Anime fans around the world turn to Crunchyroll to watch their favorite shows. If you’re new to anime or just want to know what Crunchyroll is all about, this guide will help.
Crunchyroll is one of the biggest anime streaming services. It offers a large library of shows and movies, available on many devices. You can watch it for free or choose a premium subscription for extra features.
What Is Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll is an anime streaming service. It lets you watch thousands of anime episodes and movies online. It also offers a smaller selection of manga and Asian dramas.
You don’t need a special device — just a phone, tablet, computer, smart TV, or gaming console. You can watch Crunchyroll through its app or website.
The service is popular with anime fans because it provides fast access to new shows, including episodes that air in Japan.
Who Owns Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll is owned by Sony. In 2021, Sony acquired Crunchyroll and merged much of it with Funimation, another anime platform.
Now Crunchyroll includes titles from both services. Sony is working to make Crunchyroll the main home for anime streaming.
What Content Is Available on Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll’s main focus is anime. You’ll find:
- Popular series like One Piece, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia
- New episodes of current shows (often within hours of airing in Japan)
- Classic anime and older titles
- A growing list of Crunchyroll Originals — exclusive shows made for the platform
In addition to anime, Crunchyroll offers a small selection of manga that you can read online. It also hosts some live-action Asian dramas.
Many shows come with both subtitled and dubbed options. Subtitled (subs) means you hear Japanese audio with English text. Dubbed (dubs) means the show is voiced in English.
How Crunchyroll Works (Free and Premium Tiers)
You can use Crunchyroll in two ways:
- Free tier: Watch many shows with ads. Some newer episodes may not be available right away.
- Premium subscription: Pay a monthly fee to watch ad-free. You also get access to simulcasts (new episodes right after Japan), offline viewing, and better video quality.
Premium subscribers can also stream on more devices at once and get full access to Crunchyroll’s entire library.
If you’re new, you can try Crunchyroll’s free version first — no credit card required.
What Devices Support Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll works on a wide range of devices. You can watch on:
- PC or Mac through a browser
- iPhone or iPad
- Android phones and tablets
- Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, and others)
- Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV
- PlayStation and Xbox game consoles
No matter what device you use, you’ll find Crunchyroll easy to access.
Features of Crunchyroll
One of Crunchyroll’s best features is simulcast. This lets you watch new anime episodes very soon after they air in Japan — sometimes the same day.
Crunchyroll also supports both subs and dubs. You can choose how you want to watch — in Japanese with subtitles, or with an English dub.
In recent years, Crunchyroll has started producing its own Originals. These are anime shows made just for Crunchyroll subscribers. They help bring new and unique content to the platform.
Another feature is offline viewing. Premium users can download episodes on mobile devices to watch without an internet connection.
How to Sign Up and Start Watching Crunchyroll
It’s easy to get started with Crunchyroll. Here’s how:
- Go to www.crunchyroll.com or download the Crunchyroll app on your device.
- Create a free account or start a free trial of Premium.
- Browse the library and pick a show to watch.
- Click Play and enjoy!
If you want the best experience (ad-free, simulcasts, offline viewing), consider trying Premium.
Conclusion
Crunchyroll is a great choice if you love anime or want to explore it for the first time. With a massive library of shows, simulcasts, and support for nearly every device, it makes watching anime easy and fun.
You can start for free or upgrade for more features. Either way, Crunchyroll gives you one of the best anime streaming experiences available.
If this guide helped you, share it with friends — and happy watching!