The Best Crunchyroll VPN in 2024: Enjoy Your Favorite Anime From Anywhere
Almost anyone can access Crunchyroll, but the full library is geo-restricted to the U.S., similar to other streaming services. Fortunately, you can use one of the five best Crunchyroll VPNs to unblock the platform wherever you are.
While there’s plenty of anime on Netflix, Hulu and other streaming platforms, few others have as many shows as streaming service Crunchyroll. It’s touted as one of the best places to watch anime. Even though the Crunchyroll library is expansive, many shows are limited to the U.S.
Like many streaming platforms (check out our list of best VPNs for streaming), Crunchyroll uses geoblocks to prevent copyright issues. The good news is you can use a virtual private network (VPN) to unblock Crunchyroll from anywhere around the world, but not just any VPN can do that.
Our team has tested more than 50 VPNs over the years, and we only trust a secure VPN to protect ourselves online. The best VPNs in the world not only unblock streaming sites but also have fast speeds, top-tier security, and don’t keep logs. Below are our five best Crunchyroll VPN services.
-
06/11/2023 Facts checked
After our latest round of testing, our experts rewrote the article, adding a new troubleshooting section and the newest info on watching Crunchyroll for free.
-
07/06/2024
Updated the article to reflect latest information on NordVPN’s allowed number of simultaneous connections.
-
08/15/2024 Facts checked
We updated the article to present PrivadoVPN as the best free option for streaming Crunchyroll.
-
10/01/2024
We updated these rankings to reflect current VPN performance, features and pricing.
The Top VPNs for Crunchyroll
- 1
- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, JCB, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, X-Coin
- : 10
- :
- :
- :
- :
Average speedDownload Speed89 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency6 ms - 2
- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
- : Unlimited
- :
- :
- :
- :
Average speedDownload Speed89 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency103 ms - 3
- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, Giropay, Pixpay, Sepa Direct Debit
- : 8
- :
- :
- :
- :
Average speedDownload Speed85 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency3 ms - 4
- : PayPal, Credit card, Coinbase, SEPA, Discover
- : 10
- :
- :
- :
- :
- 5
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : Unlimited
- :
- :
- :
- :
Average speedDownload Speed77 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency29 ms
What Makes the Best Crunchyroll VPN?
The best Crunchyroll VPNs must let users watch Crunchyroll and bypass all geoblocks. Of course, they should also keep you entirely anonymous online.
Achieve Online Privacy and Security Even as a VPN Novice
- Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
- Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
- Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
All VPNs change your IP address once you connect to their VPN servers in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean they’re all secure. The best VPNs for unblocking Crunchyroll prevent other entities like hackers and internet service providers (ISPs) from getting your IP address while keeping you anonymous online. It’s also best to search for VPNs that adhere to a no-logs policy.
Some users enjoy streaming anime from their mobile devices, and having a mobile-friendly VPN is necessary when using the Crunchyroll app.
Finally, besides the ability to stream Crunchyroll securely, the best VPN for the job should have no lags or buffering. All VPNs will introduce slowdowns, but the fastest services allow for HD streaming and you’ll barely notice the difference. Thus, speed is another criterion to consider.
The 5 Best VPNs for Crunchyroll
We’ve confirmed that all five VPNs on our list can unblock Crunchyroll. Read on to discover which VPN service you prefer and start streaming Crunchyroll from anywhere across the world.
1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Crunchyroll
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
As you can tell from our speed comparison article, few services can compare to NordVPN’s download speeds. Therefore, buffer-free streaming is possible when you’re connected to any of its U.S. VPN server locations. What’s more, it’s packed with features.
NordVPN’s mobile UI could use some work, especially because you can’t select individual servers on the go. Each VPN subscription from Nord supports ten simultaneous connections, so your family and friends can stream Crunchyroll or access other platforms. For more details, visit our NordVPN complete review.
Double VPN Servers
NordVPN has several specialty server types, including double VPN, which sends your internet traffic through two servers in different countries. The double VPN combinations include one to the U.S., providing extra security. You don’t need double VPN active at all times because it does introduce more lag, but you gain extra protection. Running traffic through two servers can also make it more difficult for Crunchyroll to block you.
You’ll save more money by subscribing to NordVPN for one or two years, especially if you only want to stream Crunchyroll. The Standard plans are enough because they have the full VPN experience, while the Plus and Complete plans aren’t necessary for unblocking Crunchyroll. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and there’s a seven-day free trial for Android users.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. Surfshark — Best Budget Crunchyroll VPN
Very Fast
Very Fast
Good
If you’re looking for a bargain VPN loaded with valuable features, we recommend Surfshark — a newer service that fares well against NordVPN. Its streaming performance is on par with NordVPN and it can unblock BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and more. You can watch Crunchyroll with Surfshark running on your PC or smartphone.
In addition, Surfshark’s generous subscriptions allow for unlimited simultaneous connections, so the whole village can stream anime on multiple devices using one Surfshark account. A premium Crunchyroll subscription makes buffer-free streaming in full HD easily achievable. Our Surfshark review has everything you need to know.
Dynamic MultiHop
We mentioned double VPN for NordVPN earlier, but Surfshark has taken this feature to a new level with Dynamic MultiHop. Instead of using predetermined server pairs, you can create your own presets because every server is a candidate for dynamic multi-hop. Doing so lets you enjoy a decent connection while getting improved security, and the extra layer of security prevents Crunchyroll from detecting your VPN usage.
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs. The monthly plan is costly, but we like the cheap one-year and two-year plans, especially the latter, at a price of just $1.99 per month.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN — Best Easy-to-Use VPN for Crunchyroll
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Although ExpressVPN is third, it is still one of the best VPNs, and it also functions well for Crunchyroll streaming. Besides its excellent connection speeds, ExpressVPN implements state-of-the-art security for all users, with the best VPN protocols, encryption protocols and DNS leak protection to prevent cybercriminals from tracking you or your activity.
The interface is user-friendly and only takes a few minutes to get used to. The server list has a search bar to find your preferred U.S. server locations. Once connected, you can watch Crunchyroll content without switching back and forth between servers. Our ExpressVPN review covers this powerful VPN in detail.
Maximum Security
Whether you’re watching Crunchyroll or browsing the web, threats are all over the internet. ExpressVPN has its speedy Lightway protocol, but you can also select popular ones like OpenVPN and the mobile-friendly IKEv2. All of them are paired with the best encryption protocols available.
ExpressVPN is expensive, especially its monthly plan, though you can save by purchasing the six-month or 15-month subscription. They all have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and mobile users can enjoy a seven-day free trial without entering payment details.
4. PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is the most reliable free VPN choice for streaming Crunchyroll. It has a free server location in the U.S. that unblocks Crunchyroll on the first attempt. Thankfully, it boasts fast download speeds, ensuring that your streaming experience would be buffer-free.
Besides being a premium free VPN service for Crunchyroll, PrivadoVPN can also unblock many other platforms, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Since it’s based in Switzerland, this VPN is backed by some of the best privacy laws. We cover this VPN in greater detail in our PrivadoVPN review.
Beginner-Friendly Apps
PrivadoVPN has native apps for all the main operating systems: Windows, Android, MacOS and iOS. We found the apps easy to install and simple to navigate. You can easily connect to a server by clicking the power button on the homescreen or sifting through the server list.
PrivadoVPN’s offers three paid plans. The cheapest is the two-year plan which costs $1.99 per month (two-year plan + three months). You can also purchase the VPN for a year at $2.99 per month (15-months plan) monthly. The most expensive plan is the monthly plan which costs $10.99 per month (one-month plan).
- 10GB
- 1
- *Billed $44.85 for the first 15 months, then $59.88 every 12 months. *Billed $53.73 for the first 27 months, then $95.76 every 24 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5. Windscribe
Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Windscribe is another of our approved free VPNs for Crunchyroll, and is one of the best free VPN services. It has a generous free plan that comes with 11 free country locations, including three servers in the U.S. Thanks to using the strongest VPN and encryption protocols, each server is also optimized for streaming while keeping you safe. One disadvantage is only having 10GB of data per month (15GB if you tweet about Windscribe) if you don’t pay for a plan.
However, creating a flexible subscription is possible because Windscribe only charges $1 a month to access a single server. You can select any U.S. paid server, and get unlimited data for another dollar. A plan like this will cost a minimum of $3 a month, which is convenient if you only want to stream shows. Our Windscribe review will show you what else is in store.
R.O.B.E.R.T.
R.O.B.E.R.T. is Windscribe’s ad-blocker and content-filtering tool. Free users can block ads, malware and other website categories like gambling, porn and clickbait sites. Blocking ads and trackers also adds the benefit of making pages load faster.
Windscribe has a free plan, a Pro plan lasting for a month or a year, and the flexible subscriptions we mentioned earlier. Unlike other leading VPNs, Windscribe only has a three-day money-back guarantee, but the free plan has enough to give you an idea of the full experience.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Crunchyroll Free Streaming: Is It Possible?
Crunchyroll has one free tier and three paid plans, with the former available for everyone with a verified account. The free account lets users enjoy some anime with ads, but they can’t watch many of the newest titles and simulcasts. Older content remains available to watch for free.
Starting in early 2022, after being acquired by Sony, Crunchyroll announced changes to ad-supported viewing on free accounts. While older content remains available, any new shows and simulcast content from spring 2022 is no longer accessible to free users. This makes free accounts nearly useless for new shows.
Free users can only watch seasonal samplers — a small selection of the newest anime with the first three episodes unlocked. These episodes will come with ads and are only temporarily available. After a certain period of time, all users will have to pay to watch these episodes and others.
Free Trial
Crunchyroll offers a 14-day free trial for its Premium plan subscriptions. The trial includes all the latest anime releases available on Crunchyroll, plus the manga collection and offline viewing. It’s possible to download some episodes if you’ll be disconnected from the internet for a while.
Users with a free trial also get to watch anime without ads. Episodes that have just been released in Japan will be ready for your eyes quickly, with some added to the episode list as soon as an hour after first launching.
It’s possible to cancel the free trial at any time within 14 days, and you can still enjoy the benefits until the trial officially ends. However, unless you plan to binge-watch anime until unholy hours, two weeks isn’t enough to get the full Crunchyroll experience.
Crunchyroll VPN Isn’t Working: Troubleshooting Guide
There are times when you may find yourself blocked from Crunchyroll even while using a VPN. Don’t worry, as there are still ways to solve the problem. Most commonly, your cookies may have betrayed you, or Crunchyroll has caught on to the IP address you were using.
Error 1015 is the standard response from Crunchyroll to users who were discovered using VPNs. If you see it, try the solutions below.
1. Delete Cookies
Crunchyroll requires cookies to function, and will ask you to accept them when you visit the site. If the cookies show a different location than the one you’re using when connecting to a VPN server, Crunchyroll will block you.
The good news is that you can easily delete the cookies on your browser, especially if you go to the “settings” menu and look for the “privacy” or “security” tab. This should be the first course of action if you suddenly can’t unblock Crunchyroll.
Once you delete your cookies, try using your VPN and server again.
2. Switch Servers
Should wiping your cookies not help, the next best solution is to try other servers. Look for a different server within the U.S. to maintain access to the full library.
3. Change Your VPN
Unfortunately, there are times when VPNs simply get outsmarted by Crunchyroll’s anti-VPN security. The best solution here is to switch to a different VPN; the five we listed are almost always effective at bypassing Crunchyroll’s defenses.
Since two of the VPNs we listed are free and let you access Crunchyroll, you always have a backup option you can access without spending anything.
You can usually resume watching Crunchyroll with a VPN if you delete cookies, and most premium VPNs don’t struggle to unblock this streaming service. However, having more than one VPN on hand is still prudent in case one fails.
Final Thoughts
Crunchyroll is a top-tier streaming service offering anime and manga to verified users, though it’s possible to watch content with lots of ads even without logging in. It has many popular anime titles and some lesser-known ones, but to access the full library, it’s best to have a U.S. IP address.
We tested five popular VPNs and found them capable of unblocking the U.S. library. NordVPN is the best VPN for Crunchyroll. Trying NordVPN for a month is completely risk-free, as you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up not liking it. Surfshark is our runner-up. These VPNs not only unblock Crunchyroll, they have some of the best security to keep you anonymous online.
What VPN do you prefer to use when watching Crunchyroll? Do you have other VPNs you recommend? Let us know what you think in the comments section. Thank you for reading.
FAQ: Best VPN for Crunchyroll
Yes, VPNs can work with Crunchyroll, but you need the best ones, like NordVPN to guarantee access.
The U.S. is the best region for Crunchyroll due to its library having the most content.
You can trust PrivadoVPN and Windscribe for Crunchyroll because our tests prove they unblock the U.S. Crunchyroll library easily.
You can bypass Crunchyroll’s region locks by connecting to a VPN server in a region with the content you want.