What is Crunchyroll? The anime streaming service, explained

Anime, or Japanese animation, has become so mainstream that it's now accessible to audiences worldwide. Most major streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, offer a selection of popular titles. However, if you're looking for one service that just about has it all, Crunchyroll should be at the top of the list. 

Crunchyroll is home to hundreds of anime series and movies, old and new. From classics like "Akira" and "One Piece" to new hits like "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Spy x Family," you're sure to find what you're looking for in its library. After its recent merger with Funimation, it has more to offer than ever.

Here's what you need to know about Crunchyroll, including how much it costs and how to watch for free.

What is Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is a subscription streaming service owned by Sony that specializes in everything anime. Members can choose between three Premium plans or stream a limited content selection for free. 

Crunchyroll's Premium tiers have the most extensive library of anime titles compared to any major streaming service. The only notable series you won't find on Crunchyroll are originals exclusive to other platforms, like Netflix's "The Seven Deadly Sins" or Hulu's "Tokyo Revengers."

Crunchyroll also recently merged with Funimation, expanding its library even more. Existing Funimation subscribers can simply log in to Crunchyroll using their account credentials to activate their merged membership. 

In addition to streaming, Crunchyroll has the Crunchyroll Game Vault, a catalog of video games included with some of its Premium plans, and the Crunchyroll Store, an online shop dedicated to anime, manga, and related merch like figures and apparel.

How much is Crunchyroll Premium?

To watch everything on Crunchyroll, you must sign up for one of its Premium plans. Crunchyroll offers three subscription tiers with different benefits:

• Fan: $8/month for ad-free access on one device at a time.
• Mega Fan: $10/month for ad-free access on up to four devices simultaneously, offline viewing, the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and discounts at the Crunchyroll store. 
• Ultimate Fan: $15/month for ad-free access on up to six devices simultaneously, offline viewing, the Crunchyroll Game Vault, store discounts, free shipping, and exclusive swag after one year.

All Crunchyroll plans are paid on a month-to-month basis, and you can cancel at any time. Check out our guide on how to cancel a Crunchyroll membership for more details.  

Is there a Crunchyroll free trial for Premium memberships?

If you want to try Crunchyroll Premium for free, each plan offers a 14-day trial for first-time subscribers. Your subscription will automatically renew after your trial, but you can cancel anytime. 

Does Crunchyroll have a free plan?

Crunchyroll offers a free tier with limited access and ad support. It includes a rotating selection of titles that users can watch with or without a Premium plan. These can include a full series with multiple seasons or just a few episodes to whet your appetite. 

As of this writing, the list includes popular romance anime like "Ouran High School Host Club" and "My Dress-Up Darling."

What devices support the Crunchyroll app?

You can access the Crunchyroll app on various devices, like your iPhone, Android smartphone, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Samsung smart TVs, as well as media players from Amazon, Apple, and Roku. You can check out the Crunchyroll site for a full list of supported devices.

What can I watch on Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is known for its extensive library of anime titles, including series, movies, OVAs, and even music videos. It's also one of the few places you can watch anime the same day it releases in Japan, also known as simultaneous broadcasts or "simulcasts." 

From the season's latest hits to classic series, Crunchyroll has you covered. Here's a list of popular recent releases you can find on the service:

• "Bocchi the Rock!"
• "Chainsaw Man"
• "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"
• "Jujutsu Kaisen"
• "Mashle: Magic and Muscles"
• "Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury"
• "Ranking of Kings"
• "Spy x Family"
• "Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead"

If you're looking to catch up on some older, must-watch series, Crunchyroll also has plenty of those. Here's some of what you can find there:

• "Cowboy Bebop"
• "Dragon Ball Z"
• "Fruits Basket"
• "Gintama:
• "Hunter x Hunter"
• "Lucky Star"
• "Naruto Shippuden"
• "One Piece"
• "Yu-Gi-Oh!"

Does Crunchyroll have dubbed anime?

Crunchyroll offers dubbed anime when available. Most new and popular series like "One Piece" and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" are available in dub, but some, like "My Love Story" and "Case Closed," are only available with subtitles and original Japanese audio.

Is Crunchyroll shutting down Funimation?

Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll in 2021, the streaming service is now merging with Funimation, an anime-only service also owned by Sony. The merger is already in action, with Funimation users being asked to sign in via Crunchyroll to combine their accounts. Nothing changes for new or existing Crunchyroll members.

Much of Funimation's anime library has already migrated to Crunchyroll, with more content set to migrate before the platform's official termination. Funimation is set to shut down its website and app on April 2. Though most of Funimation's subscription library will be available on Crunchyroll, Funimation users will lose access to their digital copy collections on that date. 

Is Crunchyroll worth it?

If you're a diehard anime fan searching for the most comprehensive service to subscribe to, Crunchyroll is what you're looking for. It's difficult to find the breadth and depth of coverage that this service has anywhere else, especially if you're a viewer not living in Japan. 

As a longtime fan, I especially enjoy how easy it is to find titles of every genre and age on Crunchyroll. Whether I feel like catching the latest "Gundam" series or need some nostalgic "Yu-Gi-Oh!" to play in the background, it's easy to find here. Gone are the days of having to find anime in multiple apps across the internet; now, it's all in one place for one monthly price. 

On the other hand, if you're more of a casual anime viewer looking to dabble in the medium every now and then, you may not need to sign up for a whole extra service. Some of the best streaming services that you may already be subscribed to, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, also have their own collections of anime that are probably enough to satisfy you. They even offer original exclusives that Crunchyroll doesn't, like Netflix's "Aggretsuko." I recommend looking into what other services have anime-wise because if you're already satisfied with that, you probably won't need Crunchyroll added to your monthly bills.