14 Best Streaming Platforms For Under $5

Apple TV+ is an ad-free on-demand stream from Apple that costs $9.99 per month and is accessible in about 150 countries. The Apple TV+ app is accessible via Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac) and Apple TV. While Android phones and tablets are not supported, you can access Apple TV+ via Android-powered TV devices like Chromecast. It can be accessed via web browser and supported by PC, as well as Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Discovery+ is a streaming service from the famous mass media company that has an ad-supported plan for $5.99 a month and an ad-free plan for $9.99. This includes content from Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, ID, A&E, History, Lifetime, OWN, Travel, Science Network, and The Dodo. But beware, you cannot stream these channels live with a Discovery+, you can only watch their TV shows in playback.

Amazon Kids+ is a streaming service for kids 3 to 12. it features animation content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street and Cartoon Network, but also access to educational apps, games, and e-books. It costs $5.99/month if you already have Amazon Prime or $7.99/month if you don't.

Peacock is a streaming service owned by NBC, with options for paid subscriptions as well as a free plan. The free plan offers about 13,000 hours of ad-supported content, with the option to upgrade to premium for more access to content. The premium options include two plans: $7.99 a month or $80 a year for ad-supported; $13.99 a month or $140 a year for ad-free. With both premium plans, you'll get access to the full catalog of 2,000 movies and shows, including every episode of the original NBC series. You'll also get next-day access to all the new episodes of ongoing NBC shows, and early access to talk shows such as Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the air night. You can stream Peacock on Apple devices like the iPhone and Apple TV, Google devices like Android phones and Chromecast, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. But there is still no app available for Roku or Amazon platforms.

Magnolia Selects can be accessed via an array of iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as desktops and Roku devices. It is also available as a channel through Sling TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Subscriptions with unlimited access to Magnolia Selects cost $4.99 per month or a discounted $49.99 per year. 

Another plan is available for “sub-genre subscriptions” that gives access to specific genres (action, comedy, horror, documentary) for only $2.99 per month. 

Shudder is an on-demand streaming service dedicated to niche horror movies. In the US, a monthly subscription currently runs at $6.99 per month or  $71.88 per year. In 2020, Shudder extended its operations to Australia and New Zealand, where pricing differs. You can also sign up for Shudder via your Amazon Prime account. Shudder can be accessed via a full range of services including Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One and is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Short film streaming service Shortly has a wide array of titles, but it's especially focused on four genres: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers. The films are sourced from around the world, which makes sense given that the team behind them is based globally, and they're available to watch on major streaming devices. Signing up for an account is free, as is your first day of usage, but after 24 hours most titles will only be available if you subscribe to any of their two tiers. The lower one costs $2.99/month while the higher tier, which gives you access to even more short movies, costs $4.99/month.

MotorTrend OnDemand is a subscription service that specializes in motorsports and automotive content. It has 2,000 hours' worth of titles, which include historical archives, information programs, and reality shows. Roadkill and Ignition, original series that found their start on YouTube, have since been moved to the MotorTrend OnDemand platform, where they can be streamed exclusively. The auto-specific streamer also covers live racing events from all around the world, among them the Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain GT Series.

Lifetime Movie Club is a subscription video service that gives you access to thousands of original titles, many of which can also be found on its cable counterpart the Lifetime Channel. Lifetime movies are known for being unapologetically dramatic and occasionally sinister, so if you're one to indulge in such content, then this might be for you. Lifetime Movie Club also welcomes new movies to its library every Friday, as well as hosts a handful of syndicated shows, including the much-beloved Grey's Anatomy.

There are many streaming services out there dedicated to specific and underrepresented communities. Black-oriented streamers alone account for a significant portion. But Kweli TV stands out for its far-reaching and careful curation. It hosts films and series worldwide, many of which are festival winners and official selections from Africa and the Caribbean. It also claims to dedicate 60% of its revenue to content creators, so you can be sure your money goes to a good cause. On top of all this, Kweli TV also has a 24-hour live streaming service; a worthwhile package for just $1.99/month (without ads, it's $5.99/month).

IndieFlix is an online streaming service dedicated to independent filmmaking and is available in 85 countries. In the US, you can access IndieFlix for $4.99 per month, or a one-year subscription at a discounted $39.99. Patrons of IndieFlix may access IndieFlix free of charge.

CuriosityStream is an American streaming services that focuses on documentary movies and shows and is available in more than 175 countries.

In the US, pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for the basic plan, with an upgrade to the 4K Monthly plan available for $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. 

CuriosityStream can be accessed via web browser as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and has a mobile app that is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets. 

Countryline TV is a free streaming service that serves as the ultimate base of all things country music. A cost-free subscription gives you access to interviews, jam sessions, and behind-the-scenes content on your favorite country artists, while a premium subscription, which costs $3.99 a month, gives you access to all that plus full-length films, concerts, documentaries, and TV shows. If you can't get enough of that distinct Southern sound, then this streaming platform is worth giving a shot.

If you have a taste for Black-oriented films, particularly those made in the late 20th century featuring funky settings and action sequences, then Brown Sugar just might be for you. The streaming subscription service mainly curates titles from the so-called Blaxploitation era, while also offering newer content such as a documentary about Beyoncé and a movie starring Denzel Washington. It has a wide array of titles thoughtfully dedicated to those who appreciate this kind of content, and at only $3.99 a month, it's a niche service seriously worth considering.