Pros
ConsThe details
The video streaming service initially started as a film producer for academic institutions. With more than 30,000 films, you can stream lots of video for long hours. Apart from its incredible film collection, it has the rarest titles.
Content
Kanopy has a vast array of comedies, biopics, television series, and dramas, including the Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro. The streaming service features content from renowned television networks like PBS, A&E, History, and the Criterion Channel.
As such, you’re bound to find titles like His Girl Friday, A Star is Born, and Dial M for Murder. Being an educational streaming service, Kanopy has a section dedicated to informing and inspiring kids. Its wide range of animated shows, movies and stories featuring science and history topics should keep your kids entertained during the holidays.
User experience
We found its interface relatively intuitive, with a slider displaying featured content on the home screen followed by recently added content. Again, education plays a big part as its titles have closed options and transcripts and the option to create clips.
Students may find the clip feature interesting as it allows them to make annotations they can show off to their mates. Also, you can make a collection of movies and share them with friends and family. We tested its app too. It has a similar interface to the website featuring a dark background and colored thumbnails and provides a smooth user experience.
Streaming speed
It would help if you had an internet speed of at least 5 Mbps to stream Kanopy’s video content. If your connection has a lower speed, consider connecting your device (computer) directly to the modem. Alternatively, move the router to a more central location.
Value
Kanopy video content is available for free. The only catch is that you must have a university email address or library card to sign up. Also, there’s a limit as to the number of movies or shows you can watch. You can only watch 10 Play Credits in one month, but the Kids section allows unlimited viewing.
Final verdict
Given its content, Kanopy gives Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other such premium streaming services a run for their money. Also, it’s an ad-free streaming service, and most of the content is educational, making it an excellent pick for families.
