Crunchyroll vs Netflix for Anime in 2026: Prices, Shows and Which to Get

Short answer: Get Crunchyroll if you watch anime while it’s airing. New episodes land within about an hour of Japan, and its cheapest plan is $9.99 a month now that the free tier is gone. Get Netflix for its own anime, like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Pluto, and if you’d rather binge finished seasons. Having both starts at about $19 a month (Crunchyroll Fan plus Netflix with ads).

Updated October 21, 2026 · US prices from Crunchyroll and Netflix, checked October 2026

Who this is for: Anyone deciding where to watch anime in the US and wondering whether one service is enough.

Crunchyroll vs Netflix prices in 2026

Both services raised prices in early 2026. Crunchyroll ended its free, ad-supported tier and added $2 to every plan, and Netflix raised all three US plans in March. Crunchyroll’s yearly plans save about 16% if you know you’ll stay.

Crunchyroll: best for airing anime

Crunchyroll’s big advantage is simulcasts. When a new episode airs in Japan, it’s usually on Crunchyroll with English subtitles within about an hour. It also has the largest dedicated anime library, including long-running shows like One Piece and most of each season’s new series.

Since it merged with Funimation, many of its big shows also get English dubs, usually a few weeks to a few months after the subtitled version. Mega Fan adds more streams and other extras, and Ultimate Fan adds the most streams and Crunchyroll’s manga reader.

Netflix: best for originals and binge-watching

Netflix makes and licenses fewer anime, but they’re picked for wide appeal. Its originals include Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Pluto and Devilman Crybaby, and it also streams popular shows like Beastars and Violet Evergarden.

The catch is timing. Netflix often releases a full season at once, sometimes months after it aired in Japan, so it’s frustrating if you want to keep up week to week. Netflix originals usually get strong English dubs on day one.

Which shows are where?

Licenses change by region and over time, so check the app before you subscribe for one specific show. In the US, as a rule:

• Crunchyroll: most currently airing anime each season, plus One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren and Solo Leveling.
• Netflix: its own originals, such as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Pluto and Devilman Crybaby, plus licensed favorites like Beastars and Violet Evergarden.
• Often on both: big older hits like Demon Slayer and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, depending on the season.

Is it worth paying for both?

If you watch more than two or three shows a season, yes. The libraries don’t overlap much. The cheapest combo is Crunchyroll Fan ($9.99) plus Netflix with ads ($8.99), about $19 a month. Without ads on either, Mega Fan plus Netflix Standard is about $34.

A cheaper way to do it: keep Crunchyroll all year for simulcasts, and add Netflix only for the month a big Netflix original drops, then cancel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crunchyroll better than Netflix for anime?
For currently airing anime, yes. Crunchyroll has far more new shows and gets episodes within about an hour of Japan. Netflix is better for its own originals and for binge-watching finished seasons.

How much is Crunchyroll in 2026?
$9.99 a month for Fan, $13.99 for Mega Fan and $17.99 for Ultimate Fan in the US. The free, ad-supported tier ended in early 2026.

How much does it cost to get both Crunchyroll and Netflix?
About $19 a month at the cheapest (Crunchyroll Fan plus Netflix Standard with ads), or about $34 with no ads on either.

Does Netflix have new anime every week?
Sometimes, but Netflix usually drops a whole season at once. Crunchyroll is the better choice if you want new episodes weekly.

Next step: Start with Crunchyroll if you follow seasonal anime, then see our best anime streaming services for the other options, and our where to read the manga after the anime guide when a season ends.

Sources: Crunchyroll’s US pricing page; Netflix US plan prices after the March 2026 increase. Prices before tax.