If you’re looking for anime sites to watch your favorite videos completely free of charge, I have you covered. In this article, I’ll list the 22 best free anime streaming sites to watch anime online

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.

Even though anime movies and series are primarily produced for the Japanese audience, they have found commercial success globally. There are currently vast populations of anime fans, adults and kids alike, from all over the world.

Unfortunately, Anime content aired in Japan isn’t always readily 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.

As expected, finding reliable sites is often an uphill task for many fans. Additionally, it is common for the few available sites to be offline for days or months due to copyright and licensing issues.

This post will discuss some of the best sites to stream anime content. These sites are high-quality, reliable, and have excellent features and a vast anime content collection. We also cover sites featuring various anime content, from popular shows to classics and less-known content. Most of the sites on this post are free. You don’t have to pay to install or stream on the site.

The Best Free Anime Streaming Sites to Watch Anime Online

As noted above, we have curated the best anime websites based on several factors, including a huge collection of anime content, regular updates, and user-friendly features. We also consider the interface, whether the site is easy to navigate, and the number of ads users encounter, and they could lower the ease of navigation and interrupt streaming.

Let’s dive into the list.

 Legal Disclaimer: This tutorial is purely educational. tvdarija.net 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. tvdarija.net 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. Crunchyroll

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

free anime streaming websites

First on the list is the website Crunchyroll. If you are an anime fan, you’ve likely heard about or used Crunchyroll. This site has everything you need in a content streaming site, from a vast library to excellent streaming resolution between 720p and 1080p.

This website has a modern and well-designed layout with three main content categories: anime series, movies, and manga. It has a catalog of over 1200 titles and a subscriber base of over 4 million users, which is a testament to its diverse anime collection and impressive features.

Besides content categories, Crunchyroll has a Browse drop-down menu to filter content and navigate the site. Some menu tabs include Popular, New, Alphabetical, Simulcast Season, Release Calendar, and Music Videos & Concerts.

Other features include a favorites manager to add your everyday content, a search function to enter titles directly, and a profile button to adjust account settings.

Please note that Crunchyroll is a premium anime website. However, it offers a free plan with limited access.

The site offers a 14-day free trial for the premium subscription with additional incentives like ad-free streaming, access to the entire library, and regular content updates.

Here’s a quick breakdown of Crunchyroll’s most notable features:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

2. 9anime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

watch anime online

Next on the list of best free anime websites is 9anime. 9anime, like Crunchyroll, is popular amongst Anime fans globally. This site has various user-friendly features and a vast library spanning different anime niches. At first glance, the 9anime site is relatively straightforward.

There’s a search tab at the center of the page and a menu icon at the top-left corner. You can use the menu to find content categories like Genres, Types, Updated, Upcoming, Ongoing, and many more. Alternatively, click the Go to Home button to view the website’s main page.

9anime sports a clean, modern, sleek user interface with dark or light themes. There is no clutter, navigation is a piece of cake, and there are no annoying pop-up ads.

This anime website offers an extensive collection of anime series, movies, OVAs, ONAs, and Specials. There is subbed and dubbed anime content, making it convenient for English speakers who don’t like subtitles.

9anime is free, but you can register an account to track your content and access all the site’s features. Let’s review some of this site’s best features:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

3. Funimation

Countries/Regions: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil

Funimation

Funimation is another reliable and high-quality anime content website with a vast library that features all the latest anime content. The website is relatively easy to use, with a clutter-free interface and an uncomplicated menu.

Unfortunately, this website is only available in a few countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Brazil, Mexico, and Australia. You’ll require a top VPN service like ExpressVPN to stream content on this site from any location not listed above.

The anime streaming website is one of North America’s largest distributors of anime content. It has licenses to many TV series, including popular titles like Hunter x Hunter, Black Clover, My Hero Academia, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Assassination Classroom, Attack on Titan, and many more.

Funimation is more than just anime streaming. This website offers fans all the news and information they need on anime games, manga, new and trending anime series, movies, merch, collectibles, and so much more.

There are premium plans for a more immersive experience, but you can watch anime for free on this website.

Here’s a quick review of Funimation’s top qualities:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

4. Gogoanime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

best anime websites

Anime sites don’t get much better than Gogoanime. This website has been around since 2014 and is an excellent source for anime streaming for tons of fans.

Gogoanime has a vast library of Japanese TV shows and movies and a sizeable collection of Chinese titles for viewers who enjoy them. Users enjoy regular updates of anime episodes soon after they air in Japan.

This anime website has a lot to offer. For example, it is ad-free, meaning 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.

Some of Gogoanime’s highlights include:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

5. Animeheaven

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

anime websites for free

Up next on the list of the best anime streaming sites to watch anime online is Animeheaven, a website with thousands of free anime episodes. Watching anime on this website is smooth and hassle-free. There are no pop-up ads or surveys to interfere with the streaming experience.

Animeheaven offers all genres of anime, including action, adventure, comedy, drama, horror, historical, sci-fi, mystery, and many more. It does not store any anime shows or movies on its servers but pulls them from various content providers.

The user interface is clean and easy to use. It sports a dark theme with red headlights. Unlike many other free anime websites on this list, Animeheaven discards the thumbnails for a simple design that is much less clunky.

Categories let you choose between subbed and dubbed anime. You can browse among new releases, popular, and ongoing series. An advanced filter option lets you narrow down your choices.

Animehaven feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

6. RetroCrush

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

websites to watch free anime

RetroCrush is a feature-packed anime website with an enormous anime content library. The content spans across multiple niches with a priority on action and adventure. This website also features classics, unique and less-known titles, and the latest and most popular releases.

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

Some navigation buttons featured on the menu include 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.

Here’s a quick breakdown of this site’s features:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

7. CartoonCrazy

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

watch anime

If you’re looking for an anime site with a simple interface and regular content updates, the CartoonCrazy will not disappoint. This website’s main highlight is the simple layout. The main page features a menu on the top-left side and a search function at the upper-right edge of the screen.

You can click on a series or movie on the home page or click the anime list on the menu to review available content.

The site’s home button mainly redirects you to the most recent updates. Regarding quality, CartoonCrazy, like other websites on this list, has impressive quality between 720p and 1080p.

The links open fast, and there’s barely any lagging or buffering. CartoonCrazy is free, and you don’t need to sign up to stream content.

Even though this website is ad-supported, I didn’t encounter any when reviewing the features and quality. Here’s an overview of CartoonCrazy’s features:

8. KissAnime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

watch anime free online

If you’re familiar with this free anime streaming site, you probably know its sister site, KissManga. KissAnime was launched in 2012 and became one of the world’s biggest streaming sites, attracting millions of hardcore fans.

While the official KissAnime site is now defunct, it has been reincarnated in several clones, some more prominent than others.

KissAnime lets you watch anime across various genres, including action, mystery, drama, comedy, superpowers, horror, and more. The video quality ranges from standard to high definition.

Because watching anime on this website is free, there are ads. Depending on the clone, they can be intrusive or low-key.

Coming bundled with the site are two other websites – KissCartoons and KissAsian. The former offers an extensive collection of cartoons in several genres, from children to adult videos. KissAsian, on the other hand, lets you watch Asian drama TV shows free of charge. All three websites share similar designs.

KissAnime feature highlights:

9. Anime Planet

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

best site to watch anime

A legal website for watching anime online for free, Anime-Planet has been around for two decades. It has since grown to hold a collection of over 45,000 industry-supported episodes.

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

With such a huge catalog, you can find all sorts of anime across several genres on Anime-Planet. They are culled through its partnerships with streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Hulu.

Fan favorites like One Piece, Black Clover, and Tokyo Revengers have episodes uploaded regularly. There are ads, but not a lot.

With a clean, intuitive user interface, navigating the anime website to watch your favorite anime is 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.

Anime Planet feature highlights:

10. Anime Owl

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

anime streaming

Anime Owl is one of the most elegantly designed anime websites on this list, which makes watching videos on the site fun. But it is much more than a sleek design. This anime site has an extensive collection of videos that get updated regularly.

The site has various types of animes, including TV series, OVA, ONA, movies, and Specials. An A-Z anime list presents a run-down of content sorted alphabetically. There are also several genres to choose from. Anime Owl also links to an extensive library of light novels you can read online.

Anime Owl is compatible with various devices and has iOS and Android apps. Anime Owl feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

11. HIDIVE

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

free anime streaming sites

HIDIVE is a diverse, well-designed anime site with a contemporary interface and vast library. This website features various anime niches, including simulcasts, dubs, series, and movies. The layout is easy to navigate.

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

It’s vital to note that HIDIVE is a premium anime site. It has a free-access library that 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 their premium service 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. Here’s a quick review of HIDIVE’s best features:

12. TubiTV

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

sites to watch anime

Tubi TV is the first of the free anime websites on this list that is not a standalone anime service. Instead, it is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform that provides tons of video content, ranging from movies to TV shows and documentaries. You can even watch Live TV on Tubi TV – several channels cover the news, sports, and entertainment.

Anime fans are not left out. 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 exactly shine in terms of viewing quality. Users get a choice of video quality for watching anime on the website, but it tops off at 72op. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but videos in full HD or higher would make for a more enhanced watching experience. TubiTV feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Websitehttps:// tubi.tv/

13. Hulu

Countries/regions: United States, Japan

Hulu

Easily one of the most popular streaming services in the world, Hulu is also one of the best websites to watch anime series and movies. It is best known for its TV shows, movies, and Originals, but Hulu also has a sizeable anime content library.

On this platform, you can watch anime series like One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Assassination Classroom, My Hero Academia, and Attack on Titan. Most anime series are dubbed in English. On the other hand, 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.

As you can expect, the viewing experience on Hulu trounces the other anime sites on this list. You can watch your favorite anime on Hulu in various video qualities, like 720p, full HD, 4K Ultra HD, and 60fps HD.

Hulu is not a free website, but new subscribers enjoy everything on offer for up to 30 days if they take advantage of its free trial. It is also available as an app on the Google PlayStore and App Store.

Hulu feature highlights:

14. AnimeUltima

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

AnimeUltima

Next on the list of the best free anime websites is AnimeUltima. Most anime series and movies on this website have English subtitles, but there are also several dubbed videos.

AnimeUltima has many popular anime videos covered in its extensive library, and newly released episodes are uploaded frequently.

Even though you can watch anime for free here, it is not cluttered with ads. This makes for a decent user experience, especially when combined with how cleanly designed the anime website is. With videos grouped into many genres and an effective search function, exploring anime series and films is relatively easy.

Like most free anime sites I’ve discussed, you can watch anime series on AnimeUltime in HD quality. It does not have a download function.

AnimeUltima feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

15. AnimeDao

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

watch anime free online

You will find some anime movies here, but AnimeDao is primarily focused on providing anime fans with all the TV series they’re after. It is one of the best anime sites for popular titles, including new releases and old classics. Watching anime does not cost a subscription fee on this website, and the ads are minimal.

AnimeDao has a clean user interface that is easy to navigate. You can switch between dark and like modes, depending on your preference. Clicking on the Latest or Ongoing tabs directs you to the newest releases and continuing series, respectively. If you are unsure what to watch, Random will help you decide.

After you decide, you can choose between different servers to begin watching. The pro is that if one does not work, one of the others will. You can decide on the quality of the videos by selecting up to 1080p resolution. A feature I especially liked is that you can pick up from wherever you left off whenever you return to an episode.

AnimeDao is big on community. Anime fans who visit the website regularly have a Discord group for discussions.

AnimeDao feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

16. Masteranime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

watch anime online

Masteranime deserves a slot on this list of best anime streaming sites due to its vast library of anime videos, user-friendly interface, and HD-quality video streaming. There are a couple thousand anime titles here, including series and movies.

The anime website gets regular updates, so you can be sure to find the latest content. Navigating the Masteranime website is pretty straightforward. The site features various categories on the main page, and you can click on any banner to start streaming.

Alternatively, you can use the anime button at the top of the home screen to browse the library. Besides the anime tab, Masteranime has a schedule function to inform you when upcoming titles will be released and a search icon to enter titles directly instead of reviewing the library.

This website is free and doesn’t require signing up to stream. Still, you can create an account to enjoy all the exclusive features. Masteranime features include:

17. Chia-Anime

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

Chia-Anime

Another of the best anime streaming sites is Chia-Anime, which gets tons of traffic for all kinds of anime content. With an extensive collection of anime movies, shows, and cartoons that get updated frequently, you can watch anime ranging from the popular to the obscure.

Chia-anime is not the most elegantly designed website, but it does the job. Navigation is not difficult, and pop-up ad annoyance is minimal. Anime titles are sorted into various categories, including genres and seasons. There are over 30 genres of anime videos, including lesser-known genres.

Chia-anime is also one of the best anime sites for visitors to read manga titles and listen to anime soundtracks. ChiaAnime feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

18. Animeland

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

animeland

Animeland is one of the best anime websites to watch dubbed anime shows and films. Most of the videos on this website are dubbed versions of the original Japanese. Even at that, they come with subtitles.

Animeland’s website is a bit dated, with a design that looks like it was created decades ago. Still, the user interface is not cluttered; you will find it easy to navigate and use. The categories, including Dubbed Anime List, Dragon Ball Super, Naruto Shippudden, and One Piece, don’t offer much help in finding animes not listed among them. The search function does, but you must know the anime’s name.

Additionally, anime streaming is impeccable, with video quality ranging from 360p to 1080p. There is a download feature so you can save videos for offline viewing.

Animeland feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

19. VIZ

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

viz

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, but it also features various series and content banners on the main page. The site 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 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 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.

Here’s an overview of the VIZ anime website’s best features:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

20. AsianCrush

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

AsianCrush

AsianCrush is not a standalone anime website. The streaming service offers a host of Asian movies and series spread across various genres. One of those genres is anime, and you’ll find dozens of titles under it.

Signing up is not mandatory to use the website. However, for some content, you must be registered and logged in. AsianCrush has a premium subscription that unlocks the whole service experience.

The website has a sleek user interface, but it is not the easiest to use. There are no categories for anime, so you’re limited to the search button to narrow down on titles. AsianCrush highlights include:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

21. Nicovideo

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

nicovideo

Nicovideo is an anime website predominantly tailored for the Japanese audience. Even though the site’s content and titles are in Japanese, you can use the translate function to switch to English.

Besides the language barrier limiting some navigation aspects of the website, Nicovideo is an excellent addition to this list. It has a vast collection of anime and a feature-packed website with various niche categories and a responsive search function.

Streaming quality is excellent, with content resolution between 720p and 1080p. The main page is immersive, with various menu tabs at the top to help you navigate. Some features on this site include live broadcasts, channels, an encyclopedia, movies, and others.

Nicovideo is free and doesn’t require an account to stream. The site contains a few ads that won’t interrupt your streaming experience. Nicovideo feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

22. CONtv

Countries/regions: Available worldwide

free anime streaming sites to watch anime online

If you love comics, there’s no doubt that you’ll love CONtv. This streaming service is dedicated to members of the Comic-Con community, providing them with exclusive content and access to conventions from different locations in the United States.

CONtv’s catalog covers a wide variety of videos. There are movies and series in several genres, including horror, supernatural, action, and horror. More relevantly, the website has many anime you can watch for free.

Beyond these, CONtv lets users look at behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, discussions, reviews, and more from the Comic-Con. It has both free and premium versions.

CONtv feature highlights:

  • Ad Annoyance: Low
  • Ad-Blocker Compatibility: Yes
  • VPN Compatibility: Yes
  • Streaming Quality: Up to HD 1080
  • Website

FAQ’s

Are free anime sites legal?

Some of them are. The legal free anime sites in this article include Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation, CONtv, and Tubi TV. If you stream anime exclusively on sites like this, you don’t stand a chance of crossing any copyright licensing regulations.

However, the other anime sites are not entirely legal. These sites straddle a legal gray area and usually conflict with the authorities for violating regulations.

Are free anime sites safe?

Legal anime sites are perfectly safe. This is because the anime on these websites are vetted before they are uploaded. That is not always the case with third-party anime websites.

Do I need a VPN to stream anime online?

VPNs are recommended for streaming anime videos for a few reasons. For one, VPNs protect user traffic from interception from ISPs, scammers, and the Government. Furthermore, they help to bypass the geo-restrictions set by anime websites to lock content to 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

Birthed initially in Japan, anime has taken over the world. Nowadays, people from virtually every country watch anime and read the manga. But getting the anime content you want for free online is not always easy.

In this article, I showed you 22 of the best free anime streaming sites to watch anime online. I hope you find them helpful. Please use the comment box below if you have any comments in this direction.

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