alternative.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ does not yet have a huge library like Netflix or Prime Video, but it has way better quality content. This Apple venture has been behind some of the most acclaimed movies and series of modern times, such as Severance, Coda, and Ted Lasso.
The monthly subscription costs $9.99, and you can use Apple TV+ on a browser, smartphone, smart TVs, gaming consoles like Xbox and Playstation, and, of course, Apple devices.
Paramount+
Another option to consider in place of Kanopy to stream sports, live TV, and local news is Paramount+. It gives access to content from ViacomCBS, Paramount Picture, and channels like MTV, Comedy Central, etc. NFL, basketball, soccer, etc., are available to stream for sports fans.
The subscription is relatively affordable, as the ad-supported base plan starts at $5.99/month. Even the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan costs only $11.99/month.
