Crunchyroll vs Netflix: Which Is Best for Anime? [2023]
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Crunchyroll vs Netflix – Each time anime fans must make a choice when it comes to the best anime streaming service. Netflix and Crunchyroll are popular anime streaming that provides access to different anime content.
In this article, we’ll be comparing Crunchyroll and Netflix, which may help you choose a perfect service that meets your needs.
Like several other anime dedicated streaming services, Crunchyroll offers a library of simulcast shows. Whereas Netflix tends present all the episodes at once and another trouble is that the shows come and go unpredictably.
Keep on reading to know more about Crunchyroll vs Netflix!
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: What are They?
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is an American publisher, distributor, production, and licensing company that mainly focuses on streaming anime, dorama, and manga.
It offers more than 1,000 anime shows, over 200 East Asian dramas, and around 80 manga titles as Crunchyroll Manga. However, not all programs are available across the world due to licensing restrictions.
What makes Crunchyroll different from Netflix is its apparel and manga shop, where you can browse merchandise that is best for a Weeb lifestyle, including figurines, home videos, books, and clothes.
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge anime library along with Funimation dubs | Fewer subtitle options |
| Offline downloads | |
| Several simulcast shows | |
| Crunchyroll manga and apparel store | |
| Each paid plan supports HD streaming |
Netflix: Netflix is an American subscription streaming service that offers television series, movies, and anime through distribution deals as well as its own productions – Netflix Originals.
Netflix has silently developed itself into an incredible source for streaming anime. It has already added several new anime series and the latest seasons of some of its popular anime hits.
Although it lacks a library of classic anime shows, what is even better is that there is a direct line from Japan with various new anime shows, among which most of them are produced by Netflix itself.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ad-free streaming | No permanent anime availability |
| Amazing app features | Expensive and no longer offers a free trial |
| High-quality original programming | |
| DVD rental options | |
| Offline downloads |
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: Key Features
Crunchyroll:
- Watch over 1,000 titles – from past seasons to new episodes
- Get full access to new shows
- New episodes one hour after they air in Japan
- Ability to stream on up to six screens at once
- Access around 80 manga titles as Crunchyroll manga
- Ability to create your own exclusive username and choose your own avatars
Netflix:
- Browse new titles or search for your favorites, and stream videos right on your device
- Netflix has added several new anime series
- The more you watch, the better Netflix gets at recommendations
- Ability to create five profiles for an account
- Preview quick videos of our series and movies
- Get notifications for new episodes and releases
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: Pricing
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll offers a free plan and three paid plans. However, the free version is the ad-supported plan, and it neither includes simulcasts nor provides access to all of the Crunchyroll’s manga and anime.
So, we can say that a paid plan can be a perfect choice. Those who sign up for a Premium membership can choose from different tiers:
| FAN | MEGA FAN | Ultimate Fan |
| $7.99 a month + taxes | $9.99 a month + taxes | $14.99 a month + taxes |
| 14-day free trial | 14-day free trial | 14-day free trial |
| No ads | No ads | No ads |
| Unlimited access to the Crunchyroll catalog | Unlimited access to the Crunchyroll catalog | Unlimited access to the Crunchyroll catalog |
| New episodes one hour after airing in Japan | New episodes one hour after airing in Japan | New episodes one hour after airing in Japan |
| Access to digital manga | Access to digital manga | Access to digital manga |
| Stream on 1 device | Stream on 4 devices simultaneously | Stream on 6 devices simultaneously |
| Offline viewing | Offline viewing | |
| Annual Ultimate Fan member swag bag | ||
| Member only access to the purchase of exclusive merch | ||
| A special benefit for Crunchyroll Store |
All tiers support 1080p streaming and all tiers provide you exclusive access to VRV and Funimation ongoing shows at no additional cost.
So, if you are a VRV or Funimation user, remember that you’ll get access to a free 60-day Crunchyroll premium account.
Netflix: Netflix also offers different plans to meet your requirements. The video quality and the number of screens you can stream Netflix at the same time are determined by the plan you choose.
| Features | Basic | Standard | Premium |
| Cost | $9.99 | $15.49 | $19.99 |
| Unlimited movies, TV shows, and mobile games | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HD available | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ultra HD available | No | No | Yes |
| Number of screens | One | Two | Four |
| Number of phones or tablets you can have downloaded on | One | Two | Four |
| Stream on your laptop, phone, tablet, and TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Netflix provides all its content entirely ad-free, except its in-house content previews across its apps. Fortunately, you can disable those previews.
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: Which is the Best?
Supported Devices
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is compatible with Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, iOS, Android, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Windows Phone, and Wii U.
Netflix: Android, iOS, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Mi TVs, Toshiba TVs, Windows Phone, Sony TVs, Philips TVs, Chromecast, Portal, Hisense TVs, LG TVs, and Panasonic TVs.
Content
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll’s content is divided into anime and dramas and shows are available across several genres, including comedy, fantasy, adventure, music, romance, action, dark, mystery, sci-fi, and more.
It offers over a 1,000-titles, 25,000-episodes catalog as well as its capability to stream the latest anime episodes an hour later, following their broadcast in Japan.
Some of its top shows include Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Death Note, Hunter X Hunter, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Your Lie in April, the Naruto series, and many more.
Netflix: When it comes to anime, Netflix has an incredibly broad catalog of video content, which changes all the time. That means shows available one day might not be available the next day.
Some of its popular shows include One-Punch Man, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers, Cowboy Bepop, Berserk, My Little Monster, and more. But the only trouble is that shows come and go unpredictably.
Features
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll’s paid plan gives you access to its ad-free content. This consists of the ability to watch the latest simulcasts of every new anime episode from Japan as well as access to an online catalog of Japanese Manga.
Netflix: Unlike Crunchyroll, Netflix doesn’t offer a free plan. So, if you must pay to access any of its content. However, there are no ads except in-house content previews.
Subs or Dubs?
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll aims for anime fans by leaving the original Japanese soundtracks and providing subtitles in various languages. The main advantage of this feature is that you don’t have to wait around and can stream the latest anime as soon as it is aired.
Netflix: Many of the anime series on Netflix support both dubbed and subbed versions. However, it has an increasing database of dubbed anime. To get dubbed anime, play the title that you want to watch and then select the language option to choose your preferred language.
Region Availability
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is available in over 180 countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many more. Remember that the content available through Crunchyroll is based on the region you live.
Netflix: Netflix is available for streaming in over 190 countries. But the library of anime, movies, and TV shows varies depending on the country and will change from time to time.
Note that Netflix is not available in Crimea, Russia, China, and Syria.
Crunchyroll vs Netflix: Popular Anime
Crunchyroll: Some of the popular Crunchyroll anime includes
- Naruto Shippuden
- One Piece
- Bleach
- Attack on Titan
- The Promised Neverland
- My Hero Academia
- Kill La Kill
21 Best Romance Anime on Crunchyroll [2022] 10 Best Action Anime on Crunchyroll [2022]
Netflix: Some of the popular Netflix anime includes
- Hunter X Hunter
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Saikik
- Gurren Lagann
- Neon Genesis: Evangelion
- Beastars
Summing Up: Crunchyroll vs Netflix!
Both Crunchyroll and Netflix are incredible anime streaming services. However, in terms of content, Crunchyroll wins. Because it has an overwhelming catalog and strong simulcast support.
Moreover, it also offers exclusive original anime series, manga, and apparel shops and is entirely dedicated to anime. So, being a weeb or anime fan, Crunchyroll can be the best choice!
On the other hand, Netflix along with anime, offers TV shows, movies, and Netflix Originals. Nonetheless, Netflix can be a perfect option for those who want to watch classic anime. Hopefully, the above article may help you choose between Crunchyroll or Netflix.
