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Here are several lesser-known Canadian streaming services

Concerts, reality TV, horror, LGBTQ+, sports -- you name it, and there's probably a streaming service for it

Bradly Shankar
Aug 25, 20217:02 AM EDT 87 comments

It’s no secret that there are a lot of streaming services on the market.

The major global ones are Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+ and Netflix, but then it gets more complicated when you consider what’s available in each country.

For example, Hulu and HBO Max are only in the U.S., so their content is instead regularly divvied up between Prime Video, Bell’s Crave service and Disney+ Star in Canada. (Weirder still are the licensing arrangements, like with the Oscar-winning Nomadland — which Disney touted earlier this year as a big Hulu/Disney+ Star original — that’s coming to Crave months later.)

All of that is to say that the streaming landscape is vast and fairly confusing even when looking at the big players. Naturally, though, it’s even more complicated when you consider the smaller services.

That’s what this feature is all about. After being inspired by Canadian journalist Julia Alexander’s great breakdown of U.S. streaming services for The Verge, we’ve decided to look at the rather niche platforms that populate Canada’s digital market. If you can think of a genre of film or TV, chances are there’s a service that covers that kind of content.

With all of that in mind, keep on scrolling for a roundup of a bunch of the lower profile streaming services — some you probably know, but many you likely don’t — that are available in Canada.

Acorn TV

Acorn TV focuses on content from Britain and beyond, such as The Brokenwood Mysteries, Deadwater Fell and Jack Irish. Because parent company RLJ Entertainment has a majority stake in the Agatha Christie brand, there are also many adaptations of the famous author’s work on the service.

Cost: $7.49 CAD/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, smart TVs and the web (also a Prime Video channel)

AMC+

This streaming bundle offers content from AMC proper, as well as related brands like BBC America, IFC, Shudder and Sundance Now. In addition to early access to AMC titles like The Walking Dead, AMC+ also offers new series like Kevin Can F*** Himself (starring Ottawa’s own Annie Murphy) and popular older shows like Mad Men and Orphan Black (starring Regina’s own Tatiana Maslany).

Cost: $8.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (as a separate paid channel)

BritBox

Co-owned by the BBC, here’s another British programming-centric service. The service has prominent legacy content like Coronation Street and Doctor Who, as well as originals like A Confession, The Pembrokeshire Murders and Line of Duty.

Cost: $8.99/month or $89.99/year
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Roku, smart TVs, and the web (also a Prime Video channel)

CBC Gem

The CBC has its own streaming platform which has all kinds of programs from its network, including Kim’s Convenience, Murdock Mysteries and Schitt’s Creek, as well as news, documentaries, sports coverage and more.

Cost: Free with ads or ad-free for $4.99/month with Premium
Free trial: N/A
Platforms: Android, Fire TV, iOS, smart TVs and the web

Cottage Life

Outdoor living, food, real estate, DIY programming — Cottage Life covers all of this and more. The service’s catalogue includes the Rebel Wilson-hosted Pooch Perfect, The Great British Baking Show Masterclass and Dogs With Extraordinary Jobs.

Cost: $3.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Apple TV (as a paid channel)

The Criterion Channel

Access more than 1,000 classic and contemporary films from Hollywood, international studios, arthouses, indies and more. Highlights include films by the legendary directors Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) and Federico Fellini (8 1/2).

Cost: $10.99/month or $99.99/year
Free trial: Yes (14 days)
Platforms: Android, Fire TV, iOS, smart TVs, the web and Xbox

Crunchyroll

On top of having a slew of anime series (such as One Piece, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Attack on Titan), Crunchyroll also has manga, games and more.

It’s also worth noting that Sony recently acquired the service from AT&T. With Crunchyroll and its Funimation anime service (see below), Sony plans to “create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible.”

Cost: Free with ads, with ad-free options — Fan membership is $7.99/month (one device), Mega-Fan is $9.99/month or $99.99/year (everything in Fan plus offline viewing and more screens)
Free trial: Yes (14 days for Premium plans)
Platforms: Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, PlayStation 4, Roku, the web and Xbox One

CTV

Much of CTV’s new and old programming can be viewed on its website, be it Love Island, The Good Doctor or Transplant. Licensed films like Men in Black, Spider-Man 2 and Ali are also available.

Cost: Free with ads or sign in with your cable subscription for no ads
Free trial: N/A
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS, Samsung SmartTV, the web and Xbox.

Curiosity Stream

https://twitter.com/CuriosityStream/status/1427286405156323333

Rather appropriately, the service launched by The Discovery Channel founder John S. Hendricks is all about documentaries.

Altogether, Curiosity Stream has thousands of educational films, such as Alexander the Great, The True Story of King Tut’s Tomb, Armstrong, Stephen Hawking’s Universe and David Attenborough’s Light on Earth.

Cost: HD is $2.99/month or $19.99/year, while 4K is $9.99/month or $69.99/year
Free trial: No
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS, LG smart TVs, PlayStation 4, Samsung smart TVs, Sony smart TVs, the web and Xbox

DAZN

Sports fans will be interested in this one, thanks to its access to programming from the MLB, NFL, Premier League and more.

Cost: $20/month or $150/year
Free trial: Yes (30 days)
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS, PS4, Samsung SmartTV, the web and Xbox

Funimation

Like Crunchyroll, Funimation has thousands of hours of anime content ranging from My Hero Academia, Naruto and Dragon Ball Z.

However, as mentioned above, Sony is planning to merge Crunchyroll and Funimation at some point, so it remains to be seen exactly what will come out of that.

Cost: free with ads, with ad-free options — Premium is $5.99/month/month (two devices), Premium Plus is $7.99/month (everything in Premium and offline viewing) and Premium Plus Ultra is $99.99/month (everything in Premium Plus alongside annual anniversary gifts and two free rentals per year)
Free trial: Yes (14 days)
Platforms: Android, AndroidTV, Apple TV, iOS, Fire TV, LG smart TVs, PS4, Samsung smart TVs, the web and Xbox One

The Green Channel

As the name suggests, The Green Channel is all about environmental content. Access a variety of programs from independent creators from the likes of insects, wolves and humpback whales to plastic pollution, underwater caves and island paradises.

Cost: $9.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: iOS and the web

Hayu

Are you into shows like Keeping Up with Kardashians, one of the many The Real Housewives series or Jersey Shore? Then NBC Universal’s reality TV-focused platform Hayu is just for you.

Cost: $5.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Apple TV, iOS, Xbox and the web (also a channel on Amazon Prime Video)

Keep in mind, however, that the Apple TV app has been quite spotty in the past.

Nick+

Families will surely be interested in this one. As the official Nickelodeon streaming service, Nick+ is home to a variety of kid-friendly programming, including SpongeBob Squarepants, the original iCarly and The Legend of Korra.

Cost: $5.99/month
Free trial: Yes (30 days)
Platforms: offered as a channel on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV; once subscribed, you can stream on any platform that those services are available on, including iOS, Android, Apple TV and the web

OUTtvGo

OUTtvGo is all about LGBTQ+ programming. In addition to licensed content like RuPaul’s Drag Race, OUTtvGO has original titles like the Canadian cam model drama Cam Boy and reality dating show Group Sext.

Cost: $3.99 for one month, $21.99 for six months or $39.99 for 12 months
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, Roku and the web

Paramount+

The service formerly known as CBS All Access has a variety of content from Viacom’s various brands, including Paramount and CBS. Paramount+ has such series as NCIS, CSI and The Twilight Zone and Mission: Impossible, The Godfather and several John Hughes movies (like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).

It’s important to note, however, that Paramount+ Canada is far from identical to its U.S. counterpart. That version of the service offers all kinds of content that are either exclusive or made available a while before Canada. Instead, Canadians only have access to a selection of Paramount+ originals, including the iCarly reboot, The Good Fight and Infinite (although it came to Canada two months after the U.S.).

Cost: $5.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, Roku and the web

Plex

Here’s your all-in-one streaming service for older movies, shows and podcasts from such companies as Warner Bros., MGM and Lionsgate, as well as live TV from Crackle, AMC, Fail Army and more.

Cost: free with ads, or you can buy Plex Pass which starts at $6.49/month offline viewing, DVR, intro skips and more
Free trial: N/A
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, LG smart TVs, Roku, Samsung smart TVs and the web

Shudder

Shudder is tailor-made for horror and thriller aficionados. The service has original and exclusive programming like Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, Mandy (starring Nicolas Cage) and the COVID thriller Host and classics like John Carpenter’s Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Cost: $5.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Fire TV, Roku, the web and Xbox One

Sundance Now

Prestige dramas, thrillers and more make up Sundance Now’s catalogue, which includes the likes of the comedy series State of the Union (starring Rosamund Pike and Chris O’Dowd), true crime thriller Des (starring David Tennant) and thriller-drama Riviera with Julia Stiles.

Cost: $6.99/month or $59.99/year
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Roku and the web

Tubi

This Fox-owned service has thousands of films and TV shows spanning all kinds of genres, including such award winners as Whiplash and Boyhood; series like 3rd Rock From the Sun and the Midsomer Murders and superhero movies like Batman Forever and Blade II. Tubi is also slowly branching out into original content like Swim.

Cost: free with ads
Free trial: N/A
Platforms: Android, iOS, Roku and the web

Qello

Qello is a rather unique streaming service that gives you access to on-demand full-length concerts.

Alongside concerts featuring the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz and Nirvana, Qello also offers documentaries on such artists as Pink Floyd, Van Halen and Pearl Jam.

Cost: $11.99/month or $99.99/year
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Roku and the web

Smithsonian Channel

If the Smithsonian Institution’s museums, research facilities and magazines interest you, then, so too, should the eponymous channel.

Standout content includes How Did They Build That?, Battle of Okinawa in Color, The Battle of Normandy: 85 Days in Hell and Cher’s The Loneliest Elephant.

Cost: $3.99/month
Free trial: Yes (30 days)
Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (as a paid channel)

StackTV

Basically, this has got a big mash-up of Global TV, Food Network, HGTV Canada, Adult Swim, Teletoon and YTV, among other channels. That means it’s your one-stop shop for the likes of Rick & Morty, Big Brother, Vikings and The Good Witch.

Cost: $12.99/month
Free trial: Yes (seven days)
Platforms: Amazon Prime Video (as a paid channel)

Zee5

Get access to over 130,000 hours of South Asian content in 18 languages, including English, Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic.

Some of the platform’s key titles are 14 Phere, 200 Halla Ho, State of Siege: Temple Attack, Churails, Sunflower and Chintu Ka Birthday.

Cost: free with ads (a selection of titles) or the full catalogue and no ads with Premium ($9.99/month or $99.99/year)
Free trial: No
Platforms: Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung smart TVs and the web

And there you have it! There are so many streaming services that there are, undoubtedly, some that are missing here. In fact, the multitude of channels that are available on Apple TV and Prime Video alone could have made up their own list.

But even still, this is a fairly well-rounded list that has something for everyone.

It’s also worth noting that the website JustWatch is a really useful tool to figure out where a given movie or show is streaming in Canada. Therefore, you might find even more random services through that.

For now, though, which of these services are you signed up to? Are you even interested in any of them? Let us know in the comments.

Disclaimer: Cottage Life and Smithsonian Channel are operated by Blue Ant Media, the parent company of MobileSyrup.

MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.

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