Crunchyroll vs. Funimation: Which Anime Streaming Service Is Right for You?

Crunchyroll

Many anime fanatics view Crunchyroll as the go-to anime streaming service. It’s garnered millions of subscribers since its inception in 2006. Whether it tops Funimation is up to you.

Crunchyroll has enough anime to keep you busy for the rest of your life—it currently has over 900 anime shows and 200 Japanese dramas for you to choose from.

Many shows on Crunchyroll are subbed, which is a good or bad thing depending on your preference.

You can find plenty of lesser-known shows, as well as some high-profile anime on Crunchyroll. Watch popular shows likeNaruto Shippuden,Attack on Titan, andFullmetal Alchemist, or discover your next favorite niche anime likeMob Psycho 100, orHow Not to Summon a Demon Lord.

Be prepared to read, because these anime shows are subtitled.

Crunchyroll also offers a variety of simulcasts, meaning you can watch anime at the same time they’re premiering in Japan.

If you like to read manga, Crunchyroll is a great resource. It features several manga that you can read online, and some are even simulpubs.

Crunchyroll has a pretty straightforward user interface where you can browse through the most popular anime, sort them alphabetically, or check out different genres.

You can add shows to your queue to watch them later, or even hit theRandombutton if you have no idea what to watch.

You can use Crunchyroll on a variety of platforms including Android, iOS, Windows phone, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku. Crunchyroll has yet to create an app for the Nintendo Switch.

The apps tend to be a bit buggy. Unfortunately, Crunchyroll’s apps are no strangers to lag, glitches, and crashes. If you plan to mainly watch anime on-the-go, you might want to reconsider.

You can watch Crunchyroll for free, but you’ll get the most out of it if you purchase the premium plan.

For $6.95 per month, you’ll get to watch unlimited anime in HD and read all the available manga without any ads. If you don’t like monthly payments, you can opt to pay $19.95 for three months, or $59.95 every year.

Crunchyroll has plans to increase its monthly price. Starting in May of 2019, you’ll have to start paying $7.99 instead.

Funimation

Most people look upon Funimation with fondness and nostalgia. It made a name for itself after its dubbed rendition ofDragon Ball Zappeared on Cartoon Network’s Toonami section in the late 90s.

Funimation houses a huge variety of classic anime, as well as some newer ones. If you prefer dubbed anime shows, you’ll love the fact that Funimation gives you the option to watch in Japanese or English.

Relive your childhood with dubbed versions ofDragon Ball Z,Yu Yu Hakusho,One Piece, andCowboy Bebop. Not only do these shows have classic storylines, but you can’t deny that they have some of the most epic theme songs in anime.

Related:The best anime theme songs, ranked

When you’re not in a nostalgic mood, check out some of the newer dubbed shows likeMy Hero Academia,Assassination Classroom, andGolden Kamuy.

Funimation plays both simulcasts and something called simuldubs. Simuldubs allow viewers to watch the dubbed version of a new anime the day after its broadcast in Japan. With Funimation, you don’t have to wait for a dubbed anime.

Funimation’s interface is a bit less crowded than Crunchyroll’s. By hovering over theShowsbutton on the menu bar, you can sort through the most popular anime, find anime by genre, view all simuldub anime shows, or just look at all shows alphabetically.

If you’re feeling stumped, head to theDiscovertab to help you find your next binge-worthy anime.

Funimation has a slightly larger number of compatible platforms compared to Crunchyroll.

You can watch Funimation on your Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Roku, Windows phone, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Chromecast, Samsung TV, iOS, and Android.

Like Crunchyroll, Funimation has some of the same buggy problems with its apps. It’s really a hit or miss—some days you might be able to watch anime perfectly fine from your phone, other days you’ll want to delete the Funimation app and run your phone over with an 18-wheeler.

Funimation offers three tiers of pricing. All tiers get you ad-free access to subbed and dubbed anime.

For $5.99 per month, you can get the most basic premium plan. If you want to stream on five screens simultaneously and watch shows offline, try the premium plus plan for $7.99 per month.

Finally, subscribe to the premium plus ultra plan for $99.99 per year, and you’ll get an annual Funimation gift, as well as two free rentals from the Funimation store every year.

Choosing Your Anime Outlet

Both streaming services have their strengths and weaknesses, but it all comes down to your personal preference.

If you prefer dubbed anime, then you should go with Funimation. On the other hand, Crunchyroll is great at releasing the newest shows, but you can’t expect a plethora of dubbed episodes.

Read next:Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The Best Streaming Sites

Crunchyroll: Anime Selection