Best Anime Streaming Services and Alternatives to Crunchyroll

Best Anime Streaming Services and Alternatives to Crunchyroll

The merger of Crunchyroll and its competitor Funimation is causing serious headaches for anime fans. Between upcoming price increases and the recent news that Funimation's streaming platform will be shutting down in April, and with it, digital copies that users have already purchased will disappear, many viewers have begun looking elsewhere for their favorite series and movies.

If you want to get the most out of your anime streaming, look no further. Below are some of the best Crunchyroll alternatives that are currently available to satisfy your anime fix. From the latest episodes of popular series to decades-old classics, there is an option for everyone. So without further ado, here are the best anime alternatives to Crunchyroll.

Netflix has invested heavily in anime over the past few years with great results. From popular series like "Hunter Hunter," "Demonslayer," and "Inuyasha," to producing hit original shows like "Castlevania" and "Cyberpunk: Edge Runners," to licensing popular manga adaptations like "Beasters" and "Delicious Dungeon, Netflix has established itself as a one-stop store for many anime fans.

While Netflix is not the best place to watch obscure anime titles, it does have a good selection of popular contemporary and classic anime.

And while Netflix has had a frustrating price hike for over a year, the cost of a monthly subscription is not that far off from Crunchyroll. The ad-free base price is $15.49 per month. There is also an ad-supported version of the basic tier, which costs $6.99 per month, but note that it does not include access to the entire Netflix library. Either option limits simultaneous viewing to two times, unless you subscribe to the premium plan, which allows you to watch 4K streaming on up to four devices simultaneously for $22.99 per month.

Something else subscribers should be aware of is that Netflix's skip feature is a bit over-the-top when it comes to anime. If you don't disable it in the settings menu, you run the risk of missing post-credits scenes from your favorite shows.

Hulu is another great option for anime fans, boasting hundreds of anime titles. It is also home to several simulcasts that stream each season, giving you access to the latest subtitled episodes delivered weekly. Unlike Netflix, where you have to wait for all seasons to be available at once, you can catch up on the latest arcs of "My Hero Academia," "Demon Slayer," "Spy x Family," and more. There are also many nostalgic classics such as "Ranma 1/2," "Yu Yu Hakusho," "Sailor Moon," "Hellsing Ultimate," and many more.

Hulu has also partnered with Crunchyroll to distribute some, but not the entire library of titles. It is also the exclusive streamer of BLEACH, the sequel series to BLEACH: Another bonus is the Anime Hub, a dedicated section where you can find useful content organized into categories such as classics and simulcasts, or browse the entire library from A to Z You can also browse the entire library from A to Z. If you want to skip the commercials, an ad-free version costs $17.99/month.

RetroCrush is the only free anime streaming service on this list, and its library is limited to older shows and movies. Nevertheless, if you are a hardcore fan looking for out-of-print series, 90s classics, or obscure anime that no one knows about, this is the place to find it.

Because of RetroCrush's focus on vintage anime, you won't find much of its library anywhere else, especially in the US. What it lacks in original programming and newer releases, it more than makes up for with a solid list of classic exclusives: the original 80s "Urusei Yatsura," "Revolutionary Girl Utena," "Lupin III," "Astro Boy," and "Medabots" can be found here.

RetroCrush's basic ad-supported tier is free, but if you want to stream even more titles ad-free, a premium account costs $4.99 per month.

A bit more obscure, Hidive is one of the best budget options for anime fans; like Hulu, it hosts simulcast subscriptions so new anime shows can be streamed online as they are released in real time. K-ON," "Monthly Shoujo Nozaki-kun," "Oshinobu! Banchou," and "In the Shadow of the Sun," among other popular shows. It is also the exclusive streaming platform for some titles, such as "The Most Evil Rasbos Queen": From Bad Girl to Savior

HiDive also has family-friendly titles, but it is worth noting that the streamer is targeted at 18 years and older and has an uncensored series and prides itself on its library of mature exclusives. Also noteworthy are the extensive viewing features, including customizable subtitle options, in-episode live chat, and the option to switch between censored and uncensored versions of favorite shows. However, the mobile app, available for both iOS and Android, leaves much to be desired.

At $4.99/month, Hi-Dive is one of the less expensive options and offers a 7-day free trial.

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