Crunchyroll is ranked fifth in both our Best On-Demand Streaming Services of 2022 and Best Anime Streaming Services of 2022 categories. Crunchyroll is an anime-focused streaming service based in Tokyo, Japan, that was founded in 2008. This platform is best known for its extensive library of anime titles, the majority of which are available with subtitles or audio dubs for English-language viewers.
Crunchyroll was purchased by Sony’s Funimation Global Group for approximately $1.2 billion in 2021. The service had five million paying subscribers at the time, who accessed it via the Crunchyroll mobile app or their streaming devices.
Crunchyroll is best known for its anime content, which includes over 1,000 anime TV shows and movies. Though anime isn’t their only offering, Crunchyroll’s large library of anime content makes it a good fit for fans, particularly those who enjoy popular titles like “One-Punch Man” and “Fruits Basket.”
The service also has original series like “In/Spectre” and “Tower of God,” though most of them aren’t as well-known as some of its more mainstream offerings. Because a significant portion of the platform’s content was created in Japan, Crunchyroll provides subtitles for many, but not all, of its titles, while others may provide dubbed versions.
Crunchyroll has a number of plans available, including the option to create a free account with limited features and access. Crunchyroll offers three paid subscription plans. The Fan tier, which costs $7.99 per month, includes ad-free viewing, unlimited access to Crunchyroll’s library, new episodes an hour after they are released in Japan, access to digital manga (which is only available in English), and streaming on one device at a time. The Mega Fan subscription, which costs $9.99 per month, includes all of the features of the Fan subscription as well as streaming on four devices at once, offline viewing, special access to Crunchyroll Expo events, and quarterly discounts in the Crunchyroll Store. The Ultimate Fan subscription, which costs $14.99 per month, includes all of the features of the Mega Fan subscription as well as streaming on six devices at once, an annual bag of goodies, and access to an exclusive figurine.
You have two options if you want to try Crunchyroll before committing to a paid subscription. To begin, you can use the free version of the service. However, if you want to see what a paid subscription entails, you can try any of the three package options for 14 days for free.
Crunchyroll can be viewed on a variety of devices. It is supported by a wide range of gaming consoles, including the Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 to 5, and PlayStation Vita. You can also watch it on your TV using Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Roku. If you want to watch Crunchyroll on the go, Android, Apple iOS, and Windows mobile devices are all compatible via a mobile app, and it can also be viewed in a browser on most laptops.
The number of devices on a Crunchyroll subscription is determined by the package option selected. You can only stream on one device at a time with the free option and the Fan subscription. If you have a Mega Fan subscription, you can stream on up to four devices at once. The Ultimate Fan plan, Crunchyroll’s most expensive option, allows for up to six simultaneous streams. Furthermore, the Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan options support offline viewing.
Crunchyroll allows only one user profile, so if you have multiple people using the service (even on the premium plans), you must be willing to share your profile and content preferences with anyone using your account. They are able to log in with your email address and password to access the Crunchyroll content.
Crunchyroll includes social functionality such as chat rooms, a place to get video recommendations, and a place to compete in contests to earn badges. Despite the fact that Crunchyroll caters to a very specific market, anime fans benefit from a number of excellent features. Crunchyroll provides a great user experience, from a large selection of devices to stream videos to a fun social element. Furthermore, subscribers have access to a large video database and can choose to upgrade to Premium or Premium+ to access even more content.
A Crunchyroll subscription requires that you be at least 16 years old. You must enter your email address and create a password in order to log into your account. You will also be asked to enter your billing information when you register. It is important to note that even if you sign up for a free trial, your credit card will be charged automatically on the 15th day. If you do not want your subscription to renew automatically, you must cancel it ahead of time, preferably on the last or second to last day.