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Best Streaming Services for Documentaries [CNET]
Our Experts
Kourtnee Jackson Senior Editor
Kourtnee covers TV streaming services and home entertainment news and reviews at CNET. She previously worked as an entertainment reporter at Showbiz Cheat Sheet where she wrote about film, television, music, celebrities, and streaming platforms.
Expertise Cord-cutting | TV and music streaming services | Netflix | Disney Plus | Max | Anime | Interviews | Entertainment Credentials
- Though Kourtnee hasn’t won any journalism awards yet, she’s been a Netflix streaming subscriber since 2012 and knows the magic of its hidden codes.
What’s the best streaming service for documentaries overall?
We get it, the real-life aspect of documentaries is easy to get sucked into. If you’re looking for the best place to catch more, then you probably already know that there are many streaming services with just documentaries. However, the best documentaries aren’t necessarily on these dedicated platforms. Max and Netflix are top picks as they regularly have new and updated documentaries coming in. If you’re set on going somewhere specifically for documentaries Curiosity Stream has a great selection and price. Other platforms offer quality documentary movies and series, and we urge you to use those that fit your budget and preferences.
We’ve included niche services alongside mainstream names that you’re likely familiar with, as most platforms provide a slate of interesting, cinematic stories that touch on everything from fraud to wildlife to food to humanity. Even if you don’t see your favorite streaming service — like Discovery Plus — on this list, know that you can go on an intriguing journey with just a few clicks.
Read more: Free Movies: 9 of the Best Netflix Alternatives to Entertain You
Best streaming services for documentaries
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A prime destination for documentaries, Curiosity Stream offers nothing but edutainment-style content across multiple topics. You’ll find thousands of movies and series divided into genres such as tech, originals, nature, crime and biographies, and there’s even a section for kids. Topics span dinosaurs, Wall Street, oceans, spy missions, art heists and an array of figures in politics, film, history and beyond. A subscription is required, and pricing starts at $5 per month.
The app is available on a range of smart TVs and devices, including Amazon Fire Sticks, Xbox, Roku, Android and Apple phones and web browsers. You can also get Curiosity Stream as an add-on channel via Prime Video, Comcast/Xfinity, Sling TV for Fubo. Check the company’s site to verify whether your device is supported.
YouTube: There are YouTube accounts/channels specifically dedicated to documentaries that are accessible for free, but you have to do your own searching. Some examples include Free Documentary, Timeline and Frontline PBS. Subscribe to each individual channel to keep up with the latest releases.
OVID tv: This platform is another great option and offers more than 1,300 documentaries from around the world, with quality releases from distributors like the British Film Institute, Icarus Films and First Run Features. Animals, artists, food, wellness and more are on the app. It costs $7 per month.
You may not be familiar with every platform on this list, and it’s not a full collection of every documentary-filled streaming service or app. Other services that may offer what you want. As we analyzed these streaming platforms, we considered a few things. This list was compiled based on each service’s catalog (size, variety and content quality), app design (ease of use, accessibility and layout), features (like 4K, hubs or a number of multiple streams), and value (price compared to these other factors).
- Library: It’s all about the catalog size, subgenre offerings and quality. Are you a fan of zany documentaries about obscure or taboo topics? Do you dig human experience stories from indie directors? Some platforms have more of those than others. If you like science, music, art, history and biopic-style docs, then you’ll gravitate to services that offer all of that under one umbrella. And If you have kids, you’ll want platforms with enough age-appropriate content.
- Finding content: Is the interface user-friendly? It should be fairly easy to search for what you want, including titles, genres or designated docuseries if applicable.
- Price: How much do you want to pay each month? Services like Netflix and Max have more than just documentaries, which may provide value for your subscription. Others only offer documentaries, so you decide if it’s worth the price for a single type of content.
What about live TV streaming services?
Another option for streaming TV is to use a live platform like Sling or YouTube TV. They stream channels similar to linear TV without a contract and offer access to content about true crime, animals, celebrities and more. Pluto TV is free and has a selection of documentary-themed channels, but these live TV streaming services cost more than on-demand platforms.
What if I don’t want ads?
Expect to pay to stream without ads on streaming services like Netflix, Magellan, Max and Hulu. Most free services include ads (except Kanopy) because it’s how the platform is supported.
Which app is best for kids?
You’ll likely find the most family-friendly documentary content on PBS, Magellan, Kanopy and Curiosity Stream. Although Disney Plus is not on this list, it houses excellent content from National Geographic.
Other Services & Software
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