Sick of watching the obvious on Netflix and Binge? Try these niche streamers instead

Scrolling through Netflix or Binge sometimes feels like homework. With thousands of titles spanning different genres, decision paralysis can quickly set in. So, we turn to the recommendations strap, powered entirely by an algorithm, which results in more of the same.

In contrast, scrolling through niche streamers – the likes of Mubi, Shudder, Crunchyroll – can feel like you’ve travelled back in time to a Blockbuster, where the person behind the counter is laying out super personalised recommendations. There may not be as much on offer, but you’re probably more likely to find something you really want to watch – pretty quickly too.

There’s a niche streamer for every taste these days.Compiled by Matt Willis.

Ramon Lobato, a scholar of media and cultural industries at Swinburne, says niche streamers may be an antidote to our collective subscription fatigue. They avoid the “supermarket feel” of Amazon Prime or Disney+ by offering smaller, more focused catalogues for people who wish to explore a specific genre.

These days, there are niche services to suit every taste. Some are genre-specific, such as Hayu, which exclusively offers reality TV, and others like Tubi cater to broader preferences without slapping on a hefty price-tag.

Whether these platforms are growing in Australia is difficult to say with certainty because most don’t release subscriber numbers for national markets. However, Lobato says there will always be “room around the edges for small players”, especially as goodwill grows for new services offering something unique.

“Some users really miss the feeling of thoughtful, intentional curation,” he says. “So, there’s definitely a trend towards ‘less is more’ and towards themed, thoughtful curation by human experts.”

Lecturer in cinema and screen studies at Swinburne Dr Andrew Lynch says the smaller number of titles available means niche streamers are usually cheaper than mainstream services. They’re also more likely to offer titles that aren’t available anywhere else, creating a more “exclusive” feel. For example, David Lynch’s Eraserhead has long been missing from mainstream services, but public library members can watch it for free on Kanopy.

Not only do they include rarer options, but subscribers are actually more likely to find them. Lynch says their smaller, carefully curated catalogues mean lesser-known titles are highlighted, leading more users to discover “diamonds in the rough”, as well as long-forgotten classics or films from a broader diversity of filmmakers and experimental studios.

However some heavy-hitters are already eating into some of these smaller platforms’ territories, Lynch says. Netflix, for instance, has doubled down on anime content, potentially steering some fans away from anime streamer Crunchyroll.

Crunchyroll used to be the holy grail of anime content. But now, Netflix is giving it a run for its money.

However, Lynch is confident there is still space for second-tier or niche services, especially as the broader streaming market continues to consolidate around Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery.

“If these small players can continue to offer a point of difference that audiences feel is valuable at a complementary price point – if they can continue to offer something that the major streamers don’t – they could survive, if not thrive.”

So, for those sick of doom-scrolling Netflix, here are some of the most popular alternative streamers available in Australia.

Fancy a scare? Try Shudder. From horror series like The Creep Tapes to sci-fi thrillers like Ash, this platform offers something from every horror sub-genre.

Since launching globally in 2016, Shudder’s popularity has ballooned. It set new viewership records in 2024, doubling the total hours watched over the previous five years. Unlike platforms like Netflix, Shudder (which is owned by the AMC Network) isn’t run by an algorithm – its selection is primarily curated by a team of horror enthusiasts, who also create carefully themed collections.

As the world’s largest anime streaming service, Crunchyroll offers a range of anime, manga and simulcasts (episodes that air shortly after Japan), all of which are subtitled and dubbed.

Despite competition from Netflix, Crunchyroll’s popularity has skyrocketed alongside the growing global interest in anime. According to Statista, it tripled its number of paying subscribers between mid-2021 and the beginning of 2024, surpassing 15 million subscribers.

This streamer offers a range of documentaries, current affairs and non-fiction content, most of which centre on politics, science, history, social affairs and crime.

If you’re partial to drama, Hayu is for you. It’s dedicated to reality television, from the Real Housewives franchise to Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Unlike platforms such as Binge, which often only get licensing for specific seasons, Hayu focuses on delivering entire box sets.

Owned by BBC Studios and ITV, BritBox features the largest collection of British content, including dramas, comedies, mysteries, soaps and documentaries. Though nowhere near as popular as mainstream platforms, it still boasted over 4 million subscribers internationally as of early 2025.

Unlike the niche streamers above, Kanopy is entirely free for university students and Australian library cardholders. It offers more than just classics, including content from partners like A24, Criterion Collection and PBS, but it’s largely known for holding iconic, harder-to-find titles.

If you can’t sign up to a local library or aren’t currently studying, WikiFlix is another option for classics. The platform offers over 3800 films from across the world that are in the public domain – not restricted by copyright – dating back to early classics such as Passage de Venus (1874) and A Trip to the Moon (1902).

Functioning as a film distributor and production company as well as a streamer, Mubi is designed for enthusiasts of arthouse, independent and international cinema (including documentary and cult titles). Its selection is carefully handpicked, including curated collections for particular film festivals or other themes (female directors, the 1960s, etc.).

For those on a tighter budget, Tubi also offers a decent range of indie hits for free. The platform requires no subscription, but viewers will need to put up with ads. It boasts indie darlings like Black Christmas (1974) and more contemporary hits like Midnight in Paris (2011).

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