Best Anime Websites to Watch Anime Online
Last updated December 7, 2024
Anime has gone global. The diverse genres, rich storytelling, and carefully crafted stunning visuals have contributed to its immense popularity. As a result, anime websites are booming. The more series and films a site offers, the more visited it is. But in an age where the internet is teeming with multiple such websites, which ones should one try out?Â
After all, not every website is safe to use or offers its anime for free. But there are plenty of trustworthy options to choose from like Anime Planet, Hulu, Masteranime, and more. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 best options and provide information about their video quality, language offered, premium pricing, and more.Â
1. Anime Planet
Anime Planet offers 45,000 legal anime episodes without the need to pay any money at all. There are more than 25 genres ranging from horror, adventure, comedy, and more available. However, you will have to sign up to watch any episodes. Furthermore, not all shows are complete.
Naruto Shippuden, on the other hand, has all 500 episodes listed. You need to use the "Watch Anime Online" section to see series that can be streamed on Anime-Planet since there are many shows listed here for information purposes only. That being said, it's a comprehensive database of shows that can help you put together a list of what you want to see.Â
There are also great breakdowns of which characters are in a series and great keyword tags to find programs similar to those you like. The website also offers filtering options by name, studio, rating, episodes, tags, type, staff, and year/season. There is a large fan community with discussion forums, custom lists, and reviews too. Although, you will have to register to take part in that.Â
Anime Planet also offers free manga chapters that can be read directly in your browser - although, of course, don't expect entire manga series to be available. Overall, if you're new to anime, Anime Planet is a great place to start. It's especially useful to use the watchlist tool on the site, which lets you keep track of what you want to watch and what you've already seen.
PROS
- Free and legal streaming
- Community recommendations
- Easy-to-navigate interface
CONS
- Limited newer titles
- Ads present during playback
- Lower video quality compared to premium platforms
2. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is a world leader in legal anime streaming. It offers a mega library of more than 1,200 titles with 15 genres like Seinen, Slice of Life, Drama, Comedy, Shojo, Thriller, and more to choose from. However, Crunchyroll's content is geo-restricted, and you can find a specific title only if the platform is licensed to offer it in your country. So, changing your virtual location is the best way to circumvent this issue.
A VPN can help solve this, but you might want to consider a VPN that lets you change your Crunchyroll region by just switching to the network of the country whose library you wish to access. The free tier of Crunchyroll offers a full series, mostly subtitled. The downside is that you have to put up with advertising. Also, you're always two weeks behind simulcast shows. Paying subscribers get to watch new simulcast episodes an hour after it airs in Japan.Â
PROS
- Huge anime library
- Simulcast episodes
- Both subbed and dubbed options
CONS
- The free version comes with ads
- Premium subscription needed for ad-free viewing
- Some anime titles are region-locked
3. The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a great resource for anime lovers in the US. It comes with a vast library of more than a hundred subbed and dubbed titles in good video quality which includes popular shows like Death Note, Case Closed, Naruto, and more.Â
You can watch entire seasons for free, but be aware that you will have to create an account to watch. However, once you do, you will find that the site is easy to navigate and use. Roku also shows the age rating of every anime as well as the languages that the captions and the audio track are available in. There is a search function that will let you search for the specific title you are looking for.Â
PROS
- Free with no ads
- Multiple languages supported
CONS
- Necessary to create an account to watch
- Not a vast library like other options
4. PlutoTV
Pluto TV is another great option to choose for streaming anime. It is available in multiple countries like Canada, the US, Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe. Moreover, there are plenty of genres to choose from ranging from action to drama and more. The number of shows available can vary from one country to another, but the site is VPN compatible so you can access and stream the titles from anywhere in the world.Â
Pluto TV lets you watch anime without making any account. However, there is a downside. The interface of the website is quite cluttered and can be difficult to navigate. It doesn’t help that the site auto-plays videos which can’t be disabled when you are browsing. Making matters worse is the fact that this auto-play takes up a lot of space on the screen.Â
To add to this, not all the episodes of the ongoing animes are simulcasts. In fact, if you are a fan of a niche show, chances are that you won’t find it airing here. However, it’s still a great anime repository to check out because of the new and retro titles available like City Hunter, Captain Tsubasa, and more.Â
PROS
- Free viewing without the need to make an account
- Good repository of classic and new animes
CONS
- Cluttered interface
- Auto-play video can’t be disabled
5. HiDive
HiDive has an extensive anime library with animes both mainstream and niche. Since it partners with studios and distributors so there is exclusive content available on the site as well. Moreover, there’s a variety of genres to choose from as well like slice of life, shonen, independent films, and more.Â
The site also offers simulcasts of episodes as they air in Japan. Additionally, HiDive offers something most other sites don’t- a customizable viewing experience. This means that you can change the color, size, font, adjust the subs, etc., while playing the video. Along with this, you can download the episodes and watch them offline as well.Â
HiDive’s interface is easy to navigate and this is enhanced by an advanced search feature and a Watch History function that lets users keep track of what they were watching. The site doesn’t offer a free ad-supported tier, however, there’s a free trial period that users can explore.Â
PROS
- Exclusive anime content
- Simulcast episodes
- Customizable viewing options
CONS
- Small library compared to other options
- No free ad-supported tier
- A yearly subscription can be costly for many
6. Tubi TV
Tubi TV claims it has more than 20,000 shows, but what we really care about is the anime section. Here, we were pleasantly surprised. The shows are, of course, completely free, with ad breaks. There is no paid subscription option at all, so if you watch on Tubi TV, you'll always deal with ads.
That being said, the selection of titles is delightful. There are a few recent shows, but the real value here is in classic titles like Bubblegum Crisis, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Akira, Sailor Moon, AD Police, and Vampire Princess Miyu. The selection is small, but the quality is undeniable.
PROS
- Good video quality
- Free streaming with ad-support
- No need to register
CONS
- Limited anime titles available when compared to dedicated platforms
- Not an anime-focused platform
- Ads play during the episodes
7. MasterAnime
Masteranime is a site that not many might have heard of. But it has thousands of anime titles, ranging from the latest releases to retro shows. It offers 45 genres to choose from, including Samurai, Cars, Horror, Military, and more. The site interface is easy to navigate with the latest releases shown upfront.Â
Also, all the genres offered, ongoing shows, latest releases, subbed and dubbed categories, etc., are clearly listed and visible on the homepage. The anime collection is regularly updated and there’s a Recently Added and Top Anime section to choose from too.Â
Also, the latter is divided into Day, Week, and Month, to give you a rundown of what’s trending. The videos are all available in high quality with minimal buffering. With multiple servers to choose from, you will rarely come across an unplayable video. Masteranime is completely free and there is no need to create an account to watch or register in any way. However, there are plenty of ads to navigate.Â
PROS
- Free with no registration requirement
- Extensive anime library
- Well-organized and easily navigable
CONS
- Have to navigate ads
8. Animeland
Animeland is a hidden gem for viewers who love watching animes dubbed in English only. It offers an extensive collection of titles to choose from. The video quality for the episodes range from 480p to 1080p so you can comfortably choose according to your bandwidth. Â
The interface is easily navigable and all the animes, ranging from the latest releases, classics, popular, etc., are arranged neatly one after the other in rows. The search function is easily accessible and even though it is basic, it’s effective.Â
There is no need to signup or subscribe to this site for playing videos. It is free to use and there’s no premium tier to upgrade to at all.Â
PROS
- Free with ads
- Extensive collection of titles
- Easily navigable simple interface
CONS
- Only dubbed titles
- Available only in English
- Genres are not clearly listed
9. YouTube
Yes, plain old YouTube can be a great place to catch up on full episodes of anime series. While some of these are going to be bootleg uploads that YouTube itself removes quickly, there are legitimate uploads as well. For the casual anime watcher, YouTube is a great source to get started.Â
However, if you are looking to check out the latest episodes or titles, then YouTube isn’t the right place. As for the video quality, it depends on the uploader but generally clips are available in at least 320p. As for whether you'll see ads or not, that depends on whether you're using an ad-blocker or are paying for YouTube Premium.Â
It can be tricky to find good quality shows if they are user uploads, but even the narrower selection of officially hosted programs makes it worth checking YouTube out.
PROS
- Free with ads option
- Easy navigation
- Great site for casual watchers
CONS
- Not an extensive collection
- Varied video quality
- Latest releases are not uploaded
10. Hulu
Hulu has quite the library, from classics like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, and Cowboy Bebop to the latest releases like Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and more, there's a lot to watch. The animes are sorted under titles like Popular, Recent Simulcasts, Anime Classics, New on Hulu, and more.Â
However, don’t expect simulcasts or the latest episodes for every show to be uploaded soon after they air. Overall, it is mostly a site that casual anime watchers or people new to anime looking to watch the most popular offerings of the medium can check out.Â
The videos are available in HD quality and the interface of the site is easily navigable. Although it doesn’t have a free tier like many other sites on this list, there’s a free trial period of one month. Also, the site offers student discounts.Â
PROS
- Free trial option available
- Good anime library
- Simple navigable interface
CONS
- Paid version only
- Not an anime-only site
- Genres, latest releases, not clearly listed
Final Thoughts
The above ten sites are among the best anime websites in the world. For seasoned anime lovers, Anime Planet, Crunchyroll, Pluto TV, HiDive, Tubi TV, Masteranime, and Animeland are great options as they offer an extensive library to choose from.Â
For casual and new watchers, YouTube, Hulu, and The Roku Channel are good options as they have a good library of popular and classic animes to choose from. While not every site offers a free tier, there is a trial period available even for sites with a premium tier.
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