As the popularity of video streaming services grew exponentially across all sorts of content, it only took some time for documentary streaming services to captivate customers’ interests. Simultaneously, streaming giants such as Hulu and Netflix have huge collections of documentaries.
Here are our best picks that will fulfill your need for all the information you need on streaming documentaries. Discover the top 17 streaming sites for documentaries along with their features, offerings, pricing, pros, and cons.
Best Documentary Streaming Websites – Quick List
Short on time? Here are the 17 best sites where you can stream documentaries online:
- Netflix: A paid-on-demand site located in the US. The offering, accessible worldwide in multiple languages.
- Amazon Prime Video: A US rental and streaming service that can be accessed independently or with a membership.
- Disney+: The subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, one of Walt Disney Company’s largest business verticals.
- Hulu: An American subscription streaming service offering a wide library of documentaries.
- Max: Also known as HBO Max. it offers a vast library of blockbuster movies, hit series, and exclusive originals.
- Peacock TV: A popular platform with a vast user base and hundreds of documentries.
- Apple TV+: Owned by Apple Inc, it offers many original television series and movies.
- Mubi: Produces films created by novices and veterans alike in theaters, and film directors are available only on its site.
- Tubi: A legal and free entertainment platform which is supported by ads.
- Kanopy: A site different that others. It needs a library card to access.
- Ovid TV: Offers visionary cinematic innovation, sensitive analysis of hitherto unexplored lives and societies with contested beliefs or world views.
- Curiosity Stream: Delivers documentary content, including television series, and films.
- PBS: The Public Broadcasting Service is a non-commercial, free-to-air television network and public broadcaster of North America.
- History Vault: HISTORY Vault delivers hundreds of the best documentaries and shows from History.
- GuideDoc: It is a global web platform for viewing and distributing documentaries in various countries.
- MagellanTV: MagellanTV is a more complex streaming service but rather an expedition.
- Nebula: An independent streaming network designed by creators. It provides advertisement-free, clever podcasts, movies, and workshops for every age group.
17 Best Documentary Streaming Services Today – Detailed List
1. Netflix
$7.99 monthly (with ads)
A vast library
Library differs by regions
The most widely used streaming service, Netflix, has completely changed how we view films and live television today. Thanks to its cutting-edge technology, the site regularly rotates movies and other shows in and out of its collection. Because of this exclusive gift, you could find something more alluring while looking up what you want to watch before using the app.
Netflix’s compatibility with all Android and iOS devices is the cherry on top, enabling more accessibility anytime, anywhere, and however you choose. It also creates unique entertainment by working with global creators. In the streaming market, House of Cards and Stranger Things, for instance, are huge hits and are adored by all.
What’s it for?
Netflix offers a large range of high-quality documentaries to satisfy the needs of its audience. Sports fans may watch The Battered Bastards of Baseball. It tells the tale of a quirky group of baseball players in Portland, Oregon. The documentary series The Last Dance delves into Michael Jordan’s legacy. Last Chance U presents a charming portrait of junior college football players attempting to get admission to more esteemed universities.
2. Amazon Prime Video
$14.99 monthly
Offers downloads for viewing offline
Content monetized by ads
The list wouldn’t be complete without Prime Video because the service is the home of award-winning Amazon original series, blockbuster films, popular television shows, and sports. It’s interesting to note that having a Prime Video subscription grants you entry to all of Amazon Prime’s features, including free two-day delivery on qualified orders.
Two reduced Prime memberships are available: Prime Access for individuals receiving government assistance and Prime Student for higher education students. Although you can buy Amazon Prime Video on its own for $8.99, an Amazon Prime subscription costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Keep in mind that this bundle does contain fantastic advantages.
What’s it for?
Amazon Prime Video has a substantial documentary section featuring series you don’t normally see on other services. Highly politicized, usually contentious films dominate the documentaries on Prime Video. Not only does the platform have abundant accessibility features, such as audio explanations for individuals with vision problems, but it also offers 4K material that can be downloaded offline.
3. Disney+
$9.99 monthly (with ads)
Family-oriented content
Little variety outside of Disney.
Disney+ is the top streaming TV service available, focusing on providing families and kids with educational material. The platform provides five program categories for its subscribers: Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Pixar. This feature is particularly helpful for people not interested in traditional Disney material, especially now that Fox assets like The Simpsons are available.
In a similar vein, viewers may save shows or films to watch at a later time or day. Meanwhile, Disney+ streams live events and ESPN sports programs on Hulu and offers original and classic content.
What’s it for?
Users with compatible game consoles, tablets, smartphones, and web browsers may all access the streaming service. However, you might have trouble finding certain shows on the website when you’d like to view them since they are not arranged logically.
4. Hulu
$9.99 monthly (with ads)
A blend of original, vintage, and contemporary stuff
Small content library
This streaming service was launched in 2007 and is owned by The Walt Disney Firm. It’s still true that Hulu used to be seen as Netflix’s primary rival. Customers may now watch live channels previously only available with a cable connection, thanks to the company’s on-demand streaming and live TV offerings.
Hulu allows users to see adverts throughout any episode for a small monthly subscription fee to aid with cost savings. However, many continue to opt for the $18.99/month ad-free option. The platform has a minor problem regarding the number of displays you use simultaneously. If you are a subscriber, you may only watch on two screens simultaneously, regardless of your plan.
What’s it for?
Hulu offers several biopics and documentaries on well-known musicians, actors, and other pop culture characters. A few of its shows with a fashion theme are Dior and I, The First Monday in May, and McQueen. Although the site offers apps for virtually all streaming media players, Hulu’s basic subscription includes commercials. Also, only some 4K streaming and offline download features are available to subscribers of the ad-free tier.
5. Max
$9.99 montly (with ads)
Premium programming on HBO
Higher cost of subscription
Max combines material from Discovery Plus with a vast collection of popular films and TV shows, in addition to HBO’s library of original TV series.
Before the reorganization, HBO Max demonstrated its market potential, which increased its worth. HBO is a formidable competitor in the congested entertainment market because of its prestige series, action films, and unscripted programs. The platform is now available for streaming on iOS, Android, smart TVs, and console games (Xbox and PlayStation 4), which is a positive development.
HBO Max charges $9.99 for its base plan, which includes running advertisements, and $16.99 for an ad-free subscription.
What’s it for?
A wide variety of material is available on HBO Max, including blockbuster films, anime, live sports and news, classic HBO series, and reality TV. Some claim the platform has earned its reputation as a prestige TV, and its streaming service boasts the luxury of featuring recent Emmy-winning hits like The White Lotus and Succession alongside beloved classics like Friends.
6. Peacock TV
$10.99 monthly
Material from NBCUniversal
Restricted access with ads
NBC formed the streaming service called Peacock, with different plans to suit your taste in media. The parental controls that are included in the service will be helpful to families with little children.
The $10.99/month premium package gives you access to 80,000 hours of video, including Syfy, Bravo, and NBC favorites, but with advertisements. Users having the Peacock app on Android and iPhone smartphones, game consoles, and video streaming devices can also view films. Additionally, viewers may watch Peacock on Roku or Amazon Fire TV devices. However, this might change over time.
What’s it for?
You can watch hundreds of popular films, whole seasons of beloved TV series, and addictive Peacock Original series with Peacock Premium. You can also enjoy the newest TV shows from NBC and Bravo, live sports you can’t miss, Peacock Channels around the clock, daily live news, late-night programming, and more to satiate your FOMO.
The service has produced some of the finest shows, including underappreciated series like Twisted Metal and Poker Face. It keeps releasing intriguing new programs, such as the 1990s-set TV series sequel to Ted, with Seth MacFarlane’s voice from the films.
7. Apple TV+
It is Apple’s on-demand streaming platform. Apple TV+ charges a fair amount for a modest collection of excellent shows. But given how few movies it provides and how little sports or media coverage it has, it ranks rather low.
Nevertheless, Apple TV+ is a fantastic choice if you love Apple products; a monthly subscription of only $9.99 is required. You receive three months free if you recently bought a new Apple gadget. In addition to being a terrific method to get familiar with the service, the trial period allows you to binge-watch the whole collection during that time if that’s your thing.
What’s it for?
Even in its brief existence, Apple TV+ has established a reputation for housing pricey dramas, originals, and miniseries comedies. Although Ted Lasso, Black Bird, and The Morning Show have all been huge successes, the platform is still developing its identity and brand.
Every month, fresh, ad-free Apple Originals are released. Users can enjoy stunning 4K HDR visuals and captivating spatial audio. Up to five individuals can share a single subscription. However, Apple TV works on Apple devices specifically.
8. Mubi
$14.99 monthly
International independent film curator
Reduced in size library
Mubi is a global film distributor, production company, and streaming service. It functions much like a repertory theatre; you will find here films directed by seasoned and up-and-coming filmmakers. Mubi features a variety of movies from many genres and historical periods, and these programs are accessible for 30 days.
Every day, the site adds new films to its collection of content and deletes older ones. It is a fantastic method of guaranteeing that its subscribers will always have fresh content to watch. It’s also a ploy to force viewers to see certain films they may not have been keen to see because they won’t be around for long.
What’s it for?
Mubi frequently produces films that tackle serious issues. Its collection mostly consists of older arthouse documentaries rather than many celebrity scandal flicks. For example, Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris contains the background and eminent quotes from the well-known novelist and activist James Baldwin. Two other historical biopics include The Trials of Muhammad Ali and Between Fences (2016), which reflect a drama workshop in an Israeli jail.
9. Tubi
American-based Tubi TV is an online streaming service for free. Unlike similar other platforms that would demand over a $15 monthly subscription, Tubi is giving away its material for free.
However, you must sit through several advertisements. A wide range of on-demand material, including TV shows, films, and live-streaming channels, is available on Tubi.
The site depends on major studios, such as Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM, to supply thousands of hours of programming. The firm was established in 2014, and San Francisco is its headquarters.
The business also maintains branches in Australia and Canada. According to a report, Tubi currently has over 95 million active monthly users in 2025.
What’s it for?
The Tubi app is compatible with the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Roku, and Android and iOS smartphones. It is also possible to cast movies from the app to a television. Tubi may also provide free entertainment for kids. For this, you have to choose “Tubi for Kids” from the main menu on the app or website.
You can also find anime content here, including popular names like Space Dogs, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Sonic the Hedgehog. However, there are a few drawbacks. Shows can only have 720p video quality and cannot be downloaded for offline viewing.
10. Kanopy
Free
Great independent and instructional films.
Restricted accessibility
Academic library students may access films, TV series, and documentaries via Kanopy. This platform lets viewers access its content for free but pays content owners through a pay-per-view model. Due to the availability of indie films and documentaries, Kanopy bridges the gap left by the closure of independent theatres throughout the globe.
Australian businesswoman Olivia Humphrey founded Kanopy on December 25, 2008, in Scarborough, Western Australia. Its headquarters were relocated to San Francisco, California, a few years later.
What’s it for?
For those who wish to study without spending money, Kanopy is an excellent option. It’s free, but you need a library card or a university email to access it. Each month, you will receive 10 Play Credits that you may use to access material in the standard Kanopy collection.
However, you may watch the whole Kanopy Kids library for free and without restriction. The site is compatible with several smart TVs (Samsung and Telstra), mobile platforms (Android, iOS, and Fire TV), and media streaming devices (Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Chromecast).
11. Ovid TV
Ovid TV primarily focuses on indie and arthouse films. The site hosts over 900 titles. Because this Criterion Channel strongly focuses on saving classics, its library is significantly more mainstream.
What’s it for?
Ovid.tv is particularly good for foreign documentaries. Some of its notable films include Be There, which tells the story of American civil rights, racism, social justice, and art from the perspective of photographers Burk Uzzle and F11. Its collection is further enhanced by Geek Girls, Edith + Eddie, and the documentary series The Adventures of Modern Art.
The films on Ovid TV are from worldwide; thus, not all are in English. However, the website does provide English subtitles. You may download titles from Ovid TV to watch on your mobile device offline. It does not have games for consoles, but it does have applications for Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and Apple TV. Ovid TV is limited to the US and Canada but has a global film selection.
12. Curiosity Stream
$4.99 monthly
Documents and instructional content
Comparatively expensive
Considering the amazing collection it provides and how well-regarded its documentaries are by fans (everything we viewed had ratings over 90 percent), Curiosity Stream is worth the money.
The platform is extremely compatible. You can access it on web browsers, mobile devices (Android and iOS), game consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), streaming media players, and smart TVs. Note that Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video have specialized apps available on the Microsoft Store; Curiosity Stream does not.
What’s it for?
Those who like to watch documentaries of the greatest possible quality can visit Curiosity Stream. The platform has two pricing tiers, although both have access to a similar streaming collection. The additional cost for the package only allows 4K streaming. Curiosity Stream does not display advertisements and allows offline downloading on mobile devices.
13. PBS
Located in Arlington, Virginia, PBS, or the Public Broadcasting Service, is an American non-commercial, non-profit organization, a free-to-air television network. It was established on November 3, 1969, and on October 5, 1970, it opened for business. The site receives public funding and is well-known for offering instructional programming on American public television stations.
More than 350 television stations are members of PBS, many of which are charitable organizations or educational institutions. PBS provides on-demand content ranging from Ken Burns documentaries to PBS NewsHour and Frontline, the network’s flagship series. Additionally, live TV is streamed, focusing on local PBS broadcasting channel streams.
What’s it for?
With half a century’s worth of iconic public broadcasting footage, PBS is streaming much of its content on Prime Video’s PBS Documentaries channel. PBS has a rich history, which viewers who have grown to love over time should know.
As a Prime Video channel, PBS Documentaries can be found almost anywhere. It can be accessed on gaming consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), smartphones and tablets (Fire OS, iOS, and Android), streaming devices (Fire TV, Nvidia Shield, TiVo, Apple TV 4K, Google TV, and Roku), and Smart TVs.
14. History Vault
$5.99 monthly
Wide collection of historical documents
Smaller content library
History Vault is a fantastic option for people who love documentaries, particularly those who want to focus on military history and ancient civilizations. These programs and documentaries include long-form documentaries and docu-series, including America: The Story of Us, Ancient Discoveries, and Mysteries of the Bible. With History Vault, you can watch countless hours of documentaries and shows from the History Channel.
The World War II section alone has more than 100 videos. New videos are uploaded once a week. Most of the titles in History Vault can be streamed in 1080p and 720p, but not in 4K.
What’s it for?
You should choose History Vault as your on-demand video streaming provider if you enjoy documentaries on military history. Most of the video content that used to be featured on the History channel’s prime-time lineup is now available to you through History Vault.
History Vault provides applications for streaming video players, doesn’t display advertisements, and allows offline downloading on mobile devices.
15. GuideDoc
$7.99 monthly
Intellectually stimulating material
Doesn’t support offline downlaods
More than 1,000 independent short and feature films may be found on GuideDoc, and a new movie is uploaded daily. If any videos on the website catch your attention, you can peruse them without becoming a member. The site features listings of documentaries that have won awards at film festivals such as Tribeca, Cannes, Sundance, and the Academy Awards.
There are a lot of excellent documentaries in the GuideDoc archive, ranging from Oscar-winning military pictures from directors like Frank Capra to a lighthearted look at a Belgian ghost village in the movie DOEL. The film Elegy of a Crime explores the story of a murder victim from Brazil, as related by her son, who also serves as director.
What’s it for?
GuideDoc features critically acclaimed documentaries. It also. It also features many well-regarded and historically significant 20th-century films. Android and iOS devices and streaming platforms like Apple TV and Chromecast offer ad-free viewing of GuideDoc. However, it has no applications for gaming consoles, Fire TV, or Roku devices.
16. MagellanTV
Almost 3,000 excellent documentaries and programs on MagellanTV cover virtually any subject. Every week, new programs are added to the service. Without signing up, you can peruse the website and view a five-minute trailer for any documentary you want.
One of MagellanTV’s greatest titles include Life Is One: Growing Up Sunbear, which tells the tale of three bear cubs’ transition from life in captivity to life in the wild. Additionally, there are carefully chosen portions dedicated to 4K space documentaries, such as Hubble: Eye in the Sky, an exquisite investigation of how the Hubble telescope altered our understanding of astronomy and the cosmos.
What’s it for?
If you enjoy watching documentaries, MagellanTV is the ideal on-demand streaming service. Thousands more documentaries, many in 4K, are accessible for a nominal fee. The service maintains a vast collection of films and television shows because of its connections with producers, directors, and foreign distribution firms.
17. Nebula
Nebula has over 150 creators; if you’ve seen any YouTube videos, you’ve recognized at least a few names. Among the channels accessible are Extra History, JustWrite, Maggie Mae Fish, Philosophy Tube, Big Joel, HBomberguy, LegalEagle, and Patrick Wilhelms.
The issue is that most Nebula videos are also free on the creators’ YouTube accounts, though with ads. It reminds us of how challenging it must be for YouTube Premium to position itself as a compelling paid substitute for YouTube, especially with YouTube Music built right in. Rather than permitting people to upload videos, Nebula contacts content creators it hopes to integrate into its community.
What’s it for?
Nebula is for people who want to do more than simply watch content—they like to help artists. The producers were once well-known on YouTube, but they desired to move their content to a less hostile video site where they could have greater influence and fair compensation.
You may find many entertaining and educational films in Nebula’s collection. The videos are easily accessible and of good quality. The website demonstrates how independent documentary filmmakers and producers may utilize the internet to disseminate their expertise globally in fields ranging from science and engineering to literature and entertainment.
Top Documentary Streaming Services for 2025: A Quick Comparison
| Streaming Services | Price/month | Live TV | Simultaneous Streams | Original Content | On-Demand Content | Ads | Anime | Offline Viewing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $7.99 (ad-supported) | No | 1 – 4 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Prime Video | $14.99 | No | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney+ | $9.99 | No | 1 – 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Hulu | $9.99 | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max | $9.99 | No | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Peacock TV | $10.99 | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV+ | $9.99 | No | 6 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mubi | $14.99 | No | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tubi | Free | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Kanopy | Free | No | Unlimited | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Ovid TV | $6.99 | No | 3 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Curiosity Stream | $4.99 | No | 5 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| PBS | Free | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| History Vault | $5.99 | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| GuideDoc | $7.99 | No | 2 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| MagellanTV | $5.99 | No | 5 | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Nebula | $6 | No | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
How We Chose These Services
Only some platforms listed here may be known to you, and it only considers a few video streaming sites or applications offering a huge variety of documentaries. While choosing them, we analyzed several factors. For instance, each service’s library is considered based on content amount, variety, and quality. We also assessed app design, focusing on accessibility, usability, and layout.
Other features, including 4K resolution, dedicated hubs, or the number of simultaneous streams, were also considered. In addition, we measured the total worth of each service accruing to these factors mentioned above by looking at its cost.
How Expensive are Documentary Streaming Sites?
Even though the pricing among streaming services may differ, niche documentary platforms generally have lower subscription fees than major on-demand broadcasting giants. For example, some documentaries cost $2, while others charge $3.99 monthly. GuideDoc costs a monthly rate of $7.99, while MagellanTV and Ovid TV cost $5.99 & $6.9 monthly. Mubi and Amazon Prime are the most expensive of all platforms surveyed, costing $14.99 monthly.
In the middle are mainstream services such as Hulu ($9.99/month), Netflix ($7.99/month), and Prime Video ($14.99/month). Nevertheless, most premium features on Hulu and Netflix can be accessed by subscribing to an upgraded tier. For example, Netflix has a Premium package at $17.99.
For the cash-strapped, Kanopy provides a free, budget-friendly alternative with a library card or academic email account. The other option is Vimeo for people looking for public documentaries and short videos. Other free films and videos can be found in the best-prepared video streams.
Some documentary streaming websites have profit-sharing arrangements that compensate directors with their films’ rights to be streamed. In contrast, others purchase documentaries and retain them in their libraries for a long time. PBS represents the latter approach, a content vault spanning public broadcasting for fifty years.
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