Keep Your Movie and TV Show Collections All in One Place
If the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear "VUDU" is voodoo dolls, you’re not alone. What is VUDU? Even though this video streaming platform has been around for a while, it’s only recently that people have started catching on. If you’re one of those people who are always streaming something before bed or whose weekend is incomplete without Netflix, this is definitely something you’ll want to check out.
However, before making a decision, it is always good to learn a little more about what exactly VUDU is.
What Is VUDU?
As surprising as it may be, VUDU was founded way back in 2004 as a movie streaming service. Walmart bought the company in 2010 and currently owns the streaming platform. Even though it remains mostly unknown still, the service offers more than 24,000 movies and 8,000 TV shows, as of June 2019.
These movies and TV shows include documentaries, musicals, independent films, children’s programs, anime and more. Moreover, with VUDU, you can combine your digital and physical collections in one place.
It is similar to mainstream services such as Netflix, Hulu and iTunes, but it’s also a bit different, which we’ll get to later.
How Does It Work?
Similar to other sites, you have to create an account and enter all your details. Once you’ve signed up, you have access to all the movies and shows. You can hover over different titles to see its rating, cast and other details. Some of them will even let you watch the movie trailer so you can decide whether it’s your thing or not.
When you’ve finally chosen something, you have two options: buy it or rent it. If you buy the movie or show, it’s going to stay in your collection forever, and you can watch it whenever you want. If you rent it, you have 30 days to start watching it, and once you’ve started it, you have 24 hours to finish or rewatch it if you want.
VUDU works with the Movies Anywhere Platform so even if you’ve bought titles on other platforms such as iTunes or Google Play, you can watch them on VUDU. Additionally, you can stream videos on VUDU in HD or their newer HDX version, which has much better video quality. Not to forget, VUDU also offers full Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound in many titles.
Supportable Devices
Another great thing about VUDU is that it supports a wide range of devices. You can set it up on whatever you have at home without compromising on the quality, as long as you have an active internet connection.
Some of these devices include:
- Mac and PC web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and more
- Smartphones or tablets using Android and iOS apps
- Smart TVs from selected companies and specific models
- Gaming consoles such as Xbox One, Xbox 360, and more
- Media streamers such as Chromecast, Roku and more
How Is It Different Than Other Streaming Services?
VUDU isn’t significantly different from the other streaming services in the market. We’d say it is more of a hybrid with common features with everyone. However, it does cater to a slightly different segment that has specific streaming habits and preferences. With regard to how it works, it’s probably more similar to platforms such as iTunes than the more mainstream ones like Netflix.
Firstly, VUDU doesn’t follow a subscription-based model. You do have to register, but that’s free of cost and a one-time thing. Once you’ve signed up, you can choose to spend money precisely on what you want to watch. Even if you don’t watch anything, it won’t be like your subscription fee got wasted.
Secondly, with VUDU, you don’t have to wait for new releases. If you’re one of those people who has to watch everything as soon as it comes out, you’re going to love VUDU. On this streaming service, you can catch all new releases on the day they come out. Unlike other platforms, you don’t have to wait for months to see it in HD.
Thirdly, while other streaming sources have more extensive collections, VUDU has a higher number of titles in better video quality and better sound, with more being continuously added. Additionally, VUDU is currently only available in the United States and Mexico.
Lastly, the most crucial thing differentiating VUDU from others is the greater convenience it offers. You can merge and keep all your digital and physical collections in one place.
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How Much Does It Cost?
VUDU isn’t insanely cheaper or more expensive as compared to other ways of renting and buying movies. Moreover, it’s available from the comfort of your home, which is a big non-monetary factor. Other than that, how much it costs depends on you.
As mentioned earlier, the initial registration is free. After that, if you choose to rent a movie, it can cost you anywhere between $0.99 and $5.99. If the movie is still playing in theaters, it could cost you more. If you plan to purchase the movie, it could be for anything between $4.99 and $24.99. The video quality can also affect the price.
For TV shows, you only have the option of purchasing them for now. This can cost you $1.99 to $2.99 for single episodes, and complete seasons can be between $16.99 and $43.99. Besides that, if you’re looking to convert your physical movies to digital movies, that’ll be somewhere between $2 to $5.
Most importantly, you can even enjoy VUDU for free. With VUDU’s Movies on Us section, you have access to a wide range of movies and titles for no cost at all. Of course, there is a catch. You won’t find any latest-releases; most of the collection consists of old names or soon-to-be-removed movies. Moreover, you will have to bear ads as well during streaming.
Furthermore, to help you save more, VUDU offers movie bundles for a lesser price.
Final Words
As you must have realized, VUDU has various similarities to other streaming services, yet some unique features as well. In the end, it depends on your preferences. If you stream a lot of TV shows and binge-watch a lot, maybe the Netflix subscription will be more economical.
Though, if you can’t wait to stream all the latest titles, VUDU would be best. Nevertheless, now that you know everything about VUDU, you can make a much more informed decision if it’s the streaming platform for you.