Ever been hooked on an epic anime like Attack on Titan, One Piece, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, or My Hero Academia only to hit a wall with Crunchyroll’s premium membership block or get bombarded by ads during a crucial fight scene? Yeah, it’s frustrating. And while anime is a passion for many of us, those subscription costs can stack up fast, especially with other streaming services vying for our wallets. So, how can you snag the cheapest Crunchyroll membership without sacrificing your anime binge sessions?
I’ve dug deep to bring you the best tips, tricks, and hacks in this post, so let’s break it all down.
How Much Does Crunchyroll Membership Cost?
Crunchyroll memberships come with different tiers, each offering varying benefits for anime and manga lovers. Here’s a quick breakdown before you are thinking about getting one with cheaper cost:
1. Free Crunchyroll Membership (Ad-Supported)
Crunchyroll app is available for free on all platforms but requires a signup at Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll free subscription allows access to a wide selection of anime. However, the thing is you have to watch Ads during shows and it limits access to some new episodes (delayed by a week or more)
2. Fan Crunchyroll Membership ($7.99/month)
A cheaper Crunchyroll subscription option is Fan. Some nice benefits such as watching anime with no Ads, access to the full anime library (including new episodes within an hour of airing in Japan) make it perfect for casual anime watchers who can stream online only and want new episodes without waiting. But notice that you can only stream on one device at a time.
3. Mega Fan ($11.99/month)
Mega Fan membership includes everything from the Fan Plan, plus offline viewing and streaming on up to 4 devices at a time. What makes it even better is that you can access special discounts on Crunchyroll Store. Therefore, if you are a viewer who prefers offline downloads and streaming on multiple devices simultaneously, this is the best.
4. Ultimate Fan ($15.99/month)
It covers everything in Mega Fan and adds exclusive annual member swag and streams on up to 6 devices simultaneously. You can also enjoy bigger discounts on Crunchyroll Store. So it’s ideal for hardcore anime enthusiasts who want the best Crunchyroll has to offer, including exclusive merchandise.
In summary, If you watch anime often, the Mega Fan plan stands out as the best value for features like offline downloads and multiple device streaming.
Does Crunchyroll Offer Student Discounts?
Unfortunately, Crunchyroll itself doesn’t have a dedicated student discount right now. If you’re a student on a budget, that might be disappointing.
While Crunchyroll doesn’t offer a student discount, its channel on other streaming platforms like Roku and Amazon do. For instance, with a new channel home on Amazon Prime Video, students can enjoy a six-month free trial, followed by a 50% discount on the regular Prime membership, including Crunchyroll anime selection. And you don’t need to pay money for a Crunchyroll trial. It might not have as extensive an anime library as the Crunchyroll app, but it does offer a mix of content with cheapest Crunchyroll membership discounts for students that could be appealing.
How to Get Crunchyroll for Free?
One of the most asked problems is how to get Crunchyroll for free. Well…If you’re okay with a bit of compromise, here are some ways that you might be able to enjoy Crunchyroll without paying:
- Free Plan: if you are OK with Ads and delayed access to new episodes, this is the most simple and quick way to get Crunchyroll content for free.
- Free Trials: Crunchyroll occasionally offers extended free trials for new users. For instance, in October 2024, a 60-day free trial of Mega Fan was opened. While this specific promotion has ended, you should check Crunchyroll’s official website and their newsletters regularly for any current or upcoming offers. Plus, the Mega Fan plan has always been available for 7-30 days.
- Bundle Deals: Occasionally, Crunchyroll partners with other services to provide free memberships as part of a package deal.
While these aren’t permanent solutions, they’re perfect if you’re binging a new series.
How to Get Cheapest Crunchyroll Membership?
Since the solutions above might not be everlasting, here’s where the real savings come in. Below are actionable tips to cut down on your Crunchyroll membership costs:
1. Crunchyroll Promo Codes
Crunchyroll occasionally releases promo codes for discounts, especially during holidays or special events. Websites like RetailMeNot and Honey often have promo code listings, but make sure to double-check expiration dates.
2. Yearly Subscription Savings
Crunchyroll offers a slight discount if you pay for the entire year upfront. For instance, the Mega Fan plan costs $99.99 per year, which saves you around $20 compared to monthly billing.
3. Get Cheapest Crunchyroll Membership from Another Country
Believe it or not, the cost of subscribing to Crunchyroll differs greatly from country to country. And people in some places in the world are paying less than you to watch anime on Crunchyroll!
Here’s a quick price comparison table showing how much you can save as of Feb 2025:
Country | Fan Plan | Mega Fan Plan |
|---|---|---|
United States | $7.99 | $11.99 |
India | $0.90 | $1.13 |
Pakistan | $1.00 | $1.25 |
Turkey | $1.39 | $1.95 |
Philippine | $1.36 | $1.71 |
Nigeria | $1.79 | $2.27 |
TaiWan | $1.83 | $2.28 |
Malaysia | $2.02 | $2.47 |
Thailand | $2.04 | $2.63 |
Brazil | $2.58 | $3.44 |
Argentina | $3.32 | $4.18 |
Moldovan | $3.89 | $4.92 |
Ukraine | $3.99 | $4.99 |
Singapore | $4.06 | $5.16 |
Hungarian | $4.66 | $6.04 |
Egypt | $4.97 | $6.37 |
HongKong | $5.01 | $6.29 |
Italy | $5.16 | $6.71 |
Canada | $6.99 | $8.74 |
Here comes the point, if you are living in a country where Crunchyroll membership is way more expensive, how can you get it cheaper?
The answer is simple and straightforward—changing your location then.
Using a VPN like BearVPN can easily spoof your location to another country and unlock cheaper regional pricing for Crunchyroll memberships. This is one of the most effective methods to get the cheapest Crunchyroll membership. BearVPN is an optimal app for its fast and reliable servers in 120+ locations and you don’t have to experience any buffering while streaming.
The most important thing is, BearVPN itself is completely free so you’ll still come out saving money overall.
How to Use BearVPN for Cheaper Crunchyroll Premium?
- Download and install BearVPN for your device.
- Connect to a server in BearVPN in Argentina, Turkey, or India where it offers cheaper cost for Crunchyroll.
- Go to Crunchyroll’s website or app and create an account.
- Sign up for the plan of your choice with any credit card that is accepted worldwide and you are good..
- Enjoy your anime while paying way less!
4. Look Out for Seasonal Sales
Crunchyroll occasionally offers discounts during events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Make sure to mark your calendar and check for promotions.
5. Crunchyroll Store Discounts for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you get up to 15% off merchandise from the Crunchyroll Store. If you’re someone who buys anime merch, this can indirectly offset the cost of your membership.
6. Share a Plan (Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan)
The Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan plans allow multiple simultaneous streams. Share the cost with friends or family to bring down the per-person cost.
Final Thoughts
If anime is a big part of your entertainment routine, Crunchyroll is definitely worth the investment. But why pay more than you need to? By using promo codes, opting for yearly subscriptions, or taking advantage of regional pricing with BearVPN, you can easily get the cheapest Crunchyroll membership and enjoy unlimited anime without breaking the bank.
