Computer Software Reviews

If you’ve ever wanted to know if you’re getting a good value out of your online DVD rental subscription (and really, who among us has never calculated their usage and done a quick cost-benefit analysis?), FeedFlix could be a perfect service for you.

FeedFlix is free, and functions by aggregating RSS feeds from Netflix to generate usage statistics for you and other FeedFlix users. It makes it very easy to literally see if you’re getting the most out of your subscription.

Signing up is easy. Point your browser, and enter your Netflix username and password. It’s important to note that Feedflix is not owned by Netflix; they just consume Netflix RSS feeds and obtain an authorization token directly from Netflix.

Once you do this, FeedFlix will begin analyzing your usage data. Within a few minutes, your home page will be filled with some interesting numbers. Check out the video walk-through above to see how this looks, but here are some interesting measures you’ll find:

* Average rentals per month * How long you hold movies on average * The calculated cost per DVD delivered to your door * Your total average cost per rental, including streaming video * Trend chart of your weekly rentals * How your numbers compare to other FeedFlix users

You’ll also find some interesting aggregate information about users of the Netflix service in general. For example, how your usage and return rates compare to others, what the most requested movies are, which movies are stocked in the largest quantities, historical rentals and favorites, and more.

What makes the service so interesting is its singular focus. It will tell you at a glance if you really are making the most of your monthly subscription fee.

Being an active and longtime online DVD rental fan, I have some inside perspectives on both Netflix and Blockbuster. Check out my Netflix and Blockbuster comparison if you’re thinking about joining one of these services. It is the most detailed, objective review available for these two services.