Free streaming service with more than 30,000 movies and NO ads – and all you need is a library card
Technology
There is a little-known streaming service that offers films and shows for free
(Web Desk) – There is a little-known streaming service that offers over 30,000 films and shows for free - and it doesn't force adverts on you.
Following Netflix's password sharing ban and the prospect of a similar move from Disney+, it may be time to dip your toes into new streaming waters.
Kanopy is video streaming service that specialises in indie cinema and foreign movies, and hosts critically-acclaimed titles like Donnie Darko and Parasite.
It also features kids shows and read-along storybooks for bedtime routines.
All you need is a library card to use it free of charge.
Alternatively, you can also sign up for free if you're a student or a professor at college or university.
To offer so much for free, Kanopy partners with public libraries and universities to brings viewers ad-free content that can be watched on the TV, on a smartphone or on a laptop.
"Kanopy does not charge you because the public library or university covers all associated costs, allowing you to watch for free with no ads," the company writes.
The app is available on Apple TVs, Roku, Chromcast, AndroidTV, Amazon Fire and Samsung tellys.
However, there is a limit to how much content you can watch on Kanopy.
Each viewer is granted a set number of Play Credits each month which are spent on viewing content - although this number can grow if you're a member of multiple libraries.
Viewers then have around 48 to 72 hours to watch content before that Play Credit times out.
It's important to note there are some Credit Free movies you can watch, and the Kanopy Kids section is free for unlimited viewing.
To see if your library has made Kanopy available, type the name of your local public library in here.
As for colleges and universities, to see if yours has access to Kanopy, simply search here.
If your library isn't listed, Kanopy gives offers a "Can't find your library" form that can be filled out to request that your library makes the streaming service available.
