There are plenty of free streaming services out there worth checking out, but none of them are like Kanopy. Access to the service is free, but only if your public or school-based library works with it. Once you have access, you will be able to stream a limited number of films and an unlimited amount of Children’s content each month.
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What is Kanopy and how can you get access? In this article, you will find everything you need to know about this library-based free service. You can check the service at the link below.
What is Kanopy?
Founded in 2008, the service offers over 30,000 films and TV shows that can be streamed for free from a variety of devices and platforms. It is currently available in over 200 countries. The service is available to customers of numerous public library systems as well as a number of major college and university libraries.
Because the service is so tied to libraries, much of the administration is done by actual librarians. The service cost for libraries depends on how many users actually use the service. As a result, it doesn’t offer unlimited streaming for most of the content.
How does it work?
Unlike most free streaming services, Kanopy requires your local public library or college you attend to support the service. If so, you will need to log into the service with your verified public or college library login to access it.
Once signed in, you can browse the selection of Kanopy movies and TV shows. They’re divided into different categories, including popular movies, documentaries, and more. You can also type a specific movie you are looking for in the search bar.
As mentioned above, there is a limit to the number of movies Kanopy users can stream from the service. Each library system has a set number of Kanopy credits that they give to their clients to access the service’s films and shows. Once the credits are used up, the user will not be able to stream anything from Kanopy’s main content library until the next month.
However, Kanopy Kids films and shows are exempt from this restriction. These offer unlimited streaming which is fantastic news for parents.
Is Kanopy worth it?
If your local public or university library supports the service, we definitely think it makes sense to sign up for Kanopy. You can access and stream movies that are normally not available on major streaming services.
If you are a parent with children, the Kanopy Kids area offers unlimited access to a lot of fun and educational content for young children. Combined with books from your local library, this is a great way to get your kids involved in learning and engaging with the modern age.
What platforms does Kanopy support?
You can stream Kanopy shows and movies from a variety of platforms. There are Kanopy apps for iOS and Android that you can use to view content on mobile devices and tablets. It is also available for Roku streaming sticks, set-top boxes, and televisions that have the Roku operating system installed. The same goes for Amazon Fire TV-based sticks, set-top boxes, and televisions. The service is also available on Android TV-based devices such as the Nvidia Shield set-top box.
Kanopy supports casting on TVs through Google Chromecast and devices with built-in Chromecast. It is available for the Apple TV set-top boxes. You can stream the service on Samsung smart TVs. PC owners can use their web browser to browse the Kanopy website to log in and view content.
Kanopy film and TV show lineup
You won’t find the latest popcorn blockbuster movies on Kanopy like you can on other streaming services. What you will find, however, is a curated selection of films.
You can stream great modern indie films like the Oscar for best picture, Moonlight, or acclaimed documentaries like Super Size Me. There is also a wide variety of foreign language films to be seen on Kanopy, as well as short films and classic films like Ben Hur.
Kanopy kids
As mentioned earlier, Kanopy Kids content is available for unlimited streaming. Kanopy Kids target audience is 2-8 years old, but the truth is parents should enjoy their selection of great movies and TV shows that feature as much as their kids.
You can watch select episodes of Sesame Street on Kanopy Kids, and there are plenty of great short films that also adapt classic children’s books. There’s plenty of educational content to watch too, from science and history videos to language classes and more. Note that Kanopy Kids is only available in public library systems. It is not available to Kanopy users in college or university libraries.
Best alternatives
Kanopy certainly isn’t alone when it comes to free streaming services, and most alternatives don’t require a library card. Here are just a few of his rivals.
Crackle
Crackle has many great classic and newer movies and TV shows for free. There are also a growing number of exclusive shows and films available to stream. While there is some content for kids on Crackle, it isn’t as extensive as the one on Kanopy. If you have kids, you can set up parental controls to keep them from streaming mature content.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV contains hundreds of channels that stream content 24/7. This includes both classic and current movies and TV shows, as well as a ton of content for kids, including shows from Nickelodeon, which is owned by Pluto TV’s parent company ViacomCBS. Unfortunately, Pluto doesn’t have parental controls yet, so you need to keep an eye on your kids when they watch some shows that aren’t made for adult audiences.
Tubi TV
Fox’s own Tubi TV also has tons of great movies and TV shows to stream. There’s even a dedicated section for kids, similar to Kanopy. You can also set up parental controls to prevent them from seeing more mature content. And of course you don’t need a library card for this service.
IMDb TV
Amazon’s free content streaming service is being added to more devices as a dedicated app rather than part of the company’s Amazon Prime video. You can watch a number of great shows and movies for free. This includes a growing number of films and series for the whole family.
peacock
Peacock streaming service recently launched by NBCUniversal lets you watch thousands of movies and TV shows for free. This includes lots of great adult documentaries, as well as great cartoons and other shows for kids, including the recently revived Punky Brewster. For even more content to watch, you can sign up for the service’s Peacock Premium for $ 4.99 per month with ads or $ 9.99 per month without ads.
Other FAQs
Q: Does Kanopy offer streams in 4K?
A: The service does not currently offer 4K streaming shows or movies.
Q: Can you share a Kanopy account with friends and family?
A: Yes, you can share your Kanopy account with others.
Q: Does Kanopy have parental controls?
A: Yes. You can set up a PIN on your account so that when your children access Kanopy Kids, they cannot access anything else unless you enter the PIN.
Q: Does the service contain advertising?
A: No, the service has no advertising.
Q: Does Kanopy work offline?
A: Unfortunately, the service’s mobile apps do not currently support downloads of its shows. However, this feature could be added at a later date.
