CuriosityStream review: The online service for science and history fans

If you want to watch a streaming service that’s different than what you might find on Netflix, Disney Plus, or Hulu, you might want to check out CuriosityStream. This science, history, and technology-themed documentary streaming service has thousands of titles to watch. But is CuriosityStream worth the price? Find out what we think in our CuriosityStream review.

Read more: Best video streaming services

If you want to jump in and access the service right now, you can do so at the link below for as little as $1.66 a month.

What is CuriosityStream?

This streaming service has thousands of both exclusive and licensed documentaries, most of which cover science, history, and technology subjects. The founder of the service, John Hendricks, previously founded the Discovery Channel cable TV network. CuriosityStream first launched in 2015, and currently has over 13 million paid subscribers. In October, the service became a publically traded company on the NASDAQ stock market.

A quick look at CuriosityStream – Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick look at some of the benefits of the service, along with some possible issues

Pros

• Excellent selection of science documentaries – If you love science-related subject matter, this is a perfect service for your streaming budget.
• Available worldwide – While the content may vary from country to country, most places in the world can sign up and access the service.
• Price is reasonable – If you don’t care about 4K resolution, the regular month-to-month price of $2.99 is a bargain, as is the annual price of $19.99.
• Has solid tech features – The service includes support for downloading content to mobile devices, 4K support, and parental controls.

Cons

• Not a variety of content – It’s pretty much all science and history on Curiosity Stream, so you will need to sign up for other services if you want to expand your viewing.
• 4K support costs much more – If you want 4K resolution content on your big screen TV, be prepared to pay a lot more for that privilege for that service.

How much does CuriosityStream cost?

The service has four plans to choose from. The cheapest plan, in terms of how much you would pay per month, is the HD Annual plan. You can stream the content in HD resolution for just $19.99 a year. That’s about $1.66 a month. If you don’t want to commit, you can get the HD month-to-month plan for $2.99 a month.

If you want to upgrade your streaming videos to 4K resolution, the CuriosityStream cost goes higher. You can get a month-to-month plan for $9.99 a month. There’s also an annual 4K plan that costs $69.99 a year, or roughly $5.83 a month. However, the service does tend to cut the prices on its annual plans during holiday time periods, or during events like Black Friday. If you purchase such a plan during those periods, you could save even more money.

Is there a CuriosityStream free trial?

If you order the service directly from its website or apps, there is no free trial available for any of the plans. However, if you sign up for CuriosityStream via a channel on Amazon Prime Video, the Roku Channel, and others, you can get a seven-day free trial. You can cancel at any time before the trial period ends to avoid charges.

CuriosityStream review: Supported platforms and availability

CuriosityStream is available on nearly all streaming video platforms. That includes Apple’s iOS devices, Android-based smartphones and tablets, along with Chromecast and Android TV smart TVs and set-top boxes. Apps are also available for Roku smart televisions and set-top boxes. You can find apps for Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV-based smart televisions, sticks, and set-top boxes. There’s also a CuriosityStream Xbox One app and a CuriosityStream Apple TV app. Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio made in 2016 and later come with their own CuriosityStream apps. Some TiVo devices also have the app as well.

CuriosityStream is available for PC devices, via web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or others via the CuriosityStream.com site. Finally, the service is available as an add-on “channel” for Amazon Prime Video, Roku, Apple TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV.

As far as availability, the service can be access anywhere in the world where it is legal to stream an outside service. Some countries such as North Korea, China, and Iran do limit access to outside services, however.

CuriosityStream review: Other features

The CuriosityStream apps for iOS and Android both support background play. You can keep listening to a show’s content while using another app on your device. You can also download shows for viewing offline via the CuriosityStream apps for mobile.

CuriosityStream shows and movies

There’s a ton of CuriosityStream shows and movies to stream. Here are some of its more popular programs that we wanted to spotlight in our CuriosityStream review:

A Stitch in Time – Science and history combine with fashion in this series. Experts attempt to recreate historical clothing and fashion using the material and techniques of each time period.

The History of Home – Actor Nick Offerman narrates this series. It looks back at how shelter for humans has evolved. It also looks at how each room in a typical home (living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc) has influenced our lives.

The Story of Maths – Host Marcus du Sautoy examines the history of mathematics. The series also shows how math continues to be a massive influence in our lives.

A World Without NASA – A lot of people think NASA is only for science and technology nerds. This series attempts to show the influence of NASA in our daily lives by imagining what life would be like without it.

Secrets of the Solar System – This series takes a look at the entire solar system, told via the people who have been in charge of the many space probes that have been sent to examine the many planets, moons, and asteroids in our home system.

Engineering The Future – This six-part series looks at how scientists and engineers are trying to improve various power and transportation systems for future generations, including aviation and maritime transports, along with improving wind, tidal, solar, and even fusion energy.

Is Curiosity Stream worth the cost?

If you are interested in science, history, and technology documentaries, the CuriosityStream pricing is definitely worth your money on the HD monthly or annual plans. The 4K streaming plans are more expensive, but if you have a 4K TV and are a fan of the subject matter, you might want to check it out. If you’re on the geeky side, but prefer sci-fi and gaming, a different streamer like anime/gaming/nerd-centric VRV might be right for you.

CuriosityStream review: Other frequently asked questions

Q: Can I watch CuriosityStream on my TV?
A: As we have mentioned previously, the service is available as a standalone app for many smart televisions and smart TV platforms. It’s also available on TiVo boxes, the Xbox One console, and many others.

Q: Is CuriosityStream free on Amazon Prime Video?
A:  While it is available as an Amazon Prime Video channel, you will have to pay for the service after its seven-day free trial. There are certain programs that are available as free via Amazon Prime Video, however, including A Stitch in Time.

Q: Is CuriosityStream safe?
A:  Most of the service’s content is safe for viewing by anyone. However, there may be some shows and movies that could be considered inappropriate for young children. There is a Kids Mode that can be toggled in the settings that will keep certain shows off the service. 

That’s it for our CuriosityStream review. Ultimately we think that fans of science, technology, and history will have a ton of great programs to watch. The price is also right if you don’t care for 4K resolution. The CuriosityStream for Kids Mode will also keep certain programs away from young children.

Will you be signing up for the service after reading our CuriosityStream review? What programs will you be streaming on your mobile device or TV first? Let us know in the comments!