VidAngel Logo
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5.3

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: February 25th, 2024

VidAngel launched to help families enjoy shows through eliminating questionable content. The technology allows customers to choose what they want to see or hear when watching streamed television. VidAngel's slogan is, "Watch however the bleep you want". The company was involved in a legal battle in 2016, but became reactive to change their focus on providing filtering services for streaming television instead of movies.

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The Good

  • Personalized Filtering Options
  • Available On Multiple Devices
  • Free Trial
  • No Contract

Unique Filtering/Parental Controls

VidAngel provides customers a wide variety of options to filter their streamed shows. Customers can filter violence, language, gore, sexual themes, etc. This gives customers the option to tailor shows to the audience they are watching with. Parents can now watch with their children without worrying about questionable content.

Compatible with Several Streaming Devices

Customers can use Vidangel's services through several different devices. VidAngel does not favor specific platforms and supports Apple and Google devices. Customers can stream content on a web browser, the VidAngel App, Android devices, Chromecast, Apple Devices, Apple TV, Roku, Smart TVs, Amazon FireTV, etc.

Free Trial

The company allows new users to try their service for one free month before charging them $7.99 a month.

No Contract

VidAngel allows their users to cancel their service at any time. This provides users with freedom from a constricting contract and gives users the option to leave for any reason at any time.

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The Bad

  • Reputation
  • Limited Streaming Library

Reputation

VidAngel doesn't have the best public image due to their lengthy legal battle. VidAngel shut down and ceased operations in Dec. 2016 and was reactivated in June 2017 with a new focus on streaming television. This shut down led to a lower reputation quality in the public eye. Since the reactivation, VidAngel has been working to revamp their customer loyalty base and build user trust.

Limited Streaming Library

VidAngel offers a tiny library of content included with your subscription. However, if you'd like to filter a movie or show not already on VidAngel, you must connect another streaming service such as Netflix, HBO, or Amazon Prime. 

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The Bottom Line

For those who want to enjoy content without all of the swearing and other questionable material, VidAngel is an excellent service to utilize. VidAngel provides an easy way for families or children to filter out harsh language, violence, sexual themes, etc.  And customers are able to watch VidAngel through a wide variety of streaming devices at an affordable price. 

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Star Rating

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4.2

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377 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

58%

4 grade

22%

3 grade

8%

2 grade

5%

1 grade

7%

Sentiment Criteria

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Oka Gainesville, GA

When I watched the VidAngel commercial, it seemed promising. All children's movies these days are corrupt and need censorship, so I gave the app a try and hooked it up to my TV. My family was skeptical, but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Lemme just say, it was a still-horrible experience in my opinion. How can I explain this as short as possible... Gladiator, Dexter, The Man From Toronto, rated R movies. When it comes to adult movies, especially TV-MA and R, you cannot take out all that; that's literally the whole movie if you do--nothing will make sense. I tested it out and filtered out everything to get the full package. First, I watched The Man From Toronto. Again, I filtered out everything, but it still left LOTS of inappropriate scenes. For example, the first scene was when the Toronto dude came to torture the man for information. I was expecting for VidAngel to block out the part when he spoke of how he was going to gruesomely mutilate the man, but THEY DID NOT TAKE THAT OUT OR MUTE IT. You can't take out violence and all that from adult movies and adult shows because that's literally the reason for the creation of the movie; that's the whole story. Then I watched Gladiator with all filters on...the whole fight scene was pointless, I couldn't even finish it because all I seen was swords thrown, arrows shot in the sky, a man yelling in the background, men screaming... what is that? All they did was scream, then all of a sudden, someone ended up having the victory. Children don't need to watch these movies and TV series anyway, so why is it even an option? It's easier to edit out and mute scenes from actual G and PG rated cartoons because they don't have sex, gory, violence, and violent main plot points, so it's literally a no-brainer, okay? But yet again, VidAngel still doesn't edit properly. I watched one more movie with all filters on and that was the new movie Sing 2, which is PG. Under the "Objectionable/Disturbing/Scary" tab for the movie filters, it does not list what the porcupine girl was singing at her mosh pit or whatever it was. "Off with your head!" is what she was screaming in the mic several times, and they let the whole song play. What a shame. What difference does censoring these movies make if ya'll are still letting things slide? There's absolutely zero point for this. I heard VidAngel nearly got sued or something because companies didn't like their movies being altered since it's copyrighted, so if that's the case, just stop this. If you can't follow through with this since the entire purpose of VidAngel is to help children, then don't. Take. Out. Everything since the claim is that this is "for children" and do only children's movies, not ones for adults. It's not right in my perspective. Keep the movies and shows how they are and simply work with it from there, because if taking out everything properly is not possible, there is no point in "protecting". It's as simple as that.

1 year ago

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bill staib Hillsboro, OR

My parents have spent money buying Roku, then a Firestick and then investing literally hours of their, and my time trying to make this program work. They have had a membership with Vid Devil for years hoping that they would fix the problems that have plagued them. Now when we have followed the rare returned email to the letter, all we get is a message that reads “oops it appears that your credentials are not valid. The truly fun part is that there is no way to fix this. All of this has lead me to the conclusion that this is no more than a ponzi scheme of the highest order. Burnie Madof would be proud.

2 years ago

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Dale Hammond Belding, MI

I signed up for the FREE trial and it worked great on the first movie. We were all so happy! It's been a little over a week and we've tried 30+ movies and not one will work! Even the movie we watched won't work now. It's like I was blocked. Netflix plays great. Nothing via VidAngel. VidAngel movies load for filtering but will not play. Click on them and a hour later---nothing. Very frustrating indeed. It's too bad, it was so great with that first movie. Maybe satellite is the problem? As I said, Netflix works great anytime (Exede). All other online movie providers work for us. I'll return some day when I know VidAngel actually works. This is a great idea but worthless if it doesn't work (and it doesn't for us). September 7, 2017.

6 years ago

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Joel IL

The list of movies available with VidAngel filtering is not available prior to sign-up. They offer a free trial, which I signed up for in order to view the list of movies available. The selection was pretty unimpressive, so I left the site, thinking I would revisit at a later date to see if the selection improved. Life was busy as usual and the last thing on my mind was that "Free Trial" I signed up for using my credit card information. I never did get around to watching a movie through VidAngel, but they auto-renewed my membership and I was charged $7.99. I emailed customer service the following day, explaining I forgot about the subscription, but had never used the service and requested a refund. They coldly replied: "Unfortunately, subscription costs are non-refundable (according to our Terms and Conditions)". I replied, asking them to escalate to a manager, but received the same response from the "manager". I realize they are not doing anything illegal, but I am just not a fan of companies that bring in revenue just because you forgot to cancel their free trial. Lousy movie selection, lousy customer service. I guess I will never know how well their service works.

6 years ago

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Rex Steel

When you sell back the first movie you purchase you receive a $19 credit. No actual money. The second video you purchase costs you $1 because you have a credit. How am I to get that $19 back? When I leave the service will I get that money back? Their advertising is misleading. Further when you purchase a movie the clock is ticking. They require you to sell back the movie within 24 hrs. Why? I am then penalized a $1 day for every additional day I keep a movie that I purchased. Why? A major point of their advertising is the avoidance of late fees. But they are imposing late fees. None of the above points are explained in the subscribing process. To me this seems like misinformation. I am not a happy subscriber

7 years ago

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lily Valley Edmond, OK

This company tell you that you 'purchase' a movie for $20 and you would receive $19 when you 'sell back'. Yet, they charge you fee every day, meaning there is a rental fee!? Does this make sense? If you 'purchse' you don't pay 'rent'!!! I didn't read the small letters, so I was totally misguided. Please be careful to sell back within the day you borrow, because you are not 'purchasing', rather you are over charged for 'rent' with deception. I don't like any misleading advertisement. I am even more disappointed that I saw this company in the Christian organization I respect. It is truly disappointing.

7 years ago

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Sakri Lexington, SC

What I do not find helpful is the above information that is completely misleading and does not state that I cannot watch a movie UNLESS I filter some sort of content/basically DELETE PARTS OF A PURCHASED MOVIE THAT I OWN! What if I purchase a G-Rated movie for which there is absolutely nothing to filter? What do i do then? Can I NOT watch the movie, yet do you still take my money $20? I don't want to change anything about ANY movie except perhaps delete a few credits that are of no interest to me. SO WHAT AM I ALLOWED TO FILTER WITHOUT RUINING MY MOVIE? WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO THE CUSTOMERS BEFOREHAND?? You cease to explain anything in DETAILS AT ALL about us HAVING TO ALTER and/or DELETE PARTS OF a MOVIE we purchase in order to watch it because this is a HUGE NEGATIVE for most buyers! Other than that, I don't want to be FORCED to DELETE anything in a movie after I have PAID for an entire movie. This sounds like a hustle because you aren't giving us a choice when filtering is NON-NEGOTIABLE to be able to watch a movie...at least your customers are saying this because you! You do NOT explain what we are able to filter, leaving us dumbfounded to find out AFTER you have our $20!! Sadly, I got MORE information and really the ONLY important information about filtering from the CUSTOMERS and that is bad business from the start.. This is disappointing to me because it makes this whole deal sound like a scam to a new person who is trying to decide IF your service is or isn't worth it. To leave out these details but point out the other "fabulous" details of the $2 deal over and over to "sell" this service with important deals missing leads me to believe you are not honest. I'm not sure of this service because it sounds shady now. The instructions above are repetitive, yet you have ONLY CUSTOMERS EXPLAIN the little bits of how we ARE PERMITTED ONLY to WATCH PART of a movie when I would like to watch all the movie SINCE I WOULD THEN OWN IT FOR $20!!

7 years ago

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Brad San Angelo, TX

STOP. The app/website scammed me! I paid $20 watched a movie and got $19 back on my vidangel account after selling it back. It worked the first time, my credit card account was only charged $20. My second movie said watch for a dollar so I did it. I was only charged a dollar. Now for the trick. I got comfortable with paying a dollar so I didn't check my account the third time until later that evening. Supposedly I only got charged a dollar on my credit card because I had $19 in my vidangel account and every movie is $20, but when I tried to check my credit card statement I was somehow locked out with an, "unable to reach your provider message," while on the app itself. I finally checked it today and I had two $20 charges plus three $1 charges. I was charged a total of $43 to watch 3 movies. I haven't received any kind of refund and I can't even find the third movie on my purchased list from vidangel in order to sell it back. I did not get an email of my purchase or a receipt email like I did from the first two. Now I am waiting for some kind of outrageous charge that says I need to pay them another $20 for the third movie because it wasn't sold back within the 24 hours. This movie source is a scam and I can't wait till Monday to give them a call.

7 years ago

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BJ West Corbin, KY

Very dishonest, fraudulent service. Advertising "free trial", but charged my card immediately and when I canceled literally moments later without having used the service at all, I was informed subscription would only be canceled after the first month. Even though I read it was compatible with Roku tv, it in fact would not work at all unless I also subscribed to either Amazon or Netflix, which I have no interest in. This company has zero integrity and is more disgusting than any foul language or inappropriate scene on TV. Scam!!! Beware!!!

2 years ago

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Andrew Reynoldsburg, OH

Am I the only one going through this????? I am having a hard time stopping the charge on my account in the amount of $9.99 I canceled my subscription in November of 2019 and here in January 2020 I am still being charged. I’ve tried reaching out to a Vidangel representative but have had no luck. If you don’t have a lot of money to just give away DON’T SIGN UP I’m $30 in the hole for something I no longer want.

4 years ago

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Corn Flake

This company is a bunch of crooks. They have poor customer service. I was with this company since before the lawsuits began. Now that they have changed their service (they can only filter what is on Netflix and Amazon) then I have asked for my credit to be cashed out and sent back to me. They won't do it. They won't refund my money. What a crock!

6 years ago

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Claudia Los Angeles, CA

Tried Vidangel for a month. On more than one occasion curse words were heard. They were lower in volume but still there and clear. My young children had to hear it. I don't trust watching another so called "filtered" film from them. Also, selection is not the greatest.

6 years ago

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Bren Dodson

Just So you know. I recently tried vid angel. It is not worth it. It states that you pay $20 and get reimbursed $19 so you are only paying one dollar. But it charges your credit card $20 and leaves 19 credits on your vidangel account. It does not put it back in your bank account. What a scam.

7 years ago

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Artie Van Why Lancaster, PA

If you don't want to filter a movie you can't watch it. You have to have at least one filter. I'm not a family. I'm a single person and want to see the movie as if I were watching the DVD. So I hope the family market is enough to sustain them.,

7 years ago

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Kim McMillan Lawrenceville, GA

I like that we can filter movies BUT the streaming keep stopping in the middle of movie! Also, I keep getting billed twice in two months and no way can I contact them. NO number! Don’t subscribe!

3 years ago

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I tried to cancel vidangel a year ago, and NEVER HEARD from them and they still have my money. Terrible customer service, they'll never reply.... So I guess that money is GONE !!! CORRUPT COMPANY

6 years ago

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Josh Powell West Jordan, UT

They refused to refund my money, then after fighting with them for days over this they refunded only a small portion of it. They are very dishonest. I am not surprised they are getting sued.

7 years ago

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Peter Yooper Gladstone, MI

Because of a court injunction, they have no movies. I've tried four times to get a refund in the past three months with no response from them other than a canned "don't go" email.

7 years ago

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Justin Buhr

I didn't even use their service once during the free trial and they auto renewed it today so I contacted immediately to cancel and they won't refund me.

6 years ago

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Review Source

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Michelle De Oliveira American Fork, UT

We tried this service and did not like it at all. We found it to be difficult and confusing to use, so we gave up. I did appreciate the clean content, which is great for a family, but just not worth the time and the effort.

5 years ago

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Aaron Indianapolis, IN

This service forces you to watch movies in an altered state. There is no way to watch the move as the director intended it to be seen and heard.

8 years ago

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Alexander Johnson Burbank, CA

I couldn’t find anything I wanted to watch or that I hadn’t seen or that wasn’t awful acting

3 years ago

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Joseph hillsman Surprise, AZ

Works once in a blue moon. Not reliable. Not paying for a service you can't rely on.

6 years ago

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Rachel B Eagle Mountain, UT

Vidangel seemed to cut out a bulk of the content, and the audio wasn’t lined up with the video.

5 years ago

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Bob Payson, UT

Complicated, glitchy, zero live support.

6 years ago

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OMAR RANGER

they refused to return my deposit when i decided to leave.

7 years ago