Funimation carved out a loyal following by offering one of the most comprehensive libraries of English-dubbed anime, along with simulcasts and exclusive titles. For years the platform’s free trial and subscription tiers gave newcomers and veterans alike a risk-free way to experience ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and early access to new episodes. While Funimation as a standalone service is winding down, understanding its original offering—and where things stand now—remains essential for anyone trying to make sense of today’s streaming landscape. This guide explains exactly what Funimation’s free trial offered, how its subscription plans stacked up, and how you can get the best anime streaming experience right now through the platform that absorbed it.

What Was Funimation’s Free Trial?

At its peak, Funimation provided a 14-day free trial to all new users who signed up directly through its website or app. The trial gave full access to the service’s paid features without an upfront charge. During those two weeks, users could stream the majority of the catalog, test video quality on different devices, and decide whether a subscription made sense for their viewing habits.

Availability did fluctuate. Occasionally Funimation extended the trial to 30 days through special promotions with partners like Microsoft or Sony, or around major convention weekends. Regardless of the length, the trial always required a payment method to activate, and users were billed automatically when the trial expired unless they cancelled. Cancelling was straightforward from the account settings page, and doing so kept the account active until the last trial day.

How the Trial Sign-Up Worked

  1. Head to funimation.com and click “Start Your Free Trial.”
  2. Create an account with an email address and password.
  3. Choose the subscription tier you wanted to trial (usually Premium Plus).
  4. Enter credit card or PayPal details. No charge was applied during the trial.
  5. Confirm and start streaming immediately on the web, mobile apps, or connected TV devices.

The trial granted unrestricted streaming, meaning no ads, full HD quality, and the ability to create watchlists. Even offline downloads were enabled, giving users a true representation of the paid experience.

Funimation’s Subscription Plans and Core Benefits

After the trial window, subscribers could pick from two main tiers: a Standard plan and a Premium Plus plan. Both eliminated advertisements and opened the entire library, but Premium Plus added extras that mattered heavily to weekly watchers.

Standard Plan

  • Ad-free streaming across all devices.
  • Entire on-demand catalog of subbed and dubbed anime.
  • Playback on up to two screens simultaneously.
  • Offline downloads on supported mobile apps.

This plan suited viewers who wanted uninterrupted binges without worrying about simulcast timing. It cost $5.99 per month before the platform’s closure, or $59.99 annually, placing it among the more affordable anime-dedicated options.

Premium Plus Plan

  • Everything in the Standard plan.
  • Simulcast access: watch new episodes as soon as one hour after Japanese broadcast.
  • Early access to select movies and specials before they hit free viewing.
  • Exclusive members-only events and occasional merchandise discounts.
  • Playback on up to five simultaneous streams.

Premium Plus was priced at $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually, and it became the recommended tier for anyone following weekly seasonal anime. The combination of simulcast speed, offline downloads, and early access made it a strong competitor in the anime streaming wars.

Benefits That Made Funimation Stand Out

Beyond the tiers, a few specific perks elevated the service for its core audience. Funimation invested heavily in English dubbing, often delivering dubbed episodes within weeks of the subtitled simulcast. The “SimulDub” program was a major draw for viewers who preferred English voice acting over subtitles.

Offline viewing was robust. Users could download entire seasons onto their phones or tablets and watch without an internet connection. The downloads remained active as long as the device checked in with the Funimation servers once every seven days, making it a reliable travel companion.

Device support was another strength. Funimation ran on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, Android, and many smart TVs. The apps received regular updates that improved streaming stability and added features like skip intro and customizable subtitle appearance. Combined with 1080p streaming, the experience felt polished.

The Sunset of Funimation and Migration to Crunchyroll

In March 2022, Sony-owned Funimation Global Group announced that the service would merge with Crunchyroll. The goal was to create a single, massive anime library under the Crunchyroll brand. As of early 2024, Funimation’s app and website have ceased supporting new subscriptions, and existing paying users were prompted to migrate their accounts. The Funimation free trial, naturally, is no longer offered.

This shift stemmed from Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll in 2021. By consolidating the two platforms, Sony aimed to streamline licensing, expand content reach, and invest more in dubbing and original productions. Although the Funimation name lives on through its physical home video releases, the streaming service itself is officially retired.

For current subscribers, the transition has been designed to be relatively seamless. Crunchyroll offers eligible Funimation users a 60-day free trial of Crunchyroll Premium to ease the move. However, the catalogs did not merge perfectly; many Funimation-exclusive titles are now on Crunchyroll, but some legacy content and digital copies from physical purchases are still being transferred in phases.

How to Get a Free Trial for Anime Streaming Today

The natural successor to the Funimation free trial is Crunchyroll’s own introductory offer. Crunchyroll provides a 14-day free trial for its Premium Fan tier, with occasional longer trial periods during promotional events. The sign-up process is remarkably similar to what Funimation fans remember:

  1. Visit Crunchyroll’s official website and click “Start Free Trial.”
  2. Create an account using email, Google, or Apple credentials.
  3. Select the Premium Fan plan (the default trial tier).
  4. Enter payment details. You won’t be charged until the 14 days end.
  5. Stream instantly on any supported device.

Note that Crunchyroll also grants limited free ad-supported viewing without a credit card. You can watch many shows with ads in standard definition, but the trial is the only risk-free way to test ad-free HD streaming, offline downloads, and same-day simulcasts.

Crunchyroll Subscription Plans and Features

Crunchyroll’s membership structure is more granular than Funimation’s was, offering three paid tiers that scale from basic ad-free streaming to an ultimate fan package with offline downloads and special perks. Understanding these tiers helps you decide which level matches the old Funimation experience.

Fan Tier

  • Ad-free access to the full library.
  • Up to one stream at a time.
  • No offline downloads.
  • Simulcast access: new episodes one hour after Japan.
  • Price: starting at $7.99 per month.

Mega Fan Tier

  • All Fan benefits plus offline downloads on mobile.
  • Up to four simultaneous streams.
  • Crunchyroll Store discount (select regions).
  • Access to members-only events.
  • Price: starting at $9.99 per month.

Ultimate Fan Tier

  • All Mega Fan benefits plus up to six concurrent streams.
  • Exclusive Crunchyroll Store perks and an annual swag bag.
  • Priority access to new merchandise and special support.
  • Price: starting at $14.99 per month.

For most former Funimation Premium Plus members, the Mega Fan tier is the closest match. It delivers ad-free HD streaming, offline downloads, and same-day simulcasts at a comparable price point. The Ultimate Fan tier goes a step further with merchandise perks that were never part of Funimation’s subscription model.

You can review the latest pricing and plan details on Crunchyroll’s membership page — note that plans may vary by region.

Comparing the Old Funimation Library to Crunchyroll’s Catalog

The merger resulted in a massive combined catalog. Crunchyroll now holds over 1,300 series and films, with more than 30,000 episodes and films available. Most of Funimation’s iconic dubs — including My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, and Dragon Ball Z — are fully integrated. However, a portion of Funimation’s exclusive titles and digital copies linked to physical Blu-ray purchases are still being migrated, and some older niche titles may not reappear.

The biggest win for migrating users is the sheer volume of subtitled content. Crunchyroll has long been the king of sub simulcasts, and Funimation’s addition strengthens its dubbed library significantly. Now, subscribers can often choose between subtitled and dubbed versions from a single interface, a feature that required hopping between two apps in the past.

How to Migrate Your Funimation Account to Crunchyroll

If you still have an active Funimation paid account or dormant credentials, the migration process preserves your queue and watch history where possible. Follow these steps:

  1. Check the email associated with your Funimation account for a migration notice from Crunchyroll.
  2. Click the personalized link or visit Crunchyroll’s migration portal.
  3. Sign in to Crunchyroll using the same email. You’ll be prompted to create a new Crunchyroll account if you don’t have one.
  4. Accept the data transfer. Most users receive a 60-day free trial of Crunchyroll Premium as part of the move.
  5. Once migrated, your Funimation billing is cancelled automatically and future payments go directly through Crunchyroll.

It’s important to cancel your Funimation subscription manually if you do not wish to migrate, as recurring charges might continue until the service fully discontinues billing. Crunchyroll support can assist with any issues around watch history and queue transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Funimation Free Trial and Transition

Is the Funimation free trial still available?

No. Funimation no longer accepts new sign-ups or free trials. The entire service has been merged into Crunchyroll, and the free trial option is only offered through Crunchyroll’s platform today.

What happens to my Funimation digital copies?

Digital copies originally redeemed through Funimation’s home video releases are not guaranteed to transfer to Crunchyroll. Sony has stated that they are working on a solution, but as of now, legacy digital copies remain tied to the Funimation platform while it remains accessible. Users are encouraged to keep tabs on Funimation’s official sunset FAQ for the latest updates.

Can I still log in to Funimation to watch my anime?

Existing subscribers who have not yet migrated can still log in and stream until the service fully retires in their region. However, no new content is being added, and app support is being phased out. Migration is strongly encouraged to avoid losing queue data.

Do any other services offer anime free trials like Funimation used to?

Beyond Crunchyroll, HIDIVE also offers a free trial period and provides an ad-free subscription with simulcasts and dubs. It specializes in niche and theatrical anime that may complement Crunchyroll’s massive library. Occasionally, Amazon Prime Video Channels and Hulu provide trial windows for their anime add-ons as well.

Will Crunchyroll ever add a permanent free tier with no ads?

Crunchyroll already offers a free, ad-supported tier with standard-definition streaming and a rotating selection of episodes. This is not the same as the premium trial, but it allows viewers to sample content without entering payment details. A full ad-free free tier is unlikely given the licensing costs involved.

Making the Most of Anime Streaming Without the Funimation Brand

The disappearance of Funimation’s standalone service marks the end of an era, but the anime streaming ecosystem has matured significantly. Crunchyroll’s expanded library, consistent simulcast schedule, and dedicated dubbing pipeline effectively pick up where Funimation left off. For fans nostalgic about the Funimation free trial, the 14-day Crunchyroll trial replicates that risk-free exploration with an even larger catalog.

To maximize value, consider timing your trial around a new anime season (January, April, July, October) so you can test simultaneous releases and bingeing capability at their peak. Pay attention to account settings and cancellation reminders if you’re just testing the waters, and always verify regional availability of specific titles before committing.

Anime streaming has never been more accessible. While the Funimation name may be fading from the digital marquee, the experience it pioneered lives on in updated form through Crunchyroll — and the free trial remains the best way to decide if it fits your viewing life.