We have been Netflix customers for several years now. We originally had Blockbuster, years ago, but dropped them when we realized that Netflix not only had DVD’s to the home, but streaming of many of the shows we loved to watch too! Blockbuster had raised their prices, and it just wasn’t worth the cost any more. All was fine, even through a slight rate increase with Netflix, until yesterday.
I saw a tweet about Netflix raising their rates, and did some research. I came across the infamous Netflix Blog post announcing their rate hike. I was upset. I read through other comments about this rate hike, and felt the same way as all 5000+ comments I read on their blog, reddit and all across twitter and facebook. I decided to call Netflix directly and see what they were saying about the rate hike. When I asked if they were considering grandfathering in their long time customers, I was told no. She looked up my account and saw that we rarely exchanged DVDs and told me that she could save me $2 a month by switching us over to the Streaming only plan right now! I told her no. We liked the option of renting the newer DVDs since the streaming catalog was typically older movies we watch for nostalgia’s sake. So I flat out asked her what the difference was going to be with the price hike. Were we going to get more options for streaming, newer releases for DVDs, what was making this worth it to me to stay on as a customer. Do you know what she said? She said, “No, everything is staying the same. We’re just separating the plans to save people money. ” At this point, I was calling shenanigans. How is raising my rates by 60% because I have both DVD and streaming, going to save me any money at all? It won’t!
Her reply: ” Well, we’re not holding you hostage by any contract and you’re free to cancel your account at any time.”
Wow. I think my jaw hit the floor. Is that what Netflix thinks of their customers? People who have spent years with them? Brought them many other customers through referrals? Wow.
So, after that conversation, I started looking into other options besides Netflix. I’m hoping that this will help you out too. They are in no particular order at all…
Hulu offers your favorite videos right from your browser, anytime for free through Hulu.com.
Hulu Plus is an ad-supported subscription service where you can stream full current seasons and a deep library of back seasons of hit TV shows from ABC, FOX, NBCUniversal and more in HD to computers, internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, mobile phones and tablets for $7.99 per month. Hulu Plus can also stream movies to a variety of Smart Phones. We have the Evo 4G and it works quite well!
We have subscribed to Hulu Plus since it began and have really enjoyed it. We’ve used it a little bit more than our actual cable service because we can catch most of the shows that we have missed. Sign up and get 2 weeks free!
Amazon offers over thousands of titles for instant streaming. You can rent or purchase movies and tv episodes. You have options to your viewing choices as well. You can watch online, download the videos and watch offline or watch on your tv with your internet connectable device. Prices range, but it looks like a typical New Release movie rental is between $2.99 and $3.99.
If you already subscribe to Amazon Prime, your deal just got sweeter. Prime instant videos provide unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of over 6,000 movies and TV shows at no additional cost to your Amazon Prime Membership. Prime instant videos can be watched instantly on Mac, PC, Â and most Internet Connected TVs and devices.
VUDU is available without a monthly subscription or contract. There are no late fees, plus thousands of our movies are available to rent for just $2 for 2 nights. Vudu is available for streaming on the PS3, Blu-Ray Players, Internet connectable TVs, and other devices, and through Boxee. New releases are available the same day that they are available on DVD. You pay for what you watch.
Redbox is a kiosk found at many grocery stores, drug stores, and even gas stations. They are pretty easy to find, and usually had a decent selection of movies to choose from. Want to make sure the movie you want is available? Go to redbox.com, create an account and find the movie you’re looking for at a local kiosk. Reserve it, and when you arrive to pick it up, all you have to do is swipe the credit card you used to reserve the movie. It will be dispensed for you! No hassles! Redbox also offers games for rent. Movies run as low as $1 per night and video games run about $2 per night.
Redbox periodically sends special offers to customers who have signed up to receive emails (you can sign up on the redbox homepage if you haven’t already). Redbox also sends a promo code on the first Monday of every month to customers who have signed up for text alerts. To get text alerts, text the word REDBOX to 727272 (only available on participating carriers, message and data rates may apply, and you can always text STOP to quit).
Streaming is not included with the Mail Service. Each download can cost 99¢ up to $4.99 depending on the age of the movie
For their mail options:
- 1 disc at a time- $8.99
- 2 out $12.99
- 3 out $16.99
This plan does include games by mail, but only includes 5 in store exchanges per month. Bring your mailed movie into the store in the mailer envelope to trade for a new movie in store. Remember though, you must return your movie back to the store before your next mail in selection can be sent. In store exchanges are free for movies, and games are done at a discounted rate.
Blockbuster Total Access:
- 1 disc out at a time $11.99
- 2 out $16.99
- 3 out $19.99
This plan also includes games, but the difference is that it includes unlimited in store exchanges.
Unlike Netflix, new releases are sometimes available 28 days early.
There is NO contract with Blockbuster, so it might be worth a try. You can call them and get a 2 week free trial. Keep in mind that once that trial is up, you will have to cancel or it will automatically charge your for whatever plan you chose to try out.
Blockbuster Express is also a self-service movie rental service, offering consumers a wide selection of new release and catalog DVDs through conveniently located kiosks. Similar to Redbox, you can browse movies online, reserve movies online and find a kiosk via their website. Rental fees: Hot List titles are $2.99 for the first night on DVD, $3.99 for the first night on Blu-Ray and $1.00 per night for each additional rental night for both disc formats. Promo codes cannot be used to rent Hot List or Blu-ray titles.  Hot List titles also come with our “In-Stock Guarantee”. Movies stay on our Hot List for a limited period of time.
“In-Stock Guarantee”: Our “In-Stock Guarantee” means that if the Hot List title is not available when you select it at the kiosk or when you select it to reserve online, you will receive instructions to text a code to 39777. You will receive a response text with a promo code valid for one free rental night of $1.00 value. Find a Kiosk near you to try out Blockbuster Express.
On Demand- Cable or Satellite Providers:
Many cable and satellite providers offer an On Demand service. Some are included in the packages, and some cost extra. Many have TV series episodes and movies available for instant streaming through your cable box. On Demand movies start when you start them, and more often than not, you can pause, rewind, start over, etc with On Demand. We have channels like Fitness & Exercise, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Kids On Demand. Most of them are older movies, but they’re already included in your service, so cost would not be an issue. If you do not have an On Demand Service already, call your Cable or Satellite provider and see if they offer it, and how much it would cost! You never know! It might be a minimal addition to your current plan!
Pay Per View- Cable and Satellite Providers:
Another option that you probably already have available to you is your pay per view service through your local cable or satellite provider. The Pay Per View movies differ from On Demand in that they start at set times and you watch them straight through. There is no pause, rewind, start over option. Prices will vary, but it seems like they are around $2.99 depending on the providers.
Your Local Library: (Thanks to TechyDad!)
A great option since this one is more or less FREE! All it takes to rent from here is your Public Library Card! Most libraries have a pretty good selection of DVDs available from kids movies on up to grown ups! It’s not streaming, but then again, neither is using the kiosks! Take the kids to the library and grab a movie for family movie night on the way out! There are usually late fees involved if you don’t return it on time, but most libraries give you at least 2-3 days to watch your selection!
If, after all of this, you still decide to stick with Netflix, you can just do their streaming option for $7.99 per month or their just 1 out at a time DVD service for $7.99 per month. Of course, you can choose to do both for $15.98 per month. Other options are available for the DVD service, and prices will vary, but there is no break in prices for getting both services. Also found that Netflix’s unlimited streaming plan will only allow one stream at a time. i.e. You can not stream to your Roku in your bedroom while your kids are watching a movie on your PS3.
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Well, That is about all I can think of. I’ve done some searches across the internet, and came across a few others, but these were probably the most popular and best options based on the information provided. Of course, you can always check out the $5 DVD bins at Walmart and other retailers to see what is in there, or you can buy each movie on DVD/Blu-Ray as they come out. Probably the more expensive option, but it makes it so the movie is always there for you!
If you know of any other options, I’d love to hear about them! Please leave a comment below!
This post is not sponsored in any way from any of the above mentioned companies. This post is written solely from my own personal research.
Don’t forget your local library. We rent movies from our library quite often. They actually have a nice selection (though this will vary from library to library, of course) and the rentals are free. (Well, included in your local taxes which you would pay either way.)
Yes, you need to drive to the library to take out the DVDs and then drive back to return them, but you can’t beat the price!
Ooh.. I did forget about that!!! Thank you! I’ll add it to the list!
[…] My first thought was maybe we should reduce our plan level. We could go with 1 DVD at a time and streaming for $15.98. This would be a 6.5% price hike for reduced services. Or maybe I could go streaming only for $7.99 a month. This would save us $7 a month. Sure we wouldn’t have access to Netflix’s impressive DVD selection, but there are ways of replacing that. […]
[…] Here‘s a blogpost and other options written by mommybrainreports.  In her complete article she gives other options for customers who wish to cancel their Netflix subscription with the rate hike.  Below is a portion of her post. We have been Netflix customers for several years now. We originally had Blockbuster, years ago, but dropped them when we realized that Netflix not only had DVD’s to the home, but streaming of many of the shows we loved to watch too! Blockbuster had raised their prices, and it just wasn’t worth the cost any more. All was fine, even through a slight rate increase with Netflix, until yesterday. […]