29 Best Anime Streaming Sites to Watch Anime Online

Are you a fan of Death Note, Naruto or Dragon Ball Z, but not sure where to watch anime online? There are countless anime sites out there. Some are packed with annoying ads, some are outright fake, and others offer shows in HD with good English subtitles. Many of us never grow out of watching animation, so it pays to know which sites are worth your time.

Anime is the Japanese term for animation, and today it refers to the distinctive style of animated series and films from Japan, recognizable by features such as characters with large, expressive eyes. (Manga, by contrast, are Japanese comics, and many anime series are based on them.) The earliest known Japanese animated films date back to 1917. Today there are hundreds of anime studios, including well-known names such as Studio Ghibli, Gainax and Toei Animation, and anime has become popular worldwide thanks to its gripping stories and striking visuals.

Just as there are many sites for streaming movies, there are many sites dedicated to anime. Below are 29 of the best known. Legal services such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Tubi and Anime-Planet's partner links are the safest choice; the free unofficial sites change addresses often and many rely on aggressive ads, so use an ad blocker and avoid downloading anything they offer.

Best Anime Streaming Sites

1. AnimeXD

AnimeXD requires you to create an account before you can watch, but in return you get well-organized, high-quality content that is easy to explore. Its best feature is notifications about the release dates of new episodes, so you will never miss your favorite shows.

2. AnimeFlix

AnimeFlix is a relatively new site that has quickly become popular. Series and movies are completely free, the library is updated weekly, and it covers many genres in both English-subbed and dubbed versions. Best of all, there are no video ads.

3. AnimeSeason

AnimeSeason offers anime completely free, with no account required and a choice of several servers for each show. The downside is pop-up ads, which can spoil the experience.

4. Animestreams

Animestreams lets you watch dubbed and subbed anime without paying or sitting through commercial breaks. You can also download episodes, request titles that are not on the site yet, and choose between English audio or Japanese with subtitles.

5. SideReel

SideReel has been around for a long time and is popular with anime viewers. Create a free account to access its collection of anime and other TV shows.

6. AnimeTake

AnimeTake has built a reputation for good content without ads getting in the way, and it is updated regularly.

7. RyuAnime

RyuAnime is great for newcomers who do not know where to start: its random button suggests trending shows to try. Most series are available dubbed or subbed in English, and ads are kept to a minimum.

8. Crackle

Crackle, originally owned by Sony, offered a smaller anime selection, but in excellent quality and free with limited ads. It also streams non-anime movies and TV shows. Its main drawback is that it is not available in every country.

9. Chia-Anime

Chia-Anime has almost every anime series you can think of, which makes it one of the most complete free sites. It also has fewer pop-ups than most of its rivals. Nearly all episodes are English-subbed and properly titled, so they line up neatly in playlists. Besides anime, it offers manga, anime movies and soundtracks, and two separate video players, so if one fails you can switch to the other.

10. AnimeBam

AnimeBam has a huge database covering every kind of anime, with a simple, attractive interface that is ideal for beginners. Dubbed series are marked with a green tag, making them easy to spot.

11. GoGoAnime

GoGoAnime's standout feature is a choice of seven streaming servers, so there is almost always one that works. On the default VIDSTREAMING server you can also download full episodes. It has a collection of anime films and a chat room for talking with other fans.

12. KissAnime

KissAnime was one of the best-known free anime sites, with fast servers and both old and new series dubbed and subbed in English. Registered users could bookmark episodes to watch later. The original site shut down in 2020; many copies have since appeared under the same name, so be cautious.

13. Anime-Planet

Anime-Planet is a popular anime database and recommendation site. It partners with official streaming services, so its video links point to legal sources. Its "My List" feature recommends new series based on what you have watched, and it carries far fewer ads than free streaming sites.

14. AnimeFreak

AnimeFreak feels more like a fan blog than a typical streaming site because it is packed with information. It updates daily with new anime and manga and keeps regular visitors well informed, although newcomers may need a little time to get used to all the details and tags.

15. Ani.me

Ani.me focused on licensed anime available in the US, as well as new series. The site is well designed with an attractive player, episodes are neatly organized, and search can be filtered by popular or new series. Episodes have no ads at all, but it is not available in every country.

16. Hulu

Hulu offers anime series and movies across many genres, all in HD, alongside its original shows, films and sitcoms. It is a paid service, with plans starting at a modest monthly price, and works on phones and smart TVs. It is only available in a few countries.

17. Anilinkz

Anilinkz focuses on currently airing anime. The site looks good and is easy to use: new episodes appear as thumbnails, one click away from playing, and the player page includes a discussion section for each episode. However, there are a lot of ads, so be careful where you click, and older, finished series are not available.

18. Animenova

Animenova is sometimes called the dictionary of anime, thanks to its huge database and alphabetical drop-down menus, plus a long list of the latest episodes. It uses text links instead of images, which makes casual browsing harder but suits viewers keeping up with new releases. There are no account limits, but there is no search bar either.

19. Soul-Anime

Soul-Anime brings popular series such as Naruto, Bleach and Fairy Tail together in one place. The homepage makes it easy to navigate every series, episodes are shown with image links, and new releases are added quickly. It does not carry anime movies or finished series. A random button suggests something new to watch.

20. Netflix

Netflix is a paid, legal service with a huge and growing collection of anime series and films in both subbed and dubbed versions, including many exclusives. It has apps for Windows, iOS, Android and smart TVs, and clear menus that make each category easy to browse. A subscription also gets you Netflix originals, movies and other TV shows.

21. MasterAnime

MasterAni.me offered free, unlimited access to anime series and movies in many genres, in HD and with Japanese or English subtitles. It is a good fit for viewers who do not want a subscription, as long as you can tolerate ads between episodes.

22. 9anime

9anime has a complete catalog covering drama, action, parody and much more, all in HD with fast loading. You do not need to register, and multiple servers mean you can switch if one is not working. Watch out for click-triggered ads.

23. Anime Heaven

Anime Heaven has an attractive design and plenty of episodes in subbed and dubbed versions, plus anime movies. It is easy to find the latest episodes of ongoing shows, and series are categorized by genre, release date and number of episodes. A chat room lets you discuss shows with other fans.

24. Funimation

Funimation was a global leader in licensed anime, known especially for its English dubs. It has since been merged into Crunchyroll, which now carries most of its catalog.

25. Tubi

Tubi is a free, legal, ad-supported service with movies and TV shows, including subbed and dubbed anime. Its anime collection is smaller and features fewer famous titles, but video quality is better than on most free anime sites, and the dark-themed interface is clean and easy to use.

26. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the best-known legal anime site. A premium membership unlocks everything ad-free in full HD, but many episodes are free to stream with ads, which is enough for plenty of viewers. Popular series such as Naruto are available, and the servers run with almost no lag.

27. JustDubs

JustDubs lets you stream and download current anime series and movies for free. Its catalog covers horror, drama, comedy, action, romance, mystery, thriller and more. See our list of JustDubs alternatives if it is unavailable.

28. Yahoo View

Yahoo View offered high-quality anime movies and series for free with no ads at all, sorted by genre, from Attack on Titan and Cowboy Bebop to Death Note and One-Punch Man. Yahoo has since closed the service.

29. Viewster

Viewster offered free anime series and movies, though it was better known for non-anime films. Its anime catalog was decent but somewhat dated, making it a good starting point for beginners. It had no ads, English subtitles on every episode, a mobile app and anime from several countries. The service has since been discontinued.

Conclusion

If you love anime, this list should help you find the right place to watch. There are many anime sites, but finding legal ones with good video quality and few or no ad interruptions is always a challenge. Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu and Tubi tick all those boxes. Some services are not available in every country, so check what is offered where you live.

Sources: techradar.com, techiestechguide.com, techdator.net, techstorify.com, videosolo.com, techpout.com