You no longer need to comb the bowels of the internet to watch Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and One Punch Man. These anime streaming services bring Japan’s finest animation to your TV or mobile device.
Years ago, life was hard for American anime fans. A few influential shows made it to broadcast, but US studios either meddled with the editing, produced subpar dubs, or both. By the early 2000s, US fans traded illegally duplicated VHS tapes or (if they were lucky) tiny RealPlayer files of their favorite shows on CD-R. All that changed with the advent of legal, subscription-based video streaming services. Anime streaming services give fans huge libraries to peruse and, for the first time, subtitled or dubbed releases within hours of an episode’s overseas premiere. If you want to start watching anime online, these tested, highlighted services (including Editors’ Choice winner Crunchyroll) represent the top places to stream animation. Then keep reading to learn how to get the most out of the experience.Why We Picked It
Crunchyroll is one of the most complete anime streaming services, with more than 1,300 titles in its library. Popular shows on the service include Attack on Titan, Death Note, FLCL, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hunter X Hunter, One-Punch Man, several Naruto series, and Yuri!!! on Ice. Crunchyroll has some original series, such as A Place Further Than the Universe, In/Spectre, and The Rising of the Shield Hero. It also maintains a respectable lineup of about 40 simulcast shows. You can even purchase relevant merchandise, manga, and more from the Crunchyroll shop.Who It’s For
Crunchyroll gives anime fans a convenient (and legal) way to watch shows that years ago would never have come to the West. It supports HD streams, but no longer offers free accounts. Most of its content supports subtitles, but after absorbing Funimation (along with VRV), its dubbed library is also now much stronger.
You can download the Crunchyroll apps on media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), mobile phones (Android and iOS), and several gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X). It supports as many as six simultaneous streams, depending on your price tier, as well as offline downloads.Why We Picked It
Netflix is the standard-bearer for streaming video services. It hosts an impressive selection of content, with new titles appearing on a monthly basis. Then there’s the company’s constantly growing library of premier original programming, which outclasses every other streaming service. Netflix’s impressive anime catalog includes Aggrestuko, Beastars, Cannon Busters, Devilman Crybaby, and Yasuke,Who It’s For
Netflix is a premium service for people willing to pay premium prices. The Standard tier, which now costs $17.99 per month, unlocks HD content and supports simultaneous streaming on two devices. The top-of-the-line Premium plan costs $24.99 per month. This tier gives you four concurrent streams and access to 4K content where available. Notably, Netflix no longer offers a free trial option. The ad-supported version only costs $7.99 per month, but comes with many limitations. Why We Picked It
Hulu is one of the best all-in-one options for cord-cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. In addition to a strong library of classic shows and a good selection of movies, Hulu offers a robust live TV option (more than 95 channels of news, sports, and entertainment programming). Its classic anime offerings include Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, Ranma 1/2, Slayers, and Trigun.Who It’s For
Hulu is great for anyone seeking streaming convenience without abandoning traditional live TV. Hulu’s basic on-demand streaming plan currently costs $11.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $18.99 per month. College students can get Hulu’s ad-supported version for $1.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV plan costs $89.99 per month, and it combines Hulu’s live TV service with the ad-supported streaming plan. In addition, all subscribers now enjoy unlimited Cloud DVR. You can also add the Unlimited Screens package (it allows an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home, and up to three outside of it) to your plan for $9.99 per month.Why We Picked It
Tubi is a completely free streaming service that features movies and TV shows from across various genres, including anime. With Tubi, you can enjoy recognizable shows like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Naruto, and One-Punch Man. Note that every season may not be available, and the library may change over time. Who It’s For
Tubi is for people who want a free streaming service that doesn’t feel cheap. Tubi’s web interface and mobile apps have clean designs and organize everything neatly into descriptive categories. One limitation with Tubi is that the streaming resolution is capped at 720p.
