Netflix

April. 2009. Most reviewers and users choose Netflix as the best way to order DVDs online for delivery by mail. It has an industry-leading 100,000 movie titles, there are no late fees and a postage-paid return envelope is included. There are lots of subscription plans, and all but the cheapest include unlimited free viewing of the 12,000-title streaming movie library. The company estimates delivery will take one business day, but experts say it depends how far you are from a distribution center. Blu-ray discs are also available for rental, but Netflix adds a surcharge of between $1 and $9 for that, depending on the plan. Reviewers and users who don't choose Netflix prefer Blockbuster Online (*est. $4 to $35 per month) because there are brick-and-mortar stores that can speed the return process. Both services receive complaints about "throttling," where the company deliberately cuts access to new or high-demand titles for the most active subscribers.

Among the reviews we found, Consumer Reports provides the most current update. Discussion is short, but the information is relatively -- though not completely -- up to date and the results of a subscriber survey are included. TopTenReviews.com's rankings chart allows for the easiest comparison of features, but despite the claim of a 2009 update, much of the information is clearly older. EngadgetHD.com doesn't provide its own opinion, but does solicit reader opinion about the best online DVD-by-mail service. CNET's comparison is dated, but still raises some relevant points. There are no comparative reviews at HackingNetflix.com, but just about every other aspect of Netflix is discussed, and readers provide input, too.