Ever since Netflix launched in 1999, the popularity of renting DVDs through online services has increased. Anyone who watches television or spends time on the Internet has surely heard of these services. Until I started a little bit of research, I thought that Netflix and Blockbuster Online were the only online DVD rental services available. Unfortunately, I don’t know a whole lot about those other rental services. In the meantime, I can compare and contrast Netflix and Blockbuster Online, as I have used both.
Netflix
Usually, the first thing that gets people interested in Netflix is the free trial. For two weeks, you can choose any rental package (more on that later) and receive and return your DVDs by mail. When you sign up, you created a list of movies that you would like to rent — what is called a queue. The movies that are at the top of your queue will be sent in the order that they appear. If you choose a two at-a-time package, you will receive the top two movies in your queue. Once you return a movie, the next movie in yout queue will be sent to you. Once that two-week trial is up, you can either cancel or you can continue your subscription and the credit card that you gave when you signed up will be charged. You can also change your rental package at any time with no charge. Here are the rental packages that are available from Netflix:
- 1 at-a-time (2 per month) – $5.99 a month
- 1 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $9.99 a month
- 2 at-a-time (4 per month) – $11.99 a month
- 2 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $14.99 a month
- 3 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $17.99 a month
- 4 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $23.99 a month
- 5 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $29.99 a month
- 6 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $35.99 a month
- 7 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $41.99 a month
- 8 at-a-time (Unlimited) – $47.99 a month
There are no due dates and no late fees for Netflix. For more information about their movies and services, please visit Netflix.
Blockbuster Online
Blockbuster Online works basically the same way as Netflix. You get a free trial if you are a new Blockbuster Online customer, and after the trial is up, you can choose to cancel or continue your subscription. The free trial is two weeks, like Netflix, but through a special promotion at our local Blockbuster store, we actually got an entire month free. I am not sure if any stores are still participating in this promotion, so you may want to contact your local store before signing up for the free trial. Here are the rental packages available from Blockbuster Online:
- 1 at-a-time (2 per month, plus 2 in-store rentals per month) – $5.99 a month
- 1 at-a-time (3 per month, plus 2 in-store rentals per month) – $7.99 a month
- 1 at-a-time (Unlimited, plus 1 in-store rental per week) – $9.99 a month
- 2 at-a-time (Unlimited, plus 1 in-store rental per week) – $14.99 a month
- 3 at-a-time (Unlimited, plus 1 in-store rental per week) – $17.99 a month
- 5 at-a-time (Unlimited, plus 1 in-store rental per week) – $29.99 a month
- 8 at-a-time (Unlimited, plus 1 in-store rental per week) – $47.99 a month
Yes, you are reading correctly. With each Blockbuster Online subscription, you get a certain number of in-store rentals per month. How? Well, there are e-coupons that you can print from your account. Then, you bring the coupon into your local Blockbuster store, show your rental card, give them the coupon, and off you go! So, if you have the 3 at-a-time unlimited package, you could conceivably have 4 DVDs at-a-time.
For more information about Blockbuster Online services, please visit Blockbuster Online.
This Humble Blogger’s Personal Opinion
I prefer Blockbuster Online. I like that I can get a free in-store rental per week (we have the 3 at-a-time unlimited package) in addition to the movies I receive through the mail. That way, if I happen to send all three movies back at one time, I can still get a free movie from my local store. It is really convenient.
I recommend that you try different online rental sites. Take advantage of the free trials that many of these sites offer and discover for yourself which one works best for you. Check out thses other online DVD rental sites, as well. This is Jaime from Media Reviews signing off, and we’ll see you at the movies (at home)!
Green Cine (You can also buy DVDs here)