Kanopy Review & Guide
Are you tired of seeing the same blockbusters on your streaming platforms? Have you been dabbling in foreign films to improve your French? Are you looking for the next documentary to spark a debate at the dinner table? If you have a public library card or are a university student, you may be able to access the carefully curated library of one of the most-niche streaming platforms on the block.
Designed as an educational resource for universities and with broadening horizons in mind, Kanopy has a large selection of films and documentaries that may be hard to find elsewhere and are sure to jazz up your movie nights. If this has piqued your interest, read on for all you need to know about Kanopy in Australia with this Canstar Blue guide.
What is Kanopy?
Kanopy is a free streaming platform that is available through participating public libraries, colleges and universities. It is largely directed towards the educational market and features niche films and documentaries that are largely overlooked by larger, more mainstream streaming services. You can log into Kanopy using your public library card or university login and stream critically acclaimed movies, documentaries and foreign films.
How much does Kanopy cost in Australia?
Kanopy is a free service in Australia if you have an eligible public library card or university login, with partnering libraries and universities pay for the Kanopy subscription so that you don’t have to. Unfortunately, you cannot stream content with Kanopy if you do not have an eligible library card or university login.
How to watch Kanopy
You can stream movies and documentaries with the Kanopy app through a number of devices, including your television, mobile phones and tablets or in a web browser. You can also stream Kanopy content through your Smart TV or with one of the following casting devices:
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Chromecast
- AndroidTV
- FireTV
- Samsung TV
You must have an eligible library card or university login to create a Kanopy account. You can check which public libraries and universities are partnered with Kanopy on the website.
Sign up to BINGE!
Are you looking for something binge-worthy? Why not check out BINGE? With multiple subscription plans available, you can choose a plan that suits you (or your family) and settle in for a night on the couch with a wide range of movies and shows!
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $10 over one month |
1 | $10 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $16 over one month |
2 | $16 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $18 over one month |
4 | $18 |
Go To Site |
 |
^^View important information | |||
What to watch on Kanopy
Whether you’re in the mood for some old-school Hollywood classics or a shining indie newcomer, Kanopy has a selection of movies and documentaries that will tempt any film lover or doco fan. Some acclaimed films that are currently popular on Kanopy include:
- Lolita
- Tortilla Soup
- Prospect
- In the Soup
- The Juniper Tree
- Thunder Road
- The Silent Child
- They Remain
- Small Apartments
- Lavender
- Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
- Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
- The Alchemist Cookbook
Some of the popular documentaries available include:
- The Mask You Live In
- Precious Knowledge: Revolutionary Education
- Helvetica
- Digital Disconnect
- My Brooklyn
- I Learn America
- Urbanized
- The Great White Hoax
- Out In The Night
Kanopy Kids content
In addition to a range of films and documentaries, Kanopy also offers Kanopy Kids, which contains educational programs, TV shows and short films, all aimed at a younger audience. Kanopy Kids content includes:
- Big Ted’s Adventures
- Babar and the Adventures of Badou
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
- Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
- Earth to Luna
- Play School
- Skippy
What are the best internet providers for Kanopy?
Kanopy content cannot be downloaded to your devices, which means you require an internet connection to stream movies and documentaries with Kanopy. If you’re concerned about whether your internet connection will be strong enough, Kanopy monitors the strength of your Internet connection while you’re streaming so that it can adjust and optimise the quality of the playback.
Sign up to Disney+ Australia
Disney+ offers two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription, or prepay for a year. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $13.99 over one month |
4 | $13.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
min. cost $139.99 over one year |
4 | $139.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
^^View important information | |||
Is a Kanopy subscription worth it?
If you have a library card or a login with a participating public library, college or university, a Kanopy subscription is definitely worth it. Not only is it free, but it also has a unique selection of content covering films and documentaries which are often overlooked by mainstream streaming platforms. If you find that other platforms don’t have the hidden movie and doco gems that you’re after, Kanopy may be the perfect platform to fill the void.
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.