The best streaming service you're not taking advantage of (but probably have access to)
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Kanopy is a free streaming service with thousands of titles.
- All you need to sign up is a participating library card.
- You’re limited to 10 titles per month.
If you’re tired of ever‑increasing streaming prices, there’s a good chance you have access to a free streaming service with a fairly impressive catalog of titles — all thanks to your local library.
Kanopy is a streaming app that’s available for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku devices.
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No‑charge, on‑demand titles include popular movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, The Truman Show, and Into the Wild, classic films, PBS content, the Criterion Collection, the Great Courses (over 18,000 lectures in history, science, philosophy, religion, literature, health, travel, and more), documentaries, world cinema, and more. There’s even a Kanopy Kids section and seasonal Halloween and Christmas selections that rotate out. The service adds new titles often.
How to stream Kanopy for free with your library card
- Go to kanopy.com and click Get Started (or download the Android/iOS app).
- Choose Find Your Library and enter your ZIP code, or select Find Your University if you’re a student or professor.
- If your local library isn’t listed, check a nearby large system that may offer a non‑resident card (some counties charge a small fee for a card).
- Log in with your library card number, click Continue, and finish creating your Kanopy account.
- Click Sign Up and you’re ready to start streaming.
Kanopy notes that libraries pay a small fee each time you watch a title, so some systems impose a limit (most are around 10‑12 titles per month). When your viewing window expires, the title simply disappears from your library—no late fees or manual returns required.
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