How to buy and watch

The parts that trip up first-time buyers, in order.

The basic flow

  1. Check the title pageGenre, cast, running time and reviews tell you whether it is what you are after.
  2. Go to the streaming serviceThe button on the title page takes you to the service that distributes it.
  3. Create an accountUsually an email address and password are all that is required.
  4. Choose a payment methodCredit card, carrier billing, e-money and prepaid cards are the common options.
  5. Buy and watchAfter purchase, stream it from your account page or download it.

Choosing a payment method

The main thing to weigh up is how the charge appears on your statement.

Waiting for a sale

The larger services run heavy discount campaigns regularly. For anything that is not urgent, bookmarking the sale list and waiting is usually the cheapest route.

The "On sale" page of this site lists current discounts by percentage.

Streaming vs download

Cancelling

Monthly unlimited plans renew automatically until you cancel. Individual purchases are one-off and do not renew.

Cancelling a plan and closing an account are different actions. Closing the account usually means losing access to titles you have already bought.