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Popular anime streamer Crunchyroll will end its free, ad-supported service at the end of the year.
As reported by Cord Cutters News, Crunchyroll viewers are seeing an in-player message in place of an ad that says it's transitioning to a subscription-only model starting Jan. 1, 2026.
As spotted by a Reddit user, the message reads, “Ad-supported streaming ends December 31, 2025. Upgrade now to ensure your viewing is 100% ad-free and uninterrupted.”
Crunchyroll has prioritized its subscription models for many years, restricting free viewers from watching simulcast episodes and making them wait to watch new episodes.
While the free subscription hasn’t been a priority for Crunchyroll, it did offer a friction-free way for casual viewers to see whether they liked popular shows like Attack of Titan or Demon Slayer.
The basic Fan plan costs $7.99 a month, which comes with the full library of anime and access to simulcast episodes. Crunchyroll also offers a Mega Fan account for $11.99 a month with offline viewing and simultaneous streams for up to four viewers. An Ultimate Fan account is $15.99 a month and comes with six streams and access to exclusive merchandise. It also gives you full access to the brand's gaming service.
All three subscription levels are ad-free, and there's no indication that the brand will charge for a cheaper ad-supported tier.
PCMag’s guide to the best anime streaming services recommends services such as Retro Crush or Hidive as alternatives. There are also select anime shows and movies on larger streamers, including Hulu, Netflix, and the ad-supported service Tubi.