Best Online Rental Sites for DVD Movies / Games |
![]() |
||
| DVDs Only |
DVDs + Games |
Games Only |
|---|---|---|
| NetFlix
Top Programs
• Unlimited streaming plan ($7.99/mo)
Current Promotions
• 1-month free trial
Notable
• Leading Online DVD Rental provider
A lot of the movies for Watch Instantly are in HD (but your quality depends on your system and internet speed). GreenCine
Top Programs
• 3 DVDs at a time ($21.95/mo)
Notable
• Largest Collection of Indie Films & Cult Classics Anywhere
|
Top Programs
• 3 Games/DVDs at a time ($19.99/mo)
Current Promotions
• First 2 months half price
Notable
• Blockbuster
Total Access - you may optionally return your online rentals to a
Blockbuster store, and they will give you a free movie (or discounted game) for each one!
|
GameFly
Top Programs
• 2 Games at a time ($22.95/mo)
Current Promotions
• $12.95 for first month for 2-game plan, $8.95 for
1-game plan. - Or 10-day free trial.
Notable
• Leading Online Game Rental provider
Gamerang
|
The trend has moved away from traditional video rental chains and towards online video rentals. If you're new to online movies or game rentals let me tell you it's so much better than renting from your local video store. The way these online rental sites work is that you pay a monthly fee to rent as many games or movies you want with up to 3 out at a time (or more or less depending on the deal you choose). To select the titles you want browse or search for them on their website and compile a prioritized list of what you want to see (or play). They will send you titles from your list to you through the mail and when you're finished with a title simply drop it in the mail and they will send you the next title in your queue. It's as simple as that. No Late Fees. They pay shipping both ways. This is the way rentals should be done!
Netflix is the industry leader for DVD rentals - they have an excellent selection of titles, excellent service and very quick turn-around times (with over 40 distribution centers). Netflix also offers unlimited free movies for download with most of their plans. You can currently watch the movies on your TV with the Roku box or on your XBox 360 (requires live gold), and many other compatible devices are coming. The other big player Blockbuster has identical pricing for their online-only program. The real advantage to Blockbuster is it's Total Access program - that allows you to return rentals to a Blockbuster store for free rentals for each envelop. Blockbuster also recently started a download program, but their's is on a pay-per-view pricing level rather than free unlimited like Netflix. They are also introducing set-top boxes to use on your tv with the download system. On the gaming side Gamefly is an excellent service that gives you 2 games out at a time. They also have an excellent selection and quick turn-around times. If you're interested in only movies or only games or want the largest selection and quickest turn-around times I would stick to Netflix, Blockbuster or Gamefly.
As I mentioned in the table, the combined DVD/Game programs (Intelliflix and GamezNFlix) are gone. If you want both movies and games I would suggest to use Netflix and Gamefly.
Remember most of the sites offer free trials - you can always quit if the service doesn't live up to your expectations.
I'd love to hear feedback on your experiences with the online rental sites. I am working on a user feedback and rating system but if you would like to add feedback use the form below and I will add it to the site soon. Your full name and email will not be shown on the site. Thanks.
|
|