8 Best Anime Streaming Apps and Websites

The anime community is one of the fastest-growing and can’t get enough of the excellent manga adaptations. Every day, new anime like Chainsaw Man, Blue Lock, and Spy x Family are released to cater to this community. Now, we have already covered the top apps to read manga on iPhone and Android. However, if you are looking to get started with watching anime and can’t decide what platform to use, we are here to help. We have compiled a list of the best anime streaming services for beginners.

Last updated on February 26, 2024 to remove Funimation as it’s merged with Crunchyroll and updated some of the descriptions

We have considered several factors when compiling this list of anime streaming platforms. We have highlighted what website is the best for beginners, what free services you should use to watch some of the most popular anime, and what website you should use to watch new anime. These websites and apps will help you kick-start your anime journey, so let’s dive in!

1. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the most popular anime streaming platform and the go-to destination for most anime fans worldwide. You might be familiar with popular anime like Death Note, Naruto, and others, and Crunchyroll has you covered with over 1,000 anime series and movies.

Now that Crunchyroll has acquired both Funimation and VRV, the library is even bigger. Don’t worry if you prefer watching anime with subtitles or anime dubbed in English, as Crunchyroll offers you to watch both versions of all popular anime. Not just that, Crunchyroll has now started dubbing animes in other regional languages like Hindi, Spanish, Tamil, and more.

Crunchyroll Features

If you are wondering about all the amazing features that Crunchyroll offers, check out the list below:

• For beginners, Crunchyroll provides a list of anime divided by genres to help you choose the ones you should watch first.
• Offline viewing, browsing through their perfectly-sorted genres, and customizing your watchlist.
• The simulcast feature supported by Crunchyroll is one of the primary reasons anime fans use this service, as it allows you to watch all the latest anime on the same day it airs in Japan.
• They even have a dedicated store where you can purchase anime figurines and merchandise. Also, there’s a Crunchyroll games section, where you can play anime-based games.
• Finally, you can use the Crunchylist feature to create your favorite anime lists and share them with the anime community on the platform.

Crunchyroll Plans

The Crunchyroll premium plan gives you full access to their anime library as well as many other features such as simulcasts, high-quality streaming options, a manga library, and more.

If you want to use these premium features, Crunchyroll starts at $7.99 per month and goes up to $14.99 per month with the Ultimate plan. It also offers a 14-day free trial, which you can take advantage of and test the service for yourself. Further, Crunchyroll is also testing a new website UI, providing a new look and several exciting features. So, this might be the ideal moment to get a Crunchyroll membership. And without a doubt, Crunchyroll is the best anime streaming platform right now.

Pros	Cons
World’s largest anime collection	Dubbed anime selection is slim
Anime simulcasts at the same time when it airs in Japan	Quality of translation for subtitles can be average at times
Can be streamed on all devices

Note: Following the acquisition of Crunchyroll by Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. in March 2022, it was announced that Funimation and VRV will be merged with Crunchyroll. While VRV has already been merged, Funimation merger will full complete on April 2, 2024 and the sites will be shutdown permanently.

Database: 1000+ anime series and movies
Platform: Android, iOS, Web, Windows, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox, and Sony PS5 consoles
Pricing: 14-day free trial, Fan plan – $7.99/month, Mega Fan Plan –  $9.99/month, Ultimate Fan plan – $14.99/month
Try out Crunchyroll

2. Netflix

Almost all of the well-known anime movies and TV series are available on Netflix, which now has a significant selection of anime content. In particular for beginners, if you are just starting your anime-watching journey, Netflix is probably the best streaming service to use. You can watch both subbed and dubbed versions of a majority of popular anime on Netflix, so you don’t have to worry about that. As for all the features you get on Netflix, there are as under:

Netflix Features

• They consistently add new anime series to their library (recently, they included many popular Studio Ghibli movies)
• Netflix also supports simultaneous streaming (Simulcast), airing the latest episode on the same day as it airs in Japan, for some of the newest anime like Spy X Family, Blue Lock, MHA, and others.
• Netflix is renowned for its clear and sophisticated user interface across all platforms, along with the plethora of profile and playback features.
• Netflix also creates original anime TV series, including Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Devilman Crybaby, Castlevania, and more.
• Furthermore, Netflix offers several features like ad-free streaming (starting with the basic plan in some countries), curated anime suggestion lists, Offline downloads, and more.

Netflix Plans

As mentioned before, this anime streaming service is the greatest option for newcomers. When compared to other platforms, Netflix’s sole drawback is how pricey its premium plans are, but you also get access to the best Netflix movies and TV shows along with anime.

Netflix no longer offers free trials to new users, so you are required to subscribe to one of their plans. You can get the cheaper ad-supported $6.99 Netflix plan to experience the service, though. It is currently available in select countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, and the UK.

Pros	Cons
Perfect anime streaming app for beginners	Fast-growing anime library; but smaller than competitors
Dubbed version available for many shows	Subscription plans are expensive
Simulcasts some of the major new anime	Inconsistent release schedule
Offers several add-on features

3. Hulu

As everyone knows, Hulu is also one of the world’s leading streaming platforms and an excellent alternative to Netflix. Hulu also attracts anime fans by hosting an adequate amount of anime content in their library. They have all the popular anime that a newcomer would want to watch, including Naruto, AOT, Demon Slayer, and many others.

And if you wish to take a break from anime, you get access to their vast library of movies and TV shows. And if you are interested in adult animated shows, Hulu also has a lot of them, including Rick and Morty, Family Guy, and The Simpsons, to name a few.

Furthermore, speaking of the anime category, a newbie would find all the basic genres, including shounen, shoujo, seinen, and Isekai, on Hulu. As for the feature set on offer here, check them out here:

Hulu Features

• Curated suggestions based on your anime tastes in the “My stuff” tab. You must set it up at the start when signing up for the service.
• Offline viewing to download and watch all your favorite anime on to go.
• Hulu’s recent updates have given the platform a fresh and modern look, and Hulu plans to add more features in the future.

Hulu Plans

Hulu has three different subscription plans with monthly as well as yearly membership offerings. You have the Basic plan with ads, the Premium plan, and the Premium + Live TV plan. Hulu also offers a 30-day free trial period for newcomers to test out their platform.

Pros	Cons
Impressive UI experience	Offline downloading feature limited to premium users
Stream other titles along with anime	Limited anime content available
Offers popular anime for beginners	No simulcast feature

4. Anime-Planet

Anime-Planet is another legal streaming platform that lets you watch anime for free. They don’t give away access to their complete anime library for free. But they do have popular anime such as Naruto Shippuden, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Noblesse, Tower of God, etc., which you can stream for free.

Much like VRV, anime series on Anime-Planet are available through a partnership with Crunchyroll and HIDIVE. The website supports all the premium content, but you can only access it by becoming a premium member.

Anime-Planet Features

• Anime-Planet does not list an official number for the number of TV shows or movies on its platforms. But it does have a bigger anime library with over 45,000 episodes in total.
• They have a neat UI similar to Crunchyroll and also offer you the ability to read manga here.
• There is a community section for anime fans to share anime reviews, anime lists, and manga reviews, which is something you ought to appreciate.

Anime-Planet Plans

Anime-Planet doesn’t have any subscription plans of its own. The only way to access premium content is to get a Crunchyroll subscription and link your account here. Then, you can watch all the anime content available on this platform, which sounds like a bit of a hassle.

Pros	Cons
You can watch popular anime for free	Only a few popular anime are available for free
Decent anime library	Separate subscription is needed to unlock premium content
Community to share reviews and lists with other anime fans

5. RetroCrush

Retrocrush is like a time machine for anime fans, enabling them to travel back in time and watch classic anime series and movies. There’s no denying that RetroCrush is known as the “criterion channel” for otakus and weebs. You can easily watch all of your childhood favorites here, as they offer hundreds of classic anime.

Even if you didn’t watch it back then, this platform has many vintage gems such as Astroboy, GTO, Urusei Yatsura, Devil Lady, and more, and we suggest one should not miss them at any cost. If you want to begin your anime journey by watching old-school anime, Retrocrush might be the best platform for you.

Retrocrush Features

• Retrocrush’s simple user interface presents a curated list of anime separated by genre.
• You can watch some of the content for free (with ads, of course), but they do not display frequent and annoying advertisements, unlike some other platforms.
• Retrocrush has the biggest classic anime library when compared to other platforms.

Retrocrush Plans

If you prefer an ad-free experience, subscribe to the Retrocrush premium plan starting at $4.99/ month and $49.99/ year. It grants you full access to its vast library of exclusive premium content, dubbed TV series, and other offerings. You can try out the premium features with a 7-day free trial.

Pros	Cons
Won’t find a classic anime library like this on any other platform	Doesn’t have a watchlist option
Watch popular vintage anime for free (with ads)	Buggy media player and not-so-good UI
Premium plan is pretty cheap	As it only concentrates on retro anime, you won’t find any new-gen anime here

Database: 100+ popular vintage anime series and movies
Platform: Android, iOS, Web, Windows
Pricing: 7-day free trial, Premium – $4.99/month, $49.99/year
Try out Retrocrush

6. HIDIVE

HIDIVE has a unique set of anime that is mostly a hit or miss for many people. Depending on your anime taste, you may or may not want to watch these anime. HIDIVE has around 500 anime shows and movies, including popular titles like Parasyte, The Promised Neverland, Bloom Into You, Made in Abyss, and Clannad, to name a few. It also hosts classic anime like Legend of the Galactic Heroes, among many others. So, if you want to start your anime career in a niche or distinct way, HIDIVE is the platform for you.

HIDIVE Features

• What makes HIDIVE unique is that it provides uncensored/ uncut versions of select anime titles, such as Akame ga Kill.
• Much like Crunchyroll and Netflix, HIDIVE also provides a simulcast feature. You can use this feature to watch some of the best upcoming anime in Fall 2022, such as Eminence in the Shadows, Reincarnated as a Sword, and others, at the same time they air in Japan.
• HIDIVE has a variety of other features such as private chat rooms for you to chat with your friends, and the option to create up to three profiles in your account.
• HIDIVE has a clean UI with separate sections for each genre and dedicated tabs at the top to switch between simulcast, dubbed, and subbed shows.

HIDIVE Plans

HIDIVE does have some episodes available to watch for free, but it lacks popular anime on this list. HIDIVE supports two subscription plans with monthly as well as yearly subscriptions. Further, it is augmented by a 7-day free trial period to let users test out the features.

Pros	Cons
Uncut versions of shows like Akame ga Kill	Smaller library; Lacks a lot of popular anime
Offers a more unique library than other platforms	No option for offline downloads
Private chat room option

7. YouTube

You are probably wondering why we have included YouTube in this list of the best anime streaming websites and apps. But you read that correctly, YouTube channels such as Muse-Asia and Ani-one Asia give free access to popular anime like One Punch Man, Bleach, The God of High School, Tokyo Retribution, Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation, and many others.

Both YouTube channels mentioned above are legal, and they own the rights to all of the anime that they distribute for free. They are doing this for free to spread the word about the anime industry. There is also a channel called Official Beyblade Asia that you should check out if you are a die-hard fan of the old Beyblade anime like us.

Features

• You can stream anime in Full HD (1080p) resolution, but some are only available in 720p, which is still a great deal considering it’s totally free.
• YouTube also has made several changes to its UI recently, making it smoother and better than ever for users to watch videos and get access to paid content.

Plans

You can also join these channels by subscribing to their membership plan starting at Rs 119/month (or $1.50/ month, but only available in Asian countries at this moment), which provides you with full access to their premium exclusive content. Chainsaw Man, for example, is currently being simulcasted on the Ani-one Asia channel as part of their premium plan. Check out this dedicated article to learn about how to watch Chainsaw Man anime.

Pros	Cons
You can stream anime in high-quality for free	Smaller anime library
The premium plan is very cheap compared to other platforms	Can Simulcast the latest anime but with a delay (free membership)
New anime will be added regularly	Not available worldwide

8. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime is one of the most popular streaming platforms, but its anime library is limited in comparison to the other platforms. If you already have a Prime membership for one-day delivery needs, Prime Video might come in handy if you are a beginner. Despite not having many popular animes, Prime Video includes a few well-known TV series such as Vinland Saga, Hunter x Hunter, GTO, Psycho-Pass, Dororo, and others.

Since Prime Video’s anime library is limited, it might not be the best alternative if you have to sign up for a new membership. But if you are using Amazon Prime for deliveries or Prime Gaming for free rewards, do check out their anime library. In this way, a beginner can make use of the limited content available on Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video Features

• New updated and smoother UI, making anime accessible via its category.
• The offline downloading option is available with a premium subscription.
• You can watch other popular movies and original TV shows on Amazon Prime Video along with anime.

Amazon Prime Video Plans

Prime Video has two different memberships with monthly as well as yearly subscription plans. It also offers you a 30-day free trial, where you can stream well-known movies and shows, along with your favorite anime.

Pros	Cons
Exclusive X-ray option to know more about your favorite show	Tiny anime library
You can stream movies and shows along with anime	Very less dubbed content
High-quality streaming	Expensive for the limited content that is available

So these are the best anime streaming platforms that are ideal for newcomers and hardcore fans alike to delve into the world of anime. As we have already stated, even if the majority of platforms offer some free streaming capabilities, you must take advantage of the free trial to fully test them out and see if they are worth subscribing to. Let us know which anime streaming platform you like the most and plan to use in the comments below.