If you are accessing Kanopy through a public library, you will have access to a monthly allotment of play credits, which will allow you to view videos on Kanopy (the number will vary by library). If this is the case, you will see a "play credit tracker" at the top right of your library's Kanopy platform to alert you of how many play credits you have remaining for the month.
Play credits are used to play videos on Kanopy. Each video will use 1 play credit regardless of length, unless you are accessing videos from
Kanopy Kids, which will not require any play credits to view
(see Play Credit Exceptions for more). Users are provided with a set number of play credits in their account each month which will reset at midnight
in the time zone of your library on the first day of each calendar month. Unused play credits will not roll over into the next month.
Using a play credit
A play credit will be used once at least 5 seconds of a video has been played. Once a play credit is logged, you will have a full 3 days (72 hours) to watch the video as many times as you would like without using another play credit, even if a new month starts and your credits reset. Your
Viewing History (when accessing from a web or mobile browser) will show any video that is still available to view in your 3 day window:
After the 3 day window has expired, another play credit will be used if you press play on the video again.
Using all available play credits
If you use all available play credits for the month you will not be able to play any videos until the 1st of the next month when your play credits reset. Additional play credits are not available for purchase at this time.
Accessing additional play credits
If you are a member of more than one subscribing library, you will also have access to the other library's play credits through your membership there. You can toggle between the different library platforms in the
Memberships tab in your user dashboard, as well as keep track of how many play credits you have remaining at each library.
Play Credit Exceptions
Kanopy Kids
Videos from the Kanopy Kids section will not require any play credits to view. Feel free to watch as many videos from Kanopy Kids as you’d like without seeing a reduction in your play credits!
The Great Courses
Viewing episodes from The Great Courses will not require play credits, however, depending on your library, there may be a limit on the number of The Great Courses series you can view per month. This will apply to the number of series, not episodes. Once you have viewed your monthly limit of The Great Courses, you will see a notification that you will be unable to view any additional series until the 1st of the following month. You will, however, be able to continue watching any of The Great Courses series you have previously viewed within the month.
If you are unsure if your library has set a limit for the number of The Great Courses series you can view per month, please check the Kanopy page on your library’s website, or contact us at support@kanopy.com.
Credit-Free Viewing
From time to time, you’ll see a “Credit-Free” shelf on the Kanopy homepage. You will be able to view the videos on this shelf without using any of your play credits. The video will remain credit-free for as long as it is on the shelf. If it is no longer on the shelf, a play credit will be required to watch.
