Crunchyroll, the leading anime streaming service, has announced a $2 monthly price increase for all its subscription tiers, effective immediately for new customers and from March for existing ones. This hike comes shortly after the platform eliminated its free tier at the end of 2025. The changes add offline viewing to the entry-level plan while introducing new features like multiple profiles and ad-skipping options.
Crunchyroll revealed the price adjustments on February 2, 2026, affecting its Fan, Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan tiers in the US. The Fan plan rises from $8 to $10 per month, Mega Fan from $12 to $14, and Ultimate Fan from $16 to $18. Bundle options with the Crunchyroll Manga app also increase by $2: Fan plus Manga to $14 and Mega Fan plus Manga to $17.50. New subscribers face the higher rates right away, while current ones will see changes on their billing cycle after March 4, 2026.
This marks the first price rise for the Fan tier since 2019, following a May 2024 increase that bumped Mega Fan from $10 to $12 and Ultimate Fan from $15 to $16. To offset the hikes, Crunchyroll offers a limited-time annual Fan plan for $67, with Manga bundles at $115 for Fan plus Manga and $142 for Mega Fan plus Manga.
Owned by Sony since its 2020 acquisition from AT&T, Crunchyroll has grown from 5 million subscribers in 2012 to over 15 million by 2024. The service merged rival Funimation in April 2024, erasing some users' digital libraries, and phased out free ad-supported viewing by December 31, 2025, after reducing available titles in 2022. These moves have consolidated the market, where Crunchyroll holds 40% of overseas anime streaming share alongside Netflix's 42%.
The company justifies the increases with enhancements: offline downloads now available on the Fan tier (limited to one device), multiple profiles, teen profiles with PIN protection, skipping intro songs and credits, and expanded device compatibility. Crunchyroll's profitability, with an 8% margin in Q3 2024 projected to double by 2027, helps offset Sony Pictures' 25% operating income drop. Despite frustrations over rising costs and fewer options, the platform continues to expand, recently relaunching its Manga app and seeing Aniplex acquire rival Egg Firm.
