15 Free Sites to Watch Anime Without Ads

Japanese anime has a massive following in the West, and the demand for ad-free streaming keeps growing. Most mainstream platforms focus on the biggest titles, which means lesser-known series often get left out. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the best free anime sites — what they actually offer, which ones serve ads and which don’t, and how to watch any of them without ads when you need to.
Contents

• Where Can You Watch Anime for Free?
• Funimation
• AniWave
• Anitaku
• Chia-anime.su
• Animefreak.tv
• Animeheaven.me
• Crunchyroll
• Animeflix
• 4anime
• Anime-planet
• Amazon Anime
• RetroCrush
• MyAnimeList
• Tubi.tv
• How to Block Ads on Anime Websites with AdLock
• Wrap-up
• FAQ

Where Can You Watch Anime for Free?

The options fall into two camps: legal platforms (Crunchyroll, Tubi, Amazon Prime) and unlicensed sites that host content without distribution rights (AniWave, Anitaku, Chia-anime). Legal platforms are safer and more stable but tend to show more ads on free tiers. Unlicensed sites often have broader libraries, but their ads can be aggressive — and occasionally dangerous. Both types are included below, with honest notes on what you’re getting into.

If ads are the main problem, an ad blocker handles them regardless of where you’re watching. We covered how to watch KissAsian without ads in a separate post — the same approach works for anime sites too.

Funimation

Update: Funimation shut down on April 2, 2024. Its library has been merged into Crunchyroll, and you can sign in with your existing Funimation credentials to access your content there. For a long time, Funimation dominated English-language anime with its dubbed library and 2.84 million subscribers. That chapter is closed, but everything it offered is now accessible through Crunchyroll. If you were a Funimation subscriber, Crunchyroll’s Fan plan covers the same ground — and more. See the Crunchyroll section below for current pricing and features.

AniWave

Formerly known as 9Anime, AniWave is one of the most popular unlicensed anime streaming sites around. The library is massive and includes titles that never made it to Western distribution deals — dubbed and subbed. The main issue is ads: some come from unregulated networks, which means the occasional redirect to somewhere you didn’t ask to go. A solid ad blocker handles this without much fuss.

Notable features:

1. Wide selection of anime, including unlicensed titles not available in Western markets.
2. Most series available with English voice-overs or subtitles.
3. Watchlist management without registration.
4. Unregulated ads carry potential security risks — use an ad blocker.

Verdict: AniWave’s library is genuinely impressive. The only real drawback is the ad situation, which a reliable ad blocker resolves. Verify that streaming unlicensed content is legal where you live before using it regularly.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Current domain:

• aniwave.dk

Anitaku

Anitaku (formerly GoGoAnime) is a free, unlicensed streaming site with early access to Japan’s latest series and a solid selection of English-dubbed content. The genre spread is wide — comedy, action, mecha, shounen, and more. Ads have caused security issues in the past, so keep your ad blocker active when you’re here.

Notable features:

1. Early access to Japan’s latest series — often before other platforms.
2. Strong dubbed library across multiple genres.
3. Clean, easy-to-navigate interface.
4. Free, ad-supported — some ads have historically led to malicious pages.

Verdict: A good pick for early access to current Japanese releases and dubbed content. Just be careful what you click on.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

Check https://gogotaku.info/ for current mirror updates.

Chia-anime.su

Chia-Anime has been around since 2009. It’s less of a traditional streaming site and more of a database that links to anime hosted on other platforms — so the ad experience varies depending on where a specific title is hosted. Popular in the US, Philippines, and Japan, it sees substantial daily traffic and posts new episodes fast, typically within an hour of the Japanese broadcast.

Notable features:

1. Database model linking to external hosting — quality depends on the source.
2. Free manga reading.
3. High-quality anime streaming and downloadable soundtracks.
4. New episodes appear within an hour of airing in Japan.
5. User-friendly interface, though loading can be slow at times.

Verdict: Useful for staying on top of new episodes as they air. The ad experience is inconsistent because it depends on the external host, so running an ad blocker is worth it here.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

No known official mirrors.

Animefreak.tv

AnimeFreak covers a wide range of genres — mystery, fantasy, music, adventure, supernatural — with most titles being subbed series that weren’t distributed in the West. Content is user-uploaded, so stream quality varies by source. Ads appear throughout and can be aggressive, including pop-ups that interrupt playback.

Notable features:

1. Broad genre coverage, including niche titles not found elsewhere.
2. Free streaming, no subscription needed.
3. Access to the latest episodes, movies, and OVAs.
4. New chapters appear shortly after Japanese releases.

Verdict: Pop-up ads are the main annoyance here. The library is decent for niche content, but not a comfortable experience without an ad blocker running.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

No known official mirrors.

Animeheaven.me

The original animeheaven.eu shut down in 2018 but returned in 2023. It covers a wide catalog across genres, including both popular and classic titles. Some older content is missing due to server limitations, but the library gets updated regularly. One thing that sets it apart: there are no ads at all. Not even banners. That’s rare for a free anime site.

Notable features:

1. Regularly updated library, though some older titles are missing.
2. Completely free with no ads.
3. 18 interface themes to customize the look.
4. Community features — ratings, sharing, discussion.
5. Watch2Gether lets you watch episodes with friends and chat in real time.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

No known official mirrors.

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the right choice for fans who don’t want to use unlicensed sites. Around since 2006, it now includes the former Funimation library and covers 180+ countries. The free tier is ad-supported; Premium removes ads and gets you new episodes within an hour of their Japanese broadcast. If you’d rather skip the subscription, there are other ways to remove ads from Crunchyroll worth knowing about.

Notable features:

1. Free tier includes anime with Japanese audio and subtitles.
2. Dubbed series and ad-free viewing require a Premium subscription.
3. Premium starts with a 14-day free trial; from $7.99/month after that.
4. Digital manga library for online reading.
5. Stream on up to four devices simultaneously with Premium.
6. Anime merchandise store.

Verdict: The strongest legal option for most anime fans. The library is vast, the interface is solid, and Premium is reasonably priced. If you’re migrating from Funimation, your account transfers over.

Price: 14-day free trial, from $7.99/month

VPN: Crunchyroll doesn’t support VPN use due to licensing agreements.

Animeflix

Update: Animeflix.live is currently unavailable. The project was launched by the AnimeUltima team as a beta — it had a large library, online chat, and login via AnimeUltima credentials, but the site is no longer accessible at its original domain. Check for a working mirror before trying to use it.

When it was live, its most notable quirk was ads disguised as browser notifications — easy to click by accident. If it comes back online, an ad blocker is non-optional here.

Notable features (when operational):

1. Intro time markers built into the player.
2. Ads displayed as fake notifications — easy to click by accident.
3. Large collection of anime titles.
4. No account required to watch.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

No confirmed working mirrors at this time.

Watching other types of streaming content? We also covered how to watch Peacock without ads.

4anime

4anime is one of the few free anime sites that skips traditional banner ads — it runs on viewer donations instead. The interface is clean, the library is large, and everything streams in HD. The catch is redirects: click almost anywhere on the page and you might end up on a casino site or a fake video player. These redirects are the reason you need an ad blocker that covers malware and redirect protection, not just banner removal.

Notable features:

1. All titles in HD quality.
2. Multiple servers — if one goes down, another is available.
3. No traditional banner ads; donation-supported.
4. Redirects to casinos, fake players, and marketplaces are a real hazard. Make sure your ad blocker covers malware and redirect protection.

Verdict: Great content, clean look, no banner ads — but the redirects are a genuine hazard. Don’t visit without an ad blocker that handles malware too.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Mirrors:

No known official mirrors.

Anime-planet

Anime-planet claims its 45,000+ anime episodes are legal and industry-supported. You don’t need to register to watch, but signing up unlocks personal lists, bookmarks, and personalized recommendations. Beyond anime, there’s a large manga library, discussion boards, and community features like Discord chat and character rating systems. It is ad-supported, so expect ads without a blocker.

Notable features:

1. Legal, industry-supported streaming library.
2. Personal anime lists and bookmarks with registration.
3. Extensive manga library alongside animated content.
4. Community features: forums, interest clubs, Discord chat, news, character ratings.
5. Free, ad-supported — Patreon subscriptions available for supporters.

Verdict: One of the better legal free options if community matters to you. It works fine with an ad blocker, and you can support the platform via Patreon if you want to.

Price: Free

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Amazon Anime

Amazon Prime Video includes a solid anime selection — from classics like Pokémon and Inuyasha to newer hits like Re:Creators. If you already subscribe to Prime, anime is part of what you’re already paying for. Streaming quality is consistently high, most titles offer English subtitles and dubs, and you can rent or purchase specific series that aren’t in the base library.
Notable features:

1. Broad media library — anime is one part of a full streaming package.
2. Instant streaming, plus the option to rent or buy full series directly on Amazon.
3. Anime TV channel and themed add-ons available.
4. English subtitles and voiceovers available for most titles.
5. Interactive features: X-Ray, ratings, and resume from where you left off.

Verdict: Makes sense if you’re already on Prime. The anime library isn’t as deep as Crunchyroll, but what’s there is consistently good quality.

Price: Included with Prime subscription

VPN: No VPN restrictions, but content is tied to your region based on billing information.

RetroCrush

RetroCrush is built for fans of classic anime — 1970s, 80s, and 90s titles, including some exclusive English releases from that era. It runs on a free, ad-supported tier or a premium ad-free subscription. Available only in the US and Canada; VPN use is restricted. Customer support is reportedly responsive if technical issues arise with the premium tier.

Notable features:

1. Available on Android, iOS, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, and more.
2. Focus on classic anime from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
3. Free, ad-supported tier.
4. Premium subscription removes ads.
5. Available only in the USA and Canada.

Verdict: A niche pick — genuinely great if you love older titles, less useful for current releases. The regional restriction is a deal-breaker for international viewers.

Price: Free with ads; Premium $4.99/month or $49.99/year

VPN: VPN use is restricted.

MyAnimeList

Despite a dated design, MyAnimeList is a must-bookmark for serious anime fans. It has comprehensive info on anime, manga, light novels, donghua, manhwa, and more. For titles it doesn’t host directly, the site redirects you to official platforms like Crunchyroll. The community is massive — reviews, forums, interest clubs, recommendations. Die-hard fans can go ad-free for $29.99/year.

Notable features:

1. Comprehensive database: anime, manga, manhwa, manhua, light novels, doujinshi, and more.
2. Massive user community with reviews, forums, and interest clubs.
3. Personal lists and tracking.
4. News, top recommendations, and scoring system.

Price: Free with ads; ad-free plan $2.99/month or $29.99/year

VPN: No VPN restrictions.

Tubi.tv

Tubi is backed by Fox Corporation and carries a solid anime catalog — classics like Yu-Gi-Oh and Cowboy Bebop alongside more niche titles. It’s completely free and available in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the UK. The ads are less aggressive than on most unlicensed sites. It also supports multi-device syncing, Chromecast, and a kids-friendly mode.

Notable features:

1. Large and diverse anime library, from popular series to niche favorites.
2. Multi-device syncing and Chromecast support.
3. Kids-friendly mode.
4. Completely free — ad-supported.
5. Clean, user-friendly interface.

Verdict: One of the best legal free options if you’re in a supported region. The ads are manageable, and the library is wide enough that you’re unlikely to run out of things to watch quickly.

Price: Free

VPN: Not VPN-friendly.

How to Block Ads on Anime Websites with AdLock

Most free anime sites run on ads — that’s the trade-off. But “free with ads” doesn’t have to mean tolerating pop-ups, fake notifications, and redirects to casino sites. An ad blocker changes the equation.

AdLock comes in two forms. The free extensions — AdLock for Chrome and the Safari extension — block ads inside those specific browsers. The standalone apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS go further: they block at the network level, which means every browser and every app on the device is covered at once. For dealing with the redirects and aggressive ad networks common on free anime sites, the standalone app is the more thorough option.

Here’s how to get set up on each platform:

PC or Mac:

1. Download and install AdLock for Windows or macOS.
2. Choose your plan and get the license key.
3. Launch AdLock, click Activate, and enter the 9-digit license key.
4. Enable ad-blocking with the main toggle.

iPhone and iPad:

1. Download AdLock for iPhone from the App Store and install it.
2. Go to Settings → Safari → Extensions and enable all AdLock toggles.
3. Open AdLock and toggle on Ad-free web surfing.
4. To extend protection beyond Safari to other apps, toggle on Premium and select a subscription plan.

Android:

1. Install AdLock for Android from Google Play (AdLock: Adblocker & Privacy) or download the APK directly from our site.
2. Open AdLock and tap the hamburger menu → Settings.
3. Check for updates and tap UPDATE if available.
4. Navigate to the AdLock tab, tap INSTALL CERTIFICATE, and follow the instructions.
5. Use the free 2-week trial, then pick a plan for uninterrupted ad-free browsing.

The paid plans give you more control over which sites are allowed or blocked, let you adjust filter settings, and prevent cross-site tracking. That level of control is particularly useful on unlicensed anime sites where ad networks can be unpredictable.

Wrap-up

For legal streaming, Crunchyroll is the strongest option — especially now that it includes the former Funimation library. Tubi and Anime-planet are worth bookmarking as legal free alternatives. For breadth of library without a subscription, AniWave and Anitaku are where most people end up, but both come with ad-related risks that make an ad blocker non-optional. Animeheaven.me is the rare site that’s genuinely ad-free out of the box.

If you want to watch any of these sites without dealing with ads, AdLock handles it — whether through the free browser extension or the full standalone app. Even the extension alone is enough to block the worst of the pop-ups and redirects on sites like 4anime or AnimeFreak.

FAQ