Vudu is an on-demand streaming service owned by Fandango that offers thousands of movies and TV shows available to rent, purchase or even watch for free. This guide provides an in-depth look at Vudu, including its features, content library, pricing, supported devices, and how it compares with top competitors.

Table of contents

Overview of Vudu’s Streaming Service

Vudu is an on-demand streaming service that offers over 200,000 titles across movies and TV shows available to stream instantly.

Key Features

No subscription fee – pay per rental/purchase
Over 200,000 titles to choose from
New releases often available same-day as Blu-ray
Select movies and TV shows available to watch free with ads
Stream in SD, HD and 4K quality (UHD)
Compatible with a wide variety of devices
Family friendly modes and parental controls

Vudu offers great flexibility since it does not require a monthly subscription. Instead, you can choose to:

Rent movies starting from $3.99
Purchase movies and full TV show seasons
Stream from a selection of free movies and TV shows (ad-supported)
Convert your existing DVD and Blu-ray disc library to digital copies stored in Vudu

This gives you access to an extensive on-demand library without forcing you into an ongoing commitment. Vudu also regularly offers promotions on movie bundles at discounted prices.

Vudu’s Content Library: Movies, TV Shows and More

Vudu grants access to over 200,000 titles encompassing movies and TV shows. It also occasionally releases some exclusive original programming.

Movie Library

Vudu’s movie library spans classic films to new theatrical releases across a breadth of genres, including:

Action & Adventure
Animation
Classics
Comedy
Documentary
Drama
Horror
Independent
International
Kids & Family
Musicals
Romance
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Special Interest
Sports
Thrillers
Westerns

Notable movies recently available on Vudu include:

Top Gun: Maverick
Nope
Bullet Train
Jurassic World Dominion
The Batman
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

In many cases, major new theatrical releases are accessible to rent or purchase on the same day as the Blu-ray and DVD release date.

Vudu also offers a selection of movies available on the free, ad-supported tier:

Ice Age
No Country for Old Men
The Aviator
Kill Bill
Scooby Doo
Titanic
Bad Boys
Open Season

The available titles rotate frequently. You can browse free movies by category like Family, Drama or Comedy for quick access.

TV Show Library

In addition to movies, Vudu provides access to past seasons of popular TV shows spanning:

Premium channels like HBO and Showtime
Broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC
Basic cable channels – AMC, FX, TNT, USA Network
Kids programming – Nickelodeon, Disney Channel

TV shows are available for purchase by the season or as a full series bundle. There is also a selection of ad-supported free TV show options accessible on demand, such as:

Beverly Hills 90210
Duck Dynasty
Forensic Files
Hell’s Kitchen
Reba
Rick and Morty
Unsolved Mysteries

So if you want to revisit a classic show or get caught up on a current favorite, Vudu offers plenty of choice.

Original Content

In terms of original programming, Vudu currently has only released:

Mr. Mom (2019) – 12-episode comedy series
Adventure Force 5 (2019) – Kids superhero movie

So original content is very limited on Vudu. The main draws are its extensive studio movie catalog and wide selection of past season TV shows.

User Experience and Interface

Vudu aims to make browsing its vast on-demand catalog and streaming movies as seamless as possible.

Getting started with Vudu requires creating a free account, which only takes a minute. You’ll need to provide:

Email address
Password

Optionally, you can connect your Walmart.com account if you have one to unlock additional perks.

The next step asks for a credit card, even if you only want to access free content. This allows Vudu to charge your card when you do rent or buy titles. However, it is possible to skip entering payment info initially if preferred.

When creating a Vudu account, some users have reported issues with password resets not working properly. But the initial signup process is typically smooth.

Vudu App and Supported Devices

Vudu offers apps for all major platforms and devices:

Smart TVs – Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony
Mobile – iOS, Android phones and tablets
Media streamers – Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV
Game consoles – PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Web browser – Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox

So chances are your existing devices are already equipped to stream Vudu.

User Interface

Vudu’s interface makes browsing its catalog intuitive and is consistent across devices.

Some key elements:

Separate sections for free movies/TV vs rent/buy
Filters to narrow results – genre, rating, year etc
Previews available for most titles
Rotten Tomatoes ratings displayed
Details on cast, runtime, resolution etc
Queue for bookmarking titles to watch later

The layout is visual and easy to navigate using media streaming device remotes. Searches return robust results for both exact movie/show names and general keywords.

Overall, Vudu hits the right notes for usability – enabling you to seamlessly browse, preview, manage and play content.

Streaming Quality and Features

A few other aspects that impact the watching experience on Vudu include:

Resolution Options

Standard definition
High definition (up to 1080p)
4K Ultra HD

So if you have a compatible UHD TV, you can access select titles in glorious 4K resolution with HDR color.

Audio

Vudu supports surround sound audio tracks when available for a cinematic experience.

Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 and 7.1
Dolby Atmos

Offline Viewing

Vudu allows you to download certain titles locally using the mobile apps. This enables watching on planes, road trips etc when internet access is limited.

However, the number of downloads per account is restricted and limits apply on how long the video remains accessible offline before needing to refresh.

Family Friendly Features

Vudu caters well to households with kids. You can create separate Kids profiles within your account to filter out non-family-friendly titles. It also prevents purchases without entering a PIN first.

Additional parental control options are available such as filtering by age rating and blocking specific content types (e.g. horror).

Ads on Free Content

While the free movies and TV shows offer is enticing, you will have to sit through commercials. Pre-roll ads before the video begins are not skippable. During the content, you generally see a few ads interruptions – usually in blocks of 3 shorter 15-30 second spots.

So the ads are fairly reasonable and expected given the free access. Just be prepared for the initial pre-roll ads and a few breaks.

Some users have experienced problems like Vudu keeps stopping during playback. This is usually resolved by restarting the device or reinstalling the app.

Vudu Pricing and Plans

Vudu does not charge any subscription fees. So what exactly does it cost to use Vudu?

The pricing structure consists of:

Transactional (a la carte) purchases – You can buy movies and full seasons of TV shows to own digitally through Vudu – similar to iTunes or Amazon.
Movie rentals – You also have the option to rent movies for a fixed viewing duration. Rentals automatically expire and get removed from your library unlike purchases.

Here is a breakdown of the pricing tiers:

Purchases

Standard definition movies – $7.99-$14.99
HD movies – $9.99-$19.99
UHD movies – $14.99-$24.99
HD TV shows – $1.99-$2.99 per episode / full season prices vary based on title

Rentals

SD movies – $2.99-$5.99
HD movies – $3.99-$6.99
UHD movies – $4.99-$7.99
48-hour viewing window once playback starts
30 days to start watching after renting

Vudu frequently runs special limited-time sales on movie bundles where you can get a batch of titles together at a discount compared to buying individually.

There are also options to pay for feature length early home releases while still in theaters. For example, Top Gun: Maverick is available as a $24.99 purchase or $19.99 rental.

Beyond that, you can stream from Vudu’s selection of free, ad-supported movies and TV shows at no cost.

So in summary – you only pay for the content you specifically choose to rent or buy. Vudu does not charge an ongoing subscription fee to maintain access like Netflix. This pay-per-title model provides more consumer control.

Vudu Free Trial

Vudu does not offer a standard free trial period for new members.

However, you can easily create a free account and browse Vudu’s catalog without restrictions. This allows you to preview available titles including testing out streaming the free, ad-supported content library.

Essentially this functions similarly to a trial – you are just limited to the free tier of movies and TV shows. But it provides a good opportunity to evaluate features and performance before paying anything.

Down the road if you rent or buy your first title, Vudu also offers refunds in certain cases if you are unsatisfied.

Vudu vs. Top Streaming Competitors

How does Vudu stack up against some of the most popular on-demand streaming platforms – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+? Below is an overview of how key elements for members compare across these services.

	Vudu	Netflix	Hulu	Amazon Prime Video	Apple TV+
Monthly Cost	$0 (Pay per title)	$9.99 – $19.99	$7.99 – $14.99 w/ ads $14.99 no ads	$14.99 w/ Prime membership	$6.99
Ads for Original Content	N/A	No ads	Ads on cheaper base plan	No ads	No ads
Trial Period	Free tier of ad-supported content	30 days	30 days	30 days w/ Prime	7 days
Number of Titles	200,000+	Thousands	Thousands w/ Live TV add-ons	Thousands w/ rentals & purchases	Under 100
Original Programming	Very few	Many acclaimed originals	Some acclaimed originals	Many acclaimed originals	Mostly original content
Theatrical Movie Library Size	Massive	Limited	Small without HBO Max add-on	Large	Minimal
Offline Viewing	On mobile apps	On mobile apps	On ad-free plan + Live TV	On mobile apps	On mobile apps
4K Streaming	Yes	Yes	Yes w/ Live TV & add-ons	Yes	Yes

So the main advantages Vudu provides are:

Huge selection of a la carte movies to rent or buy
Massive content library overall
4K and HDR quality on select titles
More flexibility without subscriptions

Whereas cons are minimal original programming and need to purchase each movie/show.

Ultimately the best streaming provider depends on your preferences around cost, originals vs classics, ads and features. Many households opt to have 2-3 services based on strengths – for example combining Netflix for originals with Vudu rentals.

You can also refer to our comprehensive comparisons of Vudu vs Amazon Prime, Vudu vs Hulu, Vudu vs Redbox and Vudu streaming alternatives.

Key Takeaways and Who is Vudu Best For?

Vudu deserves strong consideration for the following consumer segments:

🎥 Casual Cinephiles

If you love movies but find skinny streaming libraries lacking, Vudu is a goldmine. As essentially the “iTunes for streaming”, it grants simple access to an endless range of films – from classics to new theater releases.

🍿 Entertainment Buffet Fans

Prefer having an all-you-can stream smorgasbord? Vudu brings that flexibility. Fortimes the cost of one theater ticket, you can rent multiple new films. Or watch free as much as you want.

🏆 Hunting for Awards Season Favs

Want to catch up on Oscar contenders and Golden Globe winners? Vudu offers early home release access to critically acclaimed films still in theaters.

🎮 Gamers

Accessing Vudu directly through the Xbox, PlayStation and other gaming console apps keeps your content seamlessly integrated.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Households with Kids

Vudu makes it easy for families to find age appropriate titles. Features like Kids Mode with PIN protection give parents peace of mind.

On the flip side, Vudu may not fully satisfy viewers wanting:

Ad-free environments
The latest buzzworthy original programming
Inexpensive all-access monthly plans
Ability to download unlimited DRM-free copies

But it nails the core things many consumers want – an affordable, seamless way to access thousands of on-demand movies and shows from major studios.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vudu

Does Vudu have 4K content?

Yes, Vudu offers select titles available for purchase or rental streaming in 4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR color. You need a compatible UHD TV and sufficient internet speeds – at least 16 Mbps recommended.

How many devices work with Vudu?

Vudu places no device limit, supporting anywhere from 5-12 concurrent streams. Compatible with smartphones, smart TVs, streaming media players, game consoles and web browsers.

Can Vudu be used internationally?

Unfortunately Vudu only works within the United States. Certain studios have geographic licensing restrictions preventing international expansion.

What internet speed is needed for Vudu?

For SD quality, Vudu requires minimum 2.5 Mbps speeds. HD streaming bumps the requirement to 5+ Mbps. And 4K streaming needs 16 Mbps for steady performance. Wired ethernet connections preferred.

Does Vudu have surround sound audio?

Yes, Vudu supports surround sound standards like Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 and Dolby Atmos on many titles for an immersive experience. You need a compatible AV receiver system.

Final Verdict: Who Should Get Vudu?

Vudu deserves a spot on most cinephiles’ radars – especially casual viewers that have not fully embraced the streaming future. Think of Vudu as stepping into a video store stocked with both classics and new releases from major Hollywood studios and networks.

You retain control over what titles get your precious dollars rather than subscribing blindly to a service. And flexible access to thousands of movies on-demand makes staying home tempting.

Factor in useful capabilities – like seamless device support, 4K HDR quality and family friendly modes – and Vudu removes almost all friction from renting films. Of course the option to watch free movies with ads provides even more incentive to test the platform.

While Vudu may not completely replace having standalone subscriptions to giants like Netflix or Hulu, it handily complements them. Rental catalogs fill holes for titles you cannot find elsewhere. And purchasing favorites to own digitally builds your permanent personal library.

For the cost wary who feel frustrated by multiplying monthly fees Vudu presents an appealing model. You skip the commitment of yet another reoccurring charge. When you want to spontaneously watch something new, thousands of possibilities exist without added overhead. And building a custom streaming collection pays dividends when revisiting treasured films.

So approach skeptics still clinging to physical media or cable packages. Convince them to finally test the waters by installing Vudu. The streaming service grants license to conveniently scratch any movie itch at just pennies on the dollar.

Overview of Vudu’s Streaming Service