5 Best Crunchyroll VPNs in 2024 (Unblock it From Anywhere)

Crunchyroll is a successful streaming website offering streaming entertainment to users who want to see anime movies and other content, such as dramas, manga, and music. It is headquartered in the US and is available to users globally. But, like most other streaming platforms, this site also imposes geo-location restrictions. So, what you see here varies with your location.

Nonetheless, using a VPN to stream Crunchyroll can help evade this limitation.

Are you curious to know how it works? This guide explains it in detail and lists the best VPNs to unblock Crunchyroll anywhere.

Quick list of the best Crunchyroll VPNs

If you are short on time, here is a quick list of our top VPNs:

Watching Crunchyroll from wherever you are

Are you new to VPN services? Haven’t you used one before? Never mind. Put your worries aside and follow these simple steps so that you can enjoy Crunchyroll’s entire catalog from wherever you are in the world:

1. Sign up for a VPN account with one of the tested providers (NordVPN is our #1 recommendation), and choose the subscription plan that suits you best. Thanks to this article’s money-back guarantee of VPNs, you get a risk-free service trial.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
3. Your browser’s cookies include geo-location information, so clear up your cache to remove them. Restart your device.
4. Log in to your VPN and choose a server. To access Crunchyroll, you need to choose one located in the US.
5. Wait for your device to be connected to the VPN securely. You’ll receive a notification or an indication once the connection is established.
6. Launch your browser and start streaming the content you want on Crunchyroll.

Why you need a VPN for Crunchyroll

If you’re interested in CrunchyRoll, you probably know the genre’s classics, such as Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball Super, One Piece, or Naruto.

Naturally, these titles are pretty popular at Crunchyroll. The platform’s main advantage is that it makes every episode of these classic shows available online within 60 minutes of the original Japanese broadcast.

Briefly, a VPN (or Virtual Private Network) is designed to protect users’ privacy, security, and anonymity online by performing two main tasks. First, the VPN hides your private IP address from the rest of the internet. Second, the VPN encrypts all the traffic from your computer so that no third party (your ISP, governmental agencies, or hackers) can sense your online activities. This is achieved by tunneling your traffic securely through a server in the VPN’s network (whose IP address masks yours for the online world).

One of the main advantages of using a VPN is hiding your actual location to unlock content otherwise unavailable to you. So, using a VPN while streaming bypasses geo-restrictions, granting you full access to content from your desired region.

For example, if you are in Europe and want to stream a US-specific Crunchyroll title, you can connect to a US VPN server to get a US IP address. Then, Crunchyroll will see you as a US user and let you stream the media.

Thankfully, using a VPN is perfectly legal in most countries. As a result, millions of users enjoy an improved sense of privacy and anonymity without breaking any laws.

Best VPNs for Crunchyroll

1. NordVPN

First, NordVPN offers excellent privacy and security features. Then, its transfer speeds are among the highest in the industry. Moreover, its network includes over 5,400 servers in 60 countries.

The relevant portion of the network for Crunchyroll use consists of 1700 US nodes (servers), so you will have plenty of options. Alongside Crunchyroll, NordVPN also unlocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ for you.

The security in NordVPN is solid as it’s also based on 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, protection against WebRTC and DNS leaks, and a kill switch. But, these features are common to most premium VPNs.

However, NordVPN goes beyond by offering automatic WiFi protection and the option to route your traffic through two servers (Double VPN), thus adding an extra encryption layer. In addition, the company implements a robust zero-logs policy.

NordVPN includes Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS apps. In addition, customer support includes a 24/7 live chat. So, you can always contact its helpful and knowledgeable support agents for any help.

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2. Private Internet Access (PIA)

This VPN has advanced features that can hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection through its servers worldwide. It has multiple US servers, enabling you to unblock Crunchyroll easily.

Private Internet Access is a well-established VPN service with an extensive list of essential features. The VPN takes user privacy very seriously and has a strict no-logging policy. This means that the company does not keep any records of your internet activity or personal information.

PIA also accepts various forms of anonymous payment, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It also offers a variety of subscription plans, including a monthly plan, a yearly plan, and a two-year plan, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Its split tunneling feature allows users to choose which apps and websites use the VPN and which do not. In this case, you only have to add Crunchyroll to the list of VPN apps.

Furthermore, the kill switch is an excellent feature that blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection is lost. This ensures your data is not exposed when streaming Crunchyroll content.

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3. ExpressVPN

The VPN is fast, efficient, and offers robust military-grade encryption. That means this service gives you top-notch privacy and anonymity without compromising speed. Moreover, the transfer rates are good enough to stream HD videos without lag.

ExpressVPN does not store data or traffic logs of any kind. So your privacy remains safe. Besides, for security, it offers AES-256-CBC encryption with HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy.

In addition, it includes a kill switch feature that protects your online identity in case the VPN connection drops.

Thankfully, ExpressVPN supports almost all major devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. That means you can enjoy your favorite Crunchyroll streams on any device you like.

Also, thanks to its huge network of over 3000 servers, which includes numerous servers in 21 US cities, you can easily get an appropriate IP address to unblock the desired premium content on Crunchyroll. If you watch enough anime for a day, the same service will unlock Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

The only downside with ExpressVPN is probably its relatively higher price. That being said, ExpressVPN is also much better than most other VPNs. Besides, you can pay less if you choose a more extended plan.

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4. Surfshark

This VPN service stands out in the industry as it offers users the most premium features at a much lower cost. So, when you’re looking for a cost-effective VPN, Surfshark VPN is hard to beat.

It offers excellent speeds, so your Crunchyroll experience remains free of the annoying buffering periods typical of slower networks.

Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands. While it’s a member of the 14 Eyes Alliance, it assures premium privacy to the users by implementing a strict no-logs policy. So, it is one of the best services to maintain privacy. It’s safe against DNS leaks, has a kill switch, and seamlessly supports torrenting and streaming.

The provider offers excellent customer service with 24/7 live chat support handled by some amicable and expert people ready to solve your problems.

Besides unblocking Crunchyroll, the service works well with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming services.

A unique advantage of Surfshark is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections to the network. That means all your computers, tablets, and smartphones can stream Crunchyroll shows simultaneously without any limitations.

Surfshark offers an exclusive security feature, CleanWeb, that acts as an ad and malware blocker. Hence, with Surfshark, you can enjoy an ad-free experience on Crunchyroll.

Although Surfshark VPN might not be as popular as ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Still, it’s a powerful privacy platform with several added perks that make it the most cost-effective VPN you can find to watch Crunchyroll anywhere.

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5. Proton VPN

Proton VPN offers high levels of security and privacy. It also provides exceptional performance, making it an excellent option for streaming Crunchyroll content.

This VPN has undergone multiple independent audits to verify the effectiveness of its security measures. All the audits have revealed that Proton VPN does not keep user activity logs, ensuring that your online activities remain private.

The software is simple to install and set up, and the interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. Proton VPN supports all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, making accessing the service from any device easy.

The VPN provides users with fast connection speeds and a wide range of servers in various countries worldwide. This allows you to stream Crunchyroll from virtually anywhere without any restrictions.

Additionally, the service offers many advanced features, including the ability to use multiple simultaneous connections, split tunnelling, and a built-in kill switch to ensure your internet connection is always protected.

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The best VPNs for Crunchyroll – Comparison

The table below shows the comparison between the best VPNs for Crunchyroll

Features	NordVPN	PIA	ExpressVPN	Surfshark	Proton VPN
Crunchyroll reliability	1	2	3	4	5
Streaming reliability	Excellent	Impressive	Excellent	Good	Good
Streaming services	Crunchyroll, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Sky Go, HBO Go	Crunchyroll, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Sky Go, HBO Go	Crunchyroll, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Sky Go, HBO Go	Crunchyroll, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Sky Go, HBO Go	Crunchyroll, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime
Compatible devices	Windows, Android, Linux, MacOS, iOS	Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Smart TVs, Routers	Linux, Smart TVs, Routers, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android	Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android	Windows, Android, Linux, MacOS, iOS
Avg. Speed (Mbps)	over 100 Mbps	over 100 Mbps	over 100 Mbps	over 100 Mbps	over 100 Mbps
Cheapest plan cost	$3.99	$2.11	$8.32	$1.99	$3.99

How to choose the best Crunchyroll VPNs

Be careful when choosing a VPN because not all services have the best features. We evaluate top VPN providers to ensure they unblock Crunchyroll and provide strong privacy protection.

We use a detailed and scientific approach to test, review, and compare VPNs. Our methodology includes evaluating the following key factors:

1. Fast servers: We evaluate the locations of the VPN’s servers and test their speeds for various data-intensive activities such as torrenting, gaming, and streaming. We also verify that these servers can effectively bypass censorship and allow access to popular streaming platforms like ESPN+, Rakuten TV, and Sling TV.
2. Solid security: We examine the VPN apps for essential features, including DNS leak protection, AES encryption, obfuscation, a kill switch, and secure VPN connection protocols. We then test these features and check for DNS and IP leaks to ensure they function correctly and the VPN indeed provides the privacy and data security it promises its users.
3. Reliable privacy policy: We review the VPN’s logging policies to ensure it does not collect and misuse user data. A trustworthy VPN should not keep track of user activities while connected and should not retain any information that could be used to monitor users in the future.
4. Ease of use and reliability: We evaluate the consistency, speed-enhancing protocols (like WireGuard or OpenVPN), user-friendly apps, and a sufficient number of servers to avoid overloading the VPN. This ensures that the VPN is easy for beginners, fast, and has enough servers to avoid congestion.
5. Apps for all platforms: A dependable VPN should offer apps for all major platforms. The VPNs we recommend above have Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android applications. Some even have additional apps for Firestick devices, routers, and browsers. It’s worth noting that these VPNs are compatible with Kodi, making it easy to use the Crunchyroll Kodi addon.
6. Superb customer care: We suggest VPNs that offer email support and live chat, making it easy for users to get assistance anytime. Additionally, we evaluate the VPN’s website for resources such as guides, FAQs, and blogs to help users stay informed about setup and usage.

Should I watch Crunchyroll with a free VPN?

The short answer is never, for many reasons. Let us explain.

Paid VPN services make a profit by charging subscription fees. Maintaining a network of hundreds of servers worldwide is not a cheap proposition. So, they inevitably need a resource to arrange the funds for which they charge you.

Conversely, free VPNs don’t collect any money from users for their services. So how do they stay in business?

There is a hypothesis in the digital economy. Whenever you’re not paying for a service or a product, then, probably, you yourself are the product.

This may seem cynical, but it’s an economic fact and is true for free VPN services.

Most free VPNs log all your online activities. (That’s why premium VPNs proudly advertise keeping no logs or records on their user activity.) Once the vendors gather your data, they sell it to third parties, such as advertisers and data mining companies, who use it as raw material for their business model. That’s how the free VPNs use you as a product to sell to their commercial partners.

So, you should never use a free VPN to watch Crunchyroll for your security.

But there’s a further reason: it won’t work. A free VPN is not a Crunchyroll VPN.

Unblocking USA Crunchyroll requires a US-based server with a lot of bandwidth available. This is possible only when your provider has an extensive network. Unfortunately, free VPNs rarely have such large server networks. Therefore, even if you encounter a free VPN with US-based servers, you will experience slow connectivity due to server congestion.

In short, it’s not just about security. StreamingCrunchyroll through a free VPN will force you to deal with lags, long buffering periods, and interruptions. Therefore, you need a good premium VPN for an uninterrupted streaming experience.

VPNs that should make you run away

Privacy is among the main motives driving users to seek VPN services. Prospective VPN clients naturally assume that their priorities align with those of the service providers, who will guard their data zealously and protect their privacy.

Unfortunately, some VPN providers in the industry do not care for user privacy at all. They do not protect user data (free VPNs, for the most part, keep extensive logs and sell them to data miners) and keep records. Ironically, some don’t encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address.

In other words, there are VPNs you should never use, even if you only want to unlock Crunchyroll’s premium content.

The following list includes some VPNs you should avoid at all costs.

HolaVPN

Problems with this Israeli-based network begin with the fact that it’s not even a VPN. Instead, it is a peer-to-peer proxy network that neither encrypts your traffic nor hides your IP address. Rather, it merely assigns it to another user in the network – which are the two primary tasks any VPN worth the name must perform.

While HolaVPN is free of charge, it’s too expensive for the risks it imposes on its users.

As you sign up for HolaVPN, you give away the right to use your bandwidth to the network, which, in the past, has been involved in Distributed Denial of Service attacks.

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PureVPN

Some VPNs are headquartered in jurisdictions whose laws are not privacy-friendly. Consequently, its government can make a private organization surrender the data it has on its clients. The United States is one such jurisdiction where PureVPN is based.

In the past, the media reported that PureVPN handed over user data to law enforcement agencies as a part of an investigation of a case of online blackmail that led to the arrest of Ryan Lin, a Massachusetts citizen.

The company says it never tracked Mr Ryan’s browsing data and only provided the government with its source IP address. Whatever the case may be, there is a lack of transparency going on in this case that should inspire any privacy enthusiast to stay away from PureVPN.

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Is it legal to watch Crunchyroll with a VPN?

VPNs are completely legal as long as you don’t use them for illegal purposes. If you are a Crunchyroll subscriber, unblocking Crunchyroll from anywhere and streaming your favorite content with a VPN is legal. 

However, it is important to note that using a VPN to stream Crunchyroll content outside the licensed region violates the platform’s terms of service. And that’s the reason why the platform is continuously blocking VPN services.

Luckily, you can easily enjoy Crunchyroll from anywhere with a top-notch VPN like ExpressVPN that knows how to trick the platform.

Crunchyroll geographical restrictions

Many web video streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Video subject their content to geo-restrictions. Crunchyroll is not an exception. This means that users from different countries get diverse content catalogs as members. This is, of course, utterly unfair to those users based in countries that get the shorter end of the stick.

The most extended Crunchy catalog available by far is for US-based users. So if you’re a US resident on holiday or living away, or if you’re a Crunchyroll user who wants to get the platform’s entire catalog, the US service is the one to unblock so that you can get back your total service (as a US resident) or unlock it. Either way, any of the five VPNs listed above will do the trick, as they have plenty of US-based servers that will grant you the Crunchyroll access you want.

Why can only some VPNs unblock Crunchyroll?

Streaming services are not very fond of VPNs. In fact, Netflix has invested much effort in blocking VPNs connecting to its website, and the rest of the industry has followed suit, Crunchyroll included.

As a result, not every VPN can unblock Crunchyroll overseas because the streaming service frequently blocks many services. Thus, if you want to unblock it from abroad, you must carefully select the VPN that will do the trick.

So why is it like this? There are two main reasons. We have touched on them already in this article, but let’s review them for the sake of completeness.

First, streaming is not the main priority for every VPN in the industry—instead, some focus on optimizing privacy and anonymity through several means, such as multiple encryption layers. Consequently, the additional encryption operations and privacy measures slow down the network’s traffic, making it unable to support streaming.

Second, Crunchyroll doesn’t want users to connect to the site through VPNs. It works actively to prevent that type of access. So, the company’s efforts against VPNs are somewhat effective, and they control the traffic from many VPNs to reach the website’s content.

However, the five VPN providers we recommend in this article can unblock Crunchyroll’s US catalog if you choose a US-based server to browse the website. They are also effective with Netflix and many other streaming platforms.

A bonus is that the five VPNs recommended are among the best premium services in the market. So you can’t go wrong with them as they excel in providing privacy, security, and anonymity.

What should I do if Crunchyroll is not working on my VPN?

If you have difficulty accessing Crunchyroll with a specific VPN server, you should try using a different server or contacting your VPN provider’s customer support for alternative server options. Unblocking Crunchyroll is getting challenging for VPNs, so it’s best to stick with our recommended VPN providers to avoid unnecessary hassle.

It is important to note that you can always get your money back if you have problems or dissatisfaction with our recommended VPNs. However, you must request a refund within the stipulated period, usually 30 days.

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Will a VPN slow down streaming on Crunchyroll?

Yes, a VPN slows down your connection since it has to encrypt and reroute your traffic. However, the impact is insignificant if you use a quality Crunchyroll VPN. Sometimes, a VPN boosts your speeds by helping you evade ISP throttling.

ExpressVPN is the perfect Crunchyroll VPN, with its large server network and lightning speed. You can use it to access any Crunchyroll library from anywhere worldwide and load high-quality videos for the best streaming experience.

Best regions to stream Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is available in different regions worldwide, but the libraries vary in size and content. This is because the platform does not have the right to air some content to specific countries. Its US library is the largest and the most complete, containing all kinds of new and old titles.

Here are the largest Crunchyroll libraries in the world:

Country	Number of CR titles
The United States	1,091
The United Kingdom	936
Australia	889

New TV series and movies on Crunchyroll

Anime enthusiasts have much to look forward to, with new content regularly released on Crunchyroll. This allows you to enjoy an endless marathon of Japanese animation. Below are some of the latest movies and series.

• Bungo stray dogs
• The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
• Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
• Dragonaut – THE RESONANCE
• Fractale
• Darling in the Franxx
• Radiant
• Fire Force
• Chainsaw Man
• The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
• Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God
• The last Summoner
• Trinity Blood
• Link Click
• Play It, Cool Guys,
• Dr. Stone

Which devices are compatible with Crunchyroll?

You can stream Crunchyroll from a wide range of devices, including:

• Smart TV
• Android or iOS devices
• Tablets
• Desktops
• PlayStation
• Amazon Fire TV
• Chromecast
• Xbox
• Roku
• Apple TV
• Blu-ray media players

VPN error codes on Crunchyroll

We’ve provided a list of error codes that may occur while accessing Crunchyroll via a VPN and solutions to solve them.

1. Error code 403: This error message is displayed when the user tries to connect to Crunchyroll through a blocked VPN IP address. To resolve this issue, connect to a different server on your VPN or clear cookies. If you’re not using a VPN and still getting this error, try clearing your browser cookies and rebooting your device.
2. Error code 1015 is caused by the CloudFlare content delivery network (CDN), which limits access for users suspected of having a compromised account. To fix this issue, change your password.
3. Error code 1005 is displayed when users access the service from a banned IP address. The error is encountered by users who use VPN services that are not recommended. Use the dependable VPN services recommended in this article to avoid this error message.

Can I unblock a premium Crunchyroll subscription using a VPN?

Yes, it is possible to use a VPN to access Crunchyroll premium content as long as you already have a premium Crunchyroll account. Currently, it offers three different premium subscription options.

1. Fan subscription: This subscription removes all ads and grants access to the simulcast series on the Japanese release date. It costs $7.99 per month.
2. Mega Fan Subscription: This plan allows you to download and watch content offline and use it on three devices simultaneously. It costs $9.99 per month, which is a good value because you can cost-share with friends.
3. Ultimate Fan Subscription: It costs $14.99 monthly and provides ad-free viewing for up to six concurrent streams. Also, it includes an annual member swag bag, exclusive merchandise access, and discounts.

To subscribe to Crunchyroll or any other US-based streaming service, we recommend using US Unlocked. It provides a US virtual card that can be used to register for services exclusive to the United States from outside the country.

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