Crunchyroll has firmly established itself as the go-to place to watch anime. However, with a growing back catalogue and some big-hitting simulcasts, could HIDIVE offer more value than Crunchyroll for some fans?
Ever since the merger with Funimation, Crunchyroll has become by far the largest anime streaming service in the US and Europe, building an enormous library of anime titles.
However, a new challenger has emerged for Crunchyroll's crown.
Personally, I first started subscribing to HIDIVE in the Spring 2022 season and have been a Crunchyroll subscriber for over a decade. This article is based on my own first-hand experiences with both services as well as further research.
What is HIDIVE, Anyway?
HIDIVE is an online streaming platform predominantly consisting of anime titles. Similar to Crunchyroll, HIDIVE offers anime simulcasts, dubs and a very small selection of live-action series and movies.
HIDIVE was launched in 2017 and is operated by Sentai Holdings, which also owns Sentai Filmworks which licenses many of the anime on the platform.
Early in 2022, Sentai Holdings and HIDIVE were purchased by AMC Networks as part of their ‘targeted streaming strategy’, according to AMC Networks interim CEO Matt Blank.
The streaming platform also has a partnership with Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS) that includes programme distribution outside of Asia.
Following Crunchyroll’s merger with Funimation, HIDIVE is arguably the largest competitor to Crunchyroll in the anime-focused streaming market.
While platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are increasing their anime output, when it comes to monthly simulcasts, Crunchyroll and HIDIVE are the standout providers.
It's also worth noting that in late 2023, HIDIVE withdrew from many international markets. According to correspondents shared by ScreenRant, HIDIVE said they "would only be available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in the near future."
HIDIVE vs Crunchyroll Comparison: at a Glance
At the time of writing, HIDIVE struggles to compare as an overall anime service due to the huge amount of shows available on Crunchyroll. However, there are some areas where it can compete.
Here is a quick round-up of the key factors to consider: the anime available, the platforms themselves and the cost of subscription.
Comparison | HIDIVE | Crunchyroll |
|---|---|---|
Anime Library | Classic series and some seasonal simulcasts. | Massive library and more simulcasts. |
The Platform | Clunky player with some features. | Reliable player but with few features. |
Price | $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. | Multiple tiers including limited free access with ads. $7.99 per month for basic features or $11.99 per month for comparative HIDIVE features. |
Anime Library: Crunchyroll Wins on Size
Crunchyroll has a hugely impressive anime library far beyond anything available elsewhere, including HIDIVE. If you love anime, the best place to get as much of what you want as possible is Crunchyroll.
That being said, HIDIVE has a small but reputable library of its own, including some arguably must-watch series like No Game No Life, DanMachi and Made in Abyss.
Some of the biggest anime of the last 12 months have also been HIDIVE exclusives, including Oshi no Ko and The Eminence in Shadow.
While HIDIVE doesn't stack up against the number and quality of simulcasts offered by Crunchyroll, there's still something for everyone, whether you're binging an all-time favourite or catching a hit new show.
The Platform: HIDIVE Feels Clunky Compared to Crunchyroll
HIDIVE is a smaller operation compared to Crunchyroll, and you feel that in its applications.
Whether you're watching on a mobile, laptop or Smart TV, HIDIVE's platforms get regular criticism from fans – particularly on Reddit – for being clunky, unresponsive and occasionally suffering random crashes and glitches.
While no video service is perfect (Crunchyroll also has dissatisfied users), I've noticed a significant drop in the quality of user experience when using HIDIVE compared to Crunchyroll, which for the most part is seamless and reliable.
HIDIVE, perhaps aware of the platform's issues, released a major overhaul in March 2024, bringing its user experience more in line with streaming industry standards. However, that new launch also had issues including difficulties with watchlists and subtitles.
It is fair to say that HIDIVE isn't the most enjoyable user experience when compared to other streaming sites. Ultimately, though, both Crunchyroll and HIDIVE are just video hosts and the actual watching experience, when you get there, is not very different.
Can You Match These Villains to Their Anime?
Can You Match These Villains to Their Anime? Take the trivia to find out!
Share
Price: HIDIVE is Considerably Cheaper
One thing that HIDIVE has in its favour compared to Crunchyroll is a notably reduced cost. For the same features, HIDIVE is around half the price of Crunchyroll.
The cheapest HIDIVE subscription you can currently get is $59.99 for a full year, which is about $4.99 per month. You can also subscribe to HIDIVE monthly for $5.99 per month, which works out to just under $72 a year.
HIDIVE only offers one subscription tier (with different costs if you pay monthly or annually). Meanwhile, Crunchyroll offers four different subscription options:
Crunchyroll Tier | Ad-Supported Viewing | Fan | Mega Fan | Ultimate Fan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price per Month* | $0.00 | $7.99 | $11.99 | $15.99 |
Streaming Features** | Restricted library, ads during episodes | Full library, no ads, only one device at a time | Offline viewing and 4 concurrent devices | Offline viewing and 6 concurrent devices |
*These are the current subscription costs in the US and prices for Crunchyroll elsewhere can vary. For example, in the UK, a Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription is currently £5.99 per month.
**Crunchyroll's subscription tiers come with different additional features, including store discounts and access to the Crunchyroll Game Vault. See more details here.
A HIDIVE subscription includes a lot of extras that some fans might see as standard, including streaming on multiple devices at once and downloads to watch series offline.
Crunchyroll's cheapest subscription, at $7.99 per month, gives you ad-free access but doesn't allow streaming on concurrent devices or offline downloads. For those features, you need the Mega Fan tier at $11.99 per month (around $144 per year).
This means you will need to pay double the price on Crunchyroll for the streaming features you get with a HIDIVE subscription.
Crunchyroll does have a free with adds option which includes recent hits such as Spy x Family. However, its latest simulcasts are only available to subscribers.
Crunchyroll would argue that, for an increased price, you get access to a much larger library of anime alongside other perks such as discounts at the Crunchyroll Store.
Overall, though, when it comes to just watching anime, HIDIVE is comfortably cheaper.
Conclusions: Is HIDIVE Worth It for Anime Fans?
Currently, HIDIVE is only worth subscribing to if you are looking for specific anime to watch. However, a growing library means more reasons to consider the service.
Personally, I use HIDIVE to keep up to date on the big anime airing right now. There are usually one or two popular HIDIVE simulcasts each season that, for me, feel worth the relatively small subscription cost.
However, if you're new to anime and just want to try some shows, by far the best option right now is Crunchyroll due to its range of popular series and smoother service experience.
Remember, both services offer a monthly rolling subscription. If you want to binge a certain series, you can always just subscribe for a month.
Beyond simply accessing certain anime, though, it’s also important to recognise HIDIVE as a rare anime-orientated competitor to Crunchyroll.
Supporting other anime providers rather than streaming shows illegally should help to create a more competitive streaming landscape, hopefully improving the quality across all platforms.
If you want to try it for yourself, HIDIVE offers a 7-day free trial period similar to other streaming platforms.
Discover more of our insights and the latest anime news by following us on Facebook and X @epicstreamanime!