Goodbye to Free Anime… Crunchyroll Changes Forever in 2026

Crunchyroll confirmed a historic change that will affect millions of anime fans by permanently removing the option to watch free anime with ads, a model that for years allowed access to much of its catalog but gradually lost relevance.

In recent years, the free catalog has been significantly reduced. Major premieres only offered a few sample episodes, and access without a subscription was limited to classic series or previous seasons. Now, the change will be total and definitive.

When Does It Take Effect?

The key date is December 31, 2025. From that day on, free anime with ads will disappear completely. Starting January 1, 2026, watching any series or movie on Crunchyroll will require a paid subscription, with no ads or interruptions.

This change will especially affect those who used the platform to watch highly sought-after titles such as One Piece, Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, or Chainsaw Man, among others—series that generate millions of views and monthly searches.

How Much Will It Cost?

With this decision, Crunchyroll is fully committing to the subscription-based model, aligning itself with other streaming services. Currently, plans start at approximately USD 7.99 per month for the Fan plan, while the Mega Fan plan is around USD 9.99 per month, which includes additional benefits such as downloads and expanded access.

What Changes and What Doesn’t for Subscribers

Although the company never heavily promoted its free option in advertising campaigns, this feature was for years a key hook to attract new users, many of whom eventually subscribed. As a positive note for fans, Crunchyroll has not yet implemented strict measures against account sharing, which remains allowed for now.

The end of free anime on Crunchyroll marks a major shift in how anime is consumed online and forces fans to rethink how and where they will watch their favorite series starting in 2026.