Best Specialty Streaming Services Beyond Netflix and Hulu in 2025

Find Content That Matches Your Specific Interests and Hobbies

While Netflix and Hulu offer thousands of movies and shows, sometimes you want something more specific. Maybe you love British mysteries, classic movies, or documentaries about history. Specialty streaming services focus on particular types of content, often providing deeper collections than the big general services.

These niche services typically cost much less than cable and let you dive deep into your favorite genres. With Starry's reliable internet, you can explore these specialized platforms without worrying about buffering during your favorite programs.

Why Consider Specialty Streaming Services

Better Selection: Deeper collections in your favorite genres than general services Lower Cost: Most cost $5-12/month, much less than cable No Contracts: Cancel anytime if you don't find enough content you enjoy Expert Curation: Content chosen by specialists in each field Exclusive Content: Shows and movies you can't find anywhere else

Best Specialty Services by Interest

For Documentary Lovers

CuriosityStream ($5/month, $50/year)

What You Get: Over 2,000 documentaries on science, history, nature, and technology Best for: People who love learning and exploring new topics

Popular Content:

• History documentaries about World War II, ancient civilizations
• Nature programs about wildlife and conservation
• Science shows about space exploration and medical breakthroughs
• Biography series about historical figures

"I cancelled cable and got CuriosityStream instead. The history documentaries are fascinating, and I learn something new every day. Much better than flipping through channels." - Margaret, age 72, Seattle

Kanopy (Free with library card)

What You Get: Educational documentaries, classic films, and foreign cinema Best for: Library cardholders who want free, high-quality content

How it Works:

• Use your local library card to sign up
• Stream documentaries, classic movies, and educational content
• Completely free with most public library systems

For Classic Movie Fans

TCM+ ($6/month, $60/year)

What You Get: Classic movies from Hollywood's golden age, hosted by Turner Classic Movies Best for: Fans of movies from the 1930s-1980s

Why Seniors Love It:

• Movies from your youth and favorite decades
• Expert commentary and background stories
• No commercial interruptions
• High-quality restored versions of classic films

Tubi (Free with ads)

What You Get: Thousands of older movies and TV shows at no cost Best for: Budget-conscious viewers who don't mind occasional ads

Content Includes:

• Classic TV shows from the 1960s-1990s
• Older movies across all genres
• Some newer independent films
• Completely free to use

For British Programming Enthusiasts

BritBox ($9/month, $90/year)

What You Get: The largest collection of British TV shows and movies Best for: Fans of British mysteries, comedies, and dramas

Popular Shows:

• Classic "Doctor Who" episodes
• British mystery series like "Midsomer Murders"
• Comedy classics and period dramas
• BBC nature documentaries

Why It's Great:

• Content you can't find on other services
• New British shows added regularly
• No commercials
• High-quality streaming

For Faith-Based Content

Pure Flix ($13/month, $130/year)

What You Get: Family-friendly movies, documentaries, and original series Best for: Viewers seeking uplifting, faith-based entertainment

Content Types:

• Inspirational movies and documentaries
• Family-safe programming for all ages
• Bible studies and Christian education
• Holiday specials and seasonal content

For International Programming

MHz Choice ($8/month, $80/year)

What You Get: Foreign language dramas, mysteries, and documentaries Best for: Viewers interested in international perspectives

Programming Includes:

• European crime dramas and mysteries
• French, German, Italian, and Scandinavian shows
• International documentaries with English subtitles
• Award-winning foreign films

For Arts and Culture

BroadwayHD ($9/month, $99/year)

What You Get: Professional recordings of Broadway shows and musicals Best for: Theater lovers who want to experience Broadway at home

Available Shows:

• Current and classic Broadway musicals
• Behind-the-scenes documentaries
• Opera and ballet performances
• Concert recordings from famous venues

For Educational Content

MasterClass ($15/month, $180/year)

What You Get: Expert-taught classes on various subjects Best for: People who enjoy learning new skills and hearing from experts

Class Topics:

• Cooking with famous chefs
• Writing with bestselling authors
• History with renowned historians
• Music with legendary performers

Free Specialty Options

YouTube (Free)

Specialty Channels for Seniors:

• Classic TV episodes from many old shows
• History documentaries from educational channels
• Cooking shows and recipe demonstrations
• Travel programs exploring different destinations

Library Services

Hoopla and Kanopy: Free with most library cards

• Classic movies and documentaries
• Educational content and foreign films
• No monthly fees if you have a library card

Pluto TV (Free with ads)

Specialty Channels Include:

• Classic TV channel with old shows
• Documentary channels covering various topics
• Classic movie channels organized by genre
• News channels from around the world

How to Choose the Right Service

Consider Your Interests

• Love documentaries? Try CuriosityStream or Kanopy
• Miss classic movies? TCM+ or Tubi work well
• Enjoy British shows? BritBox is your best choice
• Want to learn new things? MasterClass offers expert instruction

Start with Free Trials

Most services offer 7-30 day free trials. This lets you:

• Browse their content library
• Test streaming quality with your internet
• See if there's enough content you enjoy
• Cancel before any charges if it's not for you

Budget Considerations

You don't need multiple services at once:

• Try one service per month to explore different options
• Cancel services when you've watched what interests you
• Rotate subscriptions based on new content releases
• Combine one specialty service with your main streaming service

Internet Requirements

These specialty services work well with basic internet speeds:

• Standard definition: 3 Mbps
• High definition: 5 Mbps
• Multiple devices: 25+ Mbps

Starry's internet speeds easily handle multiple streaming services simultaneously, so you can browse on your tablet while streaming on your TV.

Setting Up Specialty Streaming Services

1. Visit the service's website or find their app on your TV
2. Sign up for a free trial if available
3. Browse their content to see what interests you
4. Test streaming quality during different times of day
5. Cancel before trial ends if you don't find enough content

Most services are as easy to use as Netflix or Hulu once you get started.

Cost Comparison with Cable

Cable TV with premium channels: $120-150/month

Specialty streaming combination examples:

• Netflix + CuriosityStream + BritBox: $28/month
• Hulu + TCM+ + Pure Flix: $32/month
• YouTube TV + specialty service: $80/month

Even with multiple specialty services, you'll save $500-800 per year compared to cable.

Getting Help

Need help choosing services? Visit a Starry store where our team can discuss which specialty services might match your interests and work best with our internet speeds.

Having trouble with setup? Most services offer phone or email support to help you get started. You can also ask tech-savvy family members for assistance.

Our Recommendations

For documentary lovers: Start with CuriosityStream - excellent value with high-quality content

For classic movie fans: Try TCM+ for premium classic films or Tubi for free options

For British TV enthusiasts: BritBox has the most comprehensive collection

For budget-conscious viewers: Start with free options like Tubi, Pluto TV, and library services

Managing Multiple Services

Rotation Strategy:

• Subscribe to one specialty service per month
• Watch content that interests you
• Cancel and try a different service next month
• Return to favorites when new content is added

Budget Management:

• Set a monthly streaming budget (like $20-30)
• Choose 2-3 services that fit within your budget
• Cancel services you're not actively using

The Bottom Line

Specialty streaming services let you dive deep into your specific interests for much less than cable costs. Whether you love documentaries, classic movies, British shows, or educational content, there's likely a service designed just for you.

Ready to explore specialty streaming?

• Start with free trials to find services you enjoy
• Ensure you have reliable internet for smooth streaming (call Starry at 1-888-STARRY-1)
• Try one service at a time to avoid subscription overload
• Cancel services you don't use regularly

Questions about specialty streaming services with Starry internet? Visit our website where our team can help you find services that match your interests and work perfectly with our network speeds.