For years, Funimation stood as a premier destination for anime fans in North America and beyond, delivering an extensive library of subtitled and dubbed shows directly to viewers’ screens. As streaming options have proliferated, understanding the subscription tiers that Funimation once offered can help both nostalgic fans and those exploring the service’s legacy make sense of its value proposition. While Funimation’s content and accounts have since been merged into Crunchyroll, the tiered system it maintained for more than a decade shaped how millions of anime lovers consumed their favorite series. This guide takes a comprehensive look at the Free, Premium, and Premium Plus plans, examining every feature, price point, and benefit that defined the Funimation subscription experience.

An Overview of Funimation’s Subscription Model

Funimation structured its service around three core tiers, providing a ladder of access from casual experimentation to full immersion. The Free plan allowed anyone to create an account and watch a rotating selection of episodes without spending a dime. The paid offerings—Premium and Premium Plus—ramped up features dramatically, removing advertisements, unlocking the entire content catalog, and adding perks like high-definition streaming and offline downloads. While other anime services have since introduced more complex multi-tier setups, Funimation’s simplicity made choosing a plan relatively straightforward. The table below pairs each tier with its key characteristics to give a quick reference; the sections that follow dive into exhaustive detail.

  • Free Plan: Ad-supported, limited catalog, standard definition, no simulcasts.
  • Premium Plan: Ad-free, full library, HD streaming, two simultaneous streams, same-day simulcasts, early access to dubs.
  • Premium Plus Plan: All Premium features, plus offline viewing, up to five simultaneous streams, exclusive member events, special discounts, and an annual gift for yearly subscribers.

Deep Dive Into Each Subscription Tier

The Free Plan: A No-Risk Entry Point

The Free plan was designed as an introductory gateway to anime. After creating a free Funimation account, viewers could browse a rotating selection of episodes spanning popular shonen, slice-of-life, and classic titles. The catch? All free content was interrupted by pre-roll and mid-roll advertisements, and the video quality maxed out at standard definition—adequate for phones or smaller screens but noticeably fuzzy on large displays. New episodes from ongoing seasonal series were never available immediately; free users typically had to wait one week or more after a Premium subscriber’s simulcast airing before a given episode appeared in the free library. Despite these limitations, the Free plan served an important purpose: it let newcomers sample shows like My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, or Fruits Basket without financial commitment, often acting as a segue into a paid subscription.

The Premium Plan: Core Anime Access Without Interruptions

The Premium plan was the backbone of Funimation’s subscriber base. Priced at $5.99 per month (or $59.99 per year when billed annually), it eliminated all advertisements and unlocked the full content catalog—more than 13,000 episodes and hundreds of movies at its peak. Subscribers could stream in HD (up to 1080p) and enjoy the service on two devices at once, making it practical for individual viewers or a couple sharing a household.

Where the Premium plan really shined was in its simulcast offering. Funimation secured licensing agreements that allowed it to stream new episodes of currently airing anime shortly after their Japanese broadcast, often within hours. Subscribers could watch these episodes subbed immediately, and the SimulDub initiative meant that English-dubbed versions followed within two to four weeks—a massive speed record compared to the old days of DVD-only releases. For dedicated fans who wanted to participate in weekly online discussions and avoid spoilers, Premium was the minimum viable tier.

Additional perks included:

  • Early access to English dubs: Many SimulDub episodes premiered exclusively on Premium plans before rolling out to Free members.
  • Queue management: Users could maintain a watchlist and track episode progress across devices.
  • Digital keychain membership: Premium subscribers occasionally received exclusive digital collectibles through the Funimation Shop.

The Premium Plus Plan: Enhanced Convenience and Family Sharing

For the household of anime enthusiasts, the Premium Plus plan built on Premium’s foundation with a $7.99 monthly price tag (or $79.99 per year). The headline upgrade was offline viewing: subscribers could download full episodes and movies to their iOS or Android devices via the Funimation app and watch them without an active internet connection. This transformed long commutes, flights, or areas with spotty connectivity into anime marathons. The download library was generous, allowing dozens of episodes to be stored at once, though licensing terms occasionally limited how long a downloaded file remained playable before requiring a re-download.

Premium Plus also multiplied the simultaneous stream allowance from two to five devices, making it more than adequate for families or friend groups sharing a single account. Beyond these practical benefits, Premium Plus members gained access to exclusive events—such as Q&A sessions with voice actors, early screening announcements, and members-only sweepstakes. Annual subscribers received a yearly gift, which in past years included digital art books, discount codes for the Funimation Shop, or even small physical collectibles like lanyards and pins.

The plan’s value proposition was particularly strong for bingers and travelers. Being able to pre-download an entire season of One Piece or Demon Slayer ahead of a trip, then watch uninterrupted, justified the modest price increase for many. Moreover, the expanded simultaneous streams meant that while one person watched a downloaded episode offline on a tablet, two others could still stream different shows in different rooms.

In-Depth Feature Comparison Across Plans

Ad-Free Viewing and Its Impact

One of the most immediately appreciated differences between Free and paid tiers was the absence of advertisements. Funimation’s free tier averaged three to five ad breaks per episode, each lasting 15–30 seconds, which could disrupt the tension of a climactic fight scene or a silent emotional moment. Premium and Premium Plus subscribers enjoyed seamless playback from opening theme to ending credits, preserving the artistic flow intended by creators. This ad-free experience extended to trailers and promotional inserts that sometimes accompanied free content, further cleaning up the viewing interface.

Simulcasts and the Race to Day-One Access

Funimation’s strength in securing simulcast rights was a core differentiator. Through partnerships with Japanese studios and licensing committees, the platform aired new episodes of series like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Black Clover the same day they debuted on Japanese television. This synchronicity meant Premium subscribers were effectively part of a global premiere audience. The SimulDub advantage added an extra layer: while other platforms might require weeks or months for an English dub, Funimation’s in-house ADR studio in Texas turned around dubbed episodes with impressive speed. For dub-only viewers, this made Funimation irreplaceable.

Free users, meanwhile, had to wait through a windowing period. A typical pattern saw the first few episodes of a new season available for free a week after their initial simulcast, with subsequent episodes gradually unlocking as the season progressed. This staggered release incentivized upgrading to maintain momentum with the community.

Library Size, Exclusives, and Regional Variances

At its zenith, Funimation’s catalog surpassed 700 unique series, including timeless classics like Dragon Ball Z, Cowboy Bebop, and Steins;Gate. Many of these titles were exclusive to Funimation and could not be found on competing platforms such as Netflix or Hulu. The library spanned genres from action-packed shonen to romantic comedies, horror, and isekai. Premium and Premium Plus unlocked every season and episode in the catalog, whereas the Free plan offered a curated slice that changed over time—sometimes highlighting new dubs of older series to attract subscribers.

It is worth noting that content availability varied slightly by region due to licensing. In the United States and Canada, the library was most robust, while international users occasionally saw smaller selections. Still, for North American fans, Funimation’s library size was a leading selling point.

Offline Viewing and Mobile Experience

The Premium Plus-exclusive offline feature was implemented through the Funimation mobile apps for iOS and Android. Users tapped a download icon on any episode or movie detail screen, and the file was saved locally within the app. Downloads could be configured for Wi-Fi only to preserve cellular data caps, and their quality—ranging from standard definition to high definition—could be adjusted in settings to balance storage and picture quality. Expiration rules meant that users occasionally needed to refresh their downloads while connected, but the process was smooth enough to become a staple for commuters.

The Premium plan, lacking offline storage, still offered a strong mobile experience, with Chromecast and AirPlay support allowing users to beam content to larger screens. However, for true on-the-go consumption, Premium Plus was the unambiguous choice.

Device Compatibility and Streaming Quality

Funimation supported a wide array of devices, including web browsers, iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox consoles, and select smart TVs. All paid plans streamed in high definition up to 1080p, provided the device and internet connection could sustain it. While 4K streaming was not part of Funimation’s feature set—anime sources rarely exceeded 1080p anyway—the consistent HD output kept visuals crisp. The Free plan locked video at 480p, so the jump in clarity alone was often enough to convert casual viewers to paid subscribers.

Simultaneous streaming limits were enforced at the account level. Premium members could have two active streams concurrently; Premium Plus increased that ceiling to five. This number included any combination of live streaming, on-demand playback, and even active download sessions. For families or roommate groups where anime watching is a shared hobby, the higher cap prevented arguments over whose episode of Attack on Titan took priority.

Parental Controls, Profiles, and User Experience

Funimation offered basic parental controls to restrict mature-rated content, allowing guardians to set a maximum maturity rating for profiles. While the platform did not support separate user profiles under one account—a feature that competitors like Crunchyroll would later implement—the maturity filter served as a blunt but effective tool for households with younger viewers. The interface across devices was straightforward, with a homepage highlighting popular shows, new simulcast episodes, and a personalized “My Queue” section for tracking progress. Premium Plus subscribers also saw a dedicated “Downloads” tab in the app for easy access to stored content.

Pricing, Value, and the Annual Advantage

Funimation’s pricing was highly competitive during its active years. The Premium monthly rate of $5.99 undercut many general entertainment streaming services, while the annual option at $59.99 effectively gave two months free. Premium Plus at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year combined family sharing and offline perks at a price point that remained affordable compared to purchasing individual season passes or Blu-ray/DVD sets. For context, a single anime Blu-ray often cost $40–$60, so a year’s subscription could easily be justified by watching just a handful of series.

The savings became even more pronounced when considering the cost of ad-free access across multiple devices. A household with three anime fans would previously spend $17.97 per month for three individual Premium accounts; a single Premium Plus subscription covering five streams cost less than half that amount. The annual gift sweetened the deal further, adding a sense of community and tangible reward for loyalty.

Signing Up, Managing, and Canceling a Funimation Subscription

Getting started with a paid plan was a straightforward process on Funimation.com. New users created an account with an email address, selected their preferred tier, and entered payment details. Funimation accepted major credit cards and PayPal. After a 14-day free trial (available for Premium and Premium Plus tiers at various times), the subscription auto-renewed unless canceled. Managing the subscription could be done through the account settings page, where users could upgrade from Free to paid, switch between monthly and annual billing, or cancel entirely. Cancellation took effect at the end of the current billing cycle, with no early termination fees, and the account reverted to the Free tier with its limited access.

For those who wanted to try before committing, Funimation occasionally ran promotions extending the trial to 30 days or bundling Premium Plus with merchandise, so keeping an eye on the official social media channels was a smart tactic for price-sensitive fans. It is worth noting that since the merger with Crunchyroll, new Funimation subscriptions are no longer offered; existing subscribers were migrated or given the option to transfer to Crunchyroll accounts.

Funimation’s Legacy and the Transition to Crunchyroll

In August 2021, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., which had acquired a majority stake in Funimation in 2017, announced the purchase of Crunchyroll from AT&T for $1.175 billion. The subsequent period saw the gradual unification of the two anime giants. By March 2022, Funimation’s catalog began migrating to Crunchyroll, and both services shared simulcast releases. In 2024, the Funimation app and website were officially sunset, with remaining user accounts and watch histories transferred to Crunchyroll. While the Funimation brand may no longer offer a standalone service, the subscription model it pioneered influenced how anime streaming services structure their plans today.

Reflecting on the three-tier approach reveals a legacy of accessibility and fan-centric design. The Free plan met aspiring anime fans where they were, the Premium plan served the dedicated weekly watcher, and the Premium Plus plan engineered convenience for power users and families. As anime continues to surge in global popularity, many of the features Funimation championed—ad-free viewing, fast dubs, downloads, and multi-device streaming—remain cornerstones of modern anime platforms.

For those who experienced Funimation’s heyday, the subscription tiers were more than just pricing brackets; they marked a commitment to delivering anime to every type of viewer. Whether revisiting old favorites or catching up on classics that have since moved to Crunchyroll, the lessons from Funimation’s tiered system endure as a blueprint for how a streaming service can scale its value to match the passion of its audience.