Free or Paid: The Best Anime Streaming Services for Now

Cassie 13/08/2025

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Summary:

This post will show you how to choose the best anime platform and the safest tool for watching anime offline, as well as 8 free and paid anime streaming services.

If you watch anime frequently and are familiar with the anime world, you must know that there are quite a lot of anime streaming services, some of which are legal and safe, while others might be risky anime streaming services that deliver pirated and unauthorized anime streaming to you. In this post, we would like to share some best anime streaming services, both free and paid, to help you stream anime at low cost, legally and safely.

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How to Choose the Best Anime Platform?
2 Free Anime Streaming Sites (with ads)

Tubi
RetroCrush

6 Subscription-Based Anime Streaming Services

Crunchyroll
HIDIVE
Netflix
Hulu
Animation Digital Network
AnimeBox

What’s the Safest Tool for Offline Anime Streaming?
Conclusion

How to Choose the Best Anime Platform?

While there are quite a lot of anime streaming services, including quite a long list of free anime streaming services, what are the key points to weigh anime streaming service? How can you choose the best anime streaming sites from so many anime streaming platforms? The below things should be on your list of consideration:

Legality and security: The legality of anime streaming platform should be your prime consideration, because it will determine whether or not it is secure for you to stream anime on these platforms.
Library size: If an anime streaming platform provides an extensive anime library, especially when it could upload new episodes shortly after they are released, it could be a top choice.
Video quality: Nowadays many anime streaming services provide up to 1080P anime video streaming for HD digital entertainment.
Dubbed vs. Subbed: These are 2 different ways to stream anime in foreign language. Subbed enables you to stream anime with original audio and translated subtitles, while Dubbed will replace original audio with a new audio track in another language.
Device compatibility: Now many anime streaming platforms have their free anime streaming app for different devices. Therefore, you could stream anime on the go. Choose an anime streaming service that provides app for more devices.
Budget: There are free anime streaming services, as well as subscription-based anime streaming services. You need to choose an anime streaming service upon your own budget.

2 Free Anime Streaming Sites (with ads)

Firstly, we would like to share 2 free anime streaming services with you to stream anime online. They are free but legally authorized for anime streaming, since they stream anime with ads as a revenue for the license authorization.

Tubi

As one of the best free anime streaming sites, Tubi delivers an extensive anime library of plenty of classics such as Naruto, Pokémon, Sailor Moon, Toradora!, Maid-Sama, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Paprika, Liz and the Blue Bird, etc.

Best for	Casual and budget-conscious audiences
Available region & countries	United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, the UK, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama.
Supported devices	Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Hisense, and others. Streaming devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV/Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast. Gaming consoles: PlayStation (PS4, PS5), Xbox. Mobile devices: Android and iOS (iPhones, iPads).
Pros	Totally free to stream. Extensive library of both on-demand anime movies and shows, and live TV. Wide support of devices with modern app and interface. Support of parental control.
Cons	Commonly support 720p streaming quality. Ad supported streaming. Videos download feature is not available. Limited parental control options.

RetroCrush

RetroCrush is another ad-supported free anime streaming service that delivers subtitled and dubbed series and movies. This free anime streaming service mainly focuses on classic anime such as Astro Boy, City Hunter, Golgo 13, etc. It provides ad-free Premium plan for you to subscribe, which offers exclusive contents and multiple screen streaming.

Best for	Classic anime collectors
Available region & countries	United States
Supported devices	Web Browsers. iOS and Android devices. Streaming Devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV (likely 4th generation and later). Smart TVs: Samsung TV Plus. Other Platforms: Pluto TV app.
Pros	Totally free to use. Exclusive anime contents. Classic anime contents.
Cons	Small anime library. Premium plan for ad-free anime streaming. Up to 720P anime streaming only.

6 Subscription-Based Anime Streaming Services

Besides the above-mentioned free anime streaming services, there are more anime streaming platforms that require subscription. The below anime streaming services are some best anime streaming sites you could subscribe to for streaming anime online and offline.

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll provides an extensive library of Japanese anime, manga, and Asian dramas such as One Piece, My Hero Academia, etc. Its anime library consists of both classics and current titles, in both subbed and dubbed. As a subscription-based anime streaming service, Crunchyroll also provides free contents with ads.

Best for	Hardcore simulcast followers, community-driven fans
Available region & countries	Available worldwide, except for a few like Russia and Belarus. Content availability varies upon regions.
Supported devices	Web browsers Android and iOS devices Gaming consoles: PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch. Smart TVs & streaming devices: various smart TVs, Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, etc. Partner platforms: YouTube TV
Pros	Free to stream selected titles. 1080P anime streaming. Extensive library of anime shows and movies. Download feature on Crunchyroll app for offline viewing. Available in both subbed and dubbed. Wide support of devices and regions.
Cons	Interface clutter issue. Limited subtitle options. Limited library and ad-supported streaming for free users. Regional restrictions upon contents for different regions.

HIDIVE

As a subscription-based anime streaming service, HIDIVE is widely known for its uncensored anime titles. This anime streaming service also attracts users for its quick content access – delivering new episodes shortly after they are officially released. HIDIVE delivers an extensive library of dubbed anime titles.

Best for	Mature audiences, niche genre explorers
Available region & countries	Primarily available in the US and Canada. Also available in other countries through Amazon Prime Video Channels.
Supported devices	Web browsers iOS and Android devices Smart TVs & streaming devices: Android TV, Samsung TVs, Vizio TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, etc. Other devices: Amazon Fire Tablets, Xbox, Amazon Prime channels, Roku Channel, Samsung Galaxy devices, etc.
Pros	Exclusive uncensored anime titles. Dubs and simulcast subs. 1080P anime streaming. 7-day free trial available. Low subscription cost compared to other subscription-based services. Allows you to create chat room.
Cons	Quite few recognizable titles. No download feature for offline viewing.

Netflix

As one of the most popular streaming services, there is no need of more description on Netflix. Besides licensed anime shows and movies from other studios and production companies, Netflix also provides a few anime shows and series under the Netflix Originals, like Castlevania, Devilman Crybaby, etc., which are exclusive to Netflix. On Netflix, you could stream some famous anime titles such as Demon Slayer, The Seven Deadly Sins, etc.

Best for	Families, mainstream or offline viewers
Available region & countries	Globally available, except for a few regions and countries. Contents vary upon regions and countries.
Supported devices	Web browsers. Android and iOS devices. Smart TVs and streaming devices: Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, Panasonic, Philips, Vizio, Roku, Amazon Fire TV/Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc. Gaming consoles: PS and Xbox consoles. Other devices: Blu-ray players, cable boxes, etc.
Pros	High quality video streaming, up to 4K. Wide support of devices and streaming. Quite extensive library of anime titles. Download feature for offline viewing. Ad-free streaming is available.
Cons	Free trial version is no longer available. Constantly changing subscription price. Contents vary upon regions.

Hulu

Not only as best anime streaming service, Hulu is one of the best all-in-one streaming services with a strong library of on-demand movies and TV shows, as well as live TVs (70+ live TV channels available for multiple themes). On Hulu, you could stream classic anime titles such as Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, Ranma 1/2, Slayers, etc.

Best for	TV bundle subscribers, hybrid content lovers
Available region & countries	The US and Japan.
Supported devices	Web browsers. Android and iOS devices. Smart TVs and streaming devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, LG TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs Gaming consoles: PS 4/5, Nintendo Switch/Switch Lite, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Others: Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Boxes, Xumo TV and XiOne Box.
Pros	Affordable subscription, especially bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+. Large library of on-demand movies and shows, as well as originals. Cloud DVR recording option. Download videos for offline viewing.
Cons	Ad-supported streaming for base plan. Premium subscription required for downloading Hulu titles for offline viewing. Limited simultaneous streaming on 2 devices only.

Animation Digital Network

Animation Digital Network, often known as ADN, is a subscription-based French anime streaming service specialized for anime fans in France. It provides an extensive popular and niche anime movie and show library with both subtitled and dubbed options. On ADN, you could stream anime titles of various genres like action, romance, fantasy, science, etc.

Best for	French speakers, EU-centric audiences
Available region & countries	France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany.
Supported devices	Web browsers. Android and iOS devices. Smart TVs: Samsung TV Plus, and potentially other connected TV platforms.
Pros	Extensive collection of anime series and movies. In both subtitled and dubbed options. Especially friendly to French anime fans.
Cons	French-centric platform, which might result in potential language limitation. Poor availability from outside of France.

AnimeBox

As a dynamic anime streaming service, AnimeBox offers extensive anime content library with ad-free subscription and transactional viewing options, as well as live streaming options. It provides diverse anime collections on various genres for Spanish anime fans.

Best for	Spanish speakers, Latin American audiences
Available region & countries	Spain, Chile, and Colombia.
Supported devices	Web browsers. Android and iOS devices.
Pros	Wide selection of anime movies and series for Spanish anime fans. Free with ads and paid without ads options for streaming. One-time subscription option available.
Cons	Potential language limitation. Smaller library compared to large anime streaming services like Crunchyroll.

What’s the Safest Tool for Offline Anime Streaming?

Some anime streaming services like Netflix and Hulu allow you to download anime titles and other videos for offline viewing. However, not all anime streaming services provide offline viewing option. There is a professional video downloader to help you safely download anime movies and series from various streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, YouTube, Crunchyroll, and more. That is CleverGet All-in-One video downloader.

CleverGet All-in-One
- Download online video at up to 8K with an ad filter.
- Batch download movies, TV shows, animes, playlists, live streams, etc.
- Reserve multiple subtitle and audio track.
- Convert video to MP4, MKV, MP3 or other format files.
- Record videos in background at up to 5x speed and 4K resolution.
Download Download

Conclusion

Besides the above-mentioned anime streaming services, you could also get multiple other options to stream anime contents online or offline. If you get enough budget, without doubt the subscription-based anime streaming services are better options due to their ad-free streaming, extensive library of anime titles, and wide availability. If you get low budget, free anime streaming services are still good options, but you have to stand with the annoying ads.