What is Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is the biggest name in anime streaming, originally launching in 2006. It is the best streaming platform for anime fans, offering access to over 1,000 different anime series. You can find some of the most popular anime available like Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, One Piece, and more. The streaming platform was acquired by Sony through Funimation in 2020 for $1.2B.

The service is available on almost every platform. You can watch anime on the official website, or on your mobile device with official apps for iOS and Android. It is also available on gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, as well as media players like Apple TV and Roku.

One of Crunchyroll’s key features is same-day simulcasts, where new anime episodes that air in Japan promptly make their way to Crunchyroll for global audiences. For the winter 2026 anime season, highlights include the second season of Frieren and a new season of Jujutsu Kaisen. However, the service has been caught in a controversy regarding the alleged use of AI for producing English-language closed captions for some dubs, as reported in late 2025.

Crunchyroll Premium vs Free

Crunchyroll offers both a free, ad-supported service and premium subscription tiers. The free service provides access to select series and episodes with advertisements. However, Crunchyroll has slowly rolled back the number of anime you can watch without a Premium subscription.

Free Tier Limitations:

• Access is limited to a selection of shows and episodes.
• Viewing includes advertisements.
• Almost all episodes of major series like One Piece were made exclusive to Premium members.

Premium Tier Benefits: A Premium subscription unlocks the entire Crunchyroll anime library ad-free. Key benefits include:

• Ad-free streaming of the entire library.
• Simulcasts: Access to new episodes shortly after they air in Japan.
• Offline viewing: The ability to download episodes to watch without an internet connection is available for Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan members.
• Multiple concurrent streams: Stream on one device (Fan), four devices (Mega Fan), or six devices (Ultimate Fan) at a time.
• Crunchyroll Game Vault: Access to exclusive mobile games for Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan members.

Trial: Crunchyroll offers a free seven-day trial on any of the three premium subscription options. Once the trial ends, your subscription will automatically begin for the monthly price of your plan.

Crunchyroll Premium Price

Crunchyroll has three different Premium pricing tiers as of 2026. The last price increase was in May 2024.

Table: Crunchyroll Premium Subscription Plans

Plan Tier	Monthly Price	Key Features
Fan	$7.99	Entire library ad-free, stream on 1 device, 5% store discount.
Mega Fan	$11.99	Everything in Fan + offline downloads, stream on 4 devices, Crunchyroll Game Vault, 10% store discount.
Ultimate Fan	$15.99	Everything in Mega Fan + stream on 6 devices, 15% store discount, exclusive annual swag bag.

 

Annual Subscription Option: These plans are also available at a discounted annual rate. The Fan plan is approximately $79.99 per year, the Mega Fan plan is around $119.99 annually, and the Ultimate Fan plan costs about $149.99 per year.

Managing Your Account: Subscriptions are managed through your account settings. According to the app descriptions, “Membership auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before renewal”. To cancel, you must turn off auto-renewal within your account or platform subscription settings before the billing period renews.

Crunchyroll Alternative

For many viewers, relying on a single platform can feel limiting. Here are several alternatives, from niche services to major streaming platforms.

Table: Selected Alternatives to Crunchyroll

Service Name	Type / Cost	Notable Features
HIDIVE	Subscription	Offers a library balancing classics and modern titles, often with exclusive simulcasts and multiple subtitle/dub options.
RetroCrush	Free, Ad-supported	Focused entirely on classic anime from the 70s-90s, providing a curated, nostalgic experience.
Tubi	Free, Ad-supported	Offers a solid, varied anime catalog covering modern hits and older series with no subscription required.
Netflix	Subscription	A major player producing original anime and acquiring exclusives, with high production values and global dubs.
Hulu / Disney+	Subscription	Hulu offers an expansive anime library. Disney+ provides a curated, family-friendly collection.
Amazon Prime Video	Subscription (with Prime)	Includes an extensive anime catalog with exclusive titles, bundled with other Amazon Prime benefits.

 

Other notable options include Pluto TV, which offers free, ad-supported on-demand anime and live TV channels, and YouTube, which hosts official, legal anime content from studios and distributors.

References

1. IGN. Crunchyroll Premium Plans and Prices for 2026.
2. ScreenRant. 10 Crunchyroll Alternatives You Should Know About.
3. Apple App Store. Crunchyroll.
4. Google Play Store. Crunchyroll: Anime Streaming.
5. IMDb News. Crunchyroll Caught in New Fall 2025 Anime AI Controversy.
6. Oreate AI Blog. Crunchyroll Premium Pricing: What You Need to Know.

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