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Crunchyroll is the largest dedicated anime streaming service, now home to both its own long-running library and the shows it absorbed after merging with Funimation. Note that Crunchyroll has discontinued its old ad-supported free tier, so a paid plan is now required for regular access to most of the catalog.

What Is Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is a subscription streaming service specializing in anime, offering simulcast episodes shortly after they air in Japan, a massive back catalog of both subbed and dubbed series, and access to Crunchyroll Manga.

Visit Crunchyroll Official Site ↗

Crunchyroll Plans & Pricing

Crunchyroll offers three paid tiers, each unlocking more devices and features than the last:

Fan
$7.99/mo
ad-free streaming, one stream at a time
Mega Fan
$9.99/mo
offline downloads, two simultaneous streams
Ultimate Fan
$14.99/mo
up to four simultaneous streams, exclusive merchandise discounts, and early access perks
➤Annual billing is available on all tiers at a modest discount

Crunchyroll: Channels & Content

The lineup covers new-season simulcasts within hours of their Japanese broadcast, a huge back catalog spanning decades of anime (bolstered by the former Funimation library), dubbed and subbed versions of most major titles, and anime films. Crunchyroll Manga (bundled on some plans) adds digital manga chapters alongside the video library.

Crunchyroll Features & Bonuses

✓Simulcast episodes often available within an hour of the Japanese broadcast
✓Offline downloads on Mega Fan and above
✓Multiple simultaneous streams on higher tiers
✓Exclusive merchandise store discounts on Ultimate Fan
✓Access to Crunchyroll Manga chapters on eligible plans

Where Is Crunchyroll Available?

Crunchyroll is available in more than 200 countries and territories, though the exact catalog of shows varies by region due to licensing agreements with Japanese studios.

How to Watch Crunchyroll Outside your home country’s Crunchyroll catalog

Because Crunchyroll’s catalog changes by region, traveling abroad can mean losing access to shows available back home, or hitting extra restrictions. Connecting through a VPN server in your home country keeps your account working with your normal catalog.

  • Sign up for IPVanish using our discounted IPVanish link and install the app on your device.
  • Open the IPVanish app and connect to a server located in your home country’s Crunchyroll catalog.
  • Once connected, open your Crunchyroll app or website and log in (or sign up) as normal.
  • Start streaming — IPVanish keeps your connection routed through your home country’s Crunchyroll catalog so Crunchyroll unlocks its full catalog.

Is Crunchyroll Worth It?

Crunchyroll is essential for anime fans, and the Mega Fan tier hits the sweet spot for most people — ad-free, offline downloads, and two streams for a reasonable monthly price. Casual viewers can start with Fan, while households with multiple anime watchers should consider Ultimate Fan.

More Streaming Options

Looking for more ways to watch? Check out our Free Streaming Sites and Paid Streaming Sites guides for more options.

Does Crunchyroll still have a free plan?

No — Crunchyroll has discontinued its ad-supported free tier, so a paid Fan, Mega Fan, or Ultimate Fan subscription is now required for regular access to most of the library.

What happened to Funimation?

Funimation’s library was merged into Crunchyroll, so most of the shows previously found on Funimation are now available directly within the Crunchyroll app.