To catch dubbed version of anime directly from Japan, Funimation is your best option with early access to new dubs.

The best from the East is now available in the West.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of sitting down to watch anime. When you don't have time to sit down for US dramas with hour-long episodes, it's nice to kick back with half-hour installments of the frantic action, bright colors, wacky comedy, and immersive drama that only anime can provide.

It used to be that the only way to watch anime was by hoping that your local video shop would stock some titles that you could rent. But in this modern age of streaming apps, there's really no limit to where you can find content online.

We're narrowing it down to some of the best places where you can get exclusive shows, English dubs, and even live-action Japanese dramas to satiate your inner otaku.

Check out some of the best places to get your anime fix right now:

Best for niche watching Image: The Good Free • Niche titles available Free • Niche titles available The Bad Ad breaks get in the way • Selection isn't as wide as others • No classics Ad breaks get in the way • Selection isn't as wide as others • No classics The Bottom Line If you don't mind the ads, Viewster is a really good option for anime, especially since it's free. If you don't mind the ads, Viewster is a really good option for anime, especially since it's free. Free version: Yes $0 from Viewster 2. Viewster Although it's ad-supported, Viewster is a good option for niche anime lovers.

It's available to stream around the world and on popular devices like Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and even through its website. If you don't mind ad breaks while watching your anime, then

Viewster is a free and ad-supported streaming service that specializes in anime, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, and modern documentaries with an eye towards niche TV series and movies. It features a lot of exciting and bizarre titles like Haikyu!!, Murder Princess, Library Wars, and Half Dragon, so you'll know you're going to get your anime fix.It's available to stream around the world and on popular devices like Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and even through its website. If you don't mind ad breaks while watching your anime, then Viewster is a great option to find well-known and obscure titles.

Best for early access Image: Funimation The Good Low price • Early access releases available • Wide selection • Free version available Low price • Early access releases available • Wide selection • Free version available The Bad Limited simultaneous streams Limited simultaneous streams The Bottom Line Funimation is one of the leading names in anime in the US, so it's a good investment if you're a fan. Funimation is one of the leading names in anime in the US, so it's a good investment if you're a fan. Free version: Yes

Yes Premium membership: $5.99/a month $5.99 from Funimation 3. Funimation To catch dubbed version of anime directly from Japan, Funimation is your best option with early access to new dubs.

One of Funimation's most popular ongoing anime right now is My Hero Academia. Izuku Midoriya has wanted to be a hero all his life — but in a world where everyone has a superpower, he was the only one who wasn't born with one. After inheriting the abilities of the world's greatest hero, Izuku strives to live up to his potential and become the world's greatest hero.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial

The studio that brought us our childhood English dubs of Dragon Ball Z and Fullmetal Alchemist have their own streaming service on hand. You can access tons of their licensed anime both new and old with no ads for only $5.99 a month . You can even watch simuldubs of certain shows in English as well as get early access to home release dubs.One of Funimation's most popular ongoing anime right now is My Hero Academia. Izuku Midoriya has wanted to be a hero all his life — but in a world where everyone has a superpower, he was the only one who wasn't born with one. After inheriting the abilities of the world's greatest hero, Izuku strives to live up to his potential and become the world's greatest hero.Sign up for a 14-day free trial here

Best for simulcast Image: HIDIVE The Good Inexpensive • Detailed subtitled options • Simulcasts are one of the best • Free trial available Inexpensive • Detailed subtitled options • Simulcasts are one of the best • Free trial available The Bad Slow loading time • Not many exclusives Slow loading time • Not many exclusives The Bottom Line If you can't afford a subscription to Crunchyroll, then HIDIVE is a good option to stream anime online. The simulcasts alone is worth a subscription. If you can't afford a subscription to Crunchyroll, then HIDIVE is a good option to stream anime online. The simulcasts alone is worth a subscription. Membership: $4.99/a month $4.99 from HIDIVE 4. HIDIVE HIDIVE offers simulcast movies and TV series straight from Japan. No waiting!

The service also offers subtitles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as simulcast broadcasts of TV series from Japan for premium members. This means



HIDIVE is the streaming service for Sentai Filmworks, an American company that specializes in licensing anime straight from Japan. The service has a very wide selection of classic and modern titles, such as Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise, Grave of the Fireflies, Ninja Scroll, Clannad, K-On!, Angel Beats!, and Highschool of the Dead.The service also offers subtitles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as simulcast broadcasts of TV series from Japan for premium members. This means HIDIVE subscribers can watch brand new anime as soon as it airs in Japan. HIDIVE is only $4.99 a month for access on iOS and Android devices, along with the web. Sign up for a seven-day free trial here

Best for hardcore anime fans Image: Crunchyroll The Good The gold standard • Free ad-supported version • Regular updates with new anime from Japan The gold standard • Free ad-supported version • Regular updates with new anime from Japan The Bad For anime junkies only • Mostly subtitled For anime junkies only • Mostly subtitled The Bottom Line With new movies and TV shows available, Crunchyroll is the gold standard for anime streaming online for fans. With new movies and TV shows available, Crunchyroll is the gold standard for anime streaming online for fans. Membership: $6.95/a month $6.95 from Crunchyroll 5. Crunchyroll Crunchyroll is the gold standard for anime.

One of the hottest anime of Spring 2018 was Megalobox. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a cult classic manga, the story follows a slum-resident boxer who seeks to test his mettle in the world of megaloboxing — a futuristic sport in which boxers use cybernetic enhancements during matches. The streaming service also has tons of live action shows too, like a 2015 adaptation of Death Note and various series from the Ultraman franchise.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial

Total anime junkies will definitely want to check out what Crunchyroll has to offer. With more than 800 shows and counting — including regular updates that feature some of the anime season's newest shows straight from Japan — you won't know what to do with it all. With premium subscriptions, you can watch ad-free and also see the newest episodes of current anime almost immediately after they air in Japan. Plus, you can view retro shows and movies that you won't find anywhere else.One of the hottest anime of Spring 2018 was Megalobox. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a cult classic manga, the story follows a slum-resident boxer who seeks to test his mettle in the world of megaloboxing — a futuristic sport in which boxers use cybernetic enhancements during matches. The streaming service also has tons of live action shows too, like a 2015 adaptation of Death Note and various series from the Ultraman franchise.Sign up for a 14-day free trial here





Best for cable subscribers Image: Cartoon Network The Good Free with commercial breaks • Classic TV series available • Trusted curation Free with commercial breaks • Classic TV series available • Trusted curation The Bad You're on Toonami's programming schedule • Limited titles available You're on Toonami's programming schedule • Limited titles available The Bottom Line If you grew up with Toonami, then you know what they can offer you, in terms of anime and nostalgia. If you want to go back in time and re-live your teen years, Toonami is a great choice — if you don't mind ads. If you grew up with Toonami, then you know what they can offer you, in terms of anime and nostalgia. If you want to go back in time and re-live your teen years, Toonami is a great choice — if you don't mind ads. Membership: Free $0 from Cartoon Network 6. Toonami Delivering the best anime to American audiences since 1997.

It's free to stream with commercial breaks, but you're unable to pick and choose what you want to watch. Instead, you're left to

Toonami has been a staple of the Cartoon Network since 1997. For many anime fans, Toonami was their first taste of the genre with classic TV series like Cowboy BeBop, Sailor Moon, and Outlaw Star. While Toonami used to be only available on cable, the Cartoon Network added the block of programming online with its own stream on the Adult Swim website.It's free to stream with commercial breaks, but you're unable to pick and choose what you want to watch. Instead, you're left to Toonami's cable programming schedule.

Best for casual anime fans Image: Netflix The Good Wide selection • Offers dubbed and subtitled versions • More than just anime Wide selection • Offers dubbed and subtitled versions • More than just anime The Bad No classics No classics The Bottom Line Since most people already have Netflix, discovering new anime is easy and readily accessible. Since most people already have Netflix, discovering new anime is easy and readily accessible. Membership: $7.99/a month $7.99 from Netflix 7. Netflix Netflix is readily accessible and easy to discover new titles.

Aggretsuko — an anime from the creators of Hello Kitty — is one of Netflix's newest sleeper hits. It tells the story of a red panda named Retsuko who works at a Japanese trading firm. As the doldrums and stress of her office worker life weighs down on her, she vents her frustrations by belting death metal karaoke at night. Relatable and entertaining, this short anime is definitely worth checking out on your next binge-watching spree.

Action fans can also check out

Sign up for a 30-day free trial

It's time to use your Netflix account for more than just rewatching The Office for the hundredth time. The popular streaming service has more than 50 anime titles to choose from, including plenty of exclusive programs.Aggretsuko — an anime from the creators of Hello Kitty — is one of Netflix's newest sleeper hits. It tells the story of a red panda named Retsuko who works at a Japanese trading firm. As the doldrums and stress of her office worker life weighs down on her, she vents her frustrations by belting death metal karaoke at night. Relatable and entertaining, this short anime is definitely worth checking out on your next binge-watching spree.Action fans can also check out Devilman: Crybaby , the hyper-violent anime about a young man who becomes a demon and tries to use his power to defend humanity from his own kind. Netflix is also home to plenty of Japanese dramas, such as a live-action adaptation of Mob Psycho 100.Sign up for a 30-day free trial here





Best add-on for delivery options Image: Amazon The Good A lot of Studio Ghibli films • Great for Pokémon fans • Free trial available A lot of Studio Ghibli films • Great for Pokémon fans • Free trial available The Bad Selection is not a wide • Interface is too basic Selection is not a wide • Interface is too basic The Bottom Line If you already have Amazon Prime for two-day free shipping, then you might want to explore all that the retail giant has to offer when it comes to anime. If you already have Amazon Prime for two-day free shipping, then you might want to explore all that the retail giant has to offer when it comes to anime. Membership: $119/a year $119 from Amazon 9. Amazon Prime Video Come for the free two-day shipping and stay for the anime.



Amazon Prime's streaming service is chock-full of anime shows and movies for you to peruse. You can watch classics like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as well as tons of episodes from the past and present of the Pokémon series. There are also movies like Satoshi Kon's Paprika and the original Ghost in the Shell movie to keep you occupied. Amazon Prime Video even has a fair share of original programs, namely Studio Ghibli's Ronja, The Robber's Daughter — directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Gorō Miyazaki. It follows the tale of Ronja, a bandit's young daughter, who befriends a young boy named Birk. Unfortunately, the two discover that they each belong to rival clans, and Ronja must learn how to bridge the gap between her friendship and her familial ties.