The likes of LoveFilm, Net Flix and Blink Box wouldn't have enjoyed such a good share of the home rental movies market five years ago - the trust in these websites wasn't really there and YouTube was just coming into it's own. LoveFilm and Nex Flix started out as home delivery services. I remember the old advert for LoveFilm and being really interested in singing up - no late fees! Score!

I think that's the beauty of these websites - they are effectively no pressure on the customer whatsoever. And now with the online streaming service it's made them bigger and better - and yes, richer.

Still, I think BlinkBox is the best of the bunch. With the other home rentals I always forget to return the DVD and end up with a film in my house for a month (or more) that I haven't watched, holding up the line in getting a new film ;). BlinkBox certainly works out the cheapest and you can cash in Tesco Clubcard points for films.

Another thing about this site is that you can watch films and TV shows for free - yep. Not the best quality stuff, but certainly not the worst, either. The TV programmes aren't littered with any ads, which to me is a plus.

The thing that works so well in this site's favour is that you can pay as you go to rent films or outright buy films and TV shows - no sign up or monthly fees to pay. As we've got a bit of a New Years Resolution to not buy anymore DVDs that clog up our living room BlinkBox works perfectly for us as we mostly rent films on a Saturday night or buy our rental and watch it on Sunday or Monday evening. Any downloaded and paid for content (that is the content which is not streamed but downloaded as if you're buying a DVD from a shop) is protected by the Windows Digital Rights Management (DRM) so it is perfectly safe. All other content (streamed/rental content) is protected by Adobe Flash secure delivery technology.

Popular rentals start at around £3.49 but there is a good selection of £1.99-99p movies, too. We've watched some really good quality films on BlinkBox and I will be looking forward to the day when they update The Walking Dead to include Series 2 on their site ;). Think we'll be first in line to buy it!

BlinkBox themselves have been around since 2008 which for a website of this ilk is quite 'young' in terms of a dotcom. Considering the competitor websites have been around a lot longer. BlinkBox also have a deal with Tesco (as well as the Clubcard points thing) that if you buy certain Blu Rays and DVDs from Tesco that you're able to stream them on BlinkBox - to land a contract like that with a major UK supermarket suggests this is a company on the up and one to watch in the future. They're doing well for themselves and I think it's well deserved because they provide such a stellar quality in what they do offer.

Overall I would say that if you don't have the time to watch movies an awful lot then this website is a great place to go rather than the competitor sites which require a monthly sign up fee - and if you're like me, a monthly fee that might go unused!