In this day and age, it’s easier than ever to watch anime wherever and whenever. With so much selection now, it’s hard to pick a service and with varying tiers of service, perks, exclusivities, and of course, cost.
While this list is tailored to Canadians, most of these services are available globally, though the prices may vary in each region. Taxes may also apply in some provinces and territories. FunimationNow is not mentioned as that was rolled into Crunchyroll earlier this year. Hulu is included because there are some Canadians who have access to it. Prices and supported devices are current as of September 19th, 2023 and may be subject to change.
Amazon Prime Video
Monthly: $9.99 CAD
Annually: $99.99 CAD
Available in Canada and other countries
Watch on: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, PlayStation 3/4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Chromecast, Tivo, Nvidia Shield, set-top boxes from Telus, Rogers, Shaw and Bell, mobile phones, tablets and computers
Amazon Prime Video has a large selection of big-name series including Naruto, Pokémon, Fairy Tail, Neon Genesis Evangelion and others along with its own branded content. This service is bundled separately from the Amazon Prime shopping subscription, even though they throw in few Prime Video titles as an incentive.
Crave
Monthly Basic: $9.99 (with ads)
Monthly Standard: $14.99 (with ads)
Monthly Premium: $19.99 (ad-free)
Annual Basic: $99.99 (with ads)
Annual Standard: $149.99 (with ads)
Annual Premium: $199.99 (ad-free)
Available in Canada
Watch on: Android, iOS, Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, Bell Streamer, Chromecast, web, LG, Roku, Airplay, Samsung TV, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
While their library is not as robust as other providers, Crave does carry some popular series including Naruto Shippuden, Digimon Adventure tri., and Pokémon. Streamers can obtain a discount if they use their cable TV provider and offers two tiers – Total for viewing on TV and mobile devices and Mobile which is self-explanatory. Don’t expect simulcast or harder-to-find series in their catalogue.
Crunchyroll
Monthly: $9.99 CAD (Fan)
Monthly: $12.49 CAD (Mega Fan)
Annually: $124.99 CAD (Mega Fan)
Available in Canada and other countries
Watch on: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Roku, mobile phones, tablets and computers
Crunchyroll is the leader in anime considering that’s owned by Sony’s Aniplex which is involved in the production of many series. They have the largest collection of anime, many of which are dubbed into multiple languages for a global audience. There’s two tiers: Fan which is the basic plan and lets you stream new episodes without having to wait, and Mega Fan plan that features perks like discounts made on purchases in the Crunchyroll Store. Crunchyroll has a 14-day free trial before payments kick in.
Disney+
Monthly: $11.99 CAD
Annually: $119.99 CAD
Available in Canada and other countries
Watch on: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire Tablet, Android, iOS, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, mobile phones, tablets and computers
Disney isn’t new to the anime world after bringing Studio Ghibli films out west, but they are getting into the simuldub business especially after acquiring the streaming rights to Bleach. Expect Disney+ to add more series to its catalogue in the coming months as they look to challenge other providers. Great if you want to watch Bleach and maybe some Star Wars (or Disney Golden Age flicks).
HIDIVE
Monthly: $4.99 USD (about $6.71 CAD)
Annually: $47.99 USD (about $64.53 CAD)
Available in Canada and other countries
Watch on: Chromecast, Android, iOS, Xbox One, Amazon Fire Table, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, mobile phones, tablets and computers
HIDIVE caters to more niche anime series, but there’s a handful of big names that everyone can enjoy. Fans will appreciate their immense catalogue of shows for endless hours of entertainment with new episodes being added weekly in subbed and dubbed formats. HIDIVE offers a seven-day free trial to see if the service is right for you.
Hulu
Monthly: $7.99 USD (with ads)
Monthly: $17.99 USD (without ads)
Monthly: $76.99 USD (with live TV, Disney+ and ESPN)
Annually: n/a
Available in the United States only
Watch on: iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, mobile phones, tablets and computers
While limited to viewers in the USA, fans south of the border can watch anime series that Disney+ streams internationally. Some Canadians have access to Hulu through a proxy service, family connections, or residency in the good ol’ US of A. There’s also popular series like Naruto, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, SPY×FAMILY and even Chainsaw Man to enjoy. Three tiers cater to to those looking to save a few bucks or want a more robust viewing experience.
Netflix
Monthly: $5.99 CAD (with ads)
Monthly: $16.49 CAD (standard)
Monthly: $20.99 CAD (premium)
Annually: n/a
Available in Canada and other countries
Watch on: Apple TV, Chromecast, Facebook Portal, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, PlayStation 3/4/5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOS, mobile phones, tablets and computers
Binge-watch most popular anime shows like Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Pokémon, etc and movies on the original streaming service. Keep in mind the various monthly plans limit how many devices can stream content at one time as well as upcoming changes on sharing account passwords.
Tubi
Monthly: Free
Annually: Free
Available in Canada, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Panama, Australia and New Zealand
Watch on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Hisense VIDAA, LG TV, PlayStation 4/5, Rogers, Roku, Samsung TV, Sony TV, Shaw, TiVo, web, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
For a free service, they have a decent line-up of new series and classics, offered in subbed and dubbed formats. If you enjoy watching good anime and are pinched on price, Tubi is the way to go.
© Tatsuya Endo/Shueisha, SPY×FAMILY Project
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