15 Free Anime Websites to Watch Anime Free Online [2026]

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Want to watch anime without spending money? There are plenty of free anime websites out there where you can watch everything from brand-new releases to old-school favorites. Most of them stream in HD, and you can pick between subtitles or dubs. Usually, you don’t even have to sign up. The downside? You’ll run into ads, streams can get buggy, and sometimes the site just disappears. But there are plenty of available options. In this article, I’ll walk you through the best free anime sites, where to stream legally, and an easy way to download episodes so you can watch them offline.

10 Best Free Anime Websites to Watch Anime Free Online

Now, we will show you the top free anime websites where you can watch your favorite shows for free. Here’s a list of the 10 best sites to get started:

1. Aniwatch

Aniwatch is a free anime streaming site with both Japanese-subbed and English-dubbed episodes. Its library covers everything from hot new hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen to older classics. You can search by genre, year, or popularity, and videos play in HD without creating an account. Ads are frequent and subtitles sometimes slip out of sync. Occasionally, the site may go offline, but it still offers a huge variety of shows.

2. 9Anime

9Anime also hosts thousands of anime series and uploads new episodes very quickly, often just hours after they air in Japan. Multiple servers ensure you can find a working stream easily. The site supports HD quality from 720p to 1080p, and the layout is simple to navigate. Ads appear throughout since it is an unofficial platform. It remains one of the fastest and most reliable places to watch new anime.

3. GoGoAnime

GoGoAnime is a long-standing free anime streaming site with a vast library of subbed and dubbed titles. It is known for reliable availability of new episodes and offers mirror links to always find a working source. The layout is basic but functional. Ads are common, and being unofficial, it operates in a legal gray area. Stream quality may vary, and some videos may not be full HD.

4. Aniwave

Aniwave is another free anime site that spun off from 9Anime, offering a high-quality streaming experience. It boasts an extensive anime library, second only to Kissanime at one point, and provides anime in HD with both subs and dubs. Users can download episodes without registering. The site updates daily with new episodes, but it is ad-supported, so an ad-blocker is recommended. Despite ads, its interface is relatively clean and easy to navigate.

5. AnimeHeaven

AnimeHeaven offers a balanced collection of popular new releases and classic titles. Episodes are available shortly after airing, with streams up to 1080p HD. The site has a simple and user-friendly interface, although it is ad-supported and occasionally experiences downtime. Links may also change over time due to domain updates.

6. HiAnime

HiAnime is similar to GoGoAnime, sharing much of the same content. It offers a large selection of shows, often uploading new episodes 1–2 hours after their Japanese broadcast. Videos stream in up to 1080p on various devices. No login is required, but the site heavily relies on ads, and it can be taken offline at any time due to lack of licensing.

7. AnimeParadise

AnimeParadise is a smaller, user-friendly platform streaming HD anime with English subtitles. The site updates daily and does not require an account to watch. While the library is smaller than some larger platforms, it covers most major series. It is ad-supported but generally provides smooth playback with a clean interface.

8. AnimeFlix

AnimeFlix features a sleek, Netflix-like interface, making browsing anime easy and enjoyable. It offers both subbed and dubbed content, including trending titles. The site has a recommendation system and well-organized categories. Videos stream up to 1080p HD. While the interface is attractive, the catalog is smaller than other major free sites, and updates for new episodes can be slower. Ads are present but generally not overwhelming, making the overall experience smooth.

9. meWATCH

meWATCH, operated by Singapore’s Mediacorp, is an official streaming platform offering many anime titles. It provides the latest Japanese shows with English subtitles, often on the same day they air in Japan. The content is fully legal and high-quality, with professional subtitles and no malicious ads. However, much of the library is restricted to Southeast Asia, and a free account is usually required to access the shows.

10. Tubi TV

Tubi is a legal, ad-supported streaming platform that offers a surprisingly large collection of anime. It features classics like Naruto, Sailor Moon, Death Note, Inuyasha, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter, and more. Content is available on demand and streams in HD, with apps for most devices including smart TVs and mobile phones. The main drawbacks are the ads during viewing and a focus on older anime, with less frequent updates for newer series.

Top 5 Legal Anime Websites to Watch Anime Safely Online

If you want to watch anime safely and in high quality, legal streaming platforms are the way to go. These sites have official licenses, which means stable streaming, professional subtitles, and regular updates. They’re mostly ad-free, reliable, and work across multiple devices. Here are the top five legal anime websites you should know about:

1. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the biggest anime streaming site in the world, with over 1,000 series, including new episodes just hours after they air in Japan. You can use it for free with ads or go premium for ad-free viewing. It works on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and consoles. Even though the free version has ads and delayed access, it’s still the favorite platform for many anime fans.

2. HIDIVE

HIDIVE is a smaller anime platform owned by AMC. It focuses on exclusive titles, uncensored anime, and deep-cut series you might not find elsewhere. It offers simulcasts, English dubs, offline downloads, customizable subtitles, and a private viewing mode. You can watch on two devices at the same time. The downside is it’s paid-only and only available in certain regions like North America, the UK, Ireland, and Oceania.

3. Netflix

Netflix has a growing anime library with popular shows like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, and original series like Demon Slayer and Castlevania. It streams in 4K, has great apps for all devices, and is completely ad-free. The catch is you need a subscription, the anime selection is smaller than Crunchyroll, and new episodes don’t come as fast since there’s no simulcast.

4. Hulu

Hulu is mainly for US users and combines anime with general TV shows. It has popular titles like Naruto, Attack on Titan, One-Punch Man, and My Hero Academia. Hulu streams in 1080p, supports offline downloads on mobile, and offers ad-supported or ad-free plans. However, its interface can be a bit cluttered, and the anime library is smaller than Crunchyroll or Netflix.

5. Disney+

Disney+ isn’t a typical anime platform, but since 2023 it includes Crunchyroll content in many regions. It also streams Studio Ghibli films and some Netflix-licensed anime. Streaming is ad-free and available in HD/4K on multiple devices. The platform requires a subscription, and the anime library varies by country. In some regions, anime may appear on Disney+ Hotstar instead of the main Disney+ service.

How to Download Anime from Free Anime Websites Easily?

Streaming anime on free websites is super convenient, but the downside is that you can only watch while you’re online. If you want to enjoy your favorite episodes anytime, offline, a handy tool like YT Saver Video Downloader is just what you need. It’s a desktop app for both Windows and Mac and can download videos from over 10,000 sites, including all the major free anime streaming platforms.

With YT Saver, you can save anime episodes in high quality up to 8K and in multiple formats like MP4, MOV, AAC, WAV, and more. You can even extract just the audio, grab entire playlists at once, and convert videos for devices like iPhone, iPad, or Android. Basically, it makes watching anime offline super easy, without annoying ads or buffering interruptions.

Key Features of YT Saver:

• Download videos or audio from over 10,000 websites, YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, etc
• Save videos in resolutions from 480p up to 8K in multiple formats.
• Grab full playlists or entire series in one click, saving time.
• Convert downloaded videos into device-friendly 100+ formats like MP4, MP3, MOV, or AAC.
• Trim or crop videos to your preferred length or format directly within the app.
• Extract and save audio up to 320kbps, ideal for podcasts or ringtone creation.

▼ Steps to Download Anime from YouTube with YT Saver Downloader

Step 1  Download and install YT Saver on your PC or Mac.

Step 2  Open YouTube in your browser and locate the anime episode you want to download. Copy the video URL directly from the address bar.

Step 3  Open YT Saver on your Windows or Mac computer. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner. Choose whether you want to download video or audio, set your preferred resolution (up to 8K supported), quality, and destination folder. MP4 is selected by default, but you can switch formats using the Download and Convert option.

Step 4  Click the Paste URL button inside YT Saver. The software will detect and analyze the anime video automatically, no extra steps required.

Step 5  Once YT Saver finishes analyzing the link, the download will begin automatically. After completion, go to the Downloaded section to access your saved anime episode or movie, ready to watch offline anytime.

That’s it! With just a few clicks, YT Saver Video Downloader makes downloading anime from YouTube fast, simple, and high-quality, letting you enjoy your favorite shows offline anytime.

FAQs

Q1. Are free anime websites legal?

A1: Not really. Most free anime sites like 9Anime, Aniwatch, and GoGoAnime host unlicensed content and exist in a legal gray area. Watching on these sites means you’re bypassing the creators’ licensing. On the other hand, platforms like Crunchyroll or Netflix pay for proper distribution rights, so they are fully legal.

Q2. Do free anime websites require an account?

A2: Usually, no. Most free sites let you stream without signing up. For example, Aniwave allows you to watch or download anime without creating an account, and AnimeParadise works the same way. The exceptions are official free services like Crunchyroll’s free tier or meWATCH, which do require login.

Q3. Do free anime websites offer subtitles and dubs?

A3: Yes, most of them do, but the quality varies. Free sites like GoGoAnime or 9Anime usually have fan-subtitles, and sometimes fan-dubs, which may not always sync perfectly. Legal platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation have professional subtitles and dubs that are more reliable.

Final Words

Free anime websites are great if you want access to lots of shows without paying, but they come with risks like ads, shutdowns, and legal issues. The safest way to enjoy anime is through official platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, which provide high-quality, legal streaming.

If you still want to watch offline from free sites, YT Saver Video Downloader is a perfect tool. It can download anime episodes in HD from thousands of websites, so you can watch it anytime, even without the internet. With YT Saver, you can grab your favorite series safely, skip the ads, and enjoy anime at your own pace.