8.0 / 10
SCORE Crunchyroll $8 at Crunchyroll Pros Vast selection of anime from the past and present
Simulcasts for new episodes
Organized schedule for new releases
Downloads for offline viewing Cons Some limited options for subtitled content
Editors' Note: Crunchyroll continues to be the premier streaming platform for anime, and this year's release of its manga app offers another benefit for those with its Mega Fan plan. Its large and ever-growing anime catalog is unrivaled. The app's updates make it easier to customize, and additional subscription perks make it a standout for streaming in the genre. Those factors, along with Crunchyroll's ability to deliver new episodes across the world, have earned it a 2025 CNET Editors' Choice Award.
For those who love anime, there are lots of options to stream it in the US and around the world, but Crunchyroll has become a go-to streaming service for fans to find new releases and beloved classics. It's been the primary destination for global fans to watch Jujutsu Kaisen, for instance, which was named the world's most popular anime by Guinness World Records in 2024. The service's mixture of theatrical films, originals such as Tower of God, and hit shows, like Dandadan and Demon Slayer, have helped it earn the unofficial title among fans as the "Netflix of anime." I rank it as the best anime streaming service, hands down.
Initially launching in 2006 as an anime piracy site, Crunchyroll has become a titan in the genre thanks to a series of deals, partnerships and acquisitions. Today, it's a Sony-owned brand that encompasses anime streaming, gaming, manga and merchandise. It also hosts its own events like the annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. After officially merging with fellow industry giant Funimation in 2022, the platform is home to more than 40,000 episodes of content for viewers in over 200 countries. And you can watch everything legally.
You can stream some content on Crunchyroll for free, but paid subscriptions start at $8 per month and give you access to everything. In this age of streaming price hikes, it's one of the more affordable services. Even though it's relatively niche, Crunchyroll is not without its competitors. Hulu, HiDive, Netflix and the international arm of Disney Plus carry exclusive titles that you can't find on Sony's service, while platforms like RetroCrush and Tubi offer audiences an assortment of titles for free.
Additionally, the site has more than 100 million registered users, but in efforts to expand its reach, Crunchyroll is now available as a free, ad-supported television, or FAST, channel on Pluto TV and select devices from Roku, LG and Vizio.
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