Best Streaming Services (2023): Which Are Worth Your Money?

There are several specialist streaming services and channels that cater to specific interests. While they don’t have the breadth and depth needed to serve as your main streaming service, they may be worth adding on top or as part of a package.

For Documentary Fans

Curiosity Stream offers thousands of high-quality documentary films and TV shows, many of them originals, with plans that start at $3 a month or $40 a year. However, if you want 4K, extra content, and simultaneous streams, the price jumps to $10 a month or $70 a year.

MagellanTV has around 3,000 documentaries organized into genres like history, science, true crime, and the natural world. There are curated playlists that dig deeper into topics like life in the Middle Ages, and some documentaries are in 4K. It costs $6 a month or $60 a year.

For Classic Movies

The Criterion Channel boasts a library of more than 1,000 Hollywood classics and cinematic treats from around the world. It’s an eclectic mix that includes movies like Touch of Evil, Seven Samurai, Police Story, and the films of Buster Keaton. There are also commentaries and interviews with filmmakers. It costs $11 a month or $100 for a year.

For International Cinema

Mubi is a great place to find hand-picked international arthouse films. Students of cinema seeking obscure indies and influential classics will find a constantly updated and carefully curated selection. It costs $13 a month, but Prime members can add Mubi at a discounted rate of $6 a month.

For Horror Fans

Shudder dives deep into horror with movies and TV shows to unsettle and scare. You’ll find well-known older classics from House on Haunted Hill to the Phantasm series, alongside newer favorites like Insidious and The Babadook. Shudder costs $6 a month or $57 for a year.

For Reality TV Fans

Discovery+ is packed with familiar lifestyle shows, documentaries, and original reality TV shows, covering cooking, travel, home improvements, history, true crime, and more. The ad-supported tier is $5 a month, but you can pay $7 a month to go ad-free. You can also get Discovery+ shows as part of Max.

For Sports Fans

ESPN+ is a sports streaming service that shows some NHL and MLB games, college sports, and soccer, as well as commentary shows. It doesn’t have live NBA or NFL games, but sports are underrepresented in on-demand streaming, so fans might feel the $10 a month or $100 a year price is worth paying. ESPN+ is a better value if taken as part of a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for $13 a month.

For British TV Fans

Britbox claims to have more British boxsets than any other service. It has lots of old and new British TV shows and a few films produced by the UK’s public service broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. It costs $8 a month or $80 a year.

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