Are you looking to subscribe to another streaming service? If so, you may be wondering what the differences are between Funimation vs. Netflix. You’re in luck! In this article, we’ll be comparing these two streaming services head-to-head across a number of different categories. Read on, learn more, and see which one may be right for you.
A quick overview - Funimation vs. Netflix
Funimation is a very popular anime streaming service. It focuses pretty much exclusively on Japanese animated TV shows and movies, and it’s second only to Crunchyroll, who Funimation merged with in late 2021.
Netflix likely needs no introduction. It started as a mail-order DVD delivery service, but has risen to the status of the #1 streaming service in the world, with over 220 million subscribers throughout the entire world. It’s got an enormous content library and tons of originals, and a surprisingly large library of anime, too.
| Funimation | Netflix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Premium: $7.99/month | |
| Premium Plus: $9.99/month | Standard w/ ads: $6.99 | |
| Standard: $15.49/month | ||
| Premium: $19.99/month | ||
| Free Trial Length | 14 Days | None |
| Popular Content | Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Fire Force, Demon Slayer, One Piece | Suits, The Witcher, Wednesday, You |
| Original Content | None | Bridgerton, Stranger Things, Squid Game |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 1080pStereo Sound | Up to 4KHDR Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound |
| Offline Viewing | Yes | Yes |
| Device Support | Web browsers, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Xbox/PlayStation, select smart TVs | Web browsers, iOS, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Xbox/PlayStation, most smart TVs, Blu-Ray Players, and set-top boxes |
| Simultaneous Streams | 2-5 | 2-4 |
Funimation offers cheaper prices
Funimation wins this category. Funimation offers two plans, both cheaper than Netflix’s middle Standard tier. The price you’ll pay for a Premium Plus subscription, which gives you ad-free access to the full Funimation library and 5 simultaneous streams, is half the price you’ll pay for a Premium Netflix subscription, which caps out at 4 simultaneous streams.
Netflix Standard with Ads
- Stream on two screens
- On demand content
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$6.99/month
Netflix Standard
- No ads
- Stream on two screens
- HD video quality
- Downloads on up to two devices
$15.49/month
Netflix Premium
- No ads
- Stream on four screens
- HD and 4K video quality
- Downloads on up to six devices
$22.99/month
Enjoy Funimation free for 2 weeks
Funimation wins in this category, too. It has a free 14-day trial. You can sign up for any plan on its website and try it for free for 2 full weeks before your credit card is charged.
In comparison, Netflix doesn’t offer a free trial at all. To try it out, you’ll need to sign up for an account and pay for a full month of service.
Netflix has a much larger content library
Netflix is the winner in this category, hands down. Not only does it have lots of anime, but it also has reality shows, talk shows, dramas, sitcoms, blockbuster movies, indie films, documentaries, and more.
Still, Funimation does have an edge when it comes to anime. Netflix has 200+ anime shows on its platform, while Funimation has more than 600. If anime is your thing and you don’t care much about other content, Funimation is the better option.
What to watch on Funimation
As mentioned, Funimation exclusively has anime shows and movies. It used to focus only on dubbed shows, but it’s now offering subs on a lot more titles, so that’s sure to please anime fans. Funimation doesn’t have any original content, but licenses its anime from studios in Japan. Some of the top titles available on the service include:
- Golden Kamuy
- Demon Slayer
- Attack On Titan
- Dragon Ball Super
- One Piece
What to watch on Netflix
Netflix has tons of amazing shows and movies to watch. It started out by licensing shows from other companies, but it now also has lots of Netflix Originals. In total, it’s produced more than 1,500 original shows and movies, and it still has a large library of content from third-party studios. Some of the most popular titles on Netflix include:
- Grey’s Anatomy
- Suits
- Inventing Anna
- Squid Game
- Bridgerton
Stream in higher definitions with Netflix
Netflix takes this category easily. That’s because it offers lots of great home theater features for movies and shows that support them – although you will need the more expensive Premium plan to access some of them. It supports 4K UHD, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and 5.1 surround sound.
Funimation only offers 1080p HD and stereo sound. This isn’t really a bad thing, though. Most anime shows are produced in stereo and at 720p or 1080p, so you’ll still be getting a good viewing experience while watching your favorite Japanese animated shows and movies.
Download more shows and movies with Netflix
Netflix wins this category, too. Funimation does have offline viewing, but Netflix does it better. You can download shows on Android and iOS devices, and download up to 100 total pieces of content. Most downloads expire in 7 days, though some may expire sooner. They will also expire after 48 hours if you begin playing a specific title.
Funimation only lets you download 13 videos at once, and the English dub and Japanese sub of each episode count as separate episodes, so that can be really restrictive. However, there is no time limit on downloads. You can keep them as long as you want, even if you’ve started playing an episode.
Watch Netflix on mo
When it comes to device support, Netflix edges out a win just because it supports more devices overall. Both Funimation and Netflix support:
- iOS and Android
- Web browsers
- Amazon Fire
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- PlayStation/Xbox consoles
- Select smart TVs
However, Netflix has more compatible streaming devices overall. Pretty much any internet-enabled device released in the last few years will be compatible with Netflix, including things like Blu-Ray players, set-top boxes from cable companies, and much more.
Watch Funimation on more screens at once
Funimation wins this category, giving you more streams for your money’s worth. It offers 2 simultaneous streams with its cheaper Premium plan and 5 with its Premium Plus plan.
Netflix offers 2 simultaneous streams for its Standard with ads and Standard plans, and 4 with its Premium plan.
Netflix is the unmatched all-rounder
Our conclusion probably won’t shock you. Netflix is better for most cord-cutters overall, with its wide range of content. It’s got anime, it’s got blockbusters, it’s got Netflix Originals, and it just has an unbelievable amount of stuff to watch overall. If you’re only going to subscribe to one streaming service, it’s probably the best bang for your buck.
Still, Funimation is cheaper and does have some better features, as well as a massive library of anime. If anime is what you want, you’ll be better off with Funimation overall.
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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