You do not need a pirate site to watch anime for free. Between free ad-supported apps, publisher channels on YouTube and the library card in your wallet, there is a large, legal, free anime catalog. The catch is that it is spread across several places and changes by country. This guide puts it in one spot.

Free ad-supported streaming apps

These services are free because they show ads, the same way broadcast TV does. You can usually watch without an account, on the web, on phones and on smart TVs.

Tubi

Tubi has one of the largest free anime sections in English, with both subbed and dubbed series and films. It leans toward completed shows rather than this season's simulcasts, which makes it a good place to binge a full series start to finish.

Pluto TV

Pluto TV works like cable: live channels running on a schedule, plus an on-demand section. It carries dedicated anime channels, so it is best when you want something on in the background rather than a specific episode.

RetroCrush

RetroCrush specializes in older anime from the 1970s through the 2000s. If you want the classics, or series that never made it to the big streamers, this is where to look.

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the biggest anime streamer, but it is primarily a paid service. It has offered a small free, ad-supported selection at times, so it is worth checking what is free in your region, but do not expect to watch new simulcasts there for free.

Official anime channels on YouTube

Several licensors upload full episodes to YouTube for free, legally. Most are region-locked, so a channel that plays in one country may show nothing in another.

• Muse Asia. Full episodes of current and recent series for viewers in South and Southeast Asia, often including shows from the current season.
• Ani-One Asia. Similar coverage for Asia, with a large library of full series and new episodes.
• GUNDAM.INFO. The official Gundam channel, which streams many Gundam series for free in supported regions.
• Studio and publisher channels. Studios and distributors regularly post first episodes, films and limited-time full series. Following the official channel for a series you like is the easiest way to catch them.

A quick way to tell an official upload from a re-upload: official channels are verified, link to the publisher's website, and post whole series in order with consistent titles.

Your library card

Many public libraries give members free access to streaming apps. Hoopla, where your library supports it, carries anime series and films with no ads. You borrow a set number of titles a month, and the library pays for them. It is the most overlooked free option on this list.

How the free options compare

Catalogs change every month as licenses start and end, so treat this as a map of where to look rather than a promise that a specific title will be there.

What to avoid

Sites that stream every new episode the day it airs, for free, with no ads you recognize, are almost always unlicensed. They are also a common source of scam redirects and malware. We cover how to spot them in Are free anime sites safe?

If you love anime, try short dramas

Vertical short dramas run on many of the same tropes anime fans love: secret identities, contract marriages, revenge arcs and second chances. Episodes are about a minute long and end on a cliffhanger. On Sutorichat every episode is free to watch in the app. Here is which short drama genres match which anime tropes.