The popularity of anime outside Japan is quite significant today, with numerous websites serving the needs of a growing global audience. Especially, there is demand for simulcast releases in both sub and dub formats. For this post, we’ve assembled a list of the best anime websites and streaming services so you can catch up with your favourite series.
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1. Crunchyroll
Price: Free with paid options
Crunchyroll is one of the most popular sources for streaming anime, and with good reason, as it has a lot to offer. It has a wide database of anime you can browse by categories or search through. The entire content is legal, and you can mostly find a complete list of episodes. Most titles provide episodes in your choice of subtitles or dubbing. Crunchyroll also has a Simulcast section, so users can watch new episodes of select shows as soon as they air in Japan.
As a free user, you can watch your favorite anime shows, although you will have to sit through ads. You can remove them by subscribing to one of Crunchyroll’s paid tiers, which start at $7.99 per month. Additional perks include access to Crunchyroll’s database of anime-inspired games (partially available for free users as well) and the option to read manga. By the way, if you need more alternatives for reading manga online, check here.
Crunchyroll further feeds your anime addiction by offering access to a shop where you can acquire anything from collectibles and anime-inspired clothing to physical manga and related books. By checking the website, you can also stay up to date with the latest anime news and events.
2. GoGoAnime
Price: Free
A lot of free anime websites dish up more advertisements and pop-ups than you might like. Fortunately, that’s not the case with GoGoAnime, which shines thanks to its fast load times and minimal disruptions.
GoGoAnime, which is completely free, contains an A-Z list of popular anime in multiple genres, including Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Adventure, and Shounen. You can also check the schedule to know when new episodes from your favorite shows are coming out.
The main reason this website grabs our attention is its faster playback speeds, legal episodes, and no distractions. Plus, you can download some episodes on your laptop or PC for later viewing.
Tip: here’s where to find subtitles for the movies and TV shows you want to watch.
3. HiDive
Price: starting at $6.99
HiDive is another good alternative for anime fans. In return for a monthly subscription, it allows you to stream simulcasts, dubs, movies, and entire series with no missed episodes.
You can browse content by genres or discover new popular content by checking the Trending Now category. The website also lets you create watchlists and includes a watch history feature so you can keep track of your progress.
The collections are the latest, and the quality of videos will leave you amazed. HiDive is almost a perfect find, containing everything you ever wanted.
4. Tubi
Price: Free
Tubi is a streaming website similar to Netflix. In a sense, it’s a better alternative, allowing you to stream content for free, but with the obligatory ads. Even better, Tubi features a considerable collection of anime movies and TV shows, which you can find under the Browse menu on the main screen.
If you opt to sign up with an account (it’s not mandatory to do so), you can keep track of the shows you want to see. It can also help Tubi keep tabs of your viewing habits and suggest recommendations according to your tastes.
On top of anime, Tubi also offers access to a relatively large library of movies and TV shows, although you might not find the newest releases. In our experience, ads don’t pop up too often, so you can watch without frequent interruptions.
5. Pluto TV
Price: Free
Pluto TV distinguishes itself from the other entries here. Rather than streaming individual anime episodes or movies, it provides access to live streams and in-demand content across various genres, including anime.
It’s like watching an anime channel on TV. You’ll have to watch whatever’s airing at the moment, but you can check the channel’s schedule to see if something more suited to your taste is coming up later.
Beyond that, you can browse the In Demand category, which offers a decent selection of anime movies you can watch for free. While the service may be free of irritating ads, browsing the site is slightly frustrating since the PlutoTV stream always remains active at the top. To make it less annoying, click the Guide button in the lower right. For more options to watch live TV on your Android device, check here.
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6. RetroCrush
Price: Free with paid options
If you want to dive into the history of anime to uncover hidden gems, there’s no better to try than RetroCrush. There’s quite a lot of content to stream, however, some movies or TV shows require a paid subscription to watch. But as a free user, you can get access to a lot.
You can sign up with an account and create your own watch list to make sure you don’t miss out on watching a show you like, although this is optional. You can easily watch anime without signing up.
RetroCrush also has a LiveTV option, although it doesn’t appear to be very reliable. If you like the concept of watching live anime streams, we suggest trying PlutoTV instead.
Additional Options
Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime also have a respectable collection of anime and do not disappoint in terms of quality and the latest episodes. The reason for not including them in this list is because these streaming services have a rather limited library compared to the other options we’ve included in this list.
You can even find entire anime episodes on YouTube. For instance, you might want to check the Gundam Info or TMS channels.
If you want to connect with other fans, Discord is a great place to start. Here are the best Discord servers to join if you love anime.
