Crunchyroll vs. HiDive: Which Anime Streaming Service Suits Your Style Best?

Let’s face it, being an anime fan in 2025 is both a blessing and a budgetary challenge. Gone are the days when you had to rely on sketchy websites or DVD box sets to get your fix. Now, there’s an entire buffet of streaming services competing for your attention and your wallet.

Two big names that keep popping up in anime circles are Crunchyroll and HiDive. One’s the giant with near-unlimited titles and industry clout. The other’s a rising underdog that’s quietly winning over fans with its bold, curated catalogue and budget-friendly pricing.

So which one should you go with? Whether you’re hunting for the hottest seasonal simulcasts or craving obscure cult classics, we’ve broken down how Crunchyroll and HiDive stack up—so you can pick the platform that’s best for your anime-watching habits.

/1. The Anime Libraries

Crunchyroll is the juggernaut here, with over 1,000 titles and counting. It has exclusive streaming rights to many of the biggest shows airing each season—think Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer. Crunchyroll also boasts a massive backlog of classics and niche gems, plus simulcasts that drop episodes just hours after they air in Japan.

HiDive, on the other hand, leans more into the offbeat and underrated. Its library is smaller but highly curated. You’ll find titles like Made in Abyss, Call of the Night, Parasyte, and Domestic Girlfriend, series that may not be headlining every Reddit thread but have strong cult followings. It also features a surprising number of older shows and deep cuts that you won’t find anywhere else, along with some Sentai Filmworks exclusives.

Which Wins: Crunchyroll—for sheer volume and access to the industry’s biggest hits, it’s the anime fan’s playground. But HiDive wins points for variety and under-the-radar picks.

/2. Sub vs. Dub (and Simulcasts)

If you’re a subtitle purist or someone who prefers dubs, this matters.

Crunchyroll has significantly ramped up its dubbed offerings lately, especially since merging with Funimation. New dubs roll out regularly, and their simulcast schedule is unbeatable. Episodes often land within an hour of airing in Japan, subtitled and ready to binge.

HiDive, though smaller, actually punches above its weight in the dub department. Its dubbed versions are often faster than expected, and many are produced in-house through Sentai Filmworks, so quality is consistent. It doesn’t have as many simulcasts, but when it does, they’re typically niche shows you won’t find on Crunchyroll.

Which Wins: Crunchyroll, thanks to volume and speed. But if you prefer dubs or want to explore titles outside the mainstream, HiDive is no slouch.

/3. Interface and User Experience

Crunchyroll’s interface has gone through some glow-ups in recent years, but it still feels a little clunky at times. The search function can be hit-or-miss, and curated lists aren’t always as helpful as you’d like. However, it gets the job done, and the mobile app is solid.

HiDive, meanwhile, keeps things simple. The UI is clean and intuitive, though not flashy. It’s easier to browse and discover new content here, especially if you’re just exploring and not looking for a specific title. That said, the mobile app can be buggy depending on your device.

Which Wins: HiDive, surprisingly. Its cleaner interface and discovery-friendly layout make it a joy to navigate, especially if you’re not into endless scrolling.

/4. Ad Experience (Free vs. Paid Tiers)

Unlike free-with-ads services like Tubi, both Crunchyroll and HiDive primarily operate on a paid subscription model, but Crunchyroll does offer limited free access with ads.

Crunchyroll’s ad-supported tier feels like a throwback to the early 2010s: frequent ad breaks, no access to simulcasts, and some newer shows locked behind the paywall. It’s usable, but not ideal for anyone watching seriously.

HiDive has no free tier, which might seem like a negative, but it also means no ads at all once you’re subscribed, and subscriptions are cheaper than Crunchyroll’s premium plan.

Which Wins: HiDive, for skipping the whole ad-free vs. ad-supported drama. If you're paying, you're getting a clean experience without the pop-ups.

/5. Price and Plans

Crunchyroll costs $7.99/month for the Fan plan and $9.99/month for Mega Fan (which includes offline viewing and streaming on multiple devices). It’s pricier, but you’re getting access to the industry’s largest anime library.

HiDive is more budget-friendly, clocking in at $4.99/month or $47.99/year. That’s nearly half the cost of Crunchyroll—and if you’re not hooked on the big-name series, it might be the better value for casual or niche-focused fans.

Which Wins: HiDive—more bang for your buck, especially if your taste veers off the mainstream path.

/6. Original Content and Exclusives

Crunchyroll has started dipping into original productions, with titles like Onyx Equinox and Noblesse under its Crunchyroll Originals banner. Some have been hit or miss, but it shows a growing investment in unique content.

HiDive may not have a splashy “Originals” label, but thanks to its partnership with Sentai Filmworks, it gets exclusive streaming rights to a number of shows like The Executioner and Her Way of Life, that Crunchyroll users don’t have access to.

Which Wins: Crunchyroll, for now. While its originals are a mixed bag, its investment in unique projects is noteworthy. HiDive is close behind with exclusives that feel tailor-made for niche audiences.

Final Thought: Pick Your Path

If you're a die-hard anime fan who needs instant access to the newest, flashiest titles and wants the comfort of a massive library, Crunchyroll is still king. It’s arguably the closest thing anime has to Netflix.

But if you’re looking for a cheaper, more curated experience that shines a light on lesser-known titles and you don’t care about watching the latest episodes the second they drop, HiDive might be the hidden gem you’ve been missing.

Then again, who says you have to choose? Both offer free trials, so maybe it’s time to double your watchlist and see what suits your anime style best.