16 Crunchyroll Alternatives: Finding the Best Anime Apps [Top Picks]

If you’re an anime fan, anime watcher, and are looking for manga apps, then looking at Crunchyroll alternatives is a great place to start.

We’ll cover Crunchyroll and also cover other anime streams and anime apps to consider as you round out your list of the best places to watch anime in 2024.

So let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Crunchyroll overview

Crunchyroll is one of the top anime streaming services available on the market.

For many people, Crunchyroll is the first place they’ll check to see if there’s a new episode of their favorite anime show.

Crunchyroll has thousands of titles with subbed and dubbed anime which you can download right to your smartphone or tablet, including:

Naruto Shippuden
Bleach
One Piece
Soul Eater
Fairy Tail
Hunter x Hunter
Death Note
Dragon Ball Z
Gundam Wing/AC
Psycho-Pass

You can even find movies on Crunchyroll.

If you’re into special features definitely check out Crunchyroll’s membership options as it offers tons of behind-the-scenes features and interviews with anime directors.

Crunchyroll isn’t free but it isn’t overly pricey either, coming in $5 per month on up depending on what kind of features are wanted (e.g., no ads, simulcast, content from previous seasons).

Crunchyroll offers iOS applications and there is a Crunchyroll Android TV app APK.

Some fans have reported not being happy with the Android app, but those with non-iOS operating systems can always give it a shot.

Crunchyroll VRV

The most comprehensive library of new and classic anime and more from Japan.

You can find English subtitles for a lot of anime on Crunchyroll, but there’s a jump in price between Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll VRV.

Crunchyroll has advertisements (unless paying to remove them) while Crunchyroll VRV is an ad-free paid plan from Crunchyroll.

Crunchyroll’s basic package includes:

Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM)
Cowboy Bebop
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Space Dandy
The Seven Deadly Sins
March comes in like a lion
Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga

And much more!

Does Crunchyroll have dubs?

Anime is originally from Japan, so a lot of it is in Japanese.

That means those who don’t understand Japanese, just about everyone outside of Japan, are going to want dubbed anime to help them understand the dialogue.

Crunchyroll does offer dubbed anime in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

Is there a better alternative to Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is one of the top anime streaming services available.

But what happens when Crunchyroll isn’t an option or it’s just not your thing?

Crunchyroll alternatives that meet your specific needs might be out there hiding in plain sight, or you can find Crunchyroll alternatives with just a little bit of online searching.

Your Crunchyroll alternative might be another Crunchyroll service altogether (like VRV), or it may offer something unique and different from it.

If we’re to believe Crunchyroll VRV’s website then it’s “the best value in anime,” but really Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll VRV are only differentiated by their content and price point: ad-supported versus no ads and cheaper than Crunchyroll.

We have a list of Crunchyroll alternatives later on in the article.

Is Funimation better than Crunchyroll?

Funimation owns Crunchyroll, finalizing its acquisition in August 2021. Funimation paid $1.175 billion for the app.

This merger consolidated the anime legs of Sony and AT&T and set the stage for the era of Big Anime.

Naturally, streaming services have to pay a lot for content upfront. So consolidation is a popular trend for streaming services to help prevent a bidding war among different services.

This can help them achieve reasonable margins over the long run so they’re sustainable.

Which anime subscription is best?

It’s hard to answer because so much of it depends on what you’re into.

Every anime streaming service brings a little bit of a different flavor.

But some of the usual ones keep coming up over and over again (e.g., KissAnime, KissCartoon).

Is it illegal to stream Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll owns the legal rights to the content distributed on its platform.

So there’s no chance Crunchyroll gets sued or is forced to take content down.

Crunchyroll is a premium anime app, so it’s not like free sites, which are often taken down due to copyright infringement.

Does Crunchyroll ban VPNs?

Crunchyroll does not ban users for using a VPN. It bans users who are trying to spoof their location.

Does Crunchyroll have X-rated anime?

The vast majority of available anime on Crunchyroll is completely safe for work.

But there are some titles that go into more mature or adult themes that might not be appropriate for younger audiences.

There are other legal anime streaming sites similar to Crunchyroll that offer anime without mature content.

That said, Crunchyroll isn’t focused on advertising its mature anime content to minors.

It’s focused on making anime more accessible and easier to watch than pirating the content elsewhere since it’s such a major problem in the entertainment industry.

There are a lot of Crunchyroll alternatives that we’ll mention later in the article.

Can Crunchyroll cancel your account?

Because Crunchyroll is legally obligated to follow copyright laws and they’re not an illegal pirate site like some others, Crunchyroll will suspend users who try to use Crunchyroll from spoofing their location or when they share Crunchyroll links with someone who does not have a crunchy roll account.

Crunchyroll does not ban users for watching anime on Crunchyroll.

Crunchyroll is legal, so Crunchyroll will only suspend users who do something like location spoofing or if they take other malicious actions.

Is Crunchyroll working?

Anime fans are loyal to Crunchyroll and the majority of Crunchyroll’s viewership comes from passionate anime fans.

Crunchyroll is widely regarded as one of the best streaming services for watching anime, manga, and even some live-action Asian dramas.

Crunchyroll has more than 1 million subscribers with 130 titles available in HD or SD with subtitles in various languages without ads.

What happened to Crunchyroll on HBO Max?

The Crunchyroll Hub and its branding have been removed from HBO Max.

It was replaced with Cartoonito.

Crunchyroll alternatives: Free anime apps like Crunchyroll

There are some excellent Crunchyroll alternatives available.

If you’re still not into what Crunchyroll has to offer, here’s a list of other anime streaming apps and services you should explore.

There are more options out there if you look.

With thousands upon thousands of titles, the best way to find out about those other series is to follow friends who know what they’re talking about or use a few tools offered by streaming sites to discover new shows.

You can’t go wrong with Crunchyroll alternatives like these, so feel free to choose the one you need and get started watching anime.

Let’s look at some popular Crunchyroll alternatives.

#1 KissAnime

KissAnime is a streaming site that offers anime, manga, cartoon series, and more.

KissAnime is a website that lets you watch and download anime movies and TV shows.

It offers more than 30,000 episodes of live-action as well as anime series.

It has all the popular ones including Naruto Shippuden, Bleach, Attack on Titan, and so much more.

It offers free anime streaming without needing a subscription. The service does have ads but the ad lengths are short, only about 10 minutes per episode.

KissAnime has no region restrictions so you can watch any content from anywhere in the world as long as you stay on their site.

The website provides subtitles in various languages like English, Spanish or Chinese among others.

KissAnime also offers games so you can enjoy titles while waiting for your favorite show to play out!

#2 Amazon Prime Video

If you’re a big Amazon shopper and like to stream on Amazon then this is an awesome Crunchyroll alternative that you’ll want to check out.

As far as anime goes, Amazon has a whole bunch of anime that features dubbed and subbed episodes.

You also get Western titles.

You can find Western animated shows such as Bob’s Burgers or American Dad! along with more mature offerings like The Last Ship and TV series like Mr. Robot.

There are many shows available here that you can stream online but what’s amazing is that these shows are completely free if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, provided that they’re part of your subscription plan.

If not, there might be a fee associated with watching them.

You can check out Amazon Prime by clicking here.

#3 Netflix

Netflix offers Anime content for those who have accounts through them.

You can find a number of different dubbed and subbed anime series as well as a few kids’ shows.

You can watch all these titles from anywhere you have an internet connection so it’s perfect for those Crunchyroll fans who travel a lot too!

#4 HIDIVE

HIDIVE is an anime streaming service that has a Crunchyroll alternative subscription model that costs a small sum of money (usually about $4 per month) or if you want to save money, there’s a yearly-pay option that provides a discount.

HIDIVE contains subtitles in English, Japanese and Spanish for its anime content.

This Crunchyroll alternative offers HD video quality, both simulcasts and dubs for many of its titles, and you can watch its anime on your TV.

#5 KissCartoon

KissCartoon is an anime streaming site where you can find tons of cartoon shows, both old and even brand new.

KissCartoon is the type of program that could be used by any parent who needs to keep their children occupied while they’re cooking dinner or doing laundry or if they need something to watch on in the background while working at their computer.

You’ll get all your favorite Disney cartoons like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse along with Spongebob Squarepants and Teen Titans Go!

#6 9Anime

9Anime is a Crunchyroll alternative that offers tons of anime content.

If you’re looking to watch the hottest shows, like Fairy Tail and Akame Ga Kill! then 9anime has them all, or just about.

The site’s simple design makes it easy to find exactly what you want, but if you need any help, there are links to search engines that can help with your selection process.

There are even lists for top anime series across different genres so you can be sure to find something fun for yourself or family members.

#7 WatchCartoonOnline (WCO)

WatchCartoonOnline is another Crunchyroll alternative that allows users to stream popular cartoon shows online, free of charge.

There are no hidden fees or subscriptions required here.

There are thousands of cartoon episodes and movies on this site, which are updated daily.

Part of what makes Crunchyroll alternatives like WatchCartoonOnline great is that you can watch content from your computer or mobile device without any hassle.

#8 AnimeFreak

This Crunchyroll alternative allows users to watch anime online for free, subtitled in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Chinese among others.

There’s no registration needed here so anyone can get started watching right away!

AnimeFreak also has a list of the top animes of all time so you know if you’re looking at the latest new release or something classic.

#9 Veoh

Similar to other Crunchyroll alternatives, Veoh has anime content that can be watched online.

The site offers thousands of hours worth of streaming anime episodes and movies, available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and German.

One thing that makes this Crunchyroll alternative so great is how easy it’s to use.

The user interface is very intuitive so there’s a little learning curve at all unless you’re using a computer which isn’t up-to-date with its latest software.

There are other Crunchyroll alternatives out there but these are some of the best.

#10 Anime Punch

Anime Punch is a Crunchyroll alternative and anime streaming site.

The shows that it offers are completely free to watch; you only need to sign up for an account if you want to comment or review videos.

The Crunchyroll alternative has a huge selection, with over 7,000 series and more than 150,000 episodes!

There are subtitles available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, making this great for those who speak any of these languages as well as native speakers.

#11 CartoonCrazy

There are thousands of cartoon shows which you can watch online for free on this Crunchyroll alternative.

This means there’s something here to keep everyone entertained whether they’re a fan of Spongebob Squarepants or the latest anime episode from One Punch Man.

The site isn’t bad when it comes to advertisements so if you don’t want to deal with too much annoyance when playing an episode, CartoonCrazy is a Crunchyroll alternative worth trying out.

You’ll even find recent episodes on here too so you won’t be missing out on anything new.

#12 AnimeCrave

AnimeCrave has all the best cartoons both old and new, including Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Sailor Crystal, Naruto Shippuden, Bleach, and Attack on Titan.

This Crunchyroll alternative has a ton of different genres to choose from so you can find something fun for everyone.

#13 Toonget

This Crunchyroll alternative has tons of user-uploaded torrent files and magnet links, making it easy for users to download and watch whatever they want online.

The site layout and design make it simple even for those who aren’t tech-savvy, plus there’s no need to deal with any overly annoying ad campaigns on Toonget.

#14 Xempire

This crunchyroll alternative is all about movies, so if you’re looking for something to watch online over the next few nights but don’t feel like watching cartoons or an anime series, this might be a great Crunchyroll alternative for you.

There are tons of genres to choose from including romance, horror, drama and comedy just to name a few.

Plus there are subtitles available in English which makes it great for native speakers too!

#15 123Movies

123Movies has a huge collection of cartoons, anime, and Hollywood movies that can be watched online.

#16 Anilinkz

Anilinkz has lots of great anime but it also has other types of videos you might enjoy too!

This Crunchyroll alternative offers everything from gaming to sports so there’s something here for everyone in the family.

You can even download Crunchyroll alternative TV shows in case you don’t have an internet connection, making it great for when you’re traveling.

Conclusion

If you don’t want to sign up for Crunchyroll but still need something to watch online, the Crunchyroll alternatives listed above are some of the best out there.

They all have lots of episodes plus subtitles in different languages so whether you’re looking for an anime or cartoon that’s not currently airing or just want to kick back with your favorite movie again, one Crunchyroll alternative is bound to have what you’re looking for.

We also have an even greater selection of anime streaming sites located here: