Official Anime Report Reveals the #1 Streaming Platform, and It’s Not Crunchyroll

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A recent, comprehensive report on the anime industry suggests that Crunchyroll might not be the primary platform for anime fans outside of Asia.

A new report from GEM Partners, the Anime Global White Paper 2026, shows that Crunchyroll isn’t the most popular anime streaming service worldwide. The study, which surveyed 15,000 people in 15 different countries, looked at anime viewing habits between 2020 and 2025. It found that YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video are the leading platforms for watching anime in most regions.

The report looked at nine major countries – Japan, China, India, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Brazil – and found that Crunchyroll wasn’t a leading streaming service in any of them. YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video were the most popular choices for viewers in all of these markets.

Netflix Is the Top-Ranked Anime Streaming Platform in the U.S., New Data Report Confirms

Netflix was the most popular streaming service in seven out of nine countries examined, including the United States. YouTube consistently ranked among the top three in eight countries and was number one in Japan. Amazon Prime Video also made the top three in six of the countries studied. Crunchyroll only reached the top three in Brazil, where it came in third. The report also points out that, excluding Japan, China, and South Korea, Crunchyroll remains a top-10 platform in all other countries surveyed.

These results come as the platform has made changes to its pricing and service options that many users dislike. The basic subscription now costs $9.99 a month, with more expensive plans reaching $17.99. They’ve also removed the free, ad-supported option entirely as of the end of 2025. This puts their prices near competitors like Netflix, which charges $8.99 for its basic plan, even though Netflix generally offers a wider variety of shows and movies.

Crunchyroll has a huge library of anime and East Asian dramas – over 1,000 titles and 200 dramas, in fact. However, it doesn’t offer much variety outside of those genres, which might make the subscription cost seem high to some people.

Crunchyroll’s Anime Library Still Not Competing With Netflix, Amazon or YouTube Internationally

The surge in anime’s popularity since 2020 has prompted streaming services to significantly increase their anime offerings, often through exclusive shows or by licensing content from others. Popular recent series such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, and Dandadan, alongside established franchises like One Piece, Bleach, and Naruto, can now be found on multiple platforms including Netflix and Hulu.

Crunchyroll is growing its services in several ways. They’ve added a digital manga library with over 80 titles, continue to sell exclusive merchandise online, and are creating original anime content. They also have the exclusive rights to stream many popular and lesser-known anime that you can’t find on other platforms. Plus, with their well-regarded Anime Awards and other unique features, Crunchyroll provides an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Even with the recent report’s findings, Crunchyroll is still a leading force in anime streaming. It lives up to its claim of being the largest collection of anime available on demand. As of 2025, it’s among the most popular streaming services worldwide and remains a key destination for both new and dedicated anime fans. However, recent data indicates that it might not be the first place many anime viewers go to watch shows internationally.

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2026-04-26 21:12