Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Along with Netflix and Prime, Hulu is one of the major streaming services that carries a surprising number amount of anime, among them, Attack on Titan, Bleach, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Naruto. But while vast, it can hardly compare to Crunchyroll’s catalog. Ever since it acquired Funimation, Crunchyroll has become the ultimate resource for all things anime in the US, not only touting quantity but quality too. A lot of its episodes become available as soon as they air in Japan. So, which is better? If you’re a hardcore fan interested in niche and new content, Crunchyroll is the way to go. But if you’re satisfied with popular titles and the classics, we think Hulu’s offerings are worthwhile, especially if you want your fair share of Western titles too. Below, we compare Hulu and Crunchyroll’s features to help you figure out which is the better service for you.
| Feature | HuluOur pick | Crunchyroll |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $11.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days |
| Subscribers | 55 million | 17 million |
| Titles that pass our 7.0 IMDb / 70% RT bar | 255 | 38 |
| Try Hulu free for 30 days | Try Crunchyroll free for 7 days |
We only recommend movies and shows rated at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. By that standard, Hulu currently streams 255 qualifying titles, compared to 38 on Crunchyroll. Here are the picks our readers are watching most on each right now.
If you just want the lowest possible bill, here is exactly what each service’s cheapest plan gets you.
| Feature | Hulu With Ads | Crunchyroll Fan |
|---|---|---|
| Price / month | $11.99 | $9.99 |
| Annual Price | $119.99 | – |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 1 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 1 |
| Profiles | 7 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get With Ads → | Get Fan → |
| Hulu 3 plans | Crunchyroll 3 plans | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Hulu Student | With Ads | No Ads | Cheapest Fan | Mega Fan | Ultimate Fan | |
| Price / month | $1.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $9.99 | $13.99 | $17.99 |
| Annual Price | – | $119.99 | – | – | – | – |
| Streams at Home | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 2 at the same time, unlimited device log-ins | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Streams Outside Home | 3 | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 3, more with Extra Member add-on | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Profiles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Max Quality | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| 4K Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – | – | – |
| Audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | 5.1 audio | Standard stereo | Standard stereo | Standard stereo |
| Dolby Digital | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | – | – | – |
| Min. Speed | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | Get plan → | |
Student discount available
Both services support most major devices. Here’s a breakdown based on the device apps each service lists.
| Device / Platform | Hulu | Crunchyroll |
|---|---|---|
| Airplay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple TV | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chromecast | ✓ | Not listed |
| Google TV Streamer | ✓ | Not listed |
| LG TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Nintendo Switch | ✓ | ✓ |
| PlayStation | Not listed | ✓ |
| Roku | ✓ | ✓ |
| Samsung TV | ✓ | Not listed |
| Xbox | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xfinity Flex | Not listed | ✓ |
| Xfinity X1 | Not listed | ✓ |
| and Xumo Stream Box | Not listed | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
“Not listed” means the service doesn’t list an app for that device; it may still work via casting or a browser.
Hulu has 55 million subscribers compared to 17 million for Crunchyroll. That makes Hulu 224% more popular by subscriber count.
Crunchyroll starts at $9.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That’s $2.00 more per month for Hulu, or $24.00 more per year.
Before you pick either one, here is the drawback of each service, plainly stated.
Most Hulu plans keep ads unless you pay roughly double for the ad-free tier, and Disney has been steadily folding Hulu into the Disney+ app, so the standalone experience keeps shifting.
Crunchyroll is anime only, dubs often lag behind subs, and its back catalog has real gaps outside current simulcasts.
Is Crunchyroll cheaper than Hulu?
Yes. Crunchyroll starts at $9.99/month, while Hulu starts at $11.99/month. That's a difference of $2.00/month, or $24.00 per year.
Do Hulu or Crunchyroll offer a free trial?
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial. Crunchyroll offers a 7-day free trial.
Are Hulu and Crunchyroll the same company?
No. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, while Crunchyroll is owned by Sony. They are separate, competing subscriptions.
Is Hulu included with Crunchyroll?
No. Neither service includes the other: a Crunchyroll subscription does not give you Hulu content, and vice versa. You need a separate subscription for each.
Which has more highly-rated titles, Hulu or Crunchyroll?
By our curation standard (at least 7.0 on IMDb and 70% on Rotten Tomatoes), Hulu currently streams 255 qualifying titles, compared to 38 on Crunchyroll.
Can I cancel Hulu or Crunchyroll anytime?
Yes. Both Hulu and Crunchyroll are month-to-month subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel either service at any time.
If you're a fan of TV shows, then Hulu has a lot to offer, with a pretty comprehensive list of popular shows from major networks, including classic sitcoms, as well as children's programs like Sesame Street. Hulu is also acclaimed for its ace original programming, with hit shows from comedies like The Mindy Project to dystopian dramas like Handmaid's Tale.
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