Cheapest Crunchyroll Membership: How to Save Big on Anime
Paying full retail for anime may hurt, especially when Crunchyroll subscription prices keep inching up. The good news? You can still score the cheapest Crunchyroll membership without settling for sketchy sites or endless ads.
This guide walks you through today’s plans, regional loopholes that make Crunchyroll cheaper, and the VPN trick that keeps your binge-watching uninterrupted and ad-free.

Cheapest Crunchyroll membership: why prices jump from one country to the next
Crunchyroll sets its fees by region, not by universal flat rate. A fan in Tokyo may pay less than a viewer in Toronto even if they both watch some “My Hero Academia” title on the same day. Last fall, researchers found the Indian storefront selling a full Crunchyroll premium subscription for the equivalent of $0.94 a month, which is almost 90 percent less than the US rate.
On the flip side, North American users saw the MEGA FAN monthly fee rise from $9.99 to $11.99 in May 2024.
The takeaway is that your location may matter far more than loyalty. When you want to save your budget, the fastest way is to use a VPN service to show up in a cheaper location. But before we tell and show how it helps, let’s compare plans. We can first have a look at what each tier offers so you know whether the move is worth it.
Crunchyroll premium plans at a glance
Crunchyroll splits paid access into three subscription tiers. Below is a no-fluff look at what you get and what you lose when you aim for a smaller bill.
Ultimate Fan tier breakdown
Cost check – $14.99/mo in the US.
- Streams on six devices at once. Handy for families or that shared dorm account. You can even link gaming consoles, smart tvs, and a nintendo switch without kicking anyone off.
- Offline viewing plus merch perks. Download whole arcs of popular anime and snag regular Crunchyroll deals in the Crunchyroll store. The store’s Black Friday campaign usually offers the deepest discounts.
- Game Vault access. New in 2024, subscribers unlocked a pack of free games like River City Girls via the mobile game vault.
Mega Fan perks
Cost check – $11.99/mo post-increase. Older accounts may still see subscription costs shift on their next renewal.
- Four simultaneous streams keep friends happy during weekend binges.
- Offline viewing on mobile for flights or patchy dorm Wi-Fi.
Ad-free episodes shortly (usually within one hour) after Japan’s TV airing.
Fan Plan essentials
Cost check – $7.99/mo or cheaper if you prepay annually.
- One stream at a time and no Game Vault.
- No store discounts and you’ll miss some simulcast perks, but core HD playback stays intact.
Not ready to commit cash? You can test-drive Premium first.
Crunchyroll Free Trial: how to stretch the first week
- New users can launch a free trial (7 days) on any plan.
- Create a new Crunchyroll account, connect through a virtual location where plans cost less, then sign up. Your card won’t get billed until the trial ends, but your future renewals inherit that cheaper price.
- Cancel before day 7 if all you wanted was a high-speed binge of anime series. You won’t have surprise charges.
Games are now part of the package for upper tiers, so here’s what that looks like.
Free games and game vault: extras that sweeten the deal
- The game vault lets anime fan subscribers download titles such as Wolfstride at no extra fee, which is a perk similar to Xbox Game Pass but built around anime.
- Titles rotate. If you love brawlers or puzzlers (think skill fruits for your thumbs), grab them early.
- Only Mega Fan plan and Ultimate Fan members qualify. The Basic Fan tier sees the promo screen but can’t play.
Lower prices are great, but regional blocks can still keep shows away. Here’s how to fix that.
Why a reliable VPN unlocks the full anime library
Even with a paid plan, geo-locks hide many shows (try searching for guild receptionists outside Asia). A reliable VPN solves three problems at once:
Access Crunchyroll libraries worldwide
A fresh IP address in Japan opens the door to the country’s 1 000-plus exclusive titles that never leave domestic shores.
Beat regional up-charges
Switch to India, Turkey, or Argentina to see your subscription prices plummet. Users report savings of “eat unlimited numbers” of yen compared to US costs. Okay, maybe not infinite, but the math still rules.
Stay private and buffer-free
The right provider routes traffic through a wide server network, so your internet connection stays smooth while cloaking your data from snooping ISPs.
Maximize your Crunchyroll savings with VeePN
Using a VPN isn’t just about spoofing an IP. VeePN adds meaningful value to every anime marathon.
Access regional pricing
Hop between 2 500 + servers and grab cheaper Crunchyroll subscriptions in seconds. No shady hacks, just choose a region where the premium version costs less and subscribe there.
Military-grade encryption
With AES-256 encryption running under the hood, your traffic stays safe at cafés, campuses, or hotel Wi-Fi hotspots. Sneaky trackers can’t see which anime content you love.
No speed or bandwidth limits
VeePN maintains fast pipes so you can stream the best anime classics in crisp 4K, even on budget hotel networks.
Ten devices per account
Share with friends or sync across phone, laptop, console, and streaming service boxes. One login covers it all.
Built-in security toolkit
The Kill Switch blocks leaks the instant Wi-Fi drops, DNS-shield keeps your real IP hidden, and Double VPN adds an extra encryption hop when you need it.
Step-by-step: get a cheaper Crunchyroll subscription with VeePN
- Install VeePN on your streaming devices. The app works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, routers, and Apple TV.
- Connect to a low-cost region. India and the Philippines currently show the smallest subscription costs. Double-check the final checkout number before you click Pay.
- Clear cookies and restart the Crunchyroll app. This forces the site to read your new digital location.
- Pick your tier and start the trial. We recommend the Mega Fan option, it still qualifies for the local discount and unlocks offline downloads plus unlimited numbers of mobile installs. But you see for yourself.
- Enjoy unrestricted streaming. Your new price remains attached to your account even after you have disconnected with the VPN and you will still require it to access Crunchyroll libraries that have not been licensed in your country.
Try VeePN risk-free for 30 days and start saving on Crunchyroll today
FAQ
Right now the Fan Plan bought through India is the absolute bargain at under a dollar a month once converted. You must register through that region while connected to a VPN to see the price.
Occasional Prime Day bundles pop up, but day-to-day, direct regional pricing via VPN still beats Prime add-ons in most countries.
That’s the monthly cost of the basic Fan tier in the US. One stream, no Game Vault, but full HD access and simulcast episodes.
No. Prime sometimes offers a 30-day Partner trial, but after that you’ll pay the normal rate or whatever discounted regional fee you lock in. Discover more in this article.
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