Gone are the days when anime fans had to comb the internet to find an episode of their favorite show. The once niche form of media is now mainstream and many streaming sites have now started catering to the growing legions of anime fans.
Online streaming platforms have been expanding their library day by day but which streaming service has the most anime? Which is the top site to watch anime? Let us find that out in this ranking of streaming services with the most anime titles.
Contents
Crunchyroll
Total Titles: 1485
Founded: 2006
Price: $7.99/month
Website: www.crunchyroll.com
Crunchyroll is the go-to destination for hard-core anime fans. Its vast catalog of 1,000+ anime ensures that you always have enough content to watch. It is a convenient and completely legal way to watch shows and movies. You can stream anime in HD quality even on a free trial run.
Crunchyroll is the best place to watch on-air anime as it uploads the latest episodes merely an hour or so after they are aired in Japan. In fact, it maintains a lineup of a whopping 40 simulcast shows. The majority of the anime on Crunchyroll is subbed but its dubbed catalog has been growing day by day.
The streaming service also releases special OAD episodes and has a bunch of good-quality, fairly entertaining in-house creations.
Pros | Cons |
✅Excellent anime selection ✅Huge number of simulcast shows ✅HD streaming on all tiers ✅Supports downloading for offline viewing | ❌UI can be cluttered ❌No option for parental controls |
Also read
Crunchyroll review: Pricing, screens, anime, manga
Free Crunchyroll Account: How to get, benefits, limitations
Netflix
Total Titles: 700
Founded: 2007
Price: $6.99/month
Website: www.netflix.com
The flagbearer of content streaming Netflix has significantly increased its anime selection over the years. It may not have as many simulcasts but has many old and new series some of which are exclusive to the platform.
The streaming giant has one of the best user interfaces and offers the highest resolution to watch your favorite anime on netflix.
Apart from that, you don’t need to bear pesky ads and can log in from multiple devices by subscribing to its Premium plan. Netflix gives you the option to switch between English dubs and the original Japanese audio for most series. It also has a bunch of in-house produced anime that you may like.
Thus, Netflix is a great platform to stream anime if you’re willing and able to pay premium prices.
Pros | Cons |
✅Fantastic anime catalog ✅Strong recommendation algorithm ✅Quality original content ✅Excellent user interface | ❌Prices are on the higher end ❌Limited simulcasts ❌Ad-based tiers have limited content |
YouTube
Total Titles: 500
Founded: 2005
Price: Free; $13.99/month(Premium)
Website: www.youtube.con
People have flocked to YouTube for free content ever since the video platform was launched. No wonder then, it is a popular place to watch anime too. It may not have the hot new series but does have plenty of older ones distributed by the likes of VIZ Media that you can watch without a subscription.
Also read: 10 Best Anime to Watch on YouTube
Thus, many beloved classics like Sailor Moon, Beyblade and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure are available on YouTube. However, note that the availability of anime content here depends on location and copyright agreements.
Pros | Cons |
✅Can watch anime for free ✅Variety of shows available ✅Great search engine | ❌No simulcasts ❌Availability depends on location ❌Series may be taken off without warning |
Hidive
Total Titles: 350
Founded: 2017
Price: $47.99/year
Website: www.hidive.com
If you’re on a budget, Hidive is the best option for you. This relatively obscure streaming platform has low subscription charges and gives you access to hundreds of uncensored anime series. This is a boon for people who remember the dark days of anime censorship to make them more family-friendly.
Hidive can be used to stream a wide variety of content across the globe including some live-action adaptations. It mainly caters to the 18+ crowd and features a plethora of mature series though there are some family-friendly titles available. There are also some anime that are exclusively licensed here which is all the more reason to get a subscription.
Also read: Hidive Free Trial: How to avail, benefits, and more
Apart from that, Hidive offers customizable subtitles and an in-episode live chat feature. You can also put in a request for your favorite title if it is not available on the platform.
Pros | Cons |
✅Inexpensive subscription plans ✅Carries exclusive series ✅Dubbed and subbed anime ✅Private chat rooms | ❌Buggy app ❌No option for offline downloading |
Hulu
Total Titles: 300
Founded: 2007
Price: $7.99/month
Website: www.hulu.com
Hulu’s library may not be as extensive as Crunchyroll or Netflix but its simulcast game is strong. With around 300 titles, it has some iconic anime series such as Cowboy Bebop, My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan and simulcasts for shows like Trigun Stampede and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Hulu is the best of both worlds as you can enjoy the convenience of streaming without completely abandoning traditional TV. It has an ad-free subscription plan as well as a cheaper ad-supported one. This streaming platform also has the best organization in its Anime Hub as you can look up series in alphabetical order or based on recent simulcasts.
Also read: 15 Anime to Watch on Hulu Right Now
Hulu vs Hulu Plus: What are the major differences
Pros | Cons |
✅Collection of new and old anime ✅Ad-supported and ad-free tiers ✅Extensive simulcast options | ❌Ad-based plan is not a good value ❌Few original series |
Amazon Prime Video
Total Titles: 250
Founded: 2006
Price: $14.99/month
Website: www.primevideo.com
It may come as a surprise but Amazon’s streaming service actually has a decent selection of anime titles. This includes classic movies like Akira to newer series like Vinland Saga and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. Prime Video is a part of your Amazon Prime membership and you don’t need to pay separately for it.
Also read: 12 Best Anime on Amazon Prime
It also has channels that you can subscribe to watch more anime series. However, Amazon Prime Video does not have the best UI and it can be a little difficult to navigate for newcomers.
Pros | Cons |
✅Value for money with Prime membership ✅Old and new series available ✅Can be used on multiple devices | ❌UI is not good ❌Does not properly promote titles |
Tubi TV
Total Titles: 160
Founded: 2014
Price: Free
Website: www.tubitv.com
Turns out that even in the age of subscriptions, there are a few places where you can watch shows for free. Tubi TV falls into this category. It is a completely free streaming service that hosts movies and TV shows from various genres including animated stuff.
The platform is completely ad-supported and there is no option to disable them. Whether this is a good tradeoff or not depends on the individual viewers but Tubi does offer a good anime collection. It may not have the newest series but has plenty of old classics like Hunter x Hunter and Naruto.
Also read: 16 Best Anime on Tubi
Both the website and mobile app have a simple and clean design and offer parental controls albeit limited.
Pros | Cons |
✅Totally free platform ✅Satisfactory anime selection ✅Simple UI ✅Supports parental controls | ❌Cannot disable ads ❌Streaming resolution capped at 720p |
Also read: Best free sites like Tubi tv (Safe and Legal)
Pluto TV
Total Titles: 80
Founded: 2013
Price: Free
Website: www.pluto.tv
Like Tubi, Pluto TV is a free streaming service that can fulfill your entertainment needs. It has a diverse mix of programming featuring movies, TV shows and also some anime. In fact, it has a dedicated Anime All Ages channel that features child-friendly anime titles.
You don’t need to sign up on Pluto TV to watch shows unless you customize the channels you view. Closed captions are available here and you can also change the font family or its size and color. The mobile app gives you the option to adjust streaming quality for WiFi and cellular data connections.
Pros | Cons |
✅Can watch anime for free ✅Anime collection is satisfactory ✅Account is not necessary | ❌Repititve ads ❌No parental controls |
Also read: T13 best Pluto tv alternatives
Max
Total Titles: 15
Founded: 2020(as HBO Max); 2023(as Max)
Price: $9.99/month
Website: www.max.com
HBO Max is a good place to dip your toes into anime without committing to a platform dedicated to the same. Its selection is small but well curated and is a prime example of quality over quantity. This streaming service hosts beloved Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke and newer stuff like Weathering with You.
Max also has a vast non-anime programming so you can easily take a break and watch something else if the mood strikes. There are only English subtitles but on the upside it can be accessed on multiple platforms.
Pros | Cons |
✅4K quality streaming ✅Supports downloads for offline viewing ✅Parental control tools | ❌Expensive than other platforms ❌Limited anime available ❌Offline downloading not for ad-based tiers |