95%Would buy again
Rakuten TV is a video streaming service that offers films and television series to rent, buy or watch as part of a subscription. It operates as an online platform, with apps available on smart TVs, games consoles, streaming devices, computers and mobile phones. The service is part of the Rakuten group, the Japanese internet company that also runs an online marketplace and other digital businesses.
Its catalogue combines titles from major studios and independent distributors with a free ad-supported section that is available without an account. Viewers can also access channels and live content, and the platform is aimed at households in the United Kingdom who want on-demand entertainment without a traditional broadcast package.
Top positive review
switched over from another service
I was already paying for a streaming service but wanted to see what the rental side offered, and I've been using this for documentaries and indie films that the big names don't carry. The library has more of the niche stuff than I expected, the search filters are useful and the playback has been stable across three devices. For someone who knows what they want to watch it's a good fit.
Read moreTop critical review
Needed a cheap way to watch films
I needed a cheap way to catch up on films without paying for a full cable package, and this seemed sensible. The rentals add up quickly if you watch a lot, and I was a bit put out when a film I had paid for kept buffering for most of the evening. Support took a few days to reply to my email, so I would like to see that improve.
Read moreMost detailed review
needed something for the kids at weekends
We needed a way for the kids to watch cartoons without us fighting over the telly every Saturday morning. I had tried two other services first and this one had the widest range of children's titles for the money, and the profiles stop them getting into anything they shouldn't. Setting it up on the smart TV took about ten minutes and it has been reliable since, so we have kept it going for months…
Read moreBetter than the one i had before
Compared to the other app I was using this is way smoother, no constant buffering on my phone and the search actually finds stuff. Only thing is the notifications are a bit much, but I've turned them off so it's fine now.
Signing up was a bit long winded
Signing up took me a good few minutes because the page kept asking me to confirm my details again. Once I was in the films played fine and the picture is nice.
Cheaper than the cinema by a mile
Compared with taking the family to the cinema this works out much cheaper, we used to spend close to fifty quid on a Friday trip. The rental was about three quid and it started straight away on the tablet. The only thing is the picture on the bigger telly is not quite as sharp as the discs we used to buy, but for the price it is fine.
A bit more than the other app
Compared with the other streaming app I use, this one costs a little more per film to rent, which I did notice at first. I have been a customer for a good while and the playback is still smooth on my laptop. The search could be a bit quicker when you type a long title, and one new release took a day longer than I expected to appear, but otherwise I have had no real complaints.
tried a few before settling on this
I tried a couple of other services before picking this one, and the biggest thing that stood out was how quickly the films load on my laptop compared to the rest. The prices are about the same as the others though, and I think the sign up asks for a few more details than it needs to. Once I was in, though, playback has been reliable and I have stopped checking the other apps.
Share your own experience to help other customers. Your review is published under your name.
Telecom | TV, films & streaming | Online shopping | Multimedia & subscriptions
Other companies in TV, films & streaming on ReviewAdviser.
