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How to Watch Dragon Ball

How to Watch Dragon Ball Super Online in 2024: Kame Hame Ha

Anime fans remain perpetually keen on admiring Son Goku’s adventures, whether it’s with Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball GT. If you’re wondering where and how to watch Dragon Ball online, we have some intel. This guide will point you to paid and free options for watching Dragon Ball online.

Arjun RupareliaSandra Pattison

Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-03-12T22:06:45+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Every ‘90s kid reminisces about Son Goku as he continues his adventure streak into adulthood. Dragon Ball is one of the most comprehensive and entertaining anime franchises. If you’re in the mood to revisit the chronicles of Son Goku as imagined by the creator Akira Toriyama, we’ll walk you through how to watch Dragon Ball in this guide.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dragon Ball is available on Funimation, Hulu and a few other platforms.
  • There are paid and free alternatives, all of which warrant the use of a VPN.
  • You may need a VPN to either bypass geoblocks or keep your online activity private. We recommend ExpressVPN.

Not available in your country?

Watch Dragon Ball Super now on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming platforms.

Status checked 2024/03/12:

There are several options for those who want to relive some childhood memories and watch Goku’s sleeping bomb defeat Lord Slug or admire Goku as he takes on Broly. Some are free, and some are paid; some are legal, while some are less than legal. We’re going to walk you through all the options in this guide.

  • 09/30/2021 Facts checked

    Updated the article to reflect current streaming platforms where Dragon Ball is available, added step-by-step instructions on how to use a VPN to watch Dragon Ball.

How to Watch Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super & Dragon Ball Z Episodes

Funimation is a one-stop streaming platform to watch original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball movies. Funimation is available in the U.S. and a handful of other locations, but it’s not available in most countries. Regardless, you can still use a VPN to access content on Funimation.

If you’re on a sabbatical or taking a sick leave, you can use Funimation’s 14-day trial to watch the entire series. Alternatively, you also have the option to subscribe to Funimation. The only challenge is that you’ll need a U.S. or Canada credit card. Not having one isn’t the end of the world, as long as you at least have PayPal and a VPN. 

funimation geoblocked
Funimation is not accessible from most countries outside the U.S.

The original Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super are also available on Hulu. If you’re already a subscriber, that would be your go-to. If you’re outside the U.S. and a few other countries though, you’ll need a VPN. You’ll also need to pay for Hulu, of course, but there are a few alternatives you should know about.

You could also use a streaming website like GoGoAnime or download Dragon Ball episodes and movies through torrents. These free alternatives aren’t legal, so you’ll want to keep yourself anonymous with a VPN.

gogoanime dragonball z
Dragon Ball episodes are available for free on GoGoAnime.

Dragon Ball Viewing Order

Before you begin your binge-watching session, you need to decide the watch order. You could view the Dragon Ball series in either canonical or chronological order. 

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Canonical Order

If you want a coherent storyline, you’ll need to deviate from the order in which the franchise released the Dragon Ball series and movies. This watch order includes elements that are part of the Dragon Ball canon and will reduce the overall watch time substantially while still allowing you to experience everything that Goku and his Saiyan adventures have to offer. 

Here’s the watch order you should follow:

  • Dragon Ball: All episodes
  • Dragon Ball Z/Kai: Until the end of the Frieza Saga
  • Dragon Ball Z: Bardock — The Father of Goku (TV special)
  • Dragon Ball Z: End of the Frieza Saga to end of the Cell Saga
  • Dragon Ball Z: Bardock — The History of Trunks (TV Special)
  • Dragon Ball Super: All episodes

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Chronological Order

If you want to get a taste of everything that the Dragon Ball series has to offer, you’d want to watch the series and movies in chronological order.

The list doesn’t include Dragon Ball Z Kai since it’s just a remake of the original Dragon Ball Z; they’re essentially the same thing

Here’s the correct order you should follow:

  1. Dragon Ball: All episodes
  2. Dragon Ball: Dead Zone*
  3. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 1–86
  4. Dragon Ball Z: “Bardock — The Father of Goku”(special episode)
  5. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 87–107
  6. Dragon Ball Z: Episode of Bardock*
  7. Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest*
  8. Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might*
  9. Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug*
  10. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 108–123
  11. Dragon Ball Z: “Bardock — The History of Trunks”(special episode)
  12. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 124 and 125
  13. Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge*
  14. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 126–146
  15. Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13*
  16. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 147–173
  17. Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler*
  18. Dragon Ball Z: Broly — The Legendary Super Saiyan*
  19. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 174–194
  20. Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound*
  21. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 195–207
  22. Dragon Ball Z: Broly’s Second Coming*
  23. Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly*
  24. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 251–253
  25. Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn*
  26. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 254–288
  27. Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon*
  28. Dragon Ball Z: Episodes 289–end
  29. Dragon Ball GT: All episodes
  30. Dragon Ball Super: Episodes 1–3
  31. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods*
  32. Dragon Ball Super: Episodes 4–18
  33. Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F*
  34. Dragon Ball Super: Episodes 19–end
  35. Dragon Ball Super: Broly*
  36. Super Dragon Ball Heroes

The asterisk (*) indicates movies.

How to Watch Dragon Ball From Anywhere With a VPN

Websites like Funimation and Hulu have geoblocks on their websites that restrict viewers from outside a select few countries from accessing the content. You can bypass these geoblocks using a VPN though. Using a VPN isn’t difficult, but if you’ve never used it before, here’s what you need to do to set up a VPN and stream Dragon Ball.

Step by Step: Watch Dragon Ball With a VPN

  1. Download and Install a VPN

    You’ll first need to register with a VPN service provider — we recommend ExpressVPN. Once you’ve registered, download and install the VPN on your device.

    download-expressvpn
  2. Connect to a U.S. Server

    Funimation and Hulu need to think that you’re located in the U.S. to allow you to access the content. Using a VPN to connect to a U.S. server will mask your IP and make the website think you’re in the U.S.

    expressvpn connect
  3. Go to Funimation

    You should now be able to access Funimation or Hulu. Grab a bucket of popcorn, go to the streaming service site and search for Dragon Ball.

    funimation dragon ball

Watch Dragon Ball Super On Hulu With a VPN

If you’re not in the U.S., you can’t access Hulu. Both the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super episodes are available on Hulu, but you’ll need a VPN to access Hulu’s content if you’re not in the U.S. However, using the above direction will also allow you to stream Dragon Ball on Hulu with a VPN.

hulu dragonball
You need to use a VPN’s U.S. servers to access Hulu’s library of Dragon Ball.

The Best VPN to Watch Dragon Ball Online

You need a VPN that offers blazing-fast connection speeds, unlimited bandwidth and the ability to bypass geoblocks. There are several excellent VPNs for streaming, but ExpressVPN tops the list.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN servers
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN and offers a great streaming experience.

ExpressVPN offers all the features you’d want in a VPN for streaming. There’s no cap on bandwidth or data, and ExpressVPN also manages to bypass most geoblocks, including the Netflix VPN ban. ExpressVPN is also our best VPN for torrenting, so if you choose to download Dragon Ball through torrents, consider ExpressVPN.

It does cost a fair bit though. ExpressVPN is a terrific choice for someone with a bigger budget, but others may need to look elsewhere. However, you can always try ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee and claim a full refund if you’re not satisfied. If you want to learn more about ExpressVPN, we have a thorough ExpressVPN review.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN desktop
NordVPN offers a similar feature portfolio to ExpressVPN, but at a much lower price.

NordVPN is a go-to for someone who wants features similar to those of ExpressVPN at a lower price. It’s not just fast — it’s the fastest VPN around. That means you can stream buffer-free even in HD (provided your internet plan is fast enough, of course). The VPN has a ton of other features that we’ve elaborated on in our comprehensive NordVPN review.

The price difference between NordVPN and ExpressVPN is significant. NordVPN’s two-year plan costs a little more than half of ExpressVPN’s one-year plan. If you still want to test NordVPN and see what you’ll be giving up for the lower price, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to fall back on.

How to Watch Dragon Ball Online for Free

There’s only one way to watch Dragon Ball online legally and for free: sign up for Funimation’s 14-day trial and use a VPN if you’re not in the U.S. You could also choose to use illegal streaming websites or torrents. Either way, you’ll need a VPN to protect your privacy, good antivirus software and a good pop-up blocker if you plan on using an illegal streaming website like GoGoAnime.

Why You Need a VPN to Watch Dragon Ball

Streaming services like Funimation and Hulu don’t have the rights to provide content all over the world. They’re only authorized to stream content in certain locations (the U.S., in this case), so they add geoblocks to their website to disallow visitors from other countries from accessing the content.

VPNs provide a simple fix to this. Geoblocks typically look at your IP address to identify your location. A VPN conceals your IP address and assigns you a new one based on your server location. When you visit a geoblocked website after connecting to a U.S. server, it will think you’re physically located in the U.S.

A VPN with a no-logs policy also helps keep your online activity private when you use an illegal streaming website or use torrents. While torrenting itself isn’t illegal, the content that you download could be copyright protected. It’s best to keep any torrenting activity private using a VPN unless you want to risk getting sued or fined.

Final Thoughts

You now know all the ways to enjoy Dragon Ball online, whether you want to stream Dragon Ball Z or classics like the Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle

Do you know of any more sources — free or paid — to stream Dragon Ball? Did you have to use a VPN to access it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

FAQ

  • Start with Dragon Ball. After watching all episodes, continue with Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball Kai and then watch Dragon Ball Super. If you’re looking for the canonical or chronological order including the Dragon Ball movies, we have a list under the Dragon Ball Viewing Order section.

  • Unfortunately, Dragon Ball is not available on Netflix. It used to be available on Netflix Japan, but has since been removed. Funimation is your best bet to watch all Dragon Ball episodes, and it’s easily accessible with a VPN if you’re not in the U.S.

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