With the rise of streaming and disappearance of rental stores, video game rentals are definitely not as popular as they once were. But there are still a few ways to rent games, which can help you save money while enjoying the latest titles.

Let's take a look at the options you have for renting video games, as well as similar services that update the renting process a bit.

1. GameFly

GameFly is a longtime video game rental service that's one of the few left of its kind. It's a disc-rental service similar to Netflix's DVD plan: you pick what games you want from GameFly's library, have them shipped to you, and send them back when you're done.

In addition to the latest titles on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, GameFly offers titles from older consoles. You can rent Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, GameCube, and even Game Boy Advance games from the service. Of course, the selection is a bit limited for legacy systems, but it's a nice way to replay an old favorite.

GameFly's Pricing Plans

GameFly has a few different pricing plans to fit your needs. If you opt for 1 Disc at a time, there are two tiers:

  • Budget is the cheapest plan for getting one disc at a time. The biggest drawback is this plan does not allow you to rent new games until up to 120 days after their release. It costs $8.95/month, after promotional pricing of $5/month for the first three months.
  • Standard upgrades your account with some perks. These include access to new releases right away, the GameLock feature that lets you reserve upcoming titles ahead of time, and reward coupons every so often. This plan is $15.95 per month, after the introductory offer of $9.50/month for three months.
GF Rental Pricing 2020

If you want to have two discs out at a time, choose from the following plans with 2 Discs:

  • Standard has the same perks as the 1 Disc Standard plan; the only difference is being able to have the second disc out. Since you need to have a free slot to rent a game when it launches with GameLock, the extra slot may come in handy if you often rent new games. This plan is $22.95/month, after intro pricing of $13.50/month for three months.
  • Elite is the top-tier plan. The biggest difference compared to other plans is that you can GameLock an upcoming title one week before the game releases. With other plans, you need to lock in your reservation six weeks before the game releases. Otherwise, Elite gives you early access to GameFly sales. It costs $29.95 per month, after special pricing of $18/month for the first three months.

GameFly can become expensive if you opt for the top-tier plans. But if you go for a cheaper option, it can serve as an inexpensive way to catch up on titles you missed without buying them outright.

Just keep in mind that with both the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S lacking a disc drive, GameFly isn't an option if you have an all-digital console.

2. Borrow From Friends

While not an official service, setting up a rental scheme with friends can be a great way to save money on the latest games. If you and a friend enjoy playing similar genres, you can let each other borrow games once you've finished them.

Whether you buy brand-new games and trade them after you finish, or just let your friend pick from your library, it cuts down on the cost compared to buying every game on your own. Just make sure you do this with a trustworthy friend who won't damage your games.

If you have a large digital collection that you want to share with a friend, gamesharing is an option. See our guide to gamesharing on Xbox One or how to gameshare on PS4 for help.

3. Subscribe to a Game Subscription Service

While they aren't true rentals, video game subscription services act as a kind of successor to game rentals.

Services like Xbox Game Pass give you access to hundreds of titles for a set monthly fee. As long as you stay subscribed, you can download and play anything in the catalog as much as you like.

Read more: What Is Xbox Game Pass? Everything You Need to Know

If you have a fast internet connection and enough storage space for your games, this is more cost-effective then GameFly. Plus, it's more efficient since you don't have to wait for shipping. Xbox-published titles appear on Game Pass the day they release, and you have access to the games for as long as you subscribe (instead of having to return them when you're done with GameFly).

The equivalent PlayStation service is PlayStation Now, which is more focused on streaming PS4, PS3, and PS2 games instead of providing access to the latest titles. While it's a decent service, Xbox Game Pass is superior in most aspects.

Read more: PlayStation Now vs. Xbox Game Pass: Which Is Better?

Are There Other Video Game Rental Options?

Unfortunately, your choices for video game rentals aren't as vast as they once were. This makes it difficult to try a game for a few dollars without subscribing to a full service.

One option in the past was Redbox, a service that offers movie rentals outside grocery stores, pharmacies, and similar. While Redbox used to offer video game rentals, at the end of 2019 the company switched to TV and movie rentals only.

Gamerang was another video game rental service that no longer exists.

iFlipd is a website that offers video game rentals for as low as $2/week, but its selection is scant---there are only 3-4 games each for Xbox One, PS4, and Switch. Your mileage may vary, as there doesn't seem to be much info about this service available.

iFlipd Game Rentals

Finally, Family Video's website has a page offering "new video game rentals." However, clicking any of these brings you to a purchase page. If you have a Family Video store nearby, it might be worth checking to see if they offer game rentals.

Video Game Rentals: Slim, but Available

It's not a surprise that most companies have stopped offering video game rentals. With the decline of physical media and digital games being so convenient, rentals feel outdated in some ways. But if you still want access to a selection of games without buying them outright, you have options.

If none of these work for you, there are other ways to save money on gaming that don't involve renting.