20 Best Free Anime Streaming Sites to Watch Online (2025)

In this post, I share the best free anime streaming sites to watch anime online. I have included both verified and unverified platforms that offer free anime, as well as premium sites, some of which offer free trials.

Anime is derived from the word ‘animation.’ If you are familiar with both content genres, you may wonder how they differ. Animation adds motion to 2D or 3D models and pictures, emphasizing the characters. On the other hand, anime is a Japanese-style animation with more vibrant graphics and distinctive settings than the typical animation content.

Additionally, anime focuses more on settings and backgrounds and may have more storyline depth than a regular animation film. Anime has been around for several decades. Artists originally hand-painted anime characters but evolved into film after introducing various filming and viewing technologies.

Although anime movies and series are primarily produced for the Japanese audience, they have found commercial success globally. Millions of users from all over the world flock to anime streaming sites, adults and kids alike.

Unfortunately, anime content aired in Japan isn’t always available in other locations. This can frustrate most Anime fans as they don’t have access to high-quality streaming sites with the latest anime content. The few available platforms have limited or older content.

This post includes the best official and unofficial sites to stream anime content. These platforms offer high-quality streams and a vast content library, including the latest anime movies and TV shows.

The websites work on all browser-based devices, including FireStick, PC, Mac, and smartphones.

Read: How to Install and Use a VPN on All Your Devices

The Best Free Anime Streaming Sites to Watch Anime Online

Below are official and unofficial anime websites offering free anime content, including classics, popular titles, and the latest releases. Later, I’ll discuss premium anime streaming sites that offer 100% legal anime videos. Let’s dive into the list.

 Legal Disclaimer: This tutorial is purely educational. FireStickTricks.com doesn’t own, host, operate, resell, or distribute any streaming apps, addons, websites, IPTV or services. The page contains some unverified services, and we are not certain whether they hold legal licenses to distribute the content. FireStickTricks.com does not verify the legality of each app/service in all regions. Do your due diligence if you use any of the unverified apps/services, and stream only content that is available in the public domain. The end-user shall be solely responsible for the media accessed. 

1. HiAnime

Countries/regions: Worldwide

HiAnime is one of the decade’s most popular anime streaming sites. It attracts millions of monthly users because of its vast library, attractive user interface, and quality videos.

The interface is intuitive and straightforward, with neatly organized categories making it easier to find your favorite content. The home page features four sections: Home, Movies, TV Series, Most Popular, and Airing Today.

If you have a particular title in mind, the centrally placed search bar will help you quickly find what you are looking for.

HiAnime is a good choice if you’re looking for a hassle-free way to watch anime online. You don’t even need to create an account to access the library. Just select a title and click play!

HiAnime has been on the radar of authorities, and its legality is questionable. Therefore, it is best to use ExpressVPN while using this website.

2. Gogoanime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

Gogoanime is one of the best free anime streaming sites, offering an extensive collection of Japanese TV shows, anime movies, and Chinese titles. Since its launch in 2014, it has remained a favorite among anime fans for its vast library and regular updates.

Users enjoy regular updates of anime episodes soon after they air in Japan.

This anime website offers many benefits. For example, it provides ad-free anime, and you can stream content without interruption. Additionally, the site is free and even has a download option to view movies or series offline.

You don’t need to sign up or create an account to watch anime on Gogoanime. However, you will need an account to download content.

The latest anime episodes are uploaded on the home screen as soon as they are updated. The site’s advanced search box has several filters to help you narrow your search. An anime list on the home page gives you an alphabetical list of available titles.

3. 9anime

Countries/regions: Available Worldwide

9anime is another third-party anime streaming site that provides free, up-to-date anime videos. It features a simple user interface with a search bar in the center. A main menu at the top left corner lets you filter the content by genre, type, updated, ongoing, and upcoming sections.

You can also click Go to Homepage to view the available library. Anime videos are mainly in HD, making 9anime a reliable site for quality anime. When you select a title, the site provides details to help you decide whether to watch it. This information includes plot summary, type, year of release, number of views, and genre.

9anime doesn’t host the anime content. Instead, it pulls streaming links from external sites. For this reason, you may encounter some links that aren’t working. If this happens, try a different link or reload the page.

4. RetroCrush

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

RetroCrush is a feature-packed anime website offering an extensive collection of classic, rare, and popular anime titles. With a strong focus on action and adventure, the platform also features classics, unique and lesser-known titles, and the latest and most popular releases.

As mentioned above, RetroCrush has several outstanding features. The most notable features include the stylish, contemporary layout with well-categorized sections and an intuitive menu.

The menu features navigation buttons for Live TV, Movies, and Shows. Other highlights include the Watchlist function to curate your content, the search function to find titles directly, and the Genres button to filter content.

RetroCrush has excellent streaming quality, is ad-free, and doesn’t require an account to stream. However, you may need to sign up to access all the site’s functions, like creating a watchlist.

It’s crucial to note that while most of RetroCrush’s content is available globally, some movies and shows are limited to specific audiences. If a particular show is unavailable in your location, you need a reliable VPN to stream it.

5. Anime Planet

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

Anime-Planet is a legal website that allows you to watch anime online for free. It has been around for two decades and has since grown to hold a collection of over 45,000 industry-supported episodes.

Anime-Planet is operated by fans and does not charge a subscription fee to its visitors. However, you can donate through Patreon to keep the website running.

With such a vast catalog, Anime-Planet offers anime across several genres. It picks content through partnerships with streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Hulu.

Episodes of fan favorites One Piece, Black Clover, and Tokyo Revengers are uploaded regularly. There are ads, but not many.

The anime website has a clean, intuitive user interface that makes navigating and watching your favorite anime easy. When you register, you can create an anime list with your favorite anime TV series and movies.

Apart from anime, you can read manga online, explore manga recommendations, and read light novels. Because Anime-Planet is big on community, the website has a discussion forum. Here, fans review anime and manga and hold general discussions.

6. HIDIVE

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

HIDIVE is a diverse, well-designed anime streaming site offering a vast collection of series, movies, dubs, and simulcasts. With a modern interface and intuitive layout, navigating the platform is effortless.

The home page features a menu at the top and search and profile icons at the top-right corner. It also contains various content categories, including Exclusives, Recently Added, Romance, and Most Popular.

It’s vital to note that HIDIVE is a premium anime site. Its free-access library is limited to specific titles. You must subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan to access the entire library, including exclusive and latest releases.

The good news is that HIDIVE offers a 7-day free trial for its premium service. This allows users to review the site and its features before committing to a paid plan.

Regarding quality, HIDIVE has impressive resolution and is ad-free for premium subscribers. The videos also open fast, and the streaming links are lag and buffer-free.

7. VIZ

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

VIZ is one of the most vibrant and feature-rich anime websites available today. This site has everything you need in an anime site, from a vast library and regular updates to an immersive interface that’s easy to navigate.

Like other top anime sites, VIZ has a comprehensive menu at the top to guide users. The site also features various series and content banners on the main page. It has a diverse catalog of anime content, including classics, most popular titles, and unique movies and series.

Besides streaming anime content on the VIZ site, you can click on the various publications about your favorite genres and characters through the Read and My Hero Academia sections. It also has a Create section where fans can create their original Manga characters and submit them through the portal.

Other highlights of the VIZ site include the Calendar function, where you can view upcoming anime title releases. Additionally, VIZ has a search function on the home page, allowing you to find content directly instead of browsing the extensive library.

This website is ad-free and doesn’t require an account to stream. However, signing up gives you access to additional features and lets you subscribe to newsletters and publications.

8. AsianCrush

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

AsianCrush is a popular streaming platform that offers a diverse collection of Asian movies and TV series across multiple genres, including anime. While it is not exclusively an anime streaming site, it features a solid selection of anime titles for fans.

Signing up is not required, and free streaming is available with selected content. However, you must register and log in to access some content. AsianCrush offers a premium subscription that unlocks the whole service experience.

The website has a sleek user interface, but there is no dedicated anime category. Therefore, it is challenging to find anime content. However, the search function makes it easy to find your favorite shows.

9. AniWatch

AniWatch is an unofficial anime streaming site that offers free anime in exchange for showing ads. Its design resembles HiAnime, including the search function and main menu tabs. However, you need to be cautious while streaming to avoid being redirected to harmful external sites.

The movies and series stream in high quality, up to 1080p HD. The site offers subbed, dubbed, and close-captioned videos, all crucial to the anime-watching experience. Another feature that simplifies streaming on AniWatch is the inbuilt video player. It offers vital control features like autoplay, autonext, auto skip intro, fullscreen mode, and the volume button.

AniWatch doesn’t host the anime content but pulls links from other sites. This means you’ll find multiple streaming links. If one link fails to work, select a different one.

10. YouTube

Countries/Regions: Available Worldwide

YouTube has become a one-stop shop for all types of content, including music videos, pranks, recipes, tutorials, and full movies. You will be surprised that it is one of the best platforms to find full episodes of anime series and original films.

The best places to look on YouTube are the official channels of anime creators and distributors. These entities upload never-seen-before anime clips, fully dubbed episodes, and originals. Other times, you’ll be lucky to find interesting full-length anime through the main search tab.

11. Pluto TV

Countries/Regions: United States

Pluto TV is another free streaming website focusing mainly on movies, TV shows, and live channels. Its limited anime library features titles such as Naruto, Mr. Osomatsu, Saint Seiya Soul of Gold, All Day, and Death Note.

Regarding features and layout, Pluto TV’s interface is contemporary and easy to navigate. The home page features various content categories with a simple menu at the top. You can select content from the home page or use the other menu on the site’s left-side panel.

Searching for anime movies or shows on Pluto TV is straightforward. Use the Search function to enter anime for a broader selection, or type in the specific anime title you want to watch.

Despite Pluto TV’s limited anime collection, the site has several user-friendly features, like a favorites manager and regular updates for TV shows and movies. The streaming resolution varies between 720p and 1080p.

You don’t need an account to stream free anime on Pluto TV, but you will need one to access exclusive features.

12. Tubi TV

Countries/regions: United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand

Tubi TV is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform that provides a wide range of video content, from movies to TV shows and documentaries. You can even watch Live TV on Tubi TV, where several channels cover news, sports, and entertainment.

It is not exclusively a dedicated anime streaming site, but it also offers content for anime fans. While it does not have the most robust library of anime videos on this list, you can legally watch dozens of titles. These include popular anime series like One Punch Man, One Piece, Toriko, and Fairy Tail. Most anime videos on Tubi TV are dubbed for the convenience of English speakers.

Tubi TV does not excel in terms of viewing quality. The website offers users a choice of video quality for watching anime, but it tops off at 720p. It works, but videos in full HD or higher would enhance the viewing experience.

13. Aniplus

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

If you are looking for a free anime streaming site that is diverse and legal with a vast library, an interactive layout, and new anime titles, then Aniplus will not disappoint. This anime site has a comprehensive menu that lets you filter anime titles alphabetically. Additionally, it has a TV schedule you can use to review release dates for upcoming movies and shows. The TV schedule also shows the number of episodes, ratings, and genre.

In addition to the TV schedule, Aniplus has a news section where you can learn more about your favorite anime shows, productions, and storylines. You can also click the Store menu button to purchase popular anime merchandise.

Streaming on Aniplus is straightforward. Click on the title you wish to stream, then play on the video player to start watching. This website’s video resolution is excellent, with most varying between 720p and 1080p.

All anime titles have a brief synopsis explaining what the movie or show is about.

You don’t need an account to stream on Aniplus. However, you may register for real-time updates on new stories and fresh episodes of your favorite anime.

Premium Sites to Watch Anime

Here are premium platforms to watch your favorite anime content:

14. Crunchyroll

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

Crunchyroll is the number one site for most anime fans to watch anime legally. The site has been in the anime business since 2006 and features a vast library of Japanese genres such as Magical Girl, Boy’s Love (BL), Isekai, Mecha, and Harem.

In 2023, Crunchyroll merged with VRV, another premium anime streaming service. A year later, the brand also bought Funimation, another industry leader in the anime world. This made Crunchyroll a one-stop destination for all kinds of anime content.

The service offers a 7-day free trial to familiarize yourself with the anime library. After that, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan, starting at $7.99 monthly.

Navigating the Crunchyroll user interface is straightforward. The Browse menu option reveals more categories, such as Popular, New, Simulcast Season, and Genres. The anime genres include Shojo, Seinen, Shonen, Action, Romance, and Supernatural.

15. Hulu

Countries/regions: United States, Japan

Hulu is one of the most popular streaming services in the world and also one of the best websites to watch anime series and movies. You can watch anime series like One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Assassination Classroom, My Hero Academia, and Attack on Titan. They are mostly English-dubbed anime series.

Moreover, the anime movies here are more likely to be subtitled. They include titles such as Akira, K Missing Kings, Afro Samurai Resurrection, and Fairy Tail the Movie.

You can watch your favorite anime on Hulu in various video qualities, like 720p, full HD, 4K Ultra HD, and 60fps HD.

Hulu is a premium service with a monthly base plan starting at $9.99. New and eligible returning users get a one-month free trial, which allows them to explore the anime library before committing to a paid plan.

You can watch anime on Hulu via the browser-based website or by installing the Hulu app on your device. The app is available for PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, FireStick, Android TV, and more.

16. Amazon Prime Video

Countries/Regions: Available globally

Prime Video is a known streaming platform for movies and TV shows. The Amazon-owned service’s content library also includes anime. There are two ways to watch anime on Prime Video:

• Using a Prime subscription
• Buying or renting anime titles

Anime videos on the platform include TV shows, movies, and short films. You can follow popular shows like Ragna Crimson, Hell’s Paradise, The Eminence in Shadow,  and The Great Cleric. Anime film titles include Spy Family, Dragon Ball Z, Princess Mononoke, and My Hero Academia.

Prime Video offers high-quality resolution between HD and 4K, depending on your device and the content’s specifics. The interface is easy to navigate, with titles categorized by type, genre, subtitling language, and how to watch.

Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial as a standalone service and a 7-day free trial when subscribing through secondary platforms like Hulu, Max, and STARZ.

The free trial lets you explore the anime collection and evaluate other valuable features. Prime Video’s base plan costs $14.99 per month with Prime Membership, and a standalone subscription without Prime Membership costs $8.99 monthly.

17. Max

Countries/Regions: United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Europe, 

Formerly known as HBO Max, Max has upgraded its anime library over the last several years to feature more current and classic anime content. Like other premium streaming sites, Max’s anime content is incomparable to that of its TV shows and movies, but it is still enough for the average fan.

Examples of anime titles available on Max include Castle in the Sky, Death Note, Berserk, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Erased, and Kill la Kill. The Max app has everything you need in a streaming site, from a navigable interface to well-defined content categories.

Max offers three subscription plans: Max with Ads, Max Ad-free, and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. These plans cost $9.99, $16.99, and $20.99 monthly. The Ad-lite plan contains ads and doesn’t support 4K content or a download option. The other plans support 4 K content with a download cap of 30 and 100 titles, respectively.

Max is a standalone service without a free trial. However, if you subscribe to the service through Amazon or Hulu, you can try the anime library for seven days for free.

18. Apple TV+

Countries/Regions: Over 100 countries, including the United States

Apple TV+ is popular for its quality anime TV series and movies, which are dubbed Apple Originals. Although the library isn’t as vast as Netflix and other competitors, it features worthy shows, films, documentaries, and more.

Anime fans will find a limited yet decent collection of anime content on the platform. This includes classic Japanese anime shows, films, and short videos. Popular anime titles on Apple TV+ include Gekidol, Kamikatsu, Asteroid in Love, Ninja Nonsense, and The Detective is Already Dead.

A monthly Apple TV+ subscription costs $9.99. However, this platform offers a 7-day free trial, during which users can review its features and content and decide if it’s worth investing in.

19. Disney+

Countries/Regions: North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe

Disney Plus is currently one of the top streaming services available, thanks to its 150 million+ subscribers. This streaming giant recently increased its services by expanding their anime library to feature more recent titles. Even though the anime library is still far from other niche-focused websites, it dramatically improves from what was previously available.

Disney Plus offers anime titles such as Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill, and Sailor Moon.

Regarding features, Disney Plus has a lot to offer. The platform is interactive, with smooth navigation and a vast library of other content.

Disney has two primary plans, Basic and Premium, which cost $9.99 and $15.99 monthly, respectively. You can bundle Disney Plus with services such as Hulu, Max, and ESPN, which have varying prices.

The service doesn’t offer a free trial.

20. Netflix

Countries/Regions: Available globally

Netflix’s anime library has grown steadily over the last few years. It offers the most extensive and versatile anime catalog, from classics and hit anime to new titles in various anime niches.

Some popular titles on Netflix include Death Note, InuYasha, Castlevania: Nocturne, Naruto, Dinosaur King, and Cardcaptor Sakura. The latest releases on Netflix include My Hero Academia, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Demon Slayer, and Pantheon.

Netflix has scrapped its free trial. Its basic ad-supported subscription plan starts at $7.99, making it one of the most affordable streaming services. This plan gives access to the movies, TV library, and anime content.

FAQ’s

Are free anime sites legal?

While some free anime sites are 100% legal, others may stream unlicensed content, which could get you in trouble. If unsure about a site’s legality, use a VPN to hide your online activity and protect your data.

Do I need a VPN to stream anime online?

Yes, we recommend using a VPN for streaming anime videos for several reasons. First, VPNs protect user traffic from interception by ISPs, scammers, and the Government. Second, they help bypass the geo-restrictions set by anime websites to lock content to specific regions. I use and recommend ExpressVPN.

Can I stream anime on FireStick?

Yes, you can. Check out the best apps for streaming anime on your FireStick.

Wrapping Up

That was our list of the best free anime streaming sites for watching anime online. They include legal and free sites, unverified sites that offer free anime, and paid platforms. Which of these platforms are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.

Related:

• Best Anime Apps For FireStick
• Best Free Online Movie Streaming Sites
• Best APKs for Streaming Movies & TV Shows
• Best Torrent Sites

Legal Disclaimer - FireStickTricks.com does not verify the legality or security of any add-ons, apps or services mentioned on this site. Also, we do not promote, host or link to copyright-protected streams. We highly discourage piracy and strictly advise our readers to avoid it at all costs. Any mention of free streaming on our site is purely meant for copyright-free content that is available in the Public domain. Read our full disclaimer.