Right now Netflix streaming fits me and my life perfectly, but I understand people being unhappy and wanting to switch.

Two notes of caution - Crackle is completely free and loaded with commercials. I tried to watch "A Few Good Men" and had to watch 5 commericals in a half-hour about how Crackle was completely FREE! I have watched Good Times on there and not had the problem so maybe it's just a movie feature.

Re: Hulu Plus - If you're watching on your laptop you are totally fine. If you are trying to stream Hulu Plus to your TV through a device like Roku just be prepared to have a limited selection. A lot of shows - like Community - are available as web-only.

You will also be amazed by the DVD selection at your local library. We were using Netflix to go through the HBO catalog and then realized they were all at the library for free!

Yes! The library is an amazing place place to get DVDs, and I go there frequently. The downside is that the discs are often scratched... Usually not too bad, but enough to be annoying.

Netflix was all I could talk about when I first started using it. My local movie rental place was mostly only carrying popular movies & new releases. I'm all over the place with my movie tastes & documentaries, foreign films, classics, & Indie films weren't a priority. So, discovering Netflix was like Heaven for me. I was with them when the streaming began & this only made the pot that much sweeter. I wasn't thrilled about the price hike, but knew that was part of business-etc. But, the seperation of the 2 - mailing vs. streaming had me a little confused & questioning if maybe I should look elseware. If I was just streaming this change would hardly affect me at all, but I still want to watch many of the movies that aren't available for streaming. And, after hearing that Starz is backing out - geez.
I will most definitely look at my local library - great idea! I'm not sure what my future with Netflix & Qwik-whatever holds, but this piece was great in giving me ideas if I decide to attempt a breakup. Thanks!

Even with the rate hike, Netflix is a great deal. So much cheaper than a monthly cable bill. And any show on I like on Hulu isn't offered on the Hulu + part so what is the point!?

Years ago, I had to choose between Netflix and GreenCine - and I chose Netflix. Maybe it's time to revisit that...

FYI GreenCine specializes in indie and foreign films with only the DVD business model. Also, a portion of revenues benefits film arts organizations across the country.

I had no major issue with Netflix's price increase, and had already decided to keep both DVD and streaming until this week's bizarre "apology" and announcement. After watching Reed Hastings' video, I immediately canceled my Netflix service.

Here's what I've been using instead with my iPad: Crackle, SnagFilms, PBS, NPR, Free Audiobooks, Audible (rediscovering my semi-lapsed account), Kindle for iPad (my public library now offers Kindle titles), and my own DVD collection - plus titles that I swap with friends. I'm considering Hulu+, but am not in any hurry, given the amount of free or previously paid-for content that I can already access.

I have Amazon Prime and even managed to watch some Amazon content on my iPad, thanks to a Flash-enabled browser app called Photon. Sadly, Photon doesn't seem to be working for that purpose at the moment.

The only reason we're keeping Netflix? It streams to our Wii.

I agree with hanhosh. We don't have cable and only use Netflix streaming to our Xbox. I just want them to offer a better selection of newer movies since only about 5% of what's on streaming is worth anything. We never really used the mailing part, probably because I'm just too lazy and/or lose the packaging. I have no problem with the hike since it doesn't really affect how we use it anyway and it is a business, after all.

You can watch Crackle (and many other channels) through a Roku box. I dumped cable and got a Roku box and an anntenae for local channels...saving 200 bucks a month! You can only stream Hulu Plus (paid) through the box, not the free online Hulu, however. Crackle is great, and my Amazon Prime is only 40$ a year since I am a student...

Netflix is still the best when it comes to commercial-free viewing: the most content and the most flexibility with respect to viewing options (TV, tablet, smartphone, computer). The other alternatives fail either in terms of lack of content, commercials, limited viewing options or some combination thereof.

For fans of British TV programs, I recommend Acorn TV's online streaming. The model is different: limited content for a limited time. But the price is quite low ($25 USD per year). We joined about a month ago and have been pleased.

netflix single-handedly changed the way we watch movies at home (or, more specifically, rent them). the hike isn't that much -- and although the planning and PR was a blunder -- they don't deserve to go out of business... which is what could very well happen if folks bail. i'm "voting with my dollar" and keeping netflix and cutting back on 3 cups of coffee per month (the price of the hike).

Unfortunately, for canadians, there aren't a lot of options, and netflix streaming is by far the best. I'm still waiting for a company to offer online movie rentals that will be available on a set-top box like my boxee.

We're keeping Netflix streaming, because it fits our needs well and we can watch it through our Wii. We used to split our account with my father who still has dial-up; he got the discs and we used the streaming. We were fine with the price increase, but this company split is just plain odd.

As soon as my dad heard about "Quickster" he said to just cancel the disc portion of the account.

If you want to stream Hulu to your television, bypass all the Hulu sanctioned devices and find an off-brand HTPC (home theater computer--a very basic and compact desktop computer but with HDMI outputs for digital televisons.)

You can find refurbished HTPC's on ebay for around $200. That way, Hulu won't know it needs to restrict your content AND you'll have access to any future web-based TV services that may arise.

You can even get "remotes" for these things...

Oh, and you can access your netflix streaming account via the HTPc, too...to it is really an all in one solution that won't affect content.

...so*

The price increase isn't what is making me leave Netflix it is the dual companies. Now I no longer have the option of having one website to control my DVD and streaming queues. So while I am at it I am going to look into other options that will offer better customer service. I'm "voting with my dollar" that I want to give my money to a company that values my money. Sorry but the streaming isn't enough to keep me with Netflix and they aren't going to have a better list of movies available to stream for a couple of years. Looks like Hulu & Blockbuster or Amazon option for me.

I wish Netflix was more honest, or less scared to be, about part of the decision.

One of the big reasons for the price separation and now the split is most likely contractual. A big problem/cause of their temporary loss of Sony content, a number of other dropped collections, and their problem with negotiating with stars is their DVD Business. Studios dislike it, and were actively using it as a negotiating weapon by including total subscriber numbers as the bases for their licensing. It was seriously biting them in the butt, because studios were more or less artificially doubling the numbers by including the DVD rental users enrollment and income with those streaming. There are already a number of annoying features that will diverge even further over time due to the ongoing fight for streaming.

These unpopular decisions are almost entirely based on trying to move the streaming forward business while shielding the two halves from one another. If you want to be really mad at anyone be mad at the content owners, because they are, quite honestly, the ones driving a lot of these decisions indirectly. Same with things like Hulu streaming locks, it is all back to the studios.

Wow. can I say how awesome our readers are! You guys are a wealth of resource, there are some great suggestions for alternatives in the comments!

I totally forgot that libraries offers DVD, I think it's time that I revisit the local library...

Has anyone noticed a drop in quality of some Netflix streaming movies - since the price hike/split? I feel that several movies I've watched lately were grainier than a DVD counterpart. Example: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - still pretty "new" and certainly not obscure. I don't expect top-notch quality from a 1980s low-budget tv show, but a recent big budget movie?
I'm in the group of Netflix is OK for now but may get cut if service/selection continues to degrade.

While I haven't noticed a drop I will point out that around the time you mentioned Netflix added the ability to choose compression levels on streaming for people with low bandwidth caps. Check to see if maybe yours is set lower than it should be. You can do it in your account settings.

We dropped Netflix the day they issued the arrogant 'apology' email. Haven't missed it.

I'm more than happy to pay for streaming through netflix. Anything I can't get there I'm more than willing to buy through my apple tv itunes

I just got my Netflix charge and it's now $17 - so goodbye Netflix!

My partner and I just signed up for instant Netflix. We're not big movie/TV people so we'd never had an account before, but her mother gets bored if she doesn't have Bollywood movies to watch when she visits. Are there any Netflix alternatives that are good for Indian shows and movies?

I've loved netflix ever since i started in 2007, but their splitting and raising costs just caused me to freeze my account, I couldnt quite bring myself to cancel altogether. theyve got criterion collection for christ's sake!! But the library, hulu, and now crackle may be enough to say goodbye for good! thanks for the tip!

@studioGal, Criterion Collection films are no longer available on Netflix for streaming; you'll find them on Hulu+.

I thought about freezing my Netflix account, too, but wanted to send a stronger message and ended up canceling altogether. If you cancel, you supposedly have up to two years to decide to restore your account with your queues intact. I have no idea what that means for DVD queues when Qwikster spins off.

I'm actually amused and a little disappointed by this post. How about not being so blantantly anti-Netflix and posting as an "alternative options" article instead of a "STOP NETFLIX NOW!" post. Obviously someone is still addicted to their mail-out option.

Frankly, I haven't had any change in my prices and aside from the same problem they had before of not having the best movies available for streaming, am still fine with Netflix. (They didn't raise my rates since I only had the streaming option.) If everyone is so concerned about a $2 raise in rates, why not forego a Starbucks one day? You'll actually save money, $2-$5, even after you use the cost of that one drink to cover your Netflix "hike" in rates.

(Let's not forget that Sony was the company trying to sue 10-year-olds for downloading old content.)

Thanks, pollyannashandbook! Acorn is useful info, especially for that price.

And honestly, I don't think $17/month is a bad price for the entertainment you get from Netflix. Unfortunately, they just handled the whole thing really badly.

This kind of sums it up, imo:
http://youtu.be/_7Vhxm6Dsgk

Netflix streaming is really not that bad. If they lose any more of their streaming content, then we might cancel, but really NONE of the above options are any better than the range of content available through mail/streaming media of Netflix. And the price hike isn't really bad either. It was a blatant steal before!(IMHO)

On the subject of Hulu, they might fall apart in the next 6-months or so due to the squabbling between the networks. A Hulu with any LESS content wouldn't be worth a monthly payment to me.

It seems to me that we're seeing the beginning of a vacuum in the world of cable-tv-alternatives. Eventually someone will step in and deliver the cheap, fast media alternative we all want, right?! Until then, an HTPC or mac-mini hooked up to the tv would seem to be the best, most flexible (but not cheap) option in such dynamic times.

"Dynamic times" - very apt, ConchasyCafe!

I just saw an announcement on Amazon about additional content they are adding for Prime members. While Prime may not be quite up to par with Netflix for amount of content, I appreciate that it's a free (and unexpected) add-on to a service that I was already purchasing, and they've doubled the content that they started with this year.

I still think Netflix is the best option for unlimited streaming, particularly if you like movies. As for the mail part, I'm on the fence on dropping Netflix and using Amazon and my Roku to stream the newer releases and things Netflix doesn't stream. It really depends what you want to watch. If you're only getting 2 movies a month through the mail with Netflix, Amazon would be better. But if you want to catch up on an old tv series with lots of episodes that could be pricey with Amazon.

I have Amazon Prime and the free stuff still isn't the bomb - it's getting better, but not there yet.

Netflix cannot wait to dump the DVD by mail business. It is frustrating and expensive; Netflix is the largest customer of the USPS. The recent announcements flow from this long range plan. I worked at a local hub for about 14 months, until they automated the mail-opening and disc-inspection process earlier this year. I've been a customer since 2005! I prefer Netflix to the other options. However you feel about the company, just know that the recent announcements match a long term determination that the DVD mail business is not worth their time, and they will be able to operate with a fraction of the workforce, and a huge blow to the already staggering USPS.

I have Netflix streaming through my XBox. I'm thinking about adding Hulu+, but I haven't made the jump quite yet...
Part of that is having an S-Video cable. If it's on my computer, I can put it on my TV.

I'm still a little surprised when people say the price increase isn't that much. Netflix costs me $7 more than it did 10 months ago. That's a 40% increase. I think that's a big jump. Big enough for me to cancel.

Netflix has just seemed a little arrogant to me lately. I don't like the way they do business and find it liberating to cut the cord. As Eric Chen ended above, I shouldn't be watching so much TV anyway.

Get a Roku box. It will do Netflix (if you haven't already dumped it), Amazon Video, Crackle, Hulu Plus, and a few other channels. Definitely worth my money.

I've been a huge fan of Netflix for years, as it's been a great service and a great value. My one gripe with the streaming service is the limited title library. It seems like 9 times out of 10, when I search for a specific title it isn't available for streaming. This of course is where the DVD-by-mail service came in handy. I dropped my service completely, back when the price increase was first announced several months ago, simply because the value proposition was no longer enough to keep me interested.
I wonder how Amazon's new Kindle Fire will change the game for people considering other options such as AWS.

MiklakMiklak the increase is a lot as a percentage, but it is because the price had already bottomed out so low. It had been dropping, and then they threw in sctreaming as an "extra" which effectively further dropped their price from an income perspective. That is one of the reasons they were in this position. Their projected cost increases for media licensing were on the order of three times their net income. They simply could not actually operate on the old pricing without either killing one of the two services or raising the costs. The split was also an attempted to lower the impact.

The studios are most likely looking for a successor for netflix that will be more profitable for them. Up to this point netflix has been doing the opposite of every other company dealing with media, by steadily lowering prices while increasing features. They don't want a single company with that much concentrated control over their media. They saw what happened with music, they want to avoid that.

I like that Netflix streams thru my apple tv so I'm not going anywhere. There is also enough content to keep me happy but I love all kinds of flicks including quirky indie and foreign films, only watch a few a week (my netflix is in my cable free bedroom). My BF on the other hand hates it but his taste is more limited, if it doesn't have karate or isn't an action blockbuster (you know stuff that's really relaxing to watch in the BEDROOM) that he hasn't already seen, he ain't interested. I don't really get why people are so mad at netflix, I mean I get it the price went up but really when you look at it from a business perspective, how would they survive. They aren't a not for profit! I agree about the library, $1.50 for a dvd rental for one week, pretty good.

We loved Netflix; but, stopped using it knowing we have satellite/cable & the following options:
- Love the library! It's free (except for late fees) & our local branch is part of a huge metropolitan library group (31 systems across nine counties which borrow from one another regularly). On-line, we can search for media, place holds, renew items, etc. & manage our accounts. Each family member is notified via email when held items become available, a few days before items are due, etc.
- Hulu, ch131 & other on-line showings
- Local drugstore chain - our local drugstore chain rents new releases for $1.99 & 79 cents on Mondays. There may be similar ones near you.