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Prospective anime fans, or older anime fans, are more than likely aware of streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix. They have been practically the exclusive worldwide streaming homes for many anime like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and many others. These two streaming services practically dominate the anime market.
But with the passage of time come newer, lesser-known, and specialized anime streaming services. Ever wanted to watch something that cannot be found on either site, at least without resorting to hundreds of dollars for full series or piracy? Well, this article will have that topic covered. This article is going to go into alternative anime streaming services, where to locate them, and how to access them.
Disclaimer: This article will discuss other streaming services aside from the mainstream of Crunchyroll and Netflix and will try to provide locations and links. Any opinions are exclusive to the author.
Several specialized anime streaming services explored
1) RetroCrush
RetroCrush is an anime streaming service offering hours of classic anime, from Revolutionary Girl Utena to the entirety of City Hunter to the Urusei Yatsura movie collection, the works of Osamu Tezuka, and Bubblegum Crisis. While it does offer a premium tier at $4.99 per month or $50 per year, mostly to skip ads and access uncensored content, the majority of the content is free, and the ads are infrequent enough to not really be noticeable.
It can be found at retrocrush.tv and enjoyed for free with a registered login. The upsides are the amount of older content on offer that would normally swing $60 and up physically, a 24/7 "live feed" of older anime and older Tokusatsu programming and other dramas, and the free tier's amount of content.
The downsides are that the library, even with the premium content, isn't all that huge, at approximately 100 titles total as of the time of writing, with 33 titles gated off for premium (including Utena and Kite). Still, a good value if one is looking for older content.
RetroCrush is available on the following platforms:
- web browsers at Retrocrush.com
- Android
- Amazon Fire TV
- iOS
- Roku devices
- Xbox One/S consoles
2) HiDive
A streaming service that might be familiar already is HiDive. HiDive offers exclusive newer anime like Tokyo Mew Mew New and Oshi No KO, as well as older favorites like Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Its prices are $4.99 per month or $47.99 per year.
HiDive is much more known for its library, with more mature titles like Made in Abyss and Elfen Lied and shojo anime like Gunbuster, My Little Monster, and Nana. It's available worldwide and was formed as a result of the discontinuation of Anime Network Online and Anime Strike. It likewise supports up to three profiles per account.
The downsides are the lack of a free tier aside from a seven-day free trial, no offline download support, and a slightly barebones mobile app. It's still cheaper than Crunchyroll and offers a yearly fee that is one-time as opposed to monthly. The other downside is the more niche library of 500 and more titles, though it is still bigger than RetroCrush.
HiDive can be streamed on the following platforms:
- Web browsers at hidive.com
- Android
- IOS
- Xbox One consoles
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Amazon Fire Tablets
- Roku devices.
3) Funimation
Although a majority of Funimation's catalog has since been absorbed by Crunchyroll alongside VRV, the website and services continue to operate alongside the app. That's more than enough to earn it a spot on the list. Funimation's plans go from Premium ($7.99 per month or $79.99 per year) to Premium Plus ($9.99 a month or $99.99 per year).
Premium Plus offers ad-free access to the entirety of the Funimation library, subtitles included, with five simultaneous streams from one account and downloads for offline viewing on supported mobile devices. It likewise offers a free tier and access to tons of Funimation-based English-dubbed anime like Akira, Ranking of Kings, and My Hero Academia, as well as subtitles for those dubbed anime.
The downside is that it's been absorbed into Crunchyroll, so most of its newer programming is located there. The app was plagued with inconsistencies when it was working, such as delays, lag, and crashing of the app or streaming device. Likewise, the free tier ends after 1 or 2 episodes without a subscription.
Despite the downsides, Funimation's app is still available on multiple platforms:
- Apple TV
- IOS
- Android
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku devices
- Xbox One and PS4 consoles
- Chromecast, Samsung, and LG Smart TVs.
4) MyAnimeList
Believe it or not, the website that's otherwise known as anime's version of Metacritic does have its own streaming service. It's one of the cheapest ones at $2.99 monthly or the annual plan of $29.99 per year with two months free. The website comes with a number of features similar to Crunchyroll.
There are anime to watch in video form, from popular ones like Naruto to Demon Slayer to obscure ones like Asagiri no Miko, among others. They likewise have a manga library, though they require the purchase of digital manga volumes before viewing is possible. What they don't host on their own website, they link outward or show where it can be viewed (i.e., Crunchyroll, HiDive, etc.). It also includes detailed information about all the anime there.
The downside is that the manga volumes need to be purchased, though previews are present. The library of anime isn't very big and usually depends on region availability. The website is mostly about cataloging one's favorite anime and manga, and there's not really huge availability outside of app stores for phones.
MyAnimeList is available in these forms:
- Web browsers via myanimelist.com
- IOS
- Google Play.
5) Amazon Prime Video
Chances are that some anime fans are unaware that Amazon Prime Video, in addition to having a large collection of series and movies, also has plenty of anime on it. The price point is pretty high at $14.99 per month, but the Prime membership comes with all kinds of benefits, like saving on shipping and other things.
The pros are aplenty. Plenty of series that aren't on Netflix or Crunchyroll find their home on Amazon Prime, including the entirety of Rebuild of Evangelion, Digimon Adventure Tri, and several others. It's not the only thing, as stated, as the anime collection mostly consists of older or obscure anime like Monster Rancher and Sonic X, among others.
The negatives are that the anime collection is divided into "watch with Prime" (meaning no ads), "watch as hosted on other sites with ads" (Freevee, Hidive), or "rent or buy" (usually for movies or popular series they don't have the rights to stream). This means that while the collection is vast, not all of it is going to be hosted on Amazon's servers.
Amazon Prime Video is available on:
- Web browsers via Amazon.com
- The Prime Video app for Android and iOS
- Amazon Fire TV
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
- Roku devices
- Samsung, Sony, and LG Smart TVs.
6) Hulu
Another example of a streaming service that provides more than just anime is Hulu. They are considered on par with Netflix, having an anime catalog that consists of films, series, and other things. The cost varies by package plan. Starting at $5.99 per month, there are other tiers, including Hulu for $59.9 per year, Hulu (no ads) for $11.99 per month, Hulu + Live TV for $64.99 per month, Hulu + Live TV (no ads) for 70.99 per month, etc.
The positives are abundant, with it being an alternative to Netflix and Crunchyroll. Hulu has its own exclusives like Tengoku-Daimakyo, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, classics like Akira and the original Sailor Moon, and modern hits like My Hero Academia and Chainsaw Man. It has subtitles and dubs, and likewise captions for each, including its English dubs, something vital that Crunchyroll tends to lack.
The big negative is the locations it serves and regional demands. It only serves primarily the United States, Puerto Rico, military bases, and some locations in Japan. While there are ways to bypass region locking, the best methods require Amazon Fire Sticks and access to VPNs.
Hulu can currently be watched on:
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Amazon Fire TV (Fire OS 5.0 and later)
- Android phones and tablets
- Android TV devices
- Apple iPhones and iPads
- Apple TV (4th generation and later)
- Chromecast
- Contour 2 and Stream Player Boxes
- Echo Show (8, 10, and 15)
- Hulu.com on Mac or PC
- LG WebOS smart TVs
- Nintendo Switch (R1 and Lite)
- PlayStation 4 and 5
- Roku
- Samsung smart TVs
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Xbox
- Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Boxes
7) CONTV
CONTV's library is not likely to be as vast as other anime streaming websites on this list, but it is still worth mentioning considering it caters to older, nerdy tastes. The anime library is small, but the service makes up for it in other ways that will be highlighted, starting with the VIP membership, which costs $6.99 per month plus tax.
The service has the MST3K library, comic issues from independent labels as well as some mainstream ones like Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica to read online, comic convention-based reality TV, Godzilla films, the Highlander series of films and series, and plenty of older anime from Bokurano to GTO to Gunslinger Girl and Fushigi Yuugi. The price is likewise fairly reasonable, and it has a free tier.
The downside is, again, the region locking. As of now, CONTV is mainly servicing the United States. That tends to make it difficult to branch out to other countries and recommend them. The limited anime library is likewise for an older audience but still has some mainstream titles like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Fist of the North Star.
That said, CONTV is available on:
- Roku devices
- Android devices
- Apple IOS
- Web browsers at CONtv.com
- Google Play
- Vizio brand smart TVs
8) IQIYI International
If CONtv is geek chic or niche, then IQIYI fits a very niche genre of Asian entertainment. Based in Singapore, the streaming service focuses on broadcasting pan-Asian entertainment, from Chinese and Korean dramas to anime adaptations of light novels, to an international audience. Standard monthly costs are $8.99; premium is $11.99 monthly, $89.99 yearly, and the highest tier is $119.99 on VIP. New members can take advantage of discounts, putting premium and standard costs at $1.99 and the first year at $71.99 for premium and VIP.
The service has plenty of exclusives to entice prospective viewers, from various shows subtitled and dubbed to a lot of anime. Most of the anime skews toward original adaptations of light novels like Be My Wife, shonen like Devour Eternity, and even comedies like My Demon Tyrant and Sweet Baby. Effectively, they're either original or more obscure titles.
The downside of this particular streaming service is arguably its high price point. The company itself has landed in hot water owing to being banned in Taiwan and having several investigations launched into it for fraud allegations. The streaming service has only had one complaint that was held up in court and since fixed: charging pre-screening fees for dramas.
IQIYI is available on:
- Apple TV
- Google Play
- Roku Tv
- Amazon Fire TV
- Iq.com in web browsers
- iOS and Google Play
9) Tubi
One of the completely free and legal on-demand video streaming platforms with a large selection of anime is Tubi. It's free across major app platforms and may not be strictly anime-focused, but it has a large library of it. It's completely free, since a lot of it is ad-supported.
The positives are the large library OF mainstream shonen like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure to Naruto, Redline to Full Metal Panic, and other classics like the original Ghost in the Shell movie and Lupin the Third. It's a very fun mix of anime across the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s that are all free and clear to watch with subtitles for all. Also, being free and entirely legal helps.
The areas this streaming service serves cover Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and the United States. A downside is the aforementioned advertisements, but they're infrequent enough to not be noticeable. Registration is optional, so users can view Tubi without registration if they choose.
Tubi is available on:
- Tubi.com
- Roku TV and devices
- Apple TV
- Amazon Fire TV
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X
- Playstation 4 and Playstation 5
- Chromecast
- TiVo devices
- Android TV
- Xfinity/Comcast Cable
- Cox Cable
- Samsung TV
- Sony TV
- Vizio Smartcast
- LG TV
- Hisense TV
- IOS
- Android
- Windows
This ends the list of specialized anime streaming services aside from Crunchyroll or Netflix. Although this list covers only nine, these nine meticulously researched anime streaming services will help anyone who needs an alternative. After all, more competition can only be a good thing when it comes to having anime viewing options.
Some options, like 9anime or Kissanime and its affiliates, would be copyright workarounds and encourage piracy, while Anime-Planet, a legal and free streaming site, links its content using Crunchyroll servers. Viz would be an option too if it had its own anime streaming service and didn't just have manga subscriptions. If any other options are missing, readers can list them in the comments.
