Crunchyroll vs Funimation: The Merger Explained (2024)

If you searched for “Crunchyroll vs Funimation” hoping to compare two competing anime streaming services, we have news: that competition ended. Funimation officially shut down on April 2, 2024, and its entire library merged into Crunchyroll under Sony’s umbrella.

But that does not mean your questions are irrelevant. Many anime fans are confused about what happened to their Funimation accounts, where their favorite dubbed shows went, and whether Crunchyroll is actually worth it now that it has absorbed its biggest competitor. This guide explains the merger, what it means for you, and whether Crunchyroll deserves your subscription dollars in 2025.

Quick Verdict: The Current Situation

Funimation no longer exists as a separate service. The website redirects to Crunchyroll, the apps have been removed from app stores, and all content has migrated to Crunchyroll’s platform.

For former Funimation subscribers: Your content is now on Crunchyroll, but watch history and digital copies did not transfer. You need a Crunchyroll subscription to access anything.

For new anime fans: Crunchyroll is now the dominant anime streaming platform with 2,000+ titles, extensive simulcast offerings, and the combined libraries of both services.

What Happened	Status
Funimation website	Redirects to Crunchyroll
Funimation apps	Removed from all platforms
Funimation library	Migrated to Crunchyroll
Funimation dubs	Available on Crunchyroll
Watch history	Did NOT transfer
Digital copies	NOT supported on Crunchyroll
Funimation accounts	Could be migrated (deadline passed)

The Merger Explained: How We Got Here

Understanding the Crunchyroll-Funimation merger requires some anime industry history.

The Timeline

2017: Sony acquires Funimation for $143 million, giving Sony a major stake in Western anime distribution.

December 2020: Sony announces intent to acquire Crunchyroll from AT&T for $1.175 billion.

August 2021: The acquisition closes. Sony now owns both major anime streaming platforms in the West.

March 2022: Sony announces plans to merge Funimation into Crunchyroll, choosing Crunchyroll’s platform as the survivor.

2022-2024: Gradual content migration begins. Funimation titles move to Crunchyroll over 18+ months.

April 2, 2024: Funimation officially shuts down. Website redirects to Crunchyroll. Apps removed from all stores.

December 2024: Crunchyroll eliminates its free ad-supported tier, requiring paid subscriptions for all content.

Why Crunchyroll Survived Instead of Funimation

Sony chose to keep the Crunchyroll brand for several reasons:

1. Larger subscriber base: Crunchyroll had more paid subscribers globally
2. Better international presence: Crunchyroll operated in more countries
3. Simulcast infrastructure: Crunchyroll’s same-day subtitle system was more established
4. Brand recognition: Crunchyroll was the larger name among casual anime viewers

Funimation’s strength was English dubbing, and Sony kept that capability alive within the merged company. The dubbing studios and talent continue producing content under the Crunchyroll brand.

What Former Funimation Users Lost

The merger was not seamless for longtime Funimation subscribers. Several things did not transfer:

Watch History

Your progress through series on Funimation did not migrate. If you were halfway through Fairy Tail or had carefully curated watchlists, you need to rebuild them on Crunchyroll.

Digital Copies

Funimation offered “digital copy” redemptions with physical Blu-ray purchases. Crunchyroll does not support these. If you bought Blu-rays expecting permanent digital access through Funimation, that access is gone.

Account Migration Deadline

The window to link your Funimation account to Crunchyroll has closed. If you missed it, any remaining Funimation subscription time or benefits are forfeit.

Crunchyroll in 2025: What You Get

With Funimation absorbed, Crunchyroll is now the dominant anime streaming platform in the West. Here is what the service offers:

Library Size

Crunchyroll now hosts over 2,000 anime series and films, making it by far the largest dedicated anime library available. This includes:

• Nearly all major simulcasts each season (50+ titles)
• Classic series from both Crunchyroll and Funimation catalogs
• Extensive dubbed content from Funimation’s dubbing history
• Crunchyroll Original productions
• Anime films, both theatrical releases and streaming exclusives

Simulcast Coverage

Crunchyroll simulcasts approximately 40-55 anime titles per season, covering roughly 80% of available seasonal anime. Episodes appear within hours of their Japanese broadcast with professional subtitles.

For Summer 2025, Crunchyroll confirmed 55 titles across new and continuing series, including highly anticipated shows like My Dress-Up Darling Season 2, DanDaDan Season 2, and Kaiju No. 8 Season 2.

English Dub Availability

The merger preserved Funimation’s dubbing infrastructure. Crunchyroll’s SimulDub program now produces English dubs within 2-3 weeks of Japanese premiere for popular titles. Summer 2025 featured 25 dubbed anime, with flagship titles like Dandadan and Gachiakuta receiving same-day dub releases.

Classic Funimation dubs remain available, including Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia, One Piece, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Crunchyroll Pricing Breakdown

Crunchyroll restructured pricing in early 2025, eliminating the free tier and adjusting subscription costs.

Current Plans (December 2025)

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Key Features
Fan	$7.99	$99.99	Ad-free streaming, 1 device, 5% store discount
Mega Fan	$11.99	$119.99	4 devices, offline downloads, Game Vault, 10% store discount
Ultimate Fan	$15.99	$159.99	6 devices, annual swag bag, 15% store discount

What Each Tier Includes

Fan ($7.99/month)

• Ad-free streaming of entire library
• New episodes hours after Japan broadcast
• Single device streaming
• 5% Crunchyroll Store discount
• 7-day free trial for new users

Mega Fan ($11.99/month)

• Everything in Fan tier
• Stream on up to 4 devices simultaneously
• Offline downloads for mobile viewing
• Access to Crunchyroll Game Vault
• 10% Crunchyroll Store discount

Ultimate Fan ($15.99/month)

• Everything in Mega Fan tier
• Stream on up to 6 devices
• Annual “swag bag” gift after 12 consecutive months
• 15% Crunchyroll Store discount
• Priority customer support

No More Free Tier

Crunchyroll eliminated its ad-supported free tier on December 31, 2024. Previously, users could watch a limited selection of older anime with ads. This option no longer exists.

For free legal anime, alternatives include Tubi, Pluto TV, and RetroCrush, though their libraries are significantly smaller than Crunchyroll’s.

Device Support and Streaming Quality

Supported Platforms

Crunchyroll is available on virtually every major platform:

Smart TVs:

• Samsung (2017+ with Tizen 3.0)
• LG (2018+ with webOS 4.0)
• Sony Android TV
• Whale TV (added December 2025)

Streaming Devices:

• Roku
• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• NVIDIA Shield

Gaming Consoles:

• PlayStation 4 and 5
• Xbox One and Series X/S
• Nintendo Switch

Mobile:

• iOS (iPhone and iPad)
• Android phones and tablets

Desktop:

• Web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Windows and macOS apps

Video Quality

Crunchyroll streams at a maximum resolution of 1080p. There is no 4K option on any tier, which frustrates some users given competitor offerings.

Audio quality varies by title. Some newer productions support 5.1 surround sound, but most anime streams in stereo.

How Crunchyroll Compares to Alternatives

While Crunchyroll dominates dedicated anime streaming, other platforms offer anime as part of broader libraries.

When Crunchyroll is the Right Choice

• You watch currently airing anime and want same-day access
• You need the largest possible anime library
• You prefer subtitles or want quick SimulDubs
• You were a Funimation subscriber and want access to those dubs

When Alternatives Make Sense

Netflix is better if you prefer high-quality dubs, want 4K resolution, and are satisfied watching completed series rather than weekly simulcasts.

Hulu is better if you want anime alongside mainstream TV content, especially with the Disney Bundle value.

HIDIVE is better if you are budget-conscious, want exclusive titles like Oshi no Ko, and do not need Crunchyroll’s mainstream simulcasts.

Former Funimation Content: Where to Find It

If you are looking for specific shows that were on Funimation, here is where they landed:

Anime	Status on Crunchyroll
Dragon Ball Z/Super	Available (all versions)
My Hero Academia	Available (all seasons, dub and sub)
One Piece	Available (ongoing)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood	Available
Attack on Titan	Available (all seasons)
Demon Slayer	Available
Cowboy Bebop	Available
Trigun	Available
Yu Yu Hakusho	Available
Case Closed/Detective Conan	Available
Black Clover	Available
Fire Force	Available
Fruits Basket (2019)	Available
Assassination Classroom	Available

Should You Subscribe to Crunchyroll?

After the merger, the question is simpler than it used to be: if you want comprehensive anime streaming, Crunchyroll is essentially the only dedicated option.

Subscribe If…

• You watch anime regularly (multiple series per season)
• You want access to new episodes within hours of Japan
• You prefer having the largest possible library
• You watch both subbed and dubbed anime
• You were a Funimation subscriber and want continued access

Consider Alternatives If…

• You only watch 1-2 completed series per year (rent/buy instead)
• You exclusively want Netflix’s high-budget anime originals
• You are extremely budget-conscious ($5.99 HIDIVE may suffice)
• You only watch classics available on free services like Tubi

The Monopoly Concern

Critics have called the merger an “anime monopoly,” and the criticism has merit. With Funimation gone, Crunchyroll faces less competitive pressure. The elimination of the free tier and price increases reflect this reduced competition.

For consumers, the best response is evaluating whether the value justifies the cost. At $7.99/month for 2,000+ anime titles with same-day simulcasts, Crunchyroll remains cheaper than most entertainment subscriptions. But the service no longer has to be as generous as when Funimation competed directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Funimation completely gone?

Yes. Funimation’s website redirects to Crunchyroll, the apps have been removed from all platforms, and the service ceased operations on April 2, 2024. The Funimation brand exists only as a production label on older content.

What happened to my Funimation watch history?

Watch history did not migrate to Crunchyroll. You need to manually track where you left off in any series. Consider using third-party tracking apps like MyAnimeList or AniList to avoid losing progress in the future.

Can I still use Funimation digital copies?

No. Crunchyroll does not support Funimation digital copy redemptions. Digital copies obtained through Funimation Blu-ray purchases no longer function anywhere.

Is Crunchyroll the only anime streaming service now?

No, but it is the dominant one. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HIDIVE, and Disney+ all offer anime, but with smaller libraries. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime selection and most simulcasts.

Why did Crunchyroll remove the free tier?

Crunchyroll eliminated free ad-supported streaming on December 31, 2024. The company cited the need to invest in content and platform improvements. Critics note the reduced competitive pressure after the Funimation merger likely contributed.

Does Crunchyroll have 4K streaming?

No. Crunchyroll’s maximum resolution is 1080p on all subscription tiers. This is a common criticism, especially as Netflix and Hulu offer 4K for premium content.

How long until dubbed episodes are available?

Crunchyroll’s SimulDub program typically releases English dubs 2-3 weeks after the Japanese premiere for popular titles. Some flagship shows now receive same-day dub releases. Less popular series may wait longer or not receive dubs at all.

Is Crunchyroll worth it for dub-only viewers?

Yes, especially if you want current anime. Crunchyroll inherited Funimation’s extensive dub library and continues producing new dubs through the SimulDub program. No other service matches the combination of dub availability and simulcast coverage.

Final Verdict

The Crunchyroll vs Funimation debate is over because there is only one service left standing. For anime fans, this consolidation has mixed implications.

The good news: One subscription now accesses everything. No more juggling multiple anime apps or wondering which service has which show. Crunchyroll’s 2,000+ title library and 50+ seasonal simulcasts represent genuine value at $7.99/month.

The bad news: Competition drove better deals. The free tier is gone, prices increased, and there is less pressure on Crunchyroll to innovate. Former Funimation subscribers lost digital copies and watch history.

The verdict: If you watch anime regularly, Crunchyroll is worth the subscription. The library is unmatched, simulcasts arrive within hours, and SimulDubs satisfy English audio preferences. At $8/month, it costs less than a single Blu-ray volume.

For casual viewers who watch one or two completed series per year, the calculation is different. Consider renting individual series, using free services like Tubi for classics, or subscribing for a single month to binge specific shows.

The Crunchyroll-Funimation merger reshaped anime streaming permanently. Whether that reshape benefits fans depends on how Sony stewards the combined platform going forward.