It's been a tough time for streaming services. The once-beloved platforms set to take on expensive TV contracts with quality programming, low monthly prices, and extra flexibility over how and where you view content are becoming shells of their former selves. With an almost overwhelming number of choices on the market, it's hard to know which are the best video streaming services.
The mainstream (pun intended) players like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video are still getting all of the attention; however, they are also the same services that are jacking up monthly subscription costs, removing content, introducing ads, and, in Netflix's case, stopping any account sharing, even between family members.
So, if, like me, you're starting to get fed up with these streaming conglomerates making their respective services less desirable by the day, you're probably wondering what the best course of action is.
My advice? Dig a bit deeper and see what alternative streaming services are offering right now – I've found that there are a few hidden gems out there when it comes to content and pricing. These services cater to specific genres and audiences and don't concern themselves with unnecessary additional features like interactive content and video games. Interested? Please do read on.
The Criterion Channel
If you're a film enthusiast, you'll likely have come across Criterion before. It's the organization behind the Criterion Collection, a series of home video releases that includes some of the most pivotal films in cinema history. Unique features and commentaries from directors, actors, and producers usually accompany it.
The Criterion Channel is a streaming service version of this idea, collecting over 1000 movies from acclaimed directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman, Michael Hanneke, Werner Herzog, and many more. Each film holds significance, whether it's a…