The two most popular anime services are Crunchyroll and Funimation. Both are available for free in multiple regions, but choosing the right service is beneficial in the long run.
In this blog post, we are covering Crunchyroll vs. Funimation. From the type of content to availability to pricing, you find everything here.
Compatibility
Both are available on major platforms. The table below displays the complete list.
Crunchyroll | Funimation |
---|---|
Web browser Android iOS Windows Phone Playstation 3 Playstation 4 Playstation Vita Xbox 360 Xbox One Wii U Chromecast Apple TV Android TV Amazon Fire TV Roku | Web browser Android iOS Apple TV Amazon Fire TV Android TV Samsung Smart TV Xbox One Playstation 4 Chromecast |
Winner: Crunchyroll
Related: 11 Best Anime Apps
Availability
Crunchyroll is available in over 170 countries. Although content varies from nation to nation, and most content is only accessible in the US, the website itself can be accessed in over 170 nations.
Funimation, on the other hand, is available in a handful of countries:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Ireland
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
Total shows
This is where significant differences start to show up. As of the 1st of March, all the content on Funimation and Wakanim is available on Crunchyroll. According to the official post, the whole library is moving to Crunchyroll.
So, if you want the most extensive anime library, Crunchyroll is your place. If you still want to choose between the two, look at the list below for each country. I manually counted the shows to make this Crunchyroll vs Funimation a fair comparison.
You can go to the Crunchyroll and Funimation sites to see the content available in your region. The below list was updated on the 11th of March 2022.
US
There are 1243 shows on Crunchyroll compared to 875 on Funimation in the US.
Canada
In total, you find 1241 shows on Crunchyroll in Canada, while 873 on Funimation.
UK
In total, you can expect 1028 shows on Crunchyroll and 659 on Funimation.
Australia
Australia has the least number of shows on both platforms. There are 978 shows on Crunchyroll and 780 on Funimation.
Also read: Crunchyroll vs. VRV
Subs vs dubs
I will back up Funimation here because you find more dubbed (English) content on Funimation. Crunchyroll is known for its vast library, but most shows are Japanese with subtitles.
The mobile app of Funimation also comes with an audio language preference option to show the prefered language series on the top. Crunchyroll, on the other hand, comes with a subtitle-choose option. It comes with a wide variety of subtitles to display along with the video.
Mobile apps
The Crunchyroll app comes with the below tabs:
- your lists
- browse
- home
- simulcasts
- account
While browsing for anime, you can see the thumbnails, anime type, subbed/dubbed, and three tiny dots to add the anime to your watchlist or share it with others. On each show page, you have an option to share and see the related anime.
On the other hand, the Funimation app comes with an Android-style menu on Android. You have the below options in the left menu:
- home
- my queue
- my library
- all shows
- simulDub
- genres
Each series thumbnail has a little plus sign to add that show to your queue. Tapping on a show goes to that show’s page where you can watch its episodes, see ratings, share it, and follow it for future episodes.
Things you should know
Crunchyroll’s website: The interface of the website is a bit old. The company is working on a new design, and the beta version is available to try, but there is no news on when it will go public. However, regardless of the layout, the website is functional and responsive.
Ads on Crunchyroll: Of course, both programs show ads on the free plan, but Crunchyroll sometimes shows over 5 ads. For casual watchers, it would be fine, but for regulars, it can be a little bit overwhelming.
VPN: One can use an excellent VPN to access US-exclusive content on both apps. I have tried CyberGhost and NordVPN, but other premium VPNs will likely work fine.
Related: Crunchyroll vs. AnimeLab
Pricing
The next section of the Crunchyroll vs. Funimation is the pricing. Crunchyroll comes in two plans: Fan and Mega Fan. The Fan plan costs $7.99 per month and provides:
- Ad-free browsing and streaming
- Unlimited access
- Streaming on 1 device
- New episodes one hour from Japan
The Mega Fan plan is for users who want a bit more. It costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 yearly. Along with the Fan plan, you get:
- Streaming on up to 4 devices simultaneously
- Download shows on compatible devices
Funimation comes in three plans. The starting one, titled Premium, costs $5.99 per month, giving you subbed and dubbed access without any advertisement. You also have the freedom to stream on two devices concurrently.
The mid-tier plan titled Premium Plus costs $7.99 per month, and on this plan, the stream limit increases to five, while you can download episodes to watch offline. The plan also offers free shipping to purchases from Funimation Store and access to members-only events and offers.
The final plan, called Premium Plus Ultra, has the same features as Premium Plus, but you pay $99.99 annually and get an anniversary gift from Funimation.
Which one is for you?
It depends on the type of content you want. Crunchyroll has everything, so, despite the old website layout, I suggest going with Crunchyroll. If you don’t care about the content and want a smoother experience, you should go with Funimation. It shows fewer ads, and the interface is catchy.
Crunchyroll vs Funimation: Links
The bottom line
Both won’t disappoint you, but of course, a fitting service will make watching easier. Anyhow, here is the end of this Crunchyroll vs. Funimation article. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section and share it with your friends if they don’t know the difference.
Ben
Friday 29th of April 2022
Not sure about Crunchyroll's App interface but after going from Animelab to Funimation, im seriously looking into changing over, Animelabs app was good, Funimations app is absolute garbage
Madhsudhan Khemchandani
Friday 29th of April 2022
I know. Among the three, I like the AnimeLab's interface. The app is clean and easy to navigate.