Documentaries have always been an interest of mine. Even as a teenager, I spend hours watching documentaries. There’s plenty of knowledge in good documentaries. I also find it good additional learning too for kids and other teenagers.
But on-demand documentaries aren’t always easy to find. Those on YouTube are rather short. Netflix has its own documentaries but there are limited new releases. The Discovery channel comes with cable networks.
I ended up subscribing to CuriosityStream as I wanted something similar to Netflix, but solely focused on documentaries and learning material. It was the right decision at the time as there are thousands of videos for me to watch.
As I see it, there’s only the problem of having the free time to watch these documentaries. It might take some time to get up to date with all of those I want to see, but I’ll take the time to enjoy the videos. Certain subscription plans are simply made for educators, which I feel is a more affordable method of getting the service as an additional resource in university and high-school libraries.
Curiositystrem Features
4k Streaming vs. Hd Streaming
One of the biggest advantages the streaming service has its impressive video quality. With options for HD streaming and 4K streaming, even those who want to enjoy the finer video details can find the right subscription plan.
At the moment, I’m on the HD streaming plan. This simpler version is all that I need at the moment as I don’t have a 4K TV.
Furthermore, I don’t need the extra resolution today. Simply put, the HD images look very good to me. However, if I’m going to purchase a 4K-capable TV, upgrading the plan is on the table. At the moment, I’m splitting my subscription cost with my brother. But since the 4K plan costs more, we both need to agree to increase our monthly spending on the service.
If you don’t pay cable TV or satellite TV, it might be a good idea to opt for the 4K subscription plan. I know many of my friends have already invested in 4K TVs and for them, it makes sense to enjoy the best their purchase can offer.
Offline Viewing
A distinct advantage of this service over its direct rivals is the offline viewing function. Your documentary is downloaded on the laptop or smartphone for you to watch whenever you’re most comfortable with.
This function is particularly appealing to me. When I’m away on hiking weekends, it’s one of the best methods of relaxing in the evening. But up in the mountains, there’s not 4G internet connectivity. As a result, I need to invest in such a solution which allows me to view at least one or 2 documentaries during the weekend without internet connectivity.
Documentaries
Long Live The Curious and Cities of Tomorrow are among my favorite documentary series to watch. But there are thousands added every month.
History, ancient earth, food, and even dogs-specialized documentaries can be viewed by users of all ages. Now, this is impressive considering direct competitors such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and HBO Go don’t offer this possibility.
It’s clear that you need to love documentaries to sign up for the service. But since its price is low, you can test the service out for a month to see if you like it. Free cancelation policy is added and you can simply close your account if you don’t like the documentaries.
However, you need to know that a few documentaries are not available outside the US. If you’re an international subscriber, you may not find the same materials as a US local subscriber might find on the platform.
You should also know that just a few of these documentaries are made with large budgets. The quality expected in niche topics is not there if you’re expecting a direct Discovery competitor.
Corporate Subscriptions
A special subscription plan is offered to corporations. If you run a large company or organization, you can offer free access to the documentaries to your employees at a lower rate.
There are a few benefits to such an initiative. There’s high value in these documentaries for a small investment. But most importantly, you can promote communication within your own business. Practically, your employees can discuss the documentaries in their free time, promoting a positive work environment.
But this plan also benefits from its mobility features. Your employees can feel comfortable even when away on business. After a long day of working, they can spend the night in the hotel relaxing with a familiar streaming service.
Subscriptions for Educators
If you’re working at a university library, your students can also benefit from a custom subscription plan. You can organize documentary viewing evenings and you can improve communication among students.
Among the materials your students can view, you can select those which are most relevant. This custom plan ensures students are only watching the documentaries which complement their studies.
If you want to enroll in a university licensing program, you will need the approval of your faculty. Once you have the approval, you can apply for a customer account. Together with the customer service team of the platform, you can start selecting the documentaries you feel positive towards.
Pricing
A monthly subscription plan starts at $2.99. It makes it one of the most affordable on-demand video services on the market. A yearly $19.99 value plan is also available for most users. If you want the best video quality, you can select the 4K subscription plan which starts at $9.99 per month. If you pay for an entire year, the 4K plan is discounted to $69.99.
Gift cards are also available for purchase. You can buy one starting with $19.99 and send it to a friend or family member to set up on their computer and smartphone.
History, nature, technology, science, and biology are just of few categories to consider for those receiving a gift card. An account based on a gift card offers the same benefits to a regular account.
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
With one of the most affordable on-demand video streaming services, you have the ability to learn and improve your knowledge of the world. I think these documentaries are useful both for kids and adults. Only in the history section, there are thousands of documentaries to help you understand events that marked humanity.
If you’re considering subscribing to the service, feel free to view trailers of the most popular documentaries on the website. They should give you a better idea of what you can expect as a customer.
If you don’t have a 4K-capable TV in your home, you are most likely going to go with the most affordable HD subscription plan. It still offers high-resolution videos. You can install the official app to view these documentaries on your smartphone and tablet alongside your regular account which allows you to view documentaries on your computer or TV.
