Anime, or Japanese animation, has become so mainstream that it's now accessible to audiences worldwide. Most major streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, offer a selection of popular titles. However, if you're looking for a service that's specifically dedicated to all things anime, Crunchyroll should be at the top of the list.
Crunchyroll is home to tons of anime series and movies, old and new. From classics like "Akira" and "One Piece" to new hits like "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Spy x Family," you're sure to find what you're looking for in its library.
Here's what you need to know about Crunchyroll, including its cost and how to watch some titles for free.
Crunchyroll offers one of the largest collections of anime shows and movies you can stream online. Premium plans start at $8 a month for ad-free access to the entire Crunchyroll library.
What is Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll is a subscription streaming service owned by Sony that specializes in everything anime. Members can choose between three Premium plans or stream a limited content selection for free.
Crunchyroll's Premium tiers have the most extensive library of anime we've seen, besting every other streaming service on offer. The only notable series you won't find on Crunchyroll are originals exclusive to other platforms, like Netflix's "The Seven Deadly Sins" or Hulu's "Tokyo Revengers."
Crunchyroll also recently merged with Funimation, expanding its library even more. Existing Funimation subscribers can simply log in to Crunchyroll using their account credentials to activate their merged membership.
In addition to streaming content, Crunchyroll offers the Crunchyroll Game Vault, a catalog of video games included with some of its Premium plans, and the Crunchyroll Store, an online shop dedicated to anime, manga, and related merchandise, such as figures and apparel.
How much is Crunchyroll?
To gain access to Crunchyroll's complete content library, you must sign up for one of its Premium plans. Crunchyroll offers three subscription tiers with different prices and benefits:
- Fan: $8/month for ad-free streaming on one device at a time, and 5% discounts on select store items.
- Mega Fan: $12/month for ad-free streaming on up to four devices simultaneously, offline viewing, access to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, 10% discounts on select store items, and free shipping on orders over $50.
- Ultimate Fan: $15/month for ad-free streaming on up to six devices simultaneously, offline viewing, access to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, 15% discounts on select store items, free US shipping, and exclusive swag after one year.
All Crunchyroll plans are paid on a month-to-month basis, and you can cancel at any time. Check out our guide on how to cancel a Crunchyroll membership for more details.
Is there a Crunchyroll free trial?
If you want to try Crunchyroll Premium for free, each plan offers a seven-day trial for first-time subscribers. Your subscription will automatically renew after your trial, but you can cancel anytime.
Does Crunchyroll have a free plan?
Crunchyroll offers a free tier with limited access and ad-supported streaming. The free plan has a rotating selection of titles, including some complete series collections and select episodes from other programs to whet your appetite.
What devices support the Crunchyroll app?
You can access the Crunchyroll app on various devices, such as your iPhone, Android smartphone, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Samsung smart TVs, as well as media players from Amazon, Apple, and Roku. The Crunchyroll site has a full list of supported devices.
What can I watch on Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll is known for its extensive library of anime titles, including series, movies, OVAs, and even music videos. It's also one of the few places you can watch new anime shortly after it airs in Japan.
Here's a list of popular recent releases you can find on the service:
- "Bocchi the Rock!"
- "Chainsaw Man"
- "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"
- "Jujutsu Kaisen"
- "Mashle: Magic and Muscles"
- "Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury"
- "Ranking of Kings"
- "Spy x Family"
- "Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead"
If you're looking to catch up on some older, must-watch series, Crunchyroll also has plenty of those. Here's some of what you can find:
- "Cowboy Bebop"
- "Dragon Ball Z"
- "Fruits Basket"
- "Gintama
- "Hunter x Hunter"
- "Lucky Star"
- "Naruto Shippuden"
- "One Piece"
- "Yu-Gi-Oh!"
Does Crunchyroll have dubbed anime?
Crunchyroll offers dubbed anime when available. Most new and popular series like "One Piece" and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" are available in dub, but some, like "My Love Story" and "Case Closed," are only available with subtitles and original Japanese audio.
Did Funimation merge with Crunchyroll?
In April 2024, the Funimation website and app officially closed. The service is now part of Crunchyroll. If you were an active Funimation user, your subscription should have automatically transferred to Crunchyroll. If your account did not automatically migrate, you should reach out to the Crunchyroll support team for further assistance.
Much of Funimation's anime library has already migrated to Crunchyroll, with more content set to arrive in the future. However, Funimation digital copy collections are not available via Crunchyroll.
Is Crunchyroll worth it?
If you're a diehard anime fan searching for the most comprehensive service to subscribe to, Crunchyroll is our top recommendation. It's difficult to find the breadth and depth of coverage that this service has anywhere else, especially if you're a viewer not living in Japan.
As a longtime fan, I especially enjoy how easy it is to find titles of every genre and age on Crunchyroll. Whether I feel like catching the latest "Gundam" series or need some nostalgic "Yu-Gi-Oh!" to play in the background, it's easy to find. Gone are the days of having to search for anime across multiple apps; now, it's all in one place for one monthly price.
On the other hand, if you're more of a casual anime viewer looking to dabble in the medium every now and then, you may not need to sign up for a whole extra service like Crunchyroll. Some of the best streaming services that you may already be subscribed to, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, also have their own collections of anime that are probably enough to satisfy you. Some of these platforms even offer exclusives that Crunchyroll doesn't, like Netflix's "Aggretsuko."
I recommend looking into what your existing services have anime-wise before committing to Crunchyroll. If you're already satisfied with that, you probably won't need Crunchyroll added to your monthly bills.
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