Alternative Streaming Sites With Apps Similar To Netflix- Free & Paid

Whether you’re looking for alternatives streaming sites similar to Netflix and Hulu, or want to increase your movie and TV choices, here are several alternatives streaming platforms to choose from, both free and paid, some with apps similar to Netflix.

By Annie André ⦿ updated January 10, 2024  
feature image: Alternative streaming video sites with apps similar to Netflix
feature image: Alternative streaming video sites with apps similar to Netflix

Whether you’re looking for alternative streaming movie sites similar to Netflix and Hulu, or want to increase your movie and TV choices, here are several alternative streaming platforms to choose from, both free and paid, some with apps similar to Netflix.
I cut the cable years ago thanks to streaming services like Hulu and Netflix.

Then I moved to France in 2011 and discovered that I couldn’t watch Netflix or Hulu because we and everyone outside of the US were GEO blocked. If you’re not familiar with the term “GEO blocked”, sometimes called “region-blocked”, it simply means you can’t view certain streaming platforms and web content if you’re outside of a particular geographical region. 

image of spotify geo blocked

Luckily, I discovered VPN‘s (virtual private networks), which assigns users a new IP address based in the US and I could magically watch Netflix and Hulu again.  

 Flash forward a few years to 2014, I didn’t need a VPN to watch streaming movies on Netflix anymore because Netflix finally made itself available to viewers in France. Unfortunately, the entire video library isn’t available to people viewing Netflix outside of the US. 

That’s when I started looking for alternative streaming platforms similar to Netflix and was surprised to find a wide and varied amount of streaming sites for just about anyone. 

Alternative Streaming Video Sites Similar To Netflix

Here are some of the more interesting streaming movie and TV sites I found similar to the Netflix

Keep in mind; you may get blocked from viewing the streaming content on some of these platforms if you live outside of the US, and you’ll need to use a VPN

Pin alternate streaming video sites with apps similar to Netflix

 

Tubi

Tubi is a streaming service owned by Fox. It’s ad-supported and completely free. You won’t find anything too recent, but they claim to have the largest collection of FREE movies and TV series, somewhere in the ballpark of 20 000. Unfortunately, Tubi is NOT available in Europe due to changes in EU laws. 

Popcornflix

Popcornflix is another free streaming site like Tubi that’s also ad-supported. You won’t see any current blockbusters; however, It features independent feature films. 

Philo TV

Philo is a streaming TV service that has about 60 channels and costs 20 dollars per month. It doesn’t have much in the way of local sports and news, but it’s perfect if you’re a pop culture fan and only want to watch TV Shows. 

Sling TV

Dishnetwork owns sling TV. It’s the closest competitor to Philo TV. But unlike Philo TV, Sling TV has three packages from 30 to 45 USD, which offer a variety of popular cable and broadcast channels with no long-term contracts or rental equipment. Sling also offers local broadcast channels, such as FOX and NBC. 

Funimation

Funimation is a video streaming service with a focus on dubbed anime series for English speakers who want to watch hundreds of shows without reading subtitles. The cost is around 6 dollars per month. 

YOUTUBE-TV is an Alternative streaming video sites with apps similar to Netflix

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a streaming service designed for those who want to watch traditional local sports, news and cable broadcast channels without actually having cable. Shows like HGTV, Disney Channel, CW, Oxygen and more. Currently, there are over 70 channels to choose from. At 49 USD per month, the price is steep compared to other TV streaming services. 

Filmstruck

Netflix may be the most well-known movie and TV streaming site in the world, but if you’re a classic film enthusiast, there aren’t that many choices on Netflix. Enter Filmstruck. It costs roughly the same as Netflix and has a relatively large selection of classic, foreign, independent and rare movies, some dating back to the early 1900s.

ShoutFactoryTV

The ShoutFactoryTV library has a relatively large curated library full of cult TV shows, movies, comedy, original specials and more. Think Godzilla, Elvira and Mystery Science Theatre.

Amazon prime video is an Alternative streaming video sites with apps similar to Netflix

Amazon Prime Video

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you not only enjoy free 2-day shipping on your Amazon orders, you also have free access to Amazon Prime video: a massive library of streaming movies and TV series which are included in your Amazon Prime subscription.free trial to amazon prime membership

Amazon Prime TV Channels List

For an extra fee, Amazon Prime subscribers can expand their streaming Amazon Prime Video selection by signing up for Amazon Channels, an add-on subscription service. Doing so gives you access to over 100 third-party channels such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian Earth, Comic-con and many more.

Each additional channel you sign up for costs an additional $4 to $15 per month, and many offer a free 7-day trial. You can subscribe to Amazon channels through the main Amazon website or the Amazon mobile app. Once you do, the video content is available directly through the Prime Video app. 

The main benefit of using Amazon Prime Channels is that you have one place to view all your channels and one bill at the end of the month. 

Here is a sampling of the Amazon Prime channel add-ons. 

Movies & TV Series

  • Cinemax – Original shows, movies & more ($9.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Best TV Ever – TV classics ($0.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Brown Sugar – Black and African American movies ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • CineFest (FlixFling) – For movie buffs ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Cohen Media Channel – Classics/foreign/indies ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • CONtv – Comic-Con ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Fandor – Independent/docs/foreign films ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Filmbox Live – Indie/art films ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • HBO – Series, movies, docs, comedy specials, kids/family shows, sports, and more ($14.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Indie Club – Independent films ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Lifetime Movie Club – Lifetime movies ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Magnolia Selects – Indie/action/horror/comedy films ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • MubiTV – Picked by experts ($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • PREMO – From diverse view ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Shout! Factory TV – Cult/classic movies, shows, cartoons ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • SHOWTIME – Access to series, popular movies, docs, comedy, sports, and more ($10.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • STARZ –A uniquely curated collection of films for the movie buff in everyone. ($8.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Sundance Now – Popular movies/series ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Tribeca Shortlist – A diverse selection of films and features handpicked by actors, directors ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • UMC (Urban Movie Channel) – Urban variety ($4.99/month after 30-day free trial)
  • Warriors and Gangsters – Action ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)

Horror Channel

  • Destination Unknown – Ghosts/monsters ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Fear Factory – eerie, fun flicks that bring the bump in the night. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Full Moon – Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, cult, and decades of bizarre genre films. ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • J-Edge — Japanese horror ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  •  
  • Monsters and Nightmares – Horror films ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Screambox – Horror movies ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Shudder  – Curated by horror aficionados devoted to all varieties of horror. ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)

Education, Documentaries & History

  • CuriosityStream – Nonfiction programs exploring science, technology, history, and nature. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Daring Docs – Thoughtful and provoking documentaries on hot topics and social issues. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • DocComTV –  Docs and biographies ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Docurama – Award-winning docs ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • DOX – Award-winning documentaries from cutting-edge filmmakers around the world. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Green Planet Stream – Nature/environment($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • HISTORY Vault – Hundreds of hours of curated historical videos. ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • NatureVision TV –Hours of uninterrupted footage of the world’s most beautiful and pristine places. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Smithsonian Channel Plus –Captivating nature & wildlife documentaries, stunning Nature Scenes, and fascinating shorts. ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • SpaceRip –  Breathtaking collections of space and astronomy videos. ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • The Great Courses Signature Collection – Video learning in science, art, and more. ($7.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • True Crime Files by ID – Mystery/suspense shows ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial
  • Sundance now Doc Club –A handpicked curation of award-winning documentaries. ($6.99/ Mo – 7 Day Free Trial)

Fitness

  • AcaciaTV – Hundreds of fun and effective workouts for every fitness level. ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • BeFit – The best workout solution for anybody. Transform Yourself. ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Daily Burn – Workouts from trainers  ($14.95/month after 7-day free trial)
  • FitFusion – Jillian Michaels ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Gaia – Yoga, meditation, documentaries, and original programming to expand your horizons  ($9.95/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Gilad TV – Gilad Janklowicz  ($9.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Grokker Yoga and Fitness – Classes ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • SweatFlix – Workouts/motivation  ($9.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Yoga Anytime Channel – Yoga ($8.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Yoga International – Yoga classes/workshops/tutorials  ($14.99/month after 7-day free trial)

Video Game Comic Con Genre

Contv – TV shows and coverage from Comic-Con events nationwide. ( $4.99/ Mo – 7 Day Free)

Humour & Comedy Channels

  • Comedy Central Now – TV and specials ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Next Up Comedy – UK Comedy ($3.50/month after 7-day free trial)

Kids & Family Friendly Channels

  • 88bb — Kid shows in Chinese  ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • All Babies Channel (ABC) – Classic songs for young kids ($1.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Boomerang — Cartoons ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Dove Channel – For families ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • DreamWorks TV – Magi, science for kids ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Hallmark Movies Now – Stories for families ($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Kidstream — For kids of all ages ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • KIKIRIKI – Preschool shows ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • HooplaKidz Plus – Rhymes/food/art/educational ($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Noggin – Preschoolers ($7.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • NickHits – Popular shows ($7.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Nursery Rhymes Club – Educational for kids ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • PBS KIDS – Hundreds of episodes ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Pokémon – Cartoon adventures ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Toonscape – Cartoons ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)

Foreign & Indie Channels

  • BongFlix – Bengali movies ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Eros Now – Bollywood movies ($7.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Eurocinema Carte Blanche — European & international movies ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • FilmDoo – International films ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • IndieFlix Shorts – Short films ($2.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Indiepix Unlimited – International films ($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • MHz Choice – International stories ($7.99/month after 7-day free trial)

British Channels

  • Acorn TV – British TV ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Best of British TV (BOB) – British TV ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Britbox – British TV ($6.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • PBS Masterpiece – British drama/mystery ($5.99/month after 7-day free trial)

Food & Cooking

  • El Gourmet –Spanish cooking show ($3.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • FMTV Food Matters TV – Education and inspiration ($9.95/month after 7-day free trial)
  • PANNA – Video recipes from chefs ($1.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Paula Deen Network – Paula’s cooking/lifestyle/vintage shows ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)
  • Tastemade – Food, travel, lifestyle TV ($4.99/month after 7-day free trial)

There are hundreds more streaming sites but:

There are hundreds of “legal” streaming sites out there, however, checking them all to see what’s playing gets old fast. That’s why I stick mainly to Netflix and supplement it with one or two additional streaming services. Personally, I use Netflix and Amazon prime channels, but if you want to watch local TV and Cable, then you may want to supplement with a streaming TV service like SlingTV or Youtube TV. 

Unfortunately, if you live outside of the US, you’ll get geo-blocked and will need to use a VPN. Both Amazon and Netflix are available to watch internationally; however, the selection of streaming content is smaller outside of the US due to licensing laws. 

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a 'petite commission' at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my links. It helps me buy more wine and cheese. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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Annie André

Annie André

About the author

I'm Annie André, a bilingual North American with Thai and French Canadian roots. I've lived in France since 2011. When I'm not eating cheese, drinking wine or hanging out with my husband and children, I write articles on my personal blog annieandre.com for intellectually curious people interested in all things France: Life in France, travel to France, French culture, French language, travel and more.

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