Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (2024)

  • Anime Culture
  • Anime Movies
  • Anime Series

Want to watch anime online without paying for a subscription? These sites let you stream anime series and movies for free!

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (1)ByEmma Roth

Oct 31, 2022

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (2)

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No one wants to watch anime on a seedy site filled with annoying ads, pop-ups, and malware. If you want to watch anime the right way—still without paying a dime—you're in the right place.

The following sites offer the best anime streaming experience without requiring you to pay a single cent. You might have to sit through some ads, but we're focusing on sites that aren't too obnoxious.

Is It Illegal to Stream Anime Online?

If you're worried about watching videos on certain sites because you think you could get in trouble, here's what you need to know.

Disclaimer: None of this should be taken as legal advice. These findings are general to the United States, but they may not apply to you. When in doubt, consult with a lawyer.

First, downloading copyrighted content is always illegal without explicit permission. Downloading a file constitutes creation of a copy, which violates US copyright law if you aren't authorized to make that copy. While the chances of you being prosecuted for it are slim, it's still greater than zero so we don't recommend it.

Second, hosting a copyrighted video and streaming it for others to watch is illegal without explicit permission. Even if no direct copying of files is involved, unauthorized streaming of copyrighted content to viewers is a US felony offense as of 2021.

Third, watching an unauthorized video stream of copyrighted content is legal. If you're merely watching a video that someone else put up—even if that video was pirated—you aren't breaking any laws. While stream hosters are subject to prosecution, stream watchers aren't. You can rest easy knowing that you're in the clear.

The one exception is if you're watching videos on a peer-to-peer streaming network. With peer-to-peer streaming, you're simultaneously uploading video data to other viewers as you watch video data from someone else, and that makes it illegal.

However, peer-to-peer video sites are relatively rare and usually require opting in from users, so if you don't know what they are, you're likely not using one.

Protect Yourself

Watching anime streams may be legal, but maybe you still feel an inkling of fear that somehow you'll get in trouble. If that's the case, you should use a VPN.

A reputable VPN offers benefits like hiding your IP address, encrypting your connections, and protecting your privacy so that your online activity can't be traced back to you.

ExpressVPN is the VPN we trust most: no activity logs, no connection logs, no way to point back at you even if compelled to do so by world governments.

11. RetroCrush

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (3)

If you're a fan of classic anime from before the 21st century—or maybe you're just curious about it and want to check it out—then RetroCrush is the anime streaming site for you.

RetroCrush specializes in older anime series that might be hard to find these days, like Arcadia of My Youth, Voltes V, and Itakiss. Don't expect a huge anime collection, but the site is constantly growing.

RetroCrush has a user-friendly interface that's similar to Netflix. Better yet, the site isn't plastered with ads and the commercials are kept to a minimum, allowing you to binge-watch your favorite oldies.

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10. Tubi

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (5)

When I first discovered Tubi, I thought it was too good to be true. This platform is host to completely legal (non-pirated) movies and TV shows, which includes an entire category for anime.

For a free site, it has a surprisingly solid library. They're mostly mainstream hits, of course, such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Punch Man, Death Note, Fairy Tail, and Hunter X Hunter. But there are some lesser-known anime series in between them, too.

With the site's clean interface and minimal ads, it's a great one to check out and bookmark if you care about ethical streaming.

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9. Animeflix

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (7)

Animeflix recreates the Netflix interface and experience, except it's wholly focused on anime movies and series. If you're used to the way Netflix does things, you'll feel right at home on Animeflix.

You can maintain your own watchlist, of course, and you can browse for new content by genres, but the site can be a little hard to navigate if you're looking for something very specific.

For example, the genres page only lists Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror, and Slice of Life. However, anime series are tagged with many others, including Drama, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, etc. Finding those genre pages can be a pain.

8. AnimeDao

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (8)

AnimeDao is a solid site for watching anime online, although the interface does feel outdated in parts. Despite that, the search functionality for finding anime series to watch is useful.

You can filter out ongoing series (in case you want to binge-watch completed series only), and the library is divided into dozens of genres, making it easy to find the kinds of anime you'll enjoy.

The site is missing a lot of the cool bling and features of more popular anime streaming sites, but for something simple and easy to use without overwhelming ads, AnimeDao isn't too bad.

7. AnimeSuge

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (9)

AnimeSuge is another run-of-the-mill anime streaming site. This one has a pretty sizable library and a slick interface that makes it easy to find and watch the anime series you're interested in.

With filters for dozens of genres, year and season of release, ongoing and completed status, age discretion ratings, and separation between Japanese and Chinese, you can filter it all down pretty quickly.

6. Gogoanime

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (10)

Gogoanime is a favorite anime streaming site for many fans, thanks to its large library and frequent updates.

This site has been tracking new anime releases since 2014, divided into Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. It may not be perfect for all anime users, but it's a good catch-all site for modern anime series across all kinds of genres and tastes.

Be aware that the ads on this site are pretty risque. If you don't like that, you may fare better with one of our higher-ranked sites.

5. Hime

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (11)

Hime is one of our favorite anime streaming sites and definitely worth checking out if you don't already use it.

Yes, it's a newer site with a smaller library than most of the sites on this list—Hime has only been tracking seasonal anime releases since 2019. However, it ranks this high because it has simulcasts!

Simulcasts allow you to watch ongoing anime series as they're broadcast, meaning you don't have to wait!

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (12)Related: The Best Anime Series About Video Games for Gamers

4. Zoro.to

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (13)

Zoro.to is one of the largest anime streaming sites on the web, and it's your best option is you like watching anime with others.

Not only does Zoro.to have several social outlets for community—including Discord, Telegram, and Reddit—but the site has a useful built-in feature called Watch2gether.

With Watch2gether, you can load up an anime movie or episode, have others join you remotely, and all of you can watch in sync. There's also a chat feature where you can share messages, GIFs, etc.

3. 9anime

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (14)

9anime is the ultimate anime streaming site if you don't care about the ethical issues related to pirated streams. It's been around since 2016 so it has quite the track record to back up its run.

Not only does 9anime have a massive library of anime—quite possibly the largest of them all—but it also has the same Watch2gether feature that Zoro.to has, so you can stream and watch in sync remotely with friends while chatting together.

One nice bonus with 9anime is that it supports high-quality video even on older series that are usually stuck at 480p or worse.

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2. Funimation

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (16)

Funimation has a massive collection of anime series and movies that makes it one of the best anime streaming sites. Every anime on the Funimation site is completely authorized, so you don't have to worry about legalities or ethical issues.

We would rank this as the number one site, except Funimation and Crunchyroll are set to merge together in the future—and Funimation's library is eventually migrating over to Crunchyroll.

But for now, you can still enjoy the stuff on Funimation's site while it's still around. A good chunk of its library is available to free watchers in 1080p resolution with some advertisem*nts.

Premium users get access to the entire Funimation library, greater video resolutions, and access to simulcasts.

1. Crunchyroll

Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (17)

Crunchyroll is our top anime streaming site for one reason only: it's the largest library of authorized anime videos on the entire web.

There's absolutely no piracy on Crunchyroll—so if you're an ethical anime viewer who refuses to support unauthorized streaming, this is one of the most important sites you need to bookmark.

With Funimation merging into Crunchyroll, the full library is only going to grow ever larger as Funimation's anime series and movies make their way over to the Crunchyroll platform.

Unfortunately, not everything on Crunchyroll is available for free. Some series only have a few of their first episodes open to free viewers, while other series are completely locked for non-Premium users. Consider trying the 14-day free trial to see what's what.

As for the freely available anime, the viewing experience is ad-supported unless you have a Premium plan (which eliminates all ads). Simulcasts are only available to Premium users.

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Where to Legally Watch Anime Online for Free: The 11 Best Streaming Sites (2024)

FAQs

Where can I legally watch anime for free? ›

  • #1) Gogoanime.
  • #2) Crunchyroll.
  • #3) Anime-Planet.
  • #4) TubiTV.
  • #5) 9Animetv.to.
  • #6) Amazon Anime.
  • #7) Funimation.
  • #8) AnimeFreak.

What is the best legal anime streaming service? ›

Sites like Crunchyroll and Hidive provide all-you-can-watch viewing for a single monthly price, and they're completely legal.

What is the best free anime website to watch? ›

Part 1 21 Free Anime Websites to Watch Anime Online
Anime WebsitesCountries or Regions AvailablePrice
9animeWorldwideFree
AnimeDaoUSA, Philippines, India, UK, Canada, Singapore, etc.Free
Chia-AnimeWorldwideFree
AnimeSugeWorldwideFree
17 more rows

Is 9Anime an illegal website? ›

Legal and Safety Concerns

It is against the law for 9Anime to stream anime because it does not have the right licenses to do so. People who use these kinds of sites may face a number of risks. Legality: Watching content on 9Anime can lead to criminal or civil charges if files are downloaded or shared.

Is it illegal to stream anime for free? ›

The thing with illegal sites is that they will publish anime shows that they do not have permission to do so. If they do so, they infringe copyright law. You can protect yourself from such websites, though you might not be the one in trouble. But you will be breaking the law if you watch anime from these sites.

Is Animelab legal? ›

It is owned by Madman Entertainment, a major Australian company which buys the rights for the anime available on its website. As a result, it is completely safe.

What is the #1 anime streaming platform? ›

There are many platforms that stream anime, but Crunchyroll is our top choice. Why? Its catalog is the largest in the genre, new episodes are released as simulcasts from Japan and premium subscriptions offer additional perks like merchandise.

Is anime flix illegal? ›

The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has shut down ANIMEFLIX, a notorious piracy website dedicated to anime content. The operation, based near Helsinki, Finland, logged between 7 and 13 million monthly visits and had 2 million unique visitors per month.

What is the best legal streaming service? ›

Our Top Tested Picks
  • Best for Original Shows. Netflix. ...
  • Best for Live and On-Demand Content. Hulu. ...
  • Best for Affordable TV Shows and Movies. Peaco*ck. ...
  • Best for On-Demand Shows and Movies. Amazon Prime Video. ...
  • Best for HBO Shows and Popular Movies. Max. ...
  • Best for Family-Friendly Content. ...
  • Best for Replacing Cable. ...
  • Best for Free Movies.

Which website has all the anime? ›

List of OTT platforms for anime streaming
S.N.NameDatabase
1Crunchyroll plans1000+ anime series and movies
2Netflix200+ anime series and movies
3Hulu100+ anime series, shows and movies
4Anime-Planet45000+ anime episodes
4 more rows
Jul 23, 2024

How can I watch anime for free safely? ›

Top 6 Sites to Watch Uncensored Anime Free [Safe!]
  1. MyAnimeList.
  2. Anime-planet.
  3. Tubi.
  4. KissAnime.
  5. 4anime.
  6. 9anime.
Jun 28, 2024

Is AniWatch legal? ›

Is AniWatch legal? No, the content on the platform hasn't been acquired through legal ways so it is illegal.

Why is 9anime not safe? ›

Malicious behavior

The domain 9anime.to is a free streaming website for anime. This service is abused to spread scams, host phishing, PUPs, and malware.

Which anime sites are getting banned? ›

No anime websites are not getting banned. But , In a new development, Delhi High Court recently accepted a plea filed by Disney Enterprises to ban 118 pirated domains, that stream animation illegally.

Is using KissAnime illegal? ›

First and foremost, KissAnime operates outside the bounds of copyright law, which means that it does not have the legal right to distribute or stream anime content. By using KissAnime, you are breaking the law and could face legal consequences in some countries.

Is Gogoanime legal and safe? ›

The site is not entirely legit

The reason that it's free on Gogoanime is that the content is collected illegally. That is why Gogoanime keeps changing its server addresses from time to time to avoid being banned.

How is CrunchyRoll legal? ›

Move to legal distribution

On January 8, 2009, after announcing a deal with TV Tokyo to host episodes of Naruto Shippuden, Crunchyroll stated that it was committed to removing all copyright-infringing material from its site and to only hosting content to which it had legitimate distribution rights.

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