> At a Glance
> – Kanopy streams 30,000+ films free with a public library card
> – No ads, no fees, and includes Criterion classics and A24 hits
> – Monthly limit: 10 titles, renewed every calendar month
> – Why it matters: Skip rising subscription costs and access premium cinema at zero cost
That growing stack of streaming bills? You can leave it behind. Kanopy gives cardholders on-demand access to a 30,000-title catalog-everything from Parasite to Memento-without charging a cent or showing a single ad.
How to Start Watching
Sign-up takes five minutes:
- Visit kanopy.com and click Get Started
- Choose public library card (university email also works)
- Enter your library name, city, or ZIP to locate your branch
- Fill in name, email, password; open the verification email and click Verify My Email
- Start streaming on any device
No library card yet? Most local branches issue instant digital cards online.
What You Can Watch
Kanopy’s rotating shelves include:
- Award-winning foreign cinema
- A24 favorites (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Longlegs)
- Criterion Collection restorations
- Festival indie titles
- Documentaries, PBS series, Great Courses
- Ad-free kids’ storybooks and shows
Seasonal menus appear year-round; October’s Fright Fest lines up horror staples from Nosferatu (1922) to this year’s The Monkey.
Monthly Limits Explained
Your account receives 10 play credits at the start of each calendar month. Hit play and one credit unlocks 72 hours of viewing on that title. Unused credits do not roll over, because libraries pay Kanopy per checkout to stay within budget.
| Plan Type | Price | Ads | Monthly Titles | Notable Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanopy | Free | No | 10 | Criterion, A24, indie docs |
| Netflix Standard | $15 | Yes | Unlimited | Original series, blockbusters |
| Max | $16 | Yes | Unlimited | Warner films, HBO originals |
Key Takeaways
- A library card equals free, ad-free access to premium cinema
- 10 monthly credits reset on the first of every month
- Catalog spans 30,000+ titles, including recent festival winners
- No subscription tiers, upsells, or commercial interruptions
Grab your library card, create an account, and start exploring-thousands of acclaimed movies are waiting.
