If you are a huge anime fan like me, then you might have heard about the Crunchyroll app. It is one of the largest streaming apps that covers anime, manga, music videos, manhwa, and more. I have been using the app for about a month now, and I have to say it has quickly become my entertainment hub for reading manga and streaming anime. If you haven’t used Crunchyroll before, I have covered everything about this app below for your reference.
First Impressions – What the Crunchyroll App Feels Like
When I first downloaded the Crunchyroll app, I didn’t expect the app to perform this much good. I found all the popular anime titles, including the classic and underrated ones. All of them were available in good quality. Most of the anime content on Crunchyroll has been dubbed in many languages, and it has subtitles support as well.
The layout was clean and intuitive. The homepage was divided into sections like Trending Now, Games, News, Categories, Simulcasts, and Recently Added. This made it easier for me to decide what to watch next. Crunchyroll even highlights new episodes they air in Japan. Browsing through categories like Action, Fantasy, Slice of Life, and Romance was smooth. There were no lags or unnecessary menu transitions. The search bar worked flawlessly. I could type in partial titles, genres, or even character names, and it showed up exactly what I was looking for.
Another feature I liked very much was the way it shows personalized recommendations based on my viewing history. I had only watched a couple of episodes, and the app showed me curated suggestions that actually matched my taste. One small thing that is worth mentioning is the episode preview thumbnails and descriptions. This gave me a quick idea of what the story was about, so I knew exactly what I was getting into. Speaking about the streaming quality, it was too good, the subtitles synced perfectly, and the playback was very smooth. This app made me feel like I was finally in the world of anime.
Crunchyroll’s Anime Library – Is It Really That Huge?
Yes. Crunchyroll has the world’s largest library with anime collections with over 1,300 titles. Whether you are new to anime or a long-time otaku or manga, there is something for everyone on this app. What really impressed me was the variety. The content you find in this app is hard to find outside. Some of the top-tier shows I binged-watched on this app are listed below.
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- My Hero Academia
- One Piece
- JUJUTSU KAISEN
- Solo Leveling
- Shangri-La Frontier
- MASHLE: Magic and Muscles (Season 2)
- Classroom of the Elite
- Banished from the Hero’s Party…
- The Demon Prince of Momochi House and more.
If you are into anime movies, Crunchyroll has a growing collection of theatrical releases and OVA specials. These include heartfelt dramas and action-packed sagas, many of which you can’t find easily online. Crunchyroll also offers exclusive access to anime-related music content. You will get thousands of music videos, concert clips, and live performances.
I also watched the Crunchyroll Originals. To be frank, I don’t have any expectations at all, but the Originals collection surprised me. The production quality was excellent, and the stories felt exciting and new. Overall, Crunchyroll is one of the best anime platforms I have ever seen.
Free vs Premium – What Did I Choose and Why?
I started off with the free version to test the app. It gives you access to the anime library with some restrictions and ads. During some episodes, the ad breaks felt annoying. So, I made the subscription to the Mega Fan plan. There are no ads, and I could stream the content on multiple devices in full HD quality. Plus, it includes offline downloads and access to their Game Vault, which includes free mobile games with no in-app purchases. I would recommend to buy the subscription as it is definitely worth the price. Below is a breakdown of all the available Crunchyroll subscription plans.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Yearly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fan | $7.99/mo | $79.99/yr |
| Mega Fan | $11.99/mo | $119.99/yr |
| Ultimate Fan | $15.99/mo | $149.99/yr |
Once subscribed, the plans will renew automatically unless cancelled at least 1 day before the billing cycle ends.
Crunchyroll on Different Devices – What Worked Best for Me
One of the things I like about Crunchyroll is its flexibility. This application is compatible with wide range of streaming devices, listed below.
- iPhone and iPad
- Android Phone
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Google Chromecast
- PlayStation (PS4 & PS5)
- Xbox (Xbox One, Series X|S)
- Android TV
- LG Smart TVs
- Vizio Smart TVs
- Web browsers
My experience using the app was smooth, and it performed well on all my devices. The playback was good, the subtitles synced perfectly, and the video quality stayed in high quality, even on mobile data.
Is Crunchyroll Safe and Legit?
Yes. Crunchyroll is 100% safe and legal. This is a licensed platform that has the right to stream the anime it offers. So you can binge-watch your desired TV shows without worrying about violating copyright laws. Crunchyroll is owned by Sony. This makes it as a trustworthy app. When I decided to upgrade to a premium subscription, the entire process was smooth and secure. The in-app purchase went through without any problem, and I received the payment confirmation instantly. Plus, there are no third-party ads or tracking. With Crunchyroll, even the free plan is safe to use.
What I Don’t Like About Crunchyroll
I enjoyed using Crunchyroll. But, there are a few areas I think the app needs to improve. First, the ads on the free plan are repetitive. Another thing I noticed is that not all anime shows are available in dubbed versions. Also, because of regional licensing restrictions, some popular shows are not available in certain countries. On mobile and browsers, the app works great, but on some platforms, navigation feels a bit slow. Though Crunchyroll offers email support, the lack of live chat or instant assistance is a drawback. These things are not a big problem, but as someone who uses the app regularly, I think it needs some improvement.
Crunchyroll Customer Support
To be honest, I didn’t run into any issues while using Crunchyroll, so I didn’t have the need to contact their support team. But to test them and to explore what kind of help options they offer, I contacted customer support. While it is not the fastest support system I have seen, it is definitely reliable and responsive. The contact options available on the website are listed below.
- Phone Number: +14157963560
- Email: [email protected]
My Honest Opinion – Is Crunchyroll Worth Using for Anime Fans?
After spending over a month using Crunchyroll, I can say that this app is absolutely worth it. The free version is a great way to start if you are a new anime streamer. If you like it, go with the premium plan. What made me choose this app was the huge anime library, including simulcasts that drop new episodes right after they air in Japan. The streaming quality is top-notch, the subtitles are accurate, and having the option to watch offline is a huge plus. I also loved that Crunchyroll works on almost every device. Overall, this app is a perfect one for anime and manga lovers.