If you’re looking for a new on-demand video service, you may be wondering whether anime-focused Crunchyroll is a better option, or if you should go with Netflix, the current top titan of the video streaming industry. What’s a better choice for you? Find out how Crunchyroll vs. Netflix stack up in this guide from Flixed.
A quick overview of Crunchyroll and Netflix
Crunchyroll is an anime-focused streaming service, and it was first launched even before Netflix, way back in 2006. It has an enormous library of anime, and you can even stream episodes about an hour after they air in Japan. It’s expanded over time to offer some live-action dramas and manga titles, too.
Netflix likely needs no introduction. From humble beginnings as a DVD delivery service, it ushered in the current era of VOD streaming in the early 2010s, and is still the most popular service in the world with more than 220 million users worldwide. Let’s take a look at the basics of each service now:
| Crunchyroll | Netflix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free: $0/month, with ads | |
| Fan: $7.99/month | ||
| Mega Fan: $9.99/month | ||
| Ultimate Fan: $14.99/month | Standard with ads: $6.99/month | |
| Standard: $15.49/month | ||
| Premium: $19.99/month | ||
| Free Trial Length | 14 days | None |
| Popular Content | Attack On Titan, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer | BoJack Horseman, Cowboy Bebop, Ozark, You, Black Mirror |
| Original Content | Shenmue, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, The God Of High School | Bridgerton, Stranger Things, Squid Game |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 1080p Stereo sound | Up to 4KHDR Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound |
| Offline Viewing | Yes | Yes |
| Device Support | Web browsers, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox/Playstation, | Web browsers, iOS, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Xbox/PlayStation, most smart TVs, Blu-Ray Players, and set-top boxes |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1-6 (plan dependent) | 2-4 (plan dependent) |
Crunchyroll’s offers great features with cheaper prices
Source: Crunchyroll
Overall, Crunchyroll has better pricing than Netflix. The cheapest Crunchyroll plan is just a dollar more than Netflix’s and comes ad-free. All other plans offer better features like more streams and discounts to the Crunchyroll store. You can also sign up for free with Crunchyroll. Though your selection is limited compared to the paid tiers, it’s still a feature that Netflix doesn’t offer at all.
Try Crunchyroll for free; permanently or temporarily
Source: Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll wins in this category, too. You can get a free 14-day trial of any of its premium memberships, and see if an ad-free viewing experience is worth it.
In contrast, Netflix offers no free trial at all, and doesn't even give any discounts for first-time customers. To try out Netflix, you’ll need to just take the plunge and pay full price right out of the gate.
Crunchyroll has anime, but Netflix has that and more
Source: Netflix
Netflix is the clear winner for general-purpose viewing. It has one of the largest streaming catalogs of any VOD service, including tons of exclusive Netflix Originals that you won’t find anywhere else, such as You, Peaky Blinders, Ozark, The Witcher, and more. It also has lots of top anime titles, like Cowboy Bebop.
If you’re only interested in anime, though, Crunchyroll will be a better choice. Netflix just can’t compete with their library of more than 1,000+ top anime series and movies. So in the end, the winner depends on what you want. If you want to stream lots of different shows and movies, go with Netflix. For anime, choose Crunchyroll.
What to Watch on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll mostly has anime on its platform, though it has expanded to include some Asian dramas in recent years. It offers full seasons, as well as simulcasts that air about 1 hour after shows premiere in Japan, so it’s great for anime enthusiasts. Crunchyroll does make some original shows, but most of its shows are licensed directly from anime studios in Japan. Some of its top titles include:
- Attack On Titan
- Demon Slayer
- One Piece
- Sword Art Online
- My Hero Academia
What to Watch on Netflix
Netflix has a tremendous range of shows, movies, documentaries, reality shows, and more. You name it, they’ve got it. And in recent years, they’ve spent lots of money on original content, with more than 1,500 original shows and movies as of 2020. Some of its top titles include:
- Insecure
- The Tinder Swindler
- Inventing Anna
- The Great British Baking Show
- Cowboy Bebop
Stream in higher definitions with Netflix
When it comes to home theater features, Netflix blows Crunchyroll out of the water. There’s no competition. Crunchyroll offers 1080p for most shows, as well as stereo sound. That’s about it.
Netflix, on the other hand, has tons of killer features, like 4K UHD support, Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound support, and Dolby Vision and HDR10 support for some content on supported devices. If video and audio quality are your top priorities, Netflix definitely comes out on top.
However, it is worth noting that these features aren’t as important for anime. Most anime shows are actually made in 720p and are mixed with stereo sound only, so the 1080p and stereo support offered by Crunchyroll are definitely enough for a good viewing experience.
Download more shows with Netflix
Source: Netflix
For offline viewing, Netflix is the winner. Crunchyroll does offer offline viewing, but it's a bit more restrictive. Almost all Netflix Original movies and shows can be downloaded with just a few taps, and some third-party licensed shows and movies are also available to download. Each device can have up to 100 pieces of downloaded content. Most downloads expire in 7 days, but some may expire within just 48 hours.
With Crunchyroll, you can also download up to 100 episodes, with a 7-day expiration date. Like Netflix, episodes that are played will be removed within 48 hours. However, you need to be Mega Fan or higher member to download shows. Netflix lets you download shoes at any membership tier, so it wins this category.
You can watch Netflix on more devices
Source: Netflix
Netflix has way better device support than Crunchyroll. They both support most of the most popular streaming devices, including:
- iOS and Android
- Web browsers
- Amazon Fire
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- PlayStation/Xbox consoles
However, Netflix is also available on most smart TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-Ray players, and tons of other devices. So overall, it has more device support, and will let you watch on more of your favorite devices. Crunchyroll is offered on the Nintendo switch, though, which gives it a slight boost over Netflix in one area.
Watch on more screens with Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll easily bests Netflix in the realm of simultaneous streams. Though Netflix’s cheapest plan comes with two streams, its middle and top tier cap out and 2 and 4, respectively.
Crunchyroll’s cheapest tier comes with 1 stream, but its middle tier jumps to 4 streams and its top tier caps at 6.
Our takeaway: Choose what service works for you
If you’re an anime fan looking for a place to only watch anime, then Crunchyroll would be the option for you. It’s cheaper, has all the anime Netflix has save for its originals, and offers great features for the price you’re paying.
But if you want a service that offers more than just anime, Netflix is your best bet. While Crunchyroll has plenty to offer as far as anime goes, it doesn’t branch out farther than that.
Eric Liston • Author
Eric Liston is a content writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2015, he’s been writing about technology, cord-cutting, and helping everyday people save money. He also has expertise writing about medicine, dentistry, insurance, and a variety of other industries. No matter what he’s writing, his focus is always on simplifying complex concepts and making them approachable for everyone. When he’s not slamming away on his keyboard at his home office, you’ll find Eric reading sci-fi novels, improving his disc golf game (he just hit his first 400-foot drive) and playing video games on his gaming PC.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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