Last updated on 2023-12-13, by Cassie

Best Crunchyroll Alternatives to Watch Anime & Read Manga Online

If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, chances are you’ve heard of Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll is arguably the leading anime streaming service that fans flock to for new and classic titles. It’s been the primary destination for global fans to watch. Keep reading, you can find almost everything you need to know about the popular anime streaming service and the best Crunchyroll alternatives for anime stream & manga reading.

Part 1: Know About Crunchyroll

Much like Netflix and Disney+, Crunchyroll is a streaming service that allows anyone to watch movies and TV shows on their computer, smartphone, video game console, smart TV, or streaming stick. What sets Crunchyroll apart from its competitors, however, is its focus on Asian media with the majority of the content on the anime streaming services and films.

Features:

• Offers over 1,000 titles and 30,000 episodes of anime.
• Enjoy access to unlimited ad-free anime.
• Read hundreds of chapters across dozens of manga streaming
• Be available across devices and platforms, including iOS, Android, Roku, PlayStation 4, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Part 2: Why Do You Need A Crunchyroll Alternative?

Crunchyroll has a massive selection of anime content for those who are looking for the best place to watch anime. Crunchyroll also offers simulcasts, which are episodes that air in Japan and Crunchyroll streams them as soon as they become available. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might choose to switch to a Crunchyroll alternative instead of using Crunchyroll. Whether or not one uses a Crunchyroll alternative depends on personal factors. The most common arguments are as follows:

Content availability: Even while Crunchyroll provides a tone of Asian content, including anime and movies, it might not have everything someone is looking for.

Pricing: Some people find their premium plans, which allow you to stream anime on up to four devices with no ads (some plans also allow for offline viewing) to be too expensive.

Geographical restrictions: Depending on licensing agreements, some anime may be unavailable in some regions. A viewer in such a situation might look for apps like Crunchyroll that provide the same material regardless of location.

Part 3: Best Crunchyroll Alternatives for Anime Stream & Manga Reading

If you want to get the most out of anime streaming, we’ve got you covered. Below, we list the best Crunchyroll alternatives currently available to satisfy your viewing needs.

1. YouTube

Japanese animation studios have recently started to stream their classic anime series and movies on YouTube. So, you can try this best place to watch anime to enjoy anime streaming services. Recently, YouTube channel Animelog partnered with various studios to distribute their respective content through its YouTube channel, thereby offering a wider selection of anime streaming services and movies for viewers to choose from.

2. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon’s library of anime titles is growing rapidly, so if you’re looking for new shows this may be a good Crunchyroll alternative to try out. Amazon offers popular anime shows like Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, Vinland Saga, Inuyashiki and Attack on Titan. Amazon recently invested in creating their own original content for adults including an adaptation of the popular manga streaming series Versailles no Bara. The downside to using Amazon over Crunchyroll is that they don’t offer any free-to-stream episodes, nor do you have offline viewing options.

3. Anime-Planet

If you’re looking for a free, ad-supported anime streaming service that offers anime, Anime-Planet is one of the fantastic sites like Crunchyroll. One Punch Man and Sword Art Online are just two of the many popular anime series available on the platform. Anime Planet also has a powerful recommender system that makes suggestions based on a user’s viewing habits. Manga streaming is also available. Anime-Planet is an excellent option for anyone interested in watching anime online without spending any money.

4. Funimation

If you’re an anime fan searching for best place to watch anime, Funimation is a great substitute for Crunchyroll. The portal features a plethora of anime shows, including original productions, English dubs, and simulcasts. The UI is simple and basic, and it’s easy to use features like personalized playlists and safety settings for the kids. Fans can communicate with one another and discuss their favorite shows and characters in Funimation’s active forums and on its many social media sites.

5. Netflix

Netflix is renowned for its original content, so it’s no surprise that its library includes original anime streaming services. With Netflix, you can access beloved original hits like Violet Evergarden and Beastars, which aren’t available outside the platform. Plus, Netflix anime series generally include multiple subtitle and audio options beyond English and Japanese, making them accessible to more viewers. Netflix is an ad-free streaming platform that operates on a monthly, or annual, subscription.

6. Hidive

Hidive offers anime streaming services to fans around the globe, including simulcasts. Not only will you find curated anime from all subgenres, but there’s an assortment of live-action adaptations too. And though the service has family-friendly titles, it caters to the 18-and-older crowd. Hidive will be the exclusive manga streaming platform for titles such as The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior. Hidive prides itself on its customizable subtitle options, in-episode live chats and exclusive catalog.

7. Hulu

If you’re on the fence about a Crunchyroll subscription, Hulu boasts more than 300 anime titles. This Crunchyroll alternative is the exclusive streamer for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Tokyo Revengers season 2 in the US. There are also simulcasts that stream each season, treating viewers to the newest releases from Japan. Hulu also has partnerships with Crunchyroll and Funimation to carry some titles, but not their entire catalog. However, new subtitled episodes may arrive immediately on the streamer while dubbed versions take longer. Debut times vary depending on the series.

8. Retrocrush TV

Retrocrush TV is an excellent Crunchyroll alternative, especially if you are interested in classic shows and movies. If you’re interested in old anime classics like 1998’s Devil Lady, Retrocrush is the place for you. It has both subbed and dubbed movies and shows, and you can easily find the content you are looking for by searching by category. It gives you access to a number of shows without charge, but if you want to stream even more titles ad-free, you can opt to sign up for a premium account that costs $4.99 a month, with a free 14-day trial.

9. Viz Media

For those who are looking for a wider selection of anime streaming services than Crunchyroll offers, Viz Media is a fantastic choice. It hosts a wide selection of anime shows, from the more mainstream Naruto and Bleach to the more obscure Kekkaishi and Nana. What’s more, Manga fans have another fantastic option in Viz Media, as it provides access to a plethora of manga streaming titles. Its UI is straightforward to use. When comes to the best possible Crunchyroll alternative, fans of anime and manga will like Viz Media.

Part 4: Best Anime Downloaders to Download Anime Online

For these fans, a large number of people want to download anime to watch offline, so it is necessary to find the best anime downloader to download anime online. If you also want to download anime, you would find CleverGet helpful and powerful. As an all-inclusive online video downloader toolkit pack, CleverGet has multiple modules, including Video Downloader, Netflix Downloader, Amazon Prime Downloader, Twitch Downloader, Video Recorder, etc. CleverGet could download online videos, on-demand movies and TV shows, and live streams from 1000+ websites like Twitch, YouTube, Crunchyroll, Hulu, etc.

Here we will take Crunchyroll downloader as an example. CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader is a module built in CleverGet program. It is a versatile video downloader to download and save Crunchyroll anime videos to 1080P MP4/MKV at High Speed on PC for Watching Offline. It saves them at up to HD resolution with subtitles and audio tracks you choose. Moreover, it has a batch download feature to save a series of anime offline with an M3U8 playlist.

Download and install CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader on your computer. The below guide shows you how to use CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader to download videos from Crunchyroll.com.

• 

• CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader

  – Enable users to download Crunchyroll anime videos to 1080P in MP4/MKV format.
  – Support to download anime episodes of all seasons in batches without quality loss.
  – Download all or selected mul-language audio tracks and subtitles as will.

  DownloadVisit CleverGet

Step 1: CleverGet settings

Before downloading videos from Crunchyroll, you could firstly adjust some settings like download directory, max downloads, language, appearance, etc. On CleverGet program, click the three-dot icon and then click “Settings” option to open “Settings” panel. Under “General” tab, you can set output directory in the “Save Video To” and “Save Audio To” boxes. Finally, click “Save” button.

Step 2: Play the target anime

Enter crunchyroll.com to the address bar and search for the desired Crunchyroll anime video you want to download. When you head to the URL of the anime and play it back, CleverGet will detect the video automatically and provide a download icon at the bottom.

Step 3: Choose video to download Crunchyroll offline

Click the Download icon at the bottom to choose the desired video quality, frame rate, file size, and more before clicking the Download button. Moreover, you can check a series of anime from the URL to download them from Crunchyroll automatically.

The End

The Crunchyroll alternatives listed above may not have the same expansive list of anime titles as Crunchyroll, but they are all worth checking out before making your final decision about which option will suit your needs best. Crunchyroll is always a hub for anime enthusiasts, offering a wide range of content in a secure and user-friendly environment. Crunchyroll review and its various subscription options make it a preferred choice for anime fans worldwide.