Anime streaming service Crunchyroll, which offers shows such as My Hero Academia and One Piece, announced on Tuesday that it will shut down its ad-supported tier on Dec. 31. Viewers will now have to pay for a subscription if they want to keep streaming shows.

For years, Crunchyroll offered a rotating catalog of episodes, mostly older seasons and select shows, available for free with ads. But recent in-service messages alerted viewers that "Ad-supported streaming ends December 31, 2025." After that date, anyone wishing to access the service will need a paid plan.

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The existing subscription tiers remain unchanged. The entry-level Fan plan starts at $8 per month, while the Mega Fan ($12) and Ultimate Fan ($16) options add perks such as HD streaming, offline downloads and multi-device support.

The Crunchyroll free option had already been shrinking. Simulcasts and new episodes were removed from the free library as early as 2022, leaving only a minimal selection of titles, which has made some viewers unhappy. For many casual viewers or newcomers, the loss of the free viewing tier removes a low-barrier entry point that helped introduce them to anime.

If you still want to watch anime without paying, several other services continue to offer free, ad-supported streaming:

• Tubi: A large selection of classic and older anime series and movies, all free with ads.
• Pluto TV: Multiple 24/7 anime channels plus some on-demand titles.
• RetroCrush: Specializes in classic and vintage anime; free with ads.
• YouTube: Some studios (like Toei Animation and Gundam's official channel) release episodes and whole series legally.

Selection varies, and none offer the same breadth of simulcasts and new releases that Crunchyroll provides, but for viewers who aren't ready to subscribe, these platforms still offer ways to watch anime for free.