Best Crunchyroll Alternatives – Top Anime Streaming Apps in 2025

Crunchyroll is the world’s largest dedicated anime collection, #3 top-grossing in entertainment. With Crunchyroll, you can watch newly released theatrical anime movies and series and get the latest music videos, exclusive concert passes, and special performances. Another feature is the free, unlimited access to a growing library of mobile video games with Crunchyroll Game Vault without any in-app purchases.

When we talk about streaming anime, Crunchyroll is the most well-known platform, especially for the presentation of new episodes. Although several streaming services offer anime as an alternative to Crunchyroll but Crunchyroll still tops the list. But if you’re looking for a mix of things, whether it’s a cheaper plan, a different library, or unique extra things, these Crunchyroll alternatives offer many things that you like and facilitate you.

Best Anime Streaming Crunchyroll Alternatives 2025

Netflix and Hulu are known to have extensive anime libraries, while HIDIVE exclusively focuses on anime. There is a detailed breakdown of anime streaming platforms for anime fans to find one of their choice.

Best Alternatives to Crunchyroll for Android

Best Alternatives to Crunchyroll for Free Anime Streaming

HULU

Hulu is a great option for anime streaming as one of the Crunchyroll alternatives. It’s an on-demand service that provides its viewers with hundreds of anime titles. On Hulu, you don’t need to wait long for a full season to be released at once; instead, you will get instant access to new episodes as they release in the form of a simulcast.
This platform, known due to its high-quality content, is also used by friends who want to watch videos or series together, known as” Watch party”. Hulu’s interface is simple for users, with dark mode and kid-friendly mode, with a “Watch Together” feature for group viewing.
You have a vast library of anime titles from the latest popular anime series, like ‘My Hero Academia’, ‘Demon Slayer’, ‘Spy X Family’, to plenty of classics to watch like ‘Ranma 1/2’, ‘Yu Yu Hakusho’, ‘Sailor Moon’, and ‘Hellsing Ultimate’.

Netflix

Netflix offers a free premium anime platform with licensed classics and high-budget original TV shows. The platform involves a cinematic user experience, high-quality video streaming, and supports offline viewing. Netflix is also going to bring new anime in 2025 like Sakamoto Days, Dan Da Dan Season 2, Devil May Cry, Moonrise, and Leviathan. Their service is ad-free, you can watch your shows without any payment with 1080p/4K streaming, but newer shows arrive weeks after Crunchyroll. The only downside of this platform is that it offers the videos later. No Simulcasts are offered by Netflix.
Netflix download is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, IOS, and Android.
The Netflix app also supports subtitles in multiple languages, so viewers can easily watch content from Asia, Europe, and other countries.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime is a video streaming platform, available on various devices for online and offline viewing. It doesn’t include anime videos only, but it gets points for convenience and surprise gems like live sports. With your Prime membership, you can watch series like Vinland Saga, Land of the Lustrous, Dororo, Sailor Moon, and My Hero Academia, plus options to rent or buy anime not included with Prime. The anime offerings aren’t massive, but it’s a cost-effective add-on if you’re already a subscriber. Prime offers good video quality, subtitles, and access to regional anime. A benefit is that it comes bundled with other Amazon services like shopping and music. Availability on devices including smart TVs, smartphones, and gaming consoles makes it highly accessible.

Funimation

Funimation is now part of Crunchyroll’s umbrella, is known for a strong catalog of translated anime. It’s great for those who prefer English dubbing combined with simulcasts and older series. As libraries merge the content in different languages, you’ll find dubbing consistency and accessible subtitles, though the standalone Funimation experience is fading as Crunchyroll absorbs most of the content. Funimation allows offline downloads (you can download things without internet), clean interface browsing, and simulcasts of newly released episodes.

HIDIVE

HIDIVE is well known for niche anime and special features. One of the cheapest premium anime streaming services. It also gives users a free trial. You can watch videos on iOS/Android, Web browsers, and Smart TVs. Reddit users also love Call of the Night, Bloom Into You, and I Parry Everything. At around $6 a month, HIDIVE is a solid choice if you want anime beyond the mainstream. It also supports simulcasts, so you can watch ongoing seasonal shows. Other features include multiple language subtitle options, mobile apps, watch history, and a very affordable monthly fee(around $6). It’s a smaller library, but perfect as one of the Crunchyroll alternatives for those who like rare anime or prefer fresh, underrated series.

Tubi

Tubi offers fully free, ad-supported anime streaming. It has a surprisingly large library, including classic series and OVAs. You don’t need an account; just browse and play. Ads interrupt, but for zero cost, it’s a great backup when you’re just in the mood to scroll and watch without commitment. Tubi is a completely free platform supported by ads. It doesn’t need an account to use it. Just visit the website and start watching. Ads may interrupt the viewing experience, but for a platform that’s 100% free, Tubi is a great deal.

RetroCrush

RetroCrush and Pluto TV Anime are ideal if you’re a fan of older anime. RetroCrush specializes in 1970s–1990s shows like Bubblegum Crisis, Astro Boy, City Hunter, and Voltes V. Often free with ads or around $5 with extras, it’s perfect for revisiting classics. Pluto TV offers a live “anime all day” channel where programs like Bleach, Hunter X Hunter, Naruto, and One Piece play on a scheduled time like old TV cable. It’s free with ads and fun for casual viewing or background entertainment. From this platform, you can upgrade for a small monthly fee to remove ads and unlock content. It also has live-streaming anime channels.

Pluto TV

Among Crunchyroll alternatives, Pluto TV Anime works just like watching anime on a cable TV. It has a 24/7 anime channel that plays shows all day on a fixed schedule. It’s perfect for casual viewing, background watching, or just getting into anime without thinking too much about what to pick. It is completely free, and you don’t need to make an account. You just watch movies without any registration. You don’t have to select the channel, just sit and watch the show.

Anime-Planet

Anime-Planet is less used for streaming and more used for a guide; it doesn’t host content, but links to legal platforms like Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Tubi. You’ll find user reviews, curated lists, recommendations, and manga info. It’s a smart tool for planning your anime journey, though you’ll leave the site to watch shows. You have to make your own watchlist there. It also has a personalised recommendation engine and recommends things you previously liked.

KissAnime

KissAnime no longer qualifies as one of the Crunchyroll alternatives because of copyright infringement. Kiss Anime was a piracy site that was shut shutdown in 2020 due to its illegal content.

AnimeLab

Anime Lab no longer qualifies. Anime Lab served in Australia and New Zealand until 2021 before merging into Funimation and Crunchyroll. If you have ever used Anime Lab, your content is now on Crunchyroll in your region. It can be excluded from the list of Crunchyroll alternatives.

Disney+ Anime

Disney+ Anime has a small but polished collection, mostly family-friendly or completed series. There are no simulcasts, and availability is limited, but it’s ad-free and reliable. Pairing it with Hulu (which offers a bundle deal including ESPN+) gives a surprising depth of anime without relying on Crunchyroll. This platform is an ad-free platform, and it is known for its quality.

Similar Posts