Which DVD Movie Rental Service is the Best? When Netflix shut down its DVD-by-mail service back in September 2023, it left something of a vacuum in the industry. But, we can hear you say, does anyone even watch DVDs (or Blu-rays) anymore with so many movies and shows on streaming services (...and *cough* pirating sites *cough*...)?
Best Option
DVD Inbox really wants to be your new Netflix - at least as far as movie rentals by mail go. They'll tell you right upfront that they're "loved by former Netflix DVD subscribers"... while pointing out that their inventory includes thousands of titles that are not available via streaming services. We see you, DVD Inbox...
Thousands upon thousands of titles - and counting
The selection here is vast, encompassing new releases, classic favorites, and maybe even new-to-you gems you wouldn't have known about without DVD Inbox's suggestions. Pick any genre you prefer, from Documentary to Thrillers, and see what's available; we don't think you'll have any trouble finding movies (or TV shows) you'd love to watch in the inventory of hundreds of thousands of titles, with new ones added daily.
Perfect score on our test case
We expected DVD Inbox to have no trouble with the titles we used as a test case across the rental platforms on our list, and they didn't let us down:
4 plans to choose from
There are four subscription tiers at DVD Inbox, depending on how many discs you'd like to have out at a time and how many you'd like in total each month:
Mix-and-match with Blu-ray
Those prices include shipping. There's also no late fees or due dates at DVD Inbox, and you can mix-and-match DVDs and Blu-rays as you like. And, at least at the time of our evaluation, each plan had a promo for a discounted first month (Premium was $22.49 and Micro was $7.49).
Customer service is fantastic
And, although we didn't spot a listing for DVD Inbox with the Better Business Bureau, it was pretty quick and easy to find lots of rave reviews from customers elsewhere. Subscribers say that the company's support is on point, responding to questions quickly and shipping out discs quickly. Literally all of the reviews on Trustpilot were 4- and 5-stars, with the only minor complaints being that shipping is slower than people were used to with Netflix (especially for those living in California). One person raved about DVD Inbox adding a title to the inventory at his request, and several praised the way that the company handles scratched or undelivered discs.
#1 pick for DVD movie rentals
Guess what? We do think that DVD Inbox is the best Netflix replacement out there today - or a fantastic service in its own right, even if you never got those little red envelopes in the mail before. The library is extensive, the price is right, and everywhere we look, subscribers have nothing but good things to say about the overall experience. We're happy to give DVD Inbox our own perfect 5-star rating.
Great
If you've ever shed a tear over the demise of Blockbuster or the end of the Netflix-by-mail days, Scarecrow Video is here to fill the void. Originally opened as an honest-to-goodness brick-and-mortar store in the 1980s, the Seattle-based company was turned into a non-profit in 2014 and designated as a cultural museum by the State of Washington in 2019. Scarecrow Video still operates a physical location (the only retail video store still remaining in the state, we believe). But, they've also expanded into rentals by mail (or RBM for short). Think of it as a DVD rental option for purists, fanatics, and everyday people alike: there were 147,000+ unique titles as of the date of this review, and the "museum" collection grows by 3000-4000 titles every year.
Selection is second to none
Given its aim to "defend physical media", is it any wonder that Scarecrow Video had no problems filling our requests for the three movies we used as an apples-to-apples comparison across the DVD rental services we evaluated? Check it out:
Pretty paltry descriptions for each movie: do your own research
As you browse for titles, though, you're going to need to know something about them: the listings don't tell you anything other than the year, length, rating, format, and language. You won't get a synopsis or a cast list. It also makes it hard to tell the difference between titles with the same name (like you saw above). The team at Scarecrow Video says they're "working on that".
So many fun categories
You're going to fall in love with the "Our Sections" part of the Scarecrow Video website. You'll see all the usuals, like Adventure or Comedy, but what about a whole section for Psychotronic with subcategories like Disaster and Nature Gone Amuck? Or H.K. Action Stars (like Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow)? There's no separate section for new releases, but you can always check on the Scarecrow Video blog to see the titles that have been added lately.
Rent-as-you-go just like a video store
Important detail here: Scarecrow Video's RBM service isn't a subscription. We repeat, this is not a subscription. Instead, you will pay per rental, just like you used to do at your neighborhood video store. Most of the titles we saw rented for $4.50. You can rent up to 6 discs at a time, and there's a $12 shipping fee regardless of the quantity of movies (from 1-6) that you order. You may be tempted to fill each and every envelope with 6 movies, to save on shipping. However, also just like your glory days at the video store, you'll have to return your movies by the due date (14 days) or pay a late fee. Scarecrow charges half of the daily rental fee per day; so, in the case of a $4.50 rental, it's $2.25 for each day you're past the due date. You can call and renew your rentals over the phone (if no one else is waiting to rent them) and avoid those fees by just paying the regular price for another 14-day term. FYI, your 14-day window starts when USPS shows your titles as "delivered", and they're considered "returned" when USPS tracks them on the way back.
Memberships mostly for locals
However, if you find yourself drawn in by this non-profit's mission, there is a membership program. From what we can see, its benefits (like 2-for-1 Fridays in the Music and Sports Sections or free rentals) don't extend to the RBM program. It's worth reaching out to ask, though; we can't help but think that if you wanted to support Scarecrow Video at the $5000 level, they might be willing to work something out for you.
Well-loved and super-transparent
And reputation? As a non-profit, you're not going to find Scarecrow Video evaluated by the Better Business Bureau. So, we turned to where everyone looks for input - Reddit, of course. We found an awesome AMA with Clinton McClurg, answering questions about the rare titles library (here's an example: $1,500 deposit to rent the import Laserdisc of the complete series of David Lynch's On the Air), the reason behind the organization's lack of desire to become the next Netflix, and tons of other really cool back-and-forth Q&A that will get you excited to jump on board with Scarecrow's mission.
A DVD movie rental option you'll feel good about supporting
While we can't put Scarecrow Video at the top of our list - because most people considering a DVD rental service are looking for more of a subscription-style plan (with lower fees and no due dates) - we have zero reservations about endorsing Scarecrow Video for its RBM program or for its mission as a whole. Lots of people online feel the same way, and we're pretty sure they'd agree with our excellent rating (or maybe try to talk us into boosting it to a perfect 5, just out of love...).
Very Good
Café DVD would love to be your Netflix-via-mail replacement. They offer one of the most entertaining DVD rental websites we've found, from an AI Movie Guide that can help you "discover hidden gems in cinema" to a great section for "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" (like Meet the Parents and The Untouchables). You've got options for both DVDs and Blu-ray discs here, all included in the same subscription.
Wide range of categories
This service doesn't disclose how many titles they have in inventory, but we were impressed by the categories alone. Available genres include TV Shows, Faith & Spirituality, LGBT, Anime & Animation, Drama, Documentary, and many more.
Had every title in our comparison
So that we could more easily compare all of the DVD rental services on our list, we picked three titles that aren't easy to find (and almost definitely not on any streaming service you might subscribe to). Café DVD knocked it out of the park on those selections (as follows):
5 subscription choices
What will you pay as a subscriber here? At the time of this review, there were 5 plans to choose from:
Shipping is included with zero late fees
For all of these plans, you can get titles in 4K for an extra fee. There are no late fees at Café DVD, and your shipping is always included in the membership costs.
You'll love the "mailed back" feature
Once you start your subscription, have fun adding titles to your queue. As they become available, they'll be sent out to you via mail. And, as you'd expect, when you're done watching, just pop your discs back in the mail. Once Café DVD receives them (or you notify them that they're on the way by clicking on the "mailed back" button), they'll send out the next title(s) from your list. They strongly recommend that you take advantage of that "mailed back" feature: all of their DVDs and Blu-rays ship out from California, so if you live on the opposite side of the country, you'll get your new titles faster this way.
Not worried about the "F" from the BBB
We weren't really happy to see that Café DVD earned an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau, but our disappointment was tempered by the fact that the failing grade was because this DVD rental service had failed to respond to most of the 8 complaints filed with the BBB over the last three years. That's really not a big deal to us. Those complaints are typical for what you'd see with any DVD platform: sometimes discs don't arrive as expected, or it's tricky to reach customer service.
Long waits but worth it
What was really interesting to us was seeing how customers with a lot of experience across the various DVD rental services ranked Café DVD: most put this company about where we did, as not quite as good as some in terms of availability (referencing long wait times to get titles from their queues), but very solid with respect to customer service.
Very solid pick for DVD movie rentals
All of that leads to our solid rating for Café DVD. The initial selection is fantastic but actual availability varies. Still, if you want to subscribe to a DVD (and Blu-ray) movie rental service that offers a wide range of titles, has a good reputation for being customer-friendly, and is affordably-priced, Café DVD gets the job done.
Good
4K Bluray 4U is pretty quiet about who they are and how long they've been sending out Blu-ray discs through their rental platform. But, we love a good mystery, especially when it comes with a solid service, so read on to find out what you can expect here.
Browse to see if there are movies you like
We'd like to tell you how many Blu-ray titles are on offer here, but even the company itself doesn't brag about it. We'd recommend that you just spend some time browsing the site and see if anything catches your eye. (We were particularly "geeked" to see a section for 80s movies prominently featured at the top of the website. Purple Rain? Risky Business? Jaws? We're in!)
Selection can be "meh"
In order to compare all of the DVD (and Blu-ray) rental sites on our list, we chose three titles across several genres that are popular but not usually offered through streaming services (hence the demand for a DVD/Blu-ray option). Check out how 4K Bluray 4U did on those titles:
That puts 4K Bluray 4U a little behind some of its competitors in terms of selection.
Priced competitively
Its pricing, on the other hand, puts it a bit ahead of some rivals: the top-tier Gold subscription is $57.99/month for 8 discs out at a time and 16 total per month, while the lowest-tier Bronze package for 2 discs at a time and 4 total per month is $17.99/month. That's a savings of $2-$4 per month when compared with at least one of the comparable rental platforms we evaluated. Also, shipping both ways is included in your membership fees.
Wish list isn't an automatic queue
When you become a subscriber, you'll build a Wish List of titles you'd like to check out. However, your titles aren't placed in a queue for automatic shipment: you'll have to add the ones you want and place an order that gets "deducted" from your number of titles for the month. That adds a bit of time, but it's not a bad thing: who wants to accidentally get a Christmas movie in April just because you forgot to take it out of the lineup when it wasn't available in December?
Mysterious "Mr. Handler"
It's not often that a company's Better Business Bureau listing makes us laugh, but 4K Bluray 4U's did. Why? When we looked under the Business Details section, all of the contact information - from Business Management to Customer Contact Person - was listed as assigned to one single name: "Mr. Complaint Handler". Okay then! At least there were no complaints filed with the BBB for "Mr. Handler" to, well, handle.
Feedback is limited but good
There's not a ton of feedback from subscribers for this rental service, but we did find a few reviews from this year, and they were positive. One said that shipping is usually pretty fast, despite some unpredictability in more recent months, and that the customer service team is responsive and fair. There were also plenty of active social media posts from 4K Bluray 4U - it's a good sign.
Good pick for Blu-ray customers
We feel comfortable giving 4K Bluray 4U an above-average rating. While it's true that this service is a no-go if you're only looking for DVDs, we like what they have to offer for Blu-ray enthusiasts. The subscription pricing is very competitive, and long-term subscribers have positive things to say about the overall experience. Give 4K Bluray 4U a look if you prefer that format over DVDs.
Average
GameFly got its start back in 2002 as a video game rental service. For gamers who wanted to try before buying an expensive new FPS or the latest Mario, it was the perfect fit. Somewhere along the way, the company started including DVD movie rentals - but you'll notice right away that video games are still the main focus at GameFly.
Didn't have some of the titles we were looking for
We compared three different titles across all of the DVD rental services on our list: one hard-to-find horror flick, one animated Japanese movie, and a classic rock title. Here's what we found:
Selection emphasizes Blu-ray and 4k
Gamefly puts an emphasis on higher-definition movies. For the lowest dvd format (480p), Gamefly offers only 72 titles for rent (yes, you read that right - seventy two). For blu-rays, however, the number increases dramatically to 942 titles. And for 4k movies, Gamefly has 606 titles for rent. While their total inventory may not compare to other rental sites on our list, when it comes to high resolution movies like 4k, it's good to see a variety of movies (especially since some of the sites we reviewed don't even offer 4k movie rentals as an option).
You can buy any movies you want to keep
If there's a title you really love (or if you can't find the disc that you rented...), you can buy it from GameFly at a discounted rate. You'll find that option in your member dashboard.
Several ways to subscribe for movie rentals
While Gamefly offers gaming subscriptions, let's take a look at the Movies-Only subscription options here. All of these come with free shipping and no late fees:
Customer service issues
Given its name recognition, you may be surprised to learn that customer feedback for GameFly is not positive overall. Even the Better Business Bureau has its concerns, offering a tepid "C-" rating for the company's failure to respond to literally all of the (seven) complaints filed in the last 12-month period. The picture was even less rosy on Trustpilot, with 78% of people leaving a 1-star rating there. From unreasonably slow deliveries to scratched discs, we found just about every kind of beef with customer service. In yet another place, we found a critical review that described having to report issues five times in six months with GameFly, compared with once over 10 years of subscribing to Netflix.
Wait 6 months for self-return privilege
Unfortunately, GameFly doesn't do what many of its higher-ranked rivals do: allow subscribers to report an issue and then ship them a replacement right away (so that they still get the value of having multiple-disc subscriptions, rather than waiting forever for the exchange to take place). Plus, not every plan comes with the self-return feature (where you can report that you're making a return and have GameFly send you a new title, cutting your back-and-forth time in half). Even on the ones that do, you have to "prove yourself" for 6 months for GameFly to trust you with the early send.
Average
FACETS isn't your average DVD rental service. Their movie platform is an add-on to a bigger mission to "expand perspectives and affirm a shared humanity through inclusive engagement with film". Sounds serious!
Geared towards local patrons
Much of what FACETS offers in membership perks is directly connected to its location in Chicago. Think of it more like joining a museum than subscribing to a DVD club, because your membership includes things like a 15% discount at the Box Office, monthly tickets to Anime Club events, and so on.
45,000+ titles
But, let's say that you're willing to join just so that you can access their DVD benefits. Here's what you should expect. No matter which tier you join (from $10/month or $100/year up to $250/year), you'll only get 3 video rentals per month. Believe it or not, that includes not just DVDs and Blu-ray discs, but also VHS tapes. There are over 45,000 titles in the FACETS collection across all 3 media types.
You'll pay extra for shipping, every time
Be aware, though, that shipping fees aren't included in your subscription at FACETS. Every shipment comes with a surcharge of $8-$11 (and that includes a pre-printed return shipping label). That's a big downside compared with most DVD rental services that give you free shipping both ways as part of your subscription.
Did surprisingly well on our test case titles
Now that you know how this rental club works, let's talk about inventory. We weren't overly optimistic that FACETS was going to do very well on the three titles we chose as a basis for comparison across DVD rental services: the site looks like no one has used it in years. But, see for yourself:
Lots of obscure titles - but newer releases too
It's true that the general vibe at FACETS is obscure, indie, and unusual, though. On the Monthly Top 10 list at the time of our most recent visit, there were only two titles released in the 2000s. The rest were movies we'd never seen, like Robert Altman's 3 Women from 1977 or Exquisite Short Films of Kihachiro Kawamoto from 1968. In fact, when we opted to list just the available titles from the current year, there were only four in FACETS' catalog. And yet, if you really must see movies like Five Nights At Freddy's or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, many will eventually make it to the inventory here.
Solid choice if you like quirky
If you can get past the outdated look of the movies page for FACETS (which you'll do pretty quickly, since you're quickly directed to the .org site to sign up), you might find some real gems with this DVD rental service. It's a little on the clunky side compared with rival sites (like charging per package for shipping and having a really outdated-looking movie platform), but if you're looking for a great way to see some current-ish titles while expanding your repertoire a little or a lot, FACETS would love to help you do it.
Subpar
3D Blu-ray Rental has been mailing out Blu-ray discs since 2011. Yes, you'd rightly conclude from the company name that there are no DVDs on offer here, but there are more than 20,000 Blu-ray titles in their inventory if you happen to have both players (or maybe you were actually looking for Blu-ray options anyway).
Great range of newer releases and older movies
It's pretty easy to find what you're looking for here: just type it in the search box and off you go. Looking for inspiration? You can use the links at the top of the 3D Blu-ray Rental site to browse by New Releases, Top Blu-ray Rentals, 3D options, 4K UHD titles, or get excited for (and preorder) titles on the Coming Soon list. We were curious to see what the most popular titles were on the Top Rentals list, but we didn't see anything that struck us as trending (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2? Captain Phillips?). New Releases were a little more promising, with a nice mix of current titles (like the recently-concluded season of Resident Alien), niche movies (like Last Year at Marienbad from 1961), and classics (like Poltergeist II).
Had most of the titles we were looking for
To compare the DVD (and Blu-ray) movie rental services on our list, we decided to look for three titles that aren't typically found on streaming platforms, but that have a loyal following for one reason or another. How did 3D Blu-ray Rental do? Take a look:
Plans from $9.99-$62.99 per month
So, what does it cost? 3D Blu-ray Rental has several subscription options, depending on how many discs you'd like to have at a time and how many you'd like to have in a calendar month. The lowest-priced option is $9.99/month for one disc at a time and a total of two titles each month. On the other end of the spectrum, you could pay $62.99/month for eight discs at once and a total of 16 titles borrowed in a calendar month. There's no shipping fees on any of the six membership plans here, and no late fees either.
Only one complaint filed with the BBB in 3 years
And reputation? 3D Blu-ray Rental had a "C+" from the Better Business Bureau at the time of this review, but it was for failing to respond to the only complaint filed with the BBB against the service in the last three years. And, on a positive note, that complaint was registered within a few months of our evaluation, so we can take that as a sign that yes, this company is still up and running. (The complaint was about a billing issue that they went back-and-forth on.)
Subscribers have a love/hate relationship with customer service
On the other hand, subscribers were pretty evenly split between 1- and 5-star reviews beyond the BBB. One user said that up to 10% of the discs she got were too scratched to play properly, and 3D Blu-ray Rental essentially made it her problem by having to order the title again (and having it count against her monthly limit). We also found subscribers saying that their movies take forever to arrive through this service: 7 days or longer, compared with a well-known rival's consistent 4- to 5-day delivery timeframe. Finally, more than one subscriber was hit with an overage fee due to a lack of communication on 3D Blu-ray Rental's part: they were told that since one of their movies was designated as a "short wait", they should go ahead and order something else... only to have that waitlisted movie sent out a few hours later, putting them over their monthly limit. Sounds shady. Plus, with customer service only being offered via email, you're really limited as to how you get any problems resolved.
Not our favorite option for movie rentals
Given how limited the selection is here - no DVDs, after all - we can't really give 3D Blu-ray Rental anything higher. It might have been different if the service was doing an incredible job of keeping clients happy, but that doesn't seem to be the case either. We'd recommend looking at a competitor for your Blu-ray options; you'll have to go elsewhere if you want DVDs anyway.
Continued from above...
When Netflix shut down its DVD-by-mail service back in September 2023, it left something of a vacuum in the industry. But, we can hear you say, does anyone even watch DVDs (or Blu-rays) anymore with so many movies and shows on streaming services (...and *cough* pirating sites *cough*...)?
The answer is a big "YES". What vinyl records are to audio purists, physical media for movies is to cinephiles. All you need is a great home theater setup (even a modest one) and you've got audiovisual quality that can't be replicated by most streaming platforms. Plus, if your WiFi goes out, you don't have to cancel movie night if you've got a bunch of DVDs on hand.
And, speaking of Internet connections, we've heard of more than a few families who've decided to go connection-free while they're home, going back to DVDs as a way to stop doom-scrolling or watching endless reels on their FYP for a few hours and spend time together.
But, you don't necessarily want to buy a whole bunch of DVDs, and your local library might not be directing much budget towards acquiring ones you could borrow. Don't worry, though: that's where DVD movie rental services come in, even in the absence of Netflix's well-known red envelopes in your mailbox. There are a number of companies that have stepped into the gap, either with membership plans structured much the same way or even offering a pay-as-you-go rental platform. Whether you want the hottest new releases or you're hoping to discover an indie film you've never heard of, there's a DVD rental service you'll love.
What should you look for in a good DVD movie rental company? Here are some key factors that can help you tell apart the ones that will be blockbusters (so to speak) from the ones that are best left on a bloopers reel:
Get in your comfy chair and dim the lights, because the film fans at Top Consumer Reviews have reviewed and ranked the most popular DVD movie rental services available today. Use our research to pick the one that's the right fit for your tastes in cinema, from avant-garde to anime and everything in between. Don't forget the popcorn!
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