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6 Best Streaming Services for Anime Fans

Anime fans are just as quick to champion their favorite shows and movies as they are to defend their opinions of dubbed anime over subtitles, or over the value of reading the manga the animated show is based on. There is considerably less argument, however, on the best places to stream anime. We’ve put together a list of our top streaming platforms for anyone who watches anime, so let us know which is your favorite!

Best for Anime

  • The Streamable’s Choice

    Crunchyroll

    The first legitimate resource for watching anime content without pirating, Crunchyroll remains on the forefront of streaming services for anime fans. Still the largest hub of anime movies and tv series to date, Crunchyroll is inexpensive (free if you don’t mind ads) and has various premium subscription levels that allow for its users to tailor the service to their preference.

    Crunchyroll is the home to “My Hero Academia,” “Naruto,” “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” “Fate,” and more. Crunchyroll has kept its crown as our top choice for streaming anime, and for most fans, it’s all you’ll ever need.

    Pros:

    • Tremendous amount of content
    • Simulcast shows
    • HD streaming

    Cons:

    • Fewer English dubs than some other services
    • No offline downloads
    • Cluttered UI
  • HIDIVE

    HIDIVE is an independent video streaming service for anime fans. The catalog contains 500+ niche content ranging from movies, OVAs, simulcasts, dubs, exclusives, live-action titles subbed shows, and simulcast versions broadcasted directly from Japan. There are tons of anime titles such as ‘Haikyu,’ ‘Kaiji,’ ‘Made in Abyss,’ and ‘The Promised Neverland.’

    There is a lot to explore with HIDIVE’s service and its many features. You can even create a private chat room for your friends to watch and chat to each other (similar to Netflix Party).

  • RetroCrush

    A streaming service dedicated to the “Golden Age of anime,” RetroCrush has hundreds of classic shows from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, plus around 40 features. With a mix of subtitled and dubbed content, there are different genres from Comedy to Historical, Horror, and Mecha.

    Viewers can also find RetroCrush as a channel on services like Philo, Sling Freestream, and Plex.

  • Best for Beginners

    Netflix

    A good all-around service, we couldn’t leave Netflix off our list, even if it may fall short when in competition with streaming services that specialize in anime. As such, Netflix has fewer choices than an option like Crunchyroll, but you are likely to get the full number of seasons from start to finish.

    Speaking of shows, Netflix has a number of high-quality original anime titles, such as “Little Witch Academia,” “Devilman Crybaby,” “Blood of Zeus,” and “Beastars.”

    The streaming service is also investing heavily in the genre with 40 new anime series this year, and they’ve already struck gold with “Yasuke.” Subscribers will soon be able to see new series like “Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness.”

    For fledgling anime fans looking to dip their toes in the genre, Netflix is our top choice.

    Pros:

    • Ad free
    • Lots of other content
    • Offline downloads

    Cons:

    • More limited selection of anime
  • Amazon Prime Video

    Anime streaming is included with a membership to Amazon Prime, so this is a feature you may not know you already have. The service has some notable anime titles such as “Nichijou: My Ordinary Life,” “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress” (also available on HBO Max), and “Cowboy Bebop.” Amazon Prime still doesn’t have the same reputation for its anime catalog as the earlier marks on our list, but they’ve developed a solid mix of classic anime along with some lesser-known gems.

    Pros:

    • 4K and HDR streaming
    • Supports offline downloads

    Cons:

    • Far less material than the competition
    • Less overall content than Netflix
    • Often loses content to other services
  • Free Option

    Tubi

    If you’re new to the genre or you’d like to save some money, Tubi has a solid collection of anime titles you can watch for free. Classics like “Ghost in the Shell” and “Akira” are here, along with titles like “One Piece: Heart of Gold,” “Penguin Highway,” and “Robot Carnival.”

    Free TV series include “Attack on Titan,” “One Piece,” “Naruto,” “One-Punch Man,” and “Death Note.”

    The only question is whether you’re willing to put up with periodic commercial breaks. If they don’t bother you, Tubi is a great choice.

    Pros:

    • Free

    Cons:

    • Lack of top titles
    • Ad breaks can be frustrating

While these are our top picks, there’s definitely merit to other animation streaming services as well. If there’s a specific show or movie you’re looking for, for example, it’s better to search and go from there.

With the ability to change services easily, it’s worth taking on several different trials to find your favorite anime!

DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.