11 Cheapest Educational Streaming Services

At least in the streaming world, education doesn't have to be expensive. It can cost as low as $8 per month, or in some instances, free. 

In this list, we round up the most affordable streaming services that are dedicated to streaming exclusively educational, academic, and informative content. In these services, you'll find documentaries from around the world exploring diverse languages, cultures, and stories, as well as instructional videos and kid-centered content that can help the little ones master their ABCs and 123s. If you're hoping to tune into these titles without having to spend a fortune, then you're in the right place. Below, we've rounded up the cheapest educational streaming services available right now.

True Story is an online streaming service that focuses on documentaries from all over the globe. The nature of the films seems to focus on relationships among real-life people in specific and unique contexts. If you enjoy exploring the complexities of interpersonal relationships while also learning surprising things about the world interestingly and movingly, then this streamer is for you. The subscription is $6.99/month. True Story was launched in 2020.

Price: $6.99/month

Device availability: Chromecast, Website

Toon Goggles is an on-demand service dedicated to streaming kids' shows, including popular cartoons like PJ Masks, live-action features like Guinness World Record, and even games like Angry Birds. There are hours upon hours of content here, not to mention pre-screened ads and strict parental controls, making it a suitable service to leave the children with. Some of Toon Goggles' shows can be streamed for free, but if you want full access and no ads, you'll have to subscribe to its premium tier, which costs $1.99/month in the US and Canada and just $0.99/month everywhere else.

Price: $1.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Google TV Streamer, Hisense Smart TV, iOS, LG Smart TV, Panasonic Vera Connect, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, Website

MagellanTV’s content focuses mostly on documentaries. New movies and series are added weekly, so the library is frequently updated. This streamer is for people who love learning about science, space, and the earth. MagellanTV provides a thoughtfully curated selection of films that focus on current events and global topics of importance. A monthly subscription costs $5.99/month with a 7-day free trial, but if you opt to pay annually, your monthly cost comes up to just $4.99/month and you'll be eligible for a 14-day free trial.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 14 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Google Play, iOS, Roku, Samsung, Vizio

Hopster TV is a kids-oriented streaming service that offers a variety of educational and entertaining shows. It also offers games, books, and songs in the platform, allowing kids to navigate between depending on their mood.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Android Phones, iOS

The History Vault has all the best of The History channel: excellent documentaries, informative series, travel shows, and of course, historical specials. The difference is that the streamer offers all this on-demand and ad-free, with curated collections and exclusive titles to boot. Some programs that are no longer available on the cable channel can also be found in the Vault. If you're a fan of quality deep dives on everything and anything related to history and humanity, then this streamer is for you.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Website

A sure treasure trove for history buffs, History Hit TV is a dedicated service featuring original documentaries, series, dramas, interviews, and films spanning all sorts of time periods and eras. It was founded by renowned historian Dan Snow, who hosts a hit podcast of the same name and whose other content can be found in the streamer. History Hit TV also claims that 10% of its profits go into history education projects around the globe.

Price: $7.99/month

Free Trial: 14 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Website, Xbox One

GuideDoc is a global online streaming and distributing service for documentary films. The service is currently available for US$7.99 per month and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. GuideDoc apps exist for iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android Tablets, Google TV, Apple TV, ChromeCast and Airplay. At the time of writing, GuideDoc does not offer an app for other services like Roku, Fire TV and game consoles.

Price: $7.99/month

Docsville’s focus is on documentaries sourced from around the world, originally launched by award-winning documentarian Lawrence Elmen and his business partner, Nick Fraser, who worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation. This streaming service is for those doc junkies who can’t get enough of real-world exploration and have a thirst for knowledge about many different aspects of our planet and the human race. Topics include climate change, inequality and racism, inspiring real-life tales, and true crime. Most of the documentaries offered are independent films.

Price: $3.99/month

Free Trial: 3 days

Device availability: Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iPhone, Website

Discovery+ is a streaming service from the famous mass media company that has an ad-supported plan for $4.99 a month and an ad-free plan for $8.99. This includes content from Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, ID, A&E, History, Lifetime, OWN, Travel, Science Network, and The Dodo. But beware, you cannot stream these channels live with a Discovery+, you can only watch their TV shows in playback.

Price: $4.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

CuriosityStream is an American streaming service that focuses on documentary movies and shows and is available in more than 175 countries. In the US, pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for the basic plan, with an upgrade to the 4K Monthly plan available for $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. CuriosityStream can be accessed via web browser as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and has a mobile app that is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Price: $4.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV Streamer, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Amazon Kids+ is a streaming service for kids 3 to 12. it features animation content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street and Cartoon Network, but also access to educational apps, games, and e-books. It costs $5.99/month if you already have Amazon Prime or $7.99/month if you don't.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android Phones, Fire tablets, iOS

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Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.

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The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.