Do you realize how difficult it has recently been for someone who simply wishes to sit back and watch their favorite anime? It’s nearly impossible to keep track of which anime is available on which platform. Furthermore, license agreements may prevent us from watching the anime we want to watch, even if we subscribe to a platform.
We can see that anime, once considered a niche genre, has now become an essential part of the entertainment world. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, global demand for anime has increased by 118%. As a result, digital broadcasting platforms have engaged in a never-ending licensing race for anime.
There are now more platforms where we can watch our favorite anime in HD quality. However, simply subscribing to a platform is no longer sufficient. The anime we want to watch or the language option we prefer may not be available in our country. With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the top twelve paid and free anime streaming websites. I also included the countries where these platforms perform best, as well as the VPNs required to access them.
Best 12 anime streaming websites (Paid/Free)
As demand for anime increased, many different platforms began to compete for licensing rights. As a result, an anime fan must either pay for multiple platforms or resort to free sites. Furthermore, even if we subscribe to a platform, licensing agreements may prevent us from accessing certain anime. As for free websites, they may be blocked or subject to legal practices.
Taking all of this into account, I’ve compiled a list of twelve websites where you can enjoy anime to the fullest. A quick internet search could also lead you to the streaming services listed below. But, to make things easier for you, I’ve included in the descriptions which countries have larger and more advantageous anime catalogs, as well as which VPN services I recommend for accessing those catalogs.
1. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll, unlike other major streaming platforms, is entirely dedicated to anime. Crunchyroll has become the dominant platform in the anime world outside of Asia, especially since it was acquired by Sony in March 2022 and merged with Funimation. Sadly, the amount of content available on the platform varies by country. However, a VPN can be used to access different catalogs and language options.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Mega Fan Plan is $9.99 per month. 14-day free trial.
Our assessment: Crunchyroll has the most titles in the United States. Language options can also be found in the UK catalog. Most VPN companies consider the United States and the United Kingdom as important markets. As a result, the majority of the VPN services have servers in these two countries. Nonetheless, it is advisable to use a dependable VPN service that will not degrade performance.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark,CyberGhost, AtlasVPN
2. Netflix
Netflix is the most popular digital platform, and many popular anime can be found there. We are aware that Crunchyroll owns the non-Asian broadcast rights to the majority of popular anime. However, things are different in Asia, and Netflix Japan, in particular, has all of the anime you could want to watch. Instead of subscribing to a second platform, it may be far more cost-effective to use a VPN service to access Netflix Japan.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Standard Plan (without ads) is $15.49 per month. No free trial.
Our assessment: Netflix Japan has by far the most extensive library of anime. However, some anime on Netflix Japan are only available in Japanese, which complicates our task because we must manually add subtitles using a third-party extension. In contrast, while Netflix India has fewer titles, the majority of them have English subtitles.
Recommended VPNs:
- For Netflix Japan: You can use SurfShark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and AtlasVPN.
- For Netflix India: ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost.
Note: Check out our Netflix Japan and Netflix India articles for more information.
3. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime may not be the first platform that comes to mind when it comes to watching anime. Nonetheless, the number of anime titles on the platform has grown significantly, and Amazon Prime differentiates itself by providing users with dubbing options in multiple languages. Amazon Prime has popular anime such as Vinland Saga, Dororo, Pokemon, Evangelion, and many more. However, geo-restriction continues to irritate Amazon Prime users, and a VPN is required due to both language options and availability issues.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Prime membership is $14.99 per month. 30-day free trial.
Our assessment: Connecting to the United States can add more content to your Prime library if you live in Europe. If you’re looking for French dubbing and subtitles, check out Prime’s Canadian catalog.
Recommended VPNs: You can use SurfShark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and AtlasVPN.
4. Hulu
Hulu has a surprisingly large catalog of anime titles and is an excellent choice for watching popular series. For example, in the United States, Hulu is the sole provider of the popular series Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Tokyo Revengers season 2. Hulu also provides simulcasts of the most recent Japanese releases.
- Countries/regions: United States, Japan
- Standard Plan (without ads) is $14.99 per month. 30-day free trial.
Our assessment: Because Hulu is only available in the United States, we must use a VPN service with US servers to access the platform from outside the country.
Recommended VPNs: You can use SurfShark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and AtlasVPN.
5. HIDIVE
HIDIVE is yet another anime-focused platform. Although it is not as large as Crunchyroll, it is the most significant competitor to Crunchyroll in the anime-exclusive streaming market. HIDIVE provides its users around the world with a variety of content ranging from family-friendly to +18, including simulcasts. There are, however, some countries that are not included in HIDIVE’s service region. In its June 2022 service announcement, HIDIVE stated that it will not provide service in Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Suriname, Guyana, or Panama. If you are in a country where service is unavailable or the language option you prefer is not available, you can use a VPN to access a different catalog.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide (Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Suriname, Guyana, and Panama excluded)
- Standard Plan is $4.99 per month. 7-day free trial.
Our assessment: HIDIVE may not have what you’re looking for if you want to watch popular anime or if you’re new to the anime world. A dedicated anime fan should consider HIDIVE as a supplementary platform.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN
6. Tubi TV
Tubi, a FOX Entertainment division, is a completely free, ad-supported video-on-demand service with a vast library. Tubi, thankfully, did not forget about anime fans and added many popular anime to its library. Tubi TV is a good place to start if you don’t mind watching advertisements. It’s also worth noting that Tubi’s highest video quality is 720p.
- Countries/regions: United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Panama, Australia and New Zealand
- Free use with ads
Our assessment: We may need to use a VPN service to virtually change our location to access Tubi TV because it is only available in the countries listed above. As previously stated, the United States is a country that VPN companies prioritize, so we would benefit from using a VPN service with servers in the United States.
Recommended VPNs: ExpressVPN
7. RetroCrush
RetroCrush describes itself as a “Golden Age of Anime anime streaming service.” You can watch the anime for free with advertisements on the platform or subscribe to its premium plan. RetroCrush is definitely worth a look if you’re looking for classics, but it might not be for you if you’re looking for new episodes of popular anime.
- Countries/regions: United States and Canada.
- Premium Plan is $4.99 per month. 14-day free trial.
Our assessment: RetroCrush is only available in the United States and Canada due to licensing issues. As a result, we require VPNs with US and Canadian servers.
Recommended VPNs: You can use SurfShark, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and AtlasVPN.
8. 9Anime (https://9animetv.to/)
9anime is a free anime website that provides a steady supply of the newest anime series. Moreover, it is one of the most visited websites by anime fans. You can watch the anime you want on 9anime with subtitles in a variety of languages and in HD quality. In exchange, the website collects data for targeted advertisements.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Free to use.
Our assessment: 9Anime is not a licensed streaming service. Although you can watch anime on 9anime without annoying pop-up ads, you should always prioritize your security and privacy when using such a website. A VPN service with US servers will suffice. Additionally, SurfShark’s ad-blocking feature would be useful.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark
9. AnimixPlay (https://animixplay.sc/)
Another website where you can watch popular anime with HD quality and English subtitles without logging in is AnimixPlay. This website, like 9anime, features new episodes of popular anime. I didn’t see any pop-up ads while testing the site. However, the advertisements displayed in the designated ad spaces can be irritating.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Free to use.
Our assessment: When using such a website, we should always prioritize our security and privacy. We’ll use a VPN service with US servers. A VPN service with an ad-blocking feature (like SurfShark) would also be useful.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark
10. Zoro (https://zoro.to/)
Zoro is another anime streaming website that has recently gained popularity. Zoro offers the most recent episodes of popular anime in HD quality with a variety of subtitle options. What I said about other free sites, however, also applies to Zoro. While the site appears to be ad-free and secure today, there is no guarantee that it will remain so tomorrow. Rather than taking chances, it is far better to use a VPN.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Free to use.
Our assessment: A VPN service with US servers will work for us. An ad-blocking feature would also be useful.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark
11. GoGoAnime (https://ww4.gogoanimes.org/)
Another free anime streaming website is GoGoAnime. On GoGoAnime, you can watch your favorite anime in HD with English subtitles. However, you must first navigate through 2 or 3 annoying pop-up ads before you can begin watching the video. It should also be mentioned that the site’s design does not appear to be very modern.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Free to use.
Our assessment: A VPN service with US servers will work for us. An ad-blocking feature is essential.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark
12. AnimeFreak (https://animefreak.to/animefreak.tv)
The final free anime streaming website on our list is AnimeFreak. It provides the same package: HD quality with English subtitles. While I did not see any pop-up ads while testing the site, the risks I mentioned for other free sites apply to AnimeFreak as well.
- Countries/regions: Available worldwide
- Free to use.
Our assessment: A VPN service with US servers will work for us. An ad-blocking feature would also be useful.
Recommended VPNs: SurfShark
Note: To avoid problems with sites that display too many ads, I recommend using VPN services with an ad-blocking feature.
Summing up the “Best 12 Anime Streaming Websites” article
If you’re an anime fan, you’ve probably noticed how difficult it is to keep track of which platform the anime you want to watch is available on. To save you time, I’ve compiled a list of the top 12 paid and free anime streaming websites with the most content.
By making use of this list,
1) You can choose which platform is more advantageous for you to subscribe to.
2) You can discover whether a platform you already use has a more advantageous catalog in another country, and if so, how you can gain access to it.
3) You can discover the best free anime streaming websites.
4) You can learn how to use these free websites safely and without ads.
Our list contains general information for each website, such as service regions, pricing status, and free trial periods, as well as the VPN services we recommend and the server locations to which you must connect.
I’ve been a translator for many years. During this time, geo-restriction has always been the most problematic issue in the many countries I’ve visited. I’m here to tell you about my experience.