Crunchyroll Price Hike 2026: New Subscription Costs, Tier Changes, and What Fans Should Know

Well, folks, it looks like the days of budget-friendly streaming are officially behind us. If you were hoping for a reprieve from the rising tide of subscription costs, I have some bad news for you. As of February 2, 2026, Crunchyroll has officially announced that it is raising its subscription prices. This isn’t just a small tweak for a few users, either. We are looking at a price hike across every single membership tier.

If you are a new subscriber looking to jump into the world of anime, these prices are effective immediately. For those of us who have been loyal Crunchyroll subscribers for years, you have a little bit of breathing room. The changes will hit existing billing cycles after March 4, 2026. So, enjoy that slightly cheaper billing statement one last time while you can.

A Breakdown of the New Crunchyroll Pricing Tiers

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty numbers. How much is this actually going to cost you? It seems Crunchyroll has decided that a flat increase is the way to go, adding two dollars to the monthly cost of every plan.

For the entry-level anime watcher, the Fan Tier is jumping from $7.99 to $9.99 per month. This is the first time the Fan Tier has seen a price increase since 2019, which feels like a lifetime ago in internet years.

If you are on the Mega Fan Tier, which is arguably the sweet spot for most users who hate ads and want offline viewing, your bill is going from $11.99 to $13.99 per month.

Finally, for the power users out there, the Ultimate Fan Tier is increasing from $15.99 to a hefty $17.99 per month. That is pushing nearly twenty bucks a month just to keep up with the latest season of “Demon Slayer” or “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

Why Is Crunchyroll Doing This Now?

Naturally, the big question on everyone’s mind is simply: Why? According to an email sent out to subscribers, Crunchyroll claims these updates are necessary to continue expanding what they call the world’s largest anime library. They are promising to pack the service with even more new releases and exclusive series every season.

The service currently boasts over 50,000 episodes and around 2,000 series and films. That is undeniably a massive amount of content. Crunchyroll also pointed toward enhanced offerings, such as offline downloads for the Fan Tier and expanded access to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, as justification for asking us to dig a little deeper into our pockets.

However, it is hard to ignore the context here. This price hike comes hot on the heels of the discontinuation of the Crunchyroll free tier, which shut down at the end of 2025. That move already ruffled a lot of feathers in the community. For years, one of the best things about anime was its accessibility. You could put up with some ads and watch for free. Now, that door is closed, and the price of entry is getting steeper.

Is the Crunchyroll Mega Fan Tier Worth It?

With the price gap closing between tiers, you might be wondering if you should upgrade or downgrade. The Mega Fan package does offer some solid perks. You get to watch content without ads, which is honestly a lifesaver when you are binging a 20-episode arc. You also get access to the full on-demand library and can watch new episodes shortly after they air in Japan.

Perhaps the biggest selling point for the Mega Fan tier is the ability to stream on up to four devices at once and use offline viewing. If you commute or travel, downloading episodes is essential. Plus, you get access to the Crunchyroll Game Vault and a 10% discount on select products in the Crunchyroll Store.

If you are trying to save some cash, Crunchyroll is encouraging users to switch to an annual plan to bring the monthly average down. But dropping a lump sum all at once is not always easy for everyone.

The Anime Community Reacts to the Price Hike

As you can imagine, the internet has thoughts. And by thoughts, I mean people are not thrilled. The reaction from the Crunchyroll user base has been mixed to negative. It is not just about the money, but about the value proposition.

There are valid concerns about service quality that have been lingering for a while. Users frequently cite issues with subtitle accuracy and content availability in certain regions. When you are paying premium prices, you expect a premium experience. One user in the comments section of a news report summed it up by calling it “nasty work” to raise prices during an “anime recession.” Another user questioned the logic of paying $17.99 to “watch strange cartoons.”

While Crunchyroll positions this as a necessary step to maintain their massive library, it puts them in a tough spot. The streaming landscape is more competitive than ever. When you look at the monthly cost of other major streamers, Crunchyroll is starting to look pricey for a niche service, even if that niche is massive.

At the end of the day, we are all likely going to pay it because we need our anime fix. But that doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it.