The recent debates surrounding Hidive vs Crunchyroll have sparked a lot of intriguing discussion amongst fan circles of anime. Anime has become a global phenomenon and viewers are now always on the lookout for the best platform to stream anime. With the arrival of legal streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and HIDIVE, watching anime has become centralized, which cater to the Western audience as well.
They have extensive content libraries created especially for anime fans and affordable pricing structures, however, there are a lot of differences between both services, such as how they advertise to consumers and the anime shows and movies they often license. This calls for a dilemma, which one should you pick?
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Crunchyroll and HIDIVE – a general overview of their competition
Both Crunchyroll and HIDIVE are anime streaming platforms that have an extensive library of anime shows and movies with varying genres. Although, at first glance, it might seem like they are similar to each other, but the two differ from each other in terms of their collection and licenses.
Crunchyroll – a gigantic anime library
One of the most widely used anime streaming services in the world, Crunchyroll has more than 5 million active paying members worldwide. Established in 1994, it offers unlimited access to on-demand streaming for over 1,500 series and over 30,000 episodes, making it one of the biggest anime collections.
It should come as no surprise that Crunchyroll frequently concentrates on more traditional series, particularly well-known shonen action/adventure shows with sizable fan bases, while having an incredibly extensive anime collection that features anime titles from various genres and demographics.
HIDIVE – the anime curator
Sentai Filmworks owns the anime streaming service Hidive, which is solely focused on giving online anime enthusiasts access to anime content, particularly films and series. The service has expanded its selection of content since its founding in 2017, offering more than 100 films and more than 500 anime series available for streaming.
HIDIVE markets itself as having a “curated” and “tailored” catalogue and offers more simplified anime viewing options. Its titles are typically less shonen-oriented and more adult in terms of content and absence of censorship, as opposed to emphasising sheer quantity. The website also has a wide selection of classic and specialized anime content in addition to modern highlights.
HIDIVE vs Crunchyroll:
Subscription models put to test
It’s easy to see why Crunchyroll is often regarded as the unchallenged king of anime streaming when contrasting its main offers with those of HIDIVE. Three membership options are available to users on the website at Crunchyroll: Fan ($7.99/month), Mega Fan ($9.99/month), and Ultimate Fan ($14.99/month).
Although the number of devices that can be streamed at once varies, all tiers offer unlimited and ad-free access to Crunchyroll’s entire catalogue. Additionally, as prices rise, a number of additional bonuses, such store benefits and special merch possibilities, are included.
| Crunchyroll | HIDIVE |
| $7.99/$9.99/$14.99 per month | $4.99 per month/$47.99 per year |
| 14-day free trial | 7-day free trial |
HIDIVE, on the other hand, offers a far more limited selection for a significantly lower cost. Customers can choose to pay $4.99 per month or $47.99 for a yearly membership, which is almost half the cost of Crunchyroll if one were to buy even the most affordable plan for a full year. But the catalogue is also much smaller, with about 500 anime series and films available on HIDIVE.
When it comes to being able to afford a streaming service, HIDIVE definitely has an edge because it is an inexpensive option for viewers in comparison to the latter, providing simulcasts and material streaming to fans worldwide. You’ll discover carefully chosen anime spanning all subgenres in addition to a variety of live-action translations.
Benefits of Having a Crunchyroll Subscription
Major shows that have become classics when it comes to the world of anime are mostly available on Crunchyroll as per their licenses. Crunchyroll licenses a number of popular franchises, including Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, One Piece, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Dragon Ball. The service also claims the majority of new titles that are released in Japan each season, especially those with a broad appeal.
Crunchyroll is now the pinnacle of anime streaming for a lot of viewers outside of Japan, especially those who enjoy keeping up with the newest and trendiest shows season to season. The platform is unmatched in terms of size, and it’s unlikely that any other website will surpass it in terms of traffic anytime soon.
The Final Verdict
While there’s much to explore by purchasing a Crunchyroll subscription, HiDive isn’t far behind. It has continuously been working towards increasing its repertoire by acquiring licenses for broadcasting newer shows. Both services bring in their best aces, with Crunchyroll’s broad library and HiDive’s inexpensive experience, making it very hard to answer.
So, which is the best site? Until HiDive dives into deeper library size, the king of streaming sites is going to be Crunchyroll.