6 Netflix Alternatives You Need to Try if You’re Canceling Your Subscription

Netflix may have brought us into the streaming era, but many users are frustrated with the legendary streaming service’s strict account-sharing policies, and other major streamers are likely to follow (laaame). If you've been mooching off your ex's account, it's not like you'll be asking them to forward access codes when you’re just trying to binge The Great British Baking Show.

A few years ago, there may not have been many promising Netflix alternatives. Now they’re all over the place, and we’ve pulled together some of the best the internet has to offer. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to watch all sorts of shows from horror to humor, or you want to deep-dive into your most niche interest, take a look at what the internet has to offer. 

Hulu

Part of the appeal of Netflix was that it was basically a mall of content. At its best, Netflix had a few decent choices, from feel-good romance to grim existential horror. Hulu has that same vibe, and you don’t have to track how long it's been since you connected to a specific internet provider, unlike some streaming services. Hulu has plans starting as low as $8 a month, but their cheapest subscriptions do have ads. We like to think of those as built-in snack breaks!

Curiosity Stream

Miss the sound of David Attenborough's voice telling you how cool the ocean is? Curiosity Stream has that and worlds more. Interested in true crime? Space? Ancient civilizations? Cats? Curiosity Stream has a library with thousands of documentaries and docu-series for you to get lost in.

Explore collections dedicated to your favorite niche interest, listen to celebrity narrators like Nick Offerman and Queen Latifah, or browse until you find something awesome to learn about. New content is added every week, and it’s good stuff. The average rating for Netflix documentaries is just 7.4/10; meanwhile, Curiosity Stream won an Emmy, and you can get a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream for $169. That’s cheaper than a year of Netflix’s Standard Plan. 

Fearless Unlimited

Netflix used to get some serious praise for how diverse the casts often were in their original shows, but Netflix isn’t the only place you can go if you’re looking for a strong leading lady, well-rounded LGBT characters, stories from people of color, and more. Fearless features a library of over 3,000 titles, including more than 1,500 independent filmmakers creating documentaries, comedies, films, and series, including some animation. It’s a smorgasbord of stuff to watch where the unifying theme is inclusion. Stream on up to five devices at once with Fearless Unlimited and get a lifetime subscription with no recurring costs for only $29.99.

Relax My Dog

Dogs work hard, too, and they deserve to be able to sit down to their favorite shows after a long day of scratching, sniffing, and playing. Some studies have found that dogs really do like watching TV, but you’d be barking up the wrong tree if you asked them for recommendations. Pups typically go for shows that feature—surprise surprise—animals.

RelaxMyDog is a dog-centric streaming service with music and television created just for pups. Content runs on a loop, so your furry friend doesn’t have to sniff out something new to watch when their show ends. The content can only run on one device at a time, but you’ve got a lot of options between web, mobile, iOS, and Android. Not to mention, you can even pull up some quality dog programming on your smart TV. Treat your little floofer to some paw-some content and get a two-year subscription to RelaxMyDog Video Streaming for just $19.99. Honestly? The whole thing is pretty entertaining for humans, too.

Restflix

Dogs aren’t the only ones who like to relax by watching videos. Nearly two-thirds of Americans regularly fall asleep with the TV on. Whether you’re dozing to a nature documentary or listening to a show or movie you’ve watched a hundred times before, there’s no denying that it can be nice to have something playing you off to sleep. 

Restflix is made for the showtime snoozer. This sleepytime streaming service gives you 10+ personalized channels with soothing sounds, bedtime stories, and sleep meditations. All this relaxing content works on the same principles sleep scientists have been using for years to help your body and mind relax for a more restful night. A huge plus: There are no ads, so the peaceful illusion of your nighttime meditations won’t be shattered by someone telling you it’s time to think about your car’s extended warranty. 

It’s a different kind of movie night when Restflix is playing, and a lifetime subscription is only $99.99.

SelectTV

Kick it back to the golden days of television when you could flip to the TV Guide channel to see everything that’s playing. You may have a world of content at your fingertips with all your streaming services, but that doesn’t exactly make it easy to pick something to watch.

SelectTV organizes your streaming services into one hub where you can browse everything available. Flip between your faves on Prime Video, Apple TV, Crackle, and Paramount+ on unlimited devices. Watch a movie on Tubi while you wait for the latest episode of The Last of Us on HBO Max, or you can try any of the 500,000+ shows and movies SelectTV brings to the table. Check out new and familiar titles and some awesome deals on pay-per-view movies. A lifetime subscription to SelectTV is only $99.99, and it even comes with your own Local HD Antenna.

Prices subject to change.