
Hidden gem streaming service cheaper than Netflix is perfect for thriller fans
But what if you could cut the cost of your subscriptions by paying for one streaming service that has hundreds of these gripping titles all in one place?
Let us introduce you to Shudder. It's a lesser-known video on demand (VOD) service that works similarly to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and the like.
Users pay a subscription fee for access to the content library, but, unlike the more mainstream streaming services, Shudder has a more niche catalogue.
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
It calls itself 'a premium streaming service offering the best selection of horror, thriller and supernatural movies, series and specials' — but horror is probably the genre it's known best for.
Shudder's general manager, Craig Engler, previously told Mashable: 'Most streaming services are trying to be all things to all viewers. We're focused on one thing.
'The result is that, even though we're not as big as Netflix or Prime Video, our shows and movies are ranked right up alongside theirs, or in many cases ahead of theirs.'
And unlike free streaming services such as Tubi and Pluto, which some TV fans are using as alternatives or supplements to the bigger streamers, Shudder has no ad breaks.
It costs £4.99 per month, or subscribers can pay £49.99 annually, which works out at roughly £4.17 per month.
That makes it 60% cheaper than Netflix, which costs £12.99 per month for the ad-free plan.
Meanwhile, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime and Apple TV Plus all currently cost £8.99 per month without ads, roughly 30% more than the cost of Shudder.
If you're unsure whether to commit, you can sign up to Shudder's seven-day free trial.
Horror fans can subscribe via Shudder.com and watch on a desktop or the Shudder app.
It's also possible to watch on a TV screen with Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay, or via Amazon Prime Video.
For the latter option, users will need to already have Prime Video and purchase an extra subscription to Shudder on top. With this, all of Shudder's content will appear when browsing Prime Video on the TV.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that you're unlikely to find recent box office hits on Shudder — it's offering focuses more on indie and cult-classics, making it better suited to true horror and thriller buffs than mainstream audiences.
Halloween, Day of the Dead and Insidious are some of the best-known titles on the streamer, while more recent releases include Grafted and The Ugly Stepsister.
When it comes to TV shows, Shudder's offering is fairly light compared to its movie catalogue.
Popular series include Hannibal, starring Mads Mikkelsen, horror anthology series Channel Zero and Creepshow (the latter of which is based on the 1982 horror comedy classic), as well as reality competition show Dragula.
Documentaries such as Cursed Films, which explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood's biggest horror movies, and The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time are also popular TV shows on the streamer.
Shudder produces its own original and exclusive content too, and in addition to the online library there's Shudder TV, a 24/7 channel with an endless stream of horror movies that's updated weekly.
Metro reporter and resident horror fan, Rebecca Sayce, uses Shudder and gives it a glowing review.
'As an avid horror fan (from big blockbuster haunted house flicks to extreme niche indie splatterfests), Shudder is an essential for me. The streaming service compiles everything from the latest huge feature films to shorts, original documentaries, and hidden gems otherwise lost among their peers. The curation of titles is a testament to the Shudder team's passion for horror, offering a variety for genre fans not seen with other streaming services — and for just £5 a month, a bargain at that.
'I've discovered many titles I wouldn't otherwise have seen thanks to Shudder, like their incredibly informative Horror Noire documentary exploring the history of Black horror cinema, and films that have fast become constant watches for me (like 2023 smash hit Late Night With The Devil, and Demian Rugna's unbelievably brutal When Evil Lurks). If you're a fan of all things that go bump in the night, you need to invest in Shudder.'
Reviews of Shudder are mostly positive, with fans praising the low cost and unique content offering.
On Reddit, one user said of the streamer: 'They have a pretty varied variety of films. Classics, B-movie, modern. It runs the gamut. You're bound to find something that interests you.'
Another added: 'Most of the critically acclaimed festival movies seem to end up on Shudder first. So I'm all about it.'
One fan wrote: 'I have it and always used it. They have good stuff and it's cheaper than most other services,' while another said: 'Insane deal. I have had Shudder since it was first released and never felt the need to cancel.'
But others said they tend to only use Shudder for a few months at a time, mostly around Halloween.
Reddit user RestlessAstronaut wrote: 'I've had Shudder on and off for the last few years. It has some great content on there…but…there's not a whole lot of new content uploads per month.
'I've found it's better for me personally to get it for a month or two, watch what's new then put it on pause for a few months and come back later.'
Another user agreed: 'This is exactly what I do with it…over the Halloween period it's great to grab for a month, but I agree I wouldn't have a constant sub to it without more new content a month.' More Trending
And one added: 'I'm also one of those who orders Shudder on October 2 and cancels it on November 2.'
Others suggested that fans of horror and thrillers can save money by using Tubi instead.
'Honestly, Tubi is where it's at for horror in my opinion. If you already have Netflix or another service, Tubi fills in the gaps for a lot of horror movies. And it's free,' one user said.
View More »
Another added: '[Shudder] has some great stuff, but Tubi has just as good if not a better selection AND it's free.'
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Don't let the Neil Gaiman accusations ruin Netflix's best fantasy show
MORE: Hollywood star admits Jurassic World Rebirth role was 'unlike anything he'd done before'
MORE: BBC thriller that fans hailed 'perfect' soars up Netflix top 10 chart
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Who is favourite to win Love Island? Full list of odds
Love Island series 12 will soon be crowning its winners - but who is in the running? 👀💕 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Love Island has just a week left in series 12. One couple is starting to emerge as the frontrunners. But what do the odds look like with 7 days to go? In just seven days time the latest winners of Love Island will be crowned. ITV's iconic reality show has kept viewers on their toes throughout the summer once again, but all good things come to an end. Maya Jama, the show's host, promised more 'drama' and 'twists' than ever before the season began. Well, it is safe to say that it has lived up to that - with one Islander having just made a surprise return, weeks after being dumped from the villa. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unlike previous years, Love Island has not had a clear frontrunner couple from early doors (think Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury). The odds have shifted dramatically over the course of series 12 and there has been another shift. But who are the favourites to win heading into the final week? Here's all you need to know: Love Island gets new frontrunners after latest re-coupling Maya Jama in the teaser for Love Island series 12 | ITV ITV's hit reality show celebrated turning 10 this summer - having been revived back in June 2015 - and this season has been one for the books. It is heading towards the business end of the competition, with the final set to take place next Monday (August 4). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The odds have continued to shift around throughout the season, as couples have split-up and come together. Toni and Cach emerged as the favourites late last week and have seemingly strengthened their grip at the top of the odds. has rounded up the latest odds for the winners of Love Island. The list looks like this: Toni Laites & Cach Mercer - 13/10 - Bet365 Yasmin Pettet & Jamie Rhodes - 11/4 - Bet365 Megan Forte Clarke & Conor Phillips - 6/1 - William Hill Shakira Khan & Harry Cooksley - 9/1 - William Hill Megan Moore & Dejon Noel-Williams- 9/1 - Virgin Bet Angel Swift & Ty Isherwood - 20/1 - Virgin Bet Helena Ford & Blu Chegini - 50/1 - William Hill What do the winners of Love Island get? The winning couple will once again walk away with a joint prize pot - to be split between them. The winners will get £50,000, the same as in previous seasons. However, beyond just the instant prize pot, Love Island can be a platform for winners (and other contestants) to launch media careers and even empires. Molly Mae and Tommy Fury are perhaps the biggest example of this - with the former recently being the subject of her own docu-series on Prime Video. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Lily Allen hits out at 'horrible' ex who questioned her hygiene habits 'to feel powerful'
Lily Allen and her pal Miquita Oliver spoke about personal hygiene on a recent episode of the Miss Me? podcast, which they co-host, that was released by BBC Sounds last week Podcast host Lily Allen has said that she was accused of having poor hygiene by one of her exes. She has suggested that it was "a form of bullying and abuse," and questioned the "gall" of the ex, whose identity she did not disclose. Lily, 40, made the remarks on an episode of the Miss Me? podcast, which she co-hosts with her pal Miquita Oliver, 41. They took questions from listeners about personal hygiene in an episode that was released by BBC Sounds last week. One fan asked the pair: "My question for you on personal hygiene is has anybody ever told you that you smell bad? And if they have, have they delivered that news to you very kindly or has it been more of a judgement and an attack?" Lily, who recently split from her second husband, Stranger Things actor David Harbour, went on to say that one of her exes had accused her of smelling bad during the relationship. She however recalled asking other people in her life if they felt the same way. Addressing the question, Lily said: "Yeah, I have, actually. But I don't think ... I asked other people if they felt the same way. It was somebody I was in a relationship with would do it to me. And I don't think that it was real." Lily continued by saying on the podcast: "I think that it was like a form of bullying and abuse." Her long-time pal reacted: "It's a horrible one." Miquita added in the episode: "As bullying forms of abuse go, it's a really horrible one." Further sharing her thoughts in response to the suggestion by her co-host, Lily told Miquita: "Yeah, it was like ... done on purpose to make me feel self-conscious and s**t about myself." She added: "And make them feel powerful." Miquita then discussed her own experiences in response to the question submitted by the listener. The presenter said that some relatives had told her that she was a "stinky teenager" and that she "had to start wearing deodorant". She recalled: "I really didn't want to either when I was younger." Moments later, Lily was heard bringing the conversation back to her own experience as she further reflected. She said: "Thinking about it, the gall of this person that had the audacity to tell me that I had an issue with my personal hygiene." Lily said: "When I first met them, I went over to their house and there was actual skid marks on their bed." She later added on the podcast: "They had the audacity to come to me and tell me that I needed to brush my teeth, no honey!" Miss Me? is available on BBC Sounds, other podcast platforms and YouTube. For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Emily Atack and Danny Dyer's huge new ITV show revealed
Read on to find out the parallels between hit drama Rivals in which the actors starred and the new programme THE GAME SHOW Emily Atack and Danny Dyer's huge new ITV show revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FEW eyebrows were raised in the TV world when two of the biggest stars of hit drama Rivals were revealed to be fronting a gameshow for ITV. Actors Emily Atack and Danny Dyer will host the big new Saturday night entertainment show, which is due to air next year. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Emily Atack played an MPs saucy wife, Sarah Stratton, who was caught playing naked tennis Credit: Disney + But the parallels between Disney's Jilly Cooper adaptation and the new programme, called Nobody's Fool, don't end with ITV's choice of hosts. A TV insider said: 'Rivals is the story of a web of rival individuals which is spun around a stately house, Penscombe Court, and their efforts to constantly outdo one another. 'That's exactly the basis for the new gameshow, which also has the background of a country pile and sees all the competitors try to outwit one another. 'Those in the know are already describing it as: 'A game of intellect and deception' which could be the catchline for one of Jilly's novels.' In Rivals, which debuted last year, Emily played an MPs saucy wife, Sarah Stratton, who was caught playing naked tennis with sexy lothario Rupert Campbell-Black at his country house. The scene caused such a stir it was nominated for Bafta for the top TV moment of the year. Meanwhile, Danny plays self-made millionaire Freddie Jones, who's trapped in a loveless marriage, but finds romance elsewhere. The second half of Jilly's book, first published in 1988, is now being turned into a second series which also airs in 2026. Which could be particularly awkward if both shows drop around the same time… My clothes were ripped off by famous author in taxi sex attack…boss's response sickened me, says Rivals' Jilly Cooper 5 Danny Dyer will host the big new Saturday night entertainment show, which is due to air next year Credit: Robert Viglasky LEO'S INSPECTOR NORSE HE made a pec-tacular impression starring in the Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix - but the historic drama's once muscly leading man looks to have trimmed down. Leo Suter played hirsuite Harald Sigurdsson in two series of the show, which required him to lift some serious weight toget to get that warrior physique. 5 A less bulky Leo Suter in action as Inspector Lynley 5 Viking Leo in action Credit: Netflix 5 Daniel Mays, Leo and Sofia Barclay in BBC One's Lynley Now the actor's sporting a more refined look to play Tommy Lynley, a police detective in new BBC One thriller, Lynley, which drops this autumn. The four-parter, which also stars Daniel Mays and Sofia Barclay, is an adaptation of best-selling crime novels by Elizabeth George. All the action is spurred on by the dynamic between central character Tommy, who comes from a posh background, and a working class sergeant, Barbara Havers, played by Sofia. Together the 'mismatch' turns them into a formidable crime-fighting partnership…plus Sofia can always spot Leo if he ever starts hitting the gym again. HAPPY Gilmore 2 has gone straight to the top of the Netflix trending chart. The sequel has been released nearly 30 years after the original, the highly anticipated sequel to the cult 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore sees Adam Sandler reprise his role as the golfer at the heart of the comedy. APPLE TV+ has renewed Stick for a second season. The golfing comedy drama is exec produced by Owen Wilson and also sees him play Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. Then he finds new purpose after meeting a troubled 17-year-old golfer called Santi. PADDY'S SUNDAY BLUES PADDY McGUINNESS has had, erm, a bit of a paddy after not being able to sail into his own BBC Radio 2 show. The comedian, TV presenter and DJ revealed security at the entrance of the Salford studios refuse him entry unless he shows his work pass. Shortly after kicking off his Sunday morning show last week, Paddy took to the airwaves to moan: 'How long have we been doing this show? It's been over a year, actually. 'I'm just wondering when security are going to know it's me. 'I'm not even bothered about them recognising me off the telly, or anything I've done throughout my career. 'Just the fact that I come in every Sunday for a year and a bloke still wouldn't let me in this morning.'