Fandango at Home vs Redbox: Which Service Survived?

Fandango at Home is the last one standing. Redbox ceased operations in mid-2024 when Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (its parent company) filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, shutting down both the physical kiosks and the streaming app. If you’re still searching for a “Vudu vs Redbox” comparison, here’s the short version: only one of them still works.

#The Redbox Shutdown, Explained

Redbox ran physical DVD kiosks at grocery stores and pharmacies for over 20 years. At its peak, the company operated more than 38,000 kiosks across the US. But the streaming pivot never worked out.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment acquired Redbox in 2022 and attempted to build a FAST (free ad-supported TV) streaming service to compete with Tubi and Pluto TV. It acquired Crackle in the same deal. The strategy never gained traction. In July 2024, the parent company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and kiosks went dark within weeks. The streaming app followed shortly after.

If you had a Redbox account with an outstanding balance or pre-paid rentals, those credits were not refunded. The app simply stopped working.

#Fandango at Home: The Rebrand and What Changed

Fandango at Home is what Vudu became. The rebrand happened in March 2024, about four months before Redbox shut down. Fandango acquired Vudu from Walmart back in 2020, and the Fandango at Home name aligns it with the parent brand (Fandango is owned by NBCUniversal, which is part of Comcast).

The service itself didn’t change much with the rename. It still offers:

• Free tier: ad-supported movies and TV with no subscription required
• Rentals: starting at $3.99 for older titles, typically $5.99 for new releases
• Purchases: from $9.99 for older films up to $19.99 for new releases in 4K

The disc-to-digital feature is still available too. You can scan a physical DVD or Blu-ray to add a digital copy to your library for a small fee, which is useful if you’re sitting on a large DVD collection.

#Is Fandango at Home Worth Using Now?

The free tier holds up well. I’ve watched older catalog films (think early 2000s action movies, classic comedies) without paying a cent. The ad load runs about 5-6 minutes per hour, which is less disruptive than what Redbox used to run (10 minutes per hour with repetitive 90-second breaks).

For 4K content, you’ll need to rent or purchase. Fandango at Home supports 4K UHD, HDR, and Dolby Atmos on select titles, but only on compatible devices. A Roku Ultra or Apple TV 4K handles this fine. Fire TV Stick 4K Max works too.

The free library leans heavily toward older titles. If you want new releases, you’re renting. That’s the trade-off with any free FAST service.

#Device Support for Fandango at Home

Fandango at Home runs on most major platforms:

• Streaming sticks and boxes: Roku, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV
• Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, TCL (most 2018 and newer models have the app)
• Mobile: iOS and Android, with offline downloads supported
• Game consoles: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
• Browser: Works on Mac and Windows at fandangohome.com

The offline download feature on mobile is a real advantage if you travel. You can rent a movie, download it on Wi-Fi, and watch it on a flight without needing a connection. Redbox never offered this.

#How Does Fandango at Home Compare to Other Free Streaming Services?

Since Redbox is gone, the real comparison now is Fandango at Home versus the other free services. The main competitors are Tubi, Pluto TV, and Peacock’s free tier.

Fandango at Home wins on rental and purchase access. No other free service lets you rent a new release the same week it hits home video. If you like having the option to watch something specific without a full subscription, Fandango at Home’s à la carte model is the most flexible.

Tubi has a larger free library (around 20,000 titles) and no rental option at all. It’s purely free. Pluto TV runs live channels plus on-demand, which is a different experience entirely. You can combine all three at zero cost and cover most bases without paying anything.

For a deeper look at the free competition, my Pluto TV vs Plex comparison covers how FAST services stack up on content depth.

#Crackle After the Redbox Collapse

Crackle was part of the Redbox/Chicken Soup for the Soul collapse. The original Sony-owned Crackle was sold to Chicken Soup for the Soul in 2019, and then became part of the Redbox deal in 2022. When the bankruptcy happened, Crackle’s fate became uncertain.

As of early 2026, Crackle’s app is still accessible in some places, but its library has shrunk significantly and its future is unclear. I wouldn’t rely on it as a primary service. If you used to use Crackle for free Sony-produced content, Tubi carries a lot of that catalog now.

#Choosing the Right Free Streaming Service Now

Not really. Fandango at Home won by default. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone.

If you want completely free streaming with no rentals and a massive library, Tubi is probably better. If you want live channels alongside on-demand, Pluto TV is worth adding. If you rent movies a few times per month, Fandango at Home’s à la carte pricing beats paying $15/month for a service you barely use.

The disc-to-digital feature is also a legitimate differentiator. If you own physical media, Fandango at Home is the only major service that converts DVDs and Blu-rays to a digital library you can stream anywhere. That’s worth something if you’re sitting on a shelf of discs you haven’t touched in years.

#Bottom Line

Redbox is gone and Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) is the last standing service from this comparison. It’s a solid free-plus-rental option: the free tier covers older catalog titles, rentals give you access to new releases without a subscription, and 4K Dolby Atmos is available on select purchases. If you’re replacing Redbox, start with Fandango at Home’s free tier and add Tubi alongside it for a bigger no-cost library.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Is Redbox still available in 2025?

No. Redbox shut down in 2024 after its parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Both the physical kiosks and the streaming app are offline. Outstanding account balances and pre-paid rentals were not refunded.

#What is Fandango at Home?

Fandango at Home is the new name for Vudu, rebranded in March 2024. It’s a movie and TV streaming service owned by Fandango (part of NBCUniversal/Comcast). It offers free ad-supported content, digital rentals starting at $3.99, and purchases from $9.99.

#Does Fandango at Home have a free tier?

Yes. The free tier includes a rotating selection of movies and TV shows supported by ads. You’ll see about 5-6 minutes of commercials per hour. No subscription or payment info is required to access the free content.

#Can I still use my old Vudu account?

Yes. The Vudu rebrand to Fandango at Home was cosmetic. Your account, purchase history, and digital library all carried over. Log in at fandangohome.com with your existing credentials.

#Does Fandango at Home support 4K and Dolby Atmos?

4K UHD, HDR, and Dolby Atmos are available on select rental and purchase titles. Not every title has a 4K version, and not every device supports it. Roku Ultra, Apple TV 4K, and Fire TV Stick 4K all handle 4K playback on Fandango at Home without issues.

#What’s a good free alternative to Redbox streaming?

Tubi is the closest replacement for Redbox’s free streaming tier, with around 20,000 titles and no subscription required. Pluto TV adds live channels. Fandango at Home’s free tier is smaller but better quality, and it gives you the option to rent when the free catalog doesn’t have what you want.

#Can I download movies from Fandango at Home?

Yes, but only on iOS and Android. You can download rented or purchased titles for offline playback. The download expires when the rental period ends. This was a feature Redbox never offered on its streaming service.

#How much does it cost to rent a new movie on Fandango at Home?

New releases typically run $5.99 for a 48-hour rental window in HD, or slightly more for 4K. Older catalog titles start at $3.99. Purchases range from $9.99 for older films to $19.99 for new releases in 4K. There’s no subscription; you pay per title.