Are you getting bored at home and looking for the best anime to keep you entertained? Look no further than Crunchyroll. It is one of the top anime streaming services featuring the best animated Japanese shows and movies. Even for non-anime enthusiasts, Crunchyroll offers a wide variety of Asian dramas and manga.
Is Crunchyroll Free?
Is Crunchyroll free? Yes, Crunchyroll is free with ads. Crunchyroll features more than 1,000 anime titles and 30,000 episodes, making it one of the best anime streaming services on the market. Although Crunchyroll is free for those who can deal with ads, it has three types of ad-free paid subscription plans.
To answer all your questions about Crunchyroll, let’s look at the Crunchyroll streaming ecosystem and its subscription plans, including the free Crunchyroll streaming option.
Crunchyroll Subscription Plans
To begin Crunchyroll streaming, free users simply need to provide their name and email address. There are three premium membership packages for users who want more privileges and perks from the anime-streaming service. Crunchyroll offers a 14-day trial period for users who wish to opt for a paid membership. After 14 days, the users are charged the amount of their plan. Let’s take a look at Crunchyroll’s paid subscription plans and prices.
Fan Subscription
The Crunchyroll Fan subscription removes all commercials and provides an all-you-can-watch library for everything from anime to manga to dramas. Simulcast and Simulpubs allow you to see or read fresh content as quickly as it’s released. Using Fan, you’ll be able to watch your favorite shows in 720p and 1080p definition. A single stream is the only option, which means only one user is entitled to stream at a time with this plan. The Crunchyroll Fan plan costs $7.99 a month, with a 14-day free trial offer.
Mega Fan Subscription
The Mega Fan plan includes all the features of the Fan subscription but adds four simultaneous streams. In addition, you’ll be able to watch anime offline with this subscription. Furthermore, you get a $15 discount for a one-time $100 purchase in the Crunchyroll Store every three months. At $9.99 per month, the Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription includes a 14-day trial.
Ultimate Fan subscription
The Ultimate Fan plan includes all the features of Fans and Mega Fans plans. But users get access to six simultaneous streams with this tier of subscription. You will also receive a goodie bag each year. If you spend $100 in the Crunchyroll Store once every three months, you get rewarded a $25 discount. Like every other paid plan, this one also includes a free 14-day trial, after which it costs $14.99 a month.
VRV subscription
If you live in the United States and are a fan of geek culture in general, you may also want to look at the VRV subscription. Crunchyroll is one of many anime, gaming, and cartoon channels included in this streaming platform membership. You can get VRV premium membership and get the same level of access to Crunchyroll as you get on its “Fan” plan. In addition, you also get seamless access to Cartoon Hangover, HIDIVE, Mondo Media, and other services. The VRV premium membership costs $9.99 a month.
What is Crunchyroll?
When Crunchyroll was founded in 2006, its primary focus was Japanese animation. It is accessible to people worldwide and provides the widest selection of licensed anime to choose from. Since its launch in 2007, it has grown to 120 million active monthly users, and 5 million paid subscribers. Crunchyroll’s content is available for free, which sets it above the competition.
You can watch your favorite anime series and movies if you have an account. Don’t worry if you can’t read or write the Japanese language; anime series and movies are available in various languages. In addition, fresh anime TV episodes are available on the service within an hour following their Japanese airing.
You can also read the manga (Japanese comics) that your favorite anime is based on. A wide variety of manga can be found on Crunchyroll, including many that are completely free.
Sony’s Funimation anime division was slated to acquire Crunchyroll by December 2020 for $1.175 billion. And as of December 2021, the acquisition has marked its completion.
Crunchyroll Originals, Subbed Content, & More
If you’ve decided to give Crunchyroll a whirl, what should you stream first? If you’re looking for both quantity and quality, Crunchyroll has you covered. It’s got plenty to choose from, from obscure cult classics to global blockbusters.
But what are you going to be able to watch? Most of Crunchyroll’s content is anime. In addition to classics like One Piece and Gundam, it’s also the ideal spot to catch up on the most recent releases. You can view new episodes of popular Japanese television shows just an hour after they air in Japan. Crunchyroll has some incredible anime movies, although the selection is a little more limited than Hulu or Netflix. The same holds for Asian dramas with a regularly updated library.
Many old shonen favorites like Naruto and Bleach are included in this collection. These are ideal for folks who appreciate long-running series because of the substantial quantity of episodes in these shows. Short action series, such as One-Punch Man, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Attack on Titan, can be just as enjoyable.
On the contrary, Mushi-shi is a fantastic fantasy anime for those who want a good mystery story. As a bonus, the current The Ancient Magus Bride series is a must-watch for anyone looking for some romance. To wrap up, you must check out the sports anime sensation — Yuri on Ice — which has gripped fans since its release in 2016.
In 2020, Crunchyroll began rolling out an all-new anime series produced on its own as Crunchyroll Originals like Noblesse, Meiji Gekken: Swords & Guns, Tower of God, The God of High School, ONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You, and more.
Should you upgrade to a Crunchyroll premium account?
If you’re just getting started, we recommend that you sign up for a free account initially. This will offer you a chance to see if this platform is right for you. However, users who stream a lot of Crunchyroll anime should purchase a subscription to the service. The following are a few of the benefits of a premium subscription.
- High-Definition Video Playback
- Quick access to most recent episodes
- Discounts for online store purchase
Crunchyroll and HBO Max
HBO Max also offers a selection of Crunchyroll-exclusive anime series for on-demand viewing (thanks to AT&T ownership for both platforms). HBO Max has a selection of up to 30 anime titles that you can stream. A sample of the Crunchyroll catalog is being offered to those who have not yet subscribed, but it does not intend to replace the service.
You can download shows to your mobile device as part of the paid subscriptions. With more simultaneous streams per user and discounts to the service’s retail store, they also offer added value to their customers. Anime news is also available through the service’s native news service. Your profile photo can be anything you want it to be, as the profile pages of paying subscribers can also be customized.
There is now an open beta test for Crunchyroll on their website. A redesigned user interface is only one of the many features included in the new version. You can make your watchlists and classify and categorize anime shows in any category if you prefer. You can also stop a show and resume where you left off from the recently viewed shows.
How to sign up for free Crunchyroll membership
It’s simple to get started with Crunchyroll and sign up for its free account. Crunchyroll does not impose any conditions and keeps your information confidential. You will not be required to add credit card information for free account access. Follow the steps below to sign-up for a free Crunchyroll account.
How to sign up for a free Crunchyroll account:
- Open the Crunchyroll website on your browser and click login
- Look for a prompt to sign up for a free account on the left side of the screen
- Type the username you want, new password, email address, and other details
- After filling out the details, click on Create Account
- Check your email account and look for Crunchyroll email to verify your account
- Now, go to Crunchyroll and sign in to your account, and begin streaming
Crunchyroll Compatible Devices
Crunchyroll is compatible with many devices. Below is the list of devices compatible with the Crunchyroll streaming service.
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- Android smartphones and tablets
- Roku streaming devices and Roku TV
- Fire TV streaming stick
- Android TV, Google Chromecast
- Sony PlayStation 3 and 4
- Microsoft Xbox One and Xbox 360
- Nintendo Wii U
- Browser access with Crunchyroll website
- Windows 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you have the answer to your question — Is Crunchyroll free? Let’s dive into other related questions about the anime streaming platform.
Is free Crunchyroll illegal?
No, Crunchyroll’s free version is not illegal. It is officially supported by Crunchyroll but with a few restrictions regarding streaming quality and quick access to new content.
Conclusion
We hope this guide sorts out all of your doubts concerning — Is Crunchyroll free? Even if you’re a seasoned anime fan with thousands of episodes under your belt or an amateur starting your anime obsession, Crunchyroll will keep you engaged. A free Crunchyroll subscription gives you access to all of the prominent anime, as well as smaller, independent works.
Let us know in the comments if you have other questions related to Crunchyroll’s free access. Our team will answer promptly.
