The cheapest way to rent the latest DVDs might be in a store after all. But not in your brick-and-mortar rental store. Redbox has kiosks set up in supermarkets across the country, and in some Wal-Mart, Walgreen, and even McDonald’s locations. For just $1 you can rent a movie from a Redbox vending machine. If you want to hold onto it a little longer, it’s only an extra dollar per night. You can even go online to reserve the movie you want at one of the 22,400 kiosks the company has set up across the country. (Image courtesy of Redbox)
Have an iPhone? Look up a nearby kiosk with Redbox’s app.
For as low as $4.99 a month, you can rent DVDs over the Internet with Netflix and have them delivered to your door. That rate gets you two movies per month, plus two hours of streaming movies and TV shows right from the Web. If the two-disc/two-hour deal is not enough, you can bump that up to $8.99 and rent and stream all the movies you like. For an extra two bucks, Blu-ray movies are included. (Image courtesy of Netflix)
Old-school Blockbuster has also gotten into the rental-over-the-Web action. With Blockbuster Online you can rent and have unlimited movies delivered to your door for the same $8.99 as Netflix. And Blockbuster throws in Blu-ray rentals for no additional charge. For another $3 you can exchange your rentals in-store five times per month, instead of waiting for the next one to come in the mail. The service does not offer free streaming rentals like Netflix, however. (Image courtesy of Blockbuster)
See Blockbuster plans compared.
Although Blockbuster doesn’t offer free streaming of videos to Blockbuster Online subscribers, it does have an on-demand service if you have a supporting device like a TiVo. You can rent many of the latest movie releases with Blockbuster on Demand the same day they come out on DVD, something Netflix can’t match on its streaming service. Most rentals range between $2.99 and $3.99. (Image courtesy of Blockbuster)
Much like Redbox, Blockbuster Express kiosks have been set up at many drug stores and supermarkets in the U.S. You can check on Blockbuster’s Web site to see if a movie you want is at a kiosk near you and pick it up. Blockbuster Express rentals cost $1 per night. (Image courtesy of Blockbuster)
Look up nearby Blockbuster Express kiosks.
Maybe you’re ready to take the leap and leave discs behind. Amazon Video on Demand lets you rent and buy movies and TV shows right from—you guessed it—Amazon.com . Movies are typically $3.99 each to rent (some are $2.99) and give you access for 24 hours. (Image courtesy of Amazon)
If you have an iPod or iPhone you probably already buy music on iTunes, but did you know you can also rent and buy movies from the service? Put them right on your iPod for on-the-go entertainment or watch them on your Apple TV. Rental prices are typically $3.99 per movie, like Amazon.com. (Image courtesy of Apple)
Recently acquired by Wal-Mart, Vudu offers online rentals for $3.99 each (some for $2.99 or less). What gives Vudo a crisp edge, though, is its 1080p HD quality streaming. That’s the highest detail level available for high definition. (Image courtesy of VUDU)