Looking for a new subscription-based media service

May 26, 2016 8:28 AM

My sister and I share logins for several media services. Now we're looking for another one.

We're aware of the "big ones" (Hulu, Netflix, Apple Music, Spotify, Texture, HBO Now) and are looking for ones that are perhaps a bit less mainstream.

Looking to spend about $15-20 a month.

We live in different states in the northeast US.

Movies, TV, books, magazines, music are all fair game.

posted by Lucinda to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Best answer: I pay for a documentary streaming service .. I think it's pretty good.
posted by Jacob G at 8:34 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

Fandor if you like foreign films.
posted by brookeb at 9:00 AM on May 26, 2016

Criterion is leaving Hulu later this year to form a new subscription service with Turner Classic movies called FilmStruck. It hasn't launched yet but you might want to keep it on your radar.

My NYPL subscription gives me access to Flipster which has a good selection of mainstream magazines. I love it. I'd highly recommend checking to see if your local library subscribes.
posted by rdnnyc at 9:06 AM on May 26, 2016

Best answer: Comixology just announced Unlimited -- I'm in Canada so I can't subscribe (yet!) but it seems worth it.
posted by AmandaA at 9:07 AM on May 26, 2016 [2 favorites]

I absolutely love my texture subscription. Digital editions of maybe 50 or more magazines, from fashions mags like Vogue and Elle, shelter mags like Dwell and Architectural Digest, cooking mags like Cooking Light and Food and Wine, men's magazines, National Geographic, Newsweek, Time; I could go on and on. $14.99 which would buy maybe 2-3 single copy magazines and it keeps me busy reading all month.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 9:21 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

Acorn TV is a British TV streaming service.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:28 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

Oops, I see you listed texture. Sorry, I promise I read the question.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 9:36 AM on May 26, 2016

The Great Courses Plus
posted by sparklemotion at 9:55 AM on May 26, 2016

Audible for audiobooks
posted by KateViolet at 1:48 PM on May 26, 2016

Mubi for all of your arthouse film needs. I've LOVED the service, the movies have been excellent obscure/indie/foreign films that don't end up in the Netflix/HBO/Amazon vortex, and you can download them on your Ipad, for a period of time, which makes it perfect for flights.
posted by geryon at 2:18 PM on May 26, 2016

My mother watches feeln all the time and it was super cheap for me to get it for her. I get sucked into it from time to time. The price is so good that even if you only watch one sappy movie a month, it's still okay.
posted by myselfasme at 7:01 PM on May 26, 2016

I like AcornTV--mostly British, but some Australian shows & a few subtitled Scandinavian ones. I get my money's worth. Two other library services to look for are Zinio (like Flipster mentioned above, it's magazines. Zinio has a commercial version, too, so be sure to sign up through your library for free access) and Hoopla, which offers ebooks, movies, audiobooks, & music for immediate download. My library only allows 5 downloads a month, so might be hard to share a login. Hoopla is nice, though, compared to Cloud Library or Overdrive, because there are no hold lists--libraries pay by use. You can read/watch/listen right now. Check to see if your libraries have Hoopla here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/register
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 8:49 PM on May 26, 2016

I have heard podcast commercials for Seeso and for $3.99 a month, it seems promising.
posted by worlddisciple at 9:44 AM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: We went with the ones that I marked best answer, but they're all awesome choices. Thank you!
posted by Lucinda at 10:47 AM on May 31, 2016