JuicyTalk
Anime streaming has evolved and grown increasingly commodified by media giants, but Crunchyroll’s new removal of ad-supported viewing is the latest disappointing update. The service is set to remove this free option for audiences, while its existing paid tiers currently show no signs of changing.
The news comes directly via Crunchyroll’s ad-supported service which, in lieu of an ad, stated, “Ad-supported streaming ends December 31, 2025. Upgrade now to ensure your viewing is 100% ad-free and uninterrupted.” In addition to its latest move to inextricably integrate Crunchyroll Manga with its anime streaming, it appears the days of low-cost Crunchyroll viewing are over.
Crunchyroll to Remove Ad-Supported Tier by New Year’s 2026
Talk About Dropping the Ball
Crunchyroll’s ad-supported tier was not prominently advertised, but was widely available for users wishing to experience anime on demand for free. Viewers simply had to create an account if they didn’t already have one, and would be able to select from a limited catalog of anime, although even that offering changed in 2022 with the removal of simulcast episodes.
But now, with the ad-supported tier’s removal on December 31, this means that if a viewer wishes to stream anime on the service, which boasts countless exclusives, they must pay. This includes the Fan ($7.99) tier, the Mega Fan ($11.99) tier, or Ultimate Fan ($15.99) tier for monthly subscriptions. These prices are unchanged as of this announcement.
Until December 31, 2025, Crunchyroll still confirms it has ad-supported viewing, with its FAQ stating,
“Yes, Crunchyroll offers a free tier, but this tier includes ads and doesn’t provide immediate access to simulcast episodes.”
The move comes as the latest disappointing shock for streaming audiences in addition to other industry moves like Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. and therefore HBO Max, meaning further consolidation of services. Moves like this, and Crunchyroll’s ad tier removal, strongly suggest prices are about to go up for streaming subscriptions in the near future once again.
Ad-Supported Viewing Was Slowly Dying Off for Crunchyroll
Never Forget Its Origins
One old chestnut repeated by fans is that Crunchyroll had humble origins as a piracy site, but this was multiple corporate iterations ago. The service moved arguably the best draw to watching its ad-supported tier, One Piece, away from this option last year. The pool shrunk sharply years prior as well, with only a small curated selection of series remaining:
- Beast Tamer
- BLUELOCK
- BOCCHI THE ROCK!
- Bungo Stray Dogs
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
- Chainsaw Man
- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
- The Daily Life of the Immortal King
- DON’T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO
- Golden Kamuy
- Lycoris Recoil
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury
- My Dress-up Darling
- Ranking of Kings
- The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World
- Soul Eater
- SPY x FAMILY
- VINLAND SAGA
- Yona of the Dawn
These titles, as compiled by @MangaAlerts on X, will soon be fully paywalled, despite several, like Yona of the Dawn and Vinland Saga having no new content for years. While Crunchyroll has yet to comment on this latest controversial move, it’s clear the company is committed to pricing its service as a premium option to watch the newest anime.
