Redbox Instant Shutters Service

Once considered a potential competitor to Netflix Inc., the two year-old Redbox Instant has had a short life. Launched by Outerwall Inc., then called Coinstar Inc., in partnership with Verizon Communications Inc., Redbox Instant’s on-demand movie streaming service seemed to have all the right backers for success. Yet Redbox Instant just wasn’t able to compete with the vast library of videos offered by Netflix.

In its website, Redbox Instant posted its goodbye message:

“Thank you for being a part of Redbox Instant by Verizon. Please be aware that the service will be shut down on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Information on applicable refunds will be emailed to current customers and posted here on October 10.”

So if you’re a Redbox Instant fan or subscriber, you might want to start considering other streaming services. SiliconANGLE’s got your back.

3 alternatives to Redbox Instant

Netflix

For $8.99 a month, Netflix offers a service that is easy to subscribe to, and just as easy to opt out. It offers both movies and TV shows, extending a huge library of videos. There’s streaming support for a range of devices including one’s smartphone, tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or Mac. An added bonus is that Netflix also makes its own original programs and it recently signed comedian Adam Sandler to star in four exclusive films.

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Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus is much like Netflix in the sense that users can opt in and out of the service anytime, without worrying about an early termination fee. A subscription costs $7.99 per month, offering a massive catalog of  TV shows new and old, as well as a fair selection of movies. Hulu Plus can be accessed via Apple TV, selected Blu-ray players, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStaion 3, 4 and Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and One, Chromecast, and other set-top boxes.

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Amazon Prime

Retail giant Amazon.com Inc. also has a robust entertainment offering with Amazon Prime. For $99 a year or $8.25 a month, you get free two-day shipping when you order something from Amazon, unlimited movies and TV shows on Prime Instant Video, 500,000 free ebooks, and millions of songs on Prime Music. Another bonus is that Amazon also offers original content ranging from dramas, thrillers and kids’ shows, to name a few.

photo credit: sarah sosiak via photopin cc