On the surface, Curiosity Stream checks many boxes that a knowledge-hungry viewer might desire. Its niche focus on high-quality documentaries allows you to feed your intellectual curiosity without the hassle of sorting through entertainment titles.
The platform also adds fresh content every week to keep your viewing experience feeling new.
Yet, with a relatively small content library compared to the Netflix’s of the world, you may question if the narrow selection warrants paying for yet another streaming service.
So, should you sign up to satisfy your curiosity? Or does the stream of new documentaries fail to quench your thirst for knowledge? Read on to learn the top reasons to subscribe to Curiosity Stream—or skip it entirely.
Should you sign up for Curiosity Stream or skip it?
You should definitely consider subscribing to Curiosity Stream. Here are five good reasons:
1. Affordable pricing
Curiosity Stream offers competitive pricing, making it easy to justify another streaming subscription. You have several options to fit your budget:
- Standard Monthly: For $4.99/month, you get access to the full Curiosity Stream library
- Standard Annual: This is the most popular plan, and it gives you access for $2.34/month when you pay $27.99 annually
- Smart Bundle Monthly: For $9.99/month, you can bundle Curiosity Stream with other niche streaming services like Tastemade and Kidstream
- Smart Bundle Annual: The best value gets you bundled access for just $4.09/month when you pay $48.99 annually
With the Smart Bundle, you can also watch on different screens simultaneously. So, if your family wants to learn about different topics, the bundle enables concurrent streaming.
2. Extensive documentary library
With over 3,000 documentaries in its streaming library, Curiosity Stream offers an enormous selection of factual films and TV shows to choose from.
Whether you’re fascinated by physics, geology, space exploration, ancient history, modern inventions, or anything in between, you’re sure to find multiple titles catering to your interests.
For instance, a science lover can plunge into Curiosity Stream’s vast offerings, including highly rated series like “Butterfly Effect,” which analyzes pivotal moments in history, or the visually stunning “Speed,” which delves into incredible transport technologies.
Meanwhile, a history lover will appreciate bingeing “Apocalypse: World War II,” which features rare, colorized wartime footage straight from the archives.
With new content added weekly across categories, Curiosity Stream makes it easy to not only follow your favorite subjects, but also discover brand-new ones you never realized would intrigue you.
3. Family-friendly content
Curiosity Stream offers a nice selection of documentaries and series appropriate for families and kids. For example, they have shows like “Children of the Sun,” which teaches about wild bees and butterflies in a child-friendly way.
There is also “Secret Life of 4, 5, 6-Year-Olds,” in which you can see children interacting in realistic situations.
Another family-friendly series is “The Missing Children,” which covers the difficult history of Irish mothers being forced to give up children between 1921 and 1998. While it has heavier content, it’s presented in a gentle way for older children.
In addition to select titles, Curiosity Stream has a Kids Mode that helps filter out more mature content. You don’t have to worry about children accidentally seeing something inappropriate.
With both tailored kids’ content and the ability to toggle Kids Mode on and off, Curiosity Stream makes it easy for families to enjoy educational programming together.
4. Easy accessibility
No matter your preferred device, you’ll likely be able to install the Curiosity Stream app and start streaming fascinating documentaries in just minutes.
Compared to hunting down digital copies or DVDs, instant access allows you to satisfy your craving for knowledge anytime inspiration strikes easily.
You can access Curiosity Stream’s library on:
- Laptop: Through a web browser on Linux, Windows, Chrome OS, Mac, etc.
- Mobile: iPhones and iPads running iOS 11 or later. Version 8.0 and above is required for Android phones and tablets.
- Streaming platforms: Rokus, Android TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android Boxes, and Xbox One. It is also compatible with certain smart TVs like LG, Sony, and Samsung models from 2016 onward.
- Cable: Add-on for Xfinity, Sling TV, fuboTV, and more.
5. No-frills focus on documentaries
Rather than sorting through a mix of reality shows, dramas, and comedies like on Netflix, CuriosityStream’s library contains only nonfiction titles chosen to inform and educate viewers on topics ranging from nature to history to science and beyond.
You can immerse yourself into a niche area that interests you, whether it’s engineering innovations or famous figures in history, and trust you’re getting an accurate portrayal since these are fact-based documentaries.
The approach cuts out all the filler content so you can efficiently find titles that quench your intellectual curiosity rather than endlessly scrolling through different categories.
With no paid product placements or distracting ads interrupting your viewing experience, CuriosityStream allows you to get absorbed in learning without unnecessary disruptions.
If you feel like mainstream streaming services leave you craving more enriching content, CuriosityStream’s sole focus on knowledge-building documentaries delivers.
Reasons to skip Curiosity Stream
Even though CuriosityStream offers ad-free documentaries, the niche focus may be too limiting for some viewers. Here are some of the reasons to skip:
- Niche content may be limiting: With a narrow scope concentrated on factual titles, CuriosityStream lacks the variety found in mainstream services. If you want to mix up documentaries with entertainment programs, you’ll need a separate subscription.
- Lacks popular documentaries: Don’t expect to find high-profile titles like those on Netflix or HBO. The focus is more on accessible, educational documentaries rather than large-scale productions with widespread name recognition.
- Small library compared to competitors: CuriosityStream’s catalog is very small compared to the extensive libraries available through Amazon, Netflix, and other major platforms.
So, while the niche appeal holds promise, the limitations around content variety, title recognition, and library size may be deal breakers for some viewers. Weigh your personal viewing preferences before making your mind up.