Kanopy review

Kanopy is the best ad-free pick, and it ranks fifth only because you need a library card to use it. Your public or university library pays for access, and Kanopy's App Store listing says you can stream thousands of films for free without ads once you sign up with your card. The catalog leans toward quality over volume: festival award winners, documentaries and The Criterion Collection, with new titles added weekly. Kanopy Kids adds age-appropriate shows and movies with parental controls, and apps run on mobile, web and living room devices including Roku and smart TVs. Ratings are strong at 4.8 from 153,000 ratings on the US App Store and 4.7 stars on Google Play. The limits are practical: not every library offers Kanopy, and what you can watch depends on your library. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not stream test titles.

Who it is for

Library card holders who want ad-free classic, indie and documentary films

Price

Free with a participating library card; no ads.

Stream thousands of films for free without ads through your library.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Thousands of films streamed without ads
• The Criterion Collection, festival award winners and documentaries
• New titles added weekly
• Kanopy Kids with parental controls
• Apps for mobile, web and living room devices

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No ads at all, unlike the ad-supported apps above it
• Strength: Rated 4.8 from 153K ratings on the US App Store
• Strength: Kanopy Kids offers age-appropriate shows and movies
• Weakness: Needs a library card from a library that offers Kanopy
• Weakness: Catalog and viewing limits depend on your library
• Weakness: Smaller download base on Google Play at 1M+

Key facts

• Cost: Free through your library
• Ads: None
• App Store rating: 4.8 from 153K ratings
• Google Play: 4.7 stars, 15.3K reviews, 1M+ downloads
• Age rating: 13+

Where it ranks

Kanopy is No. 5 in our Best Free Movie Streaming Apps verdict.