Streaming anime through Funimation has long been a go-to for fans who want deep dubs, classic titles, and simulcasts. But as the service merges into Crunchyroll and subscription fees continue to shift, managing your account with a cost-conscious eye becomes important. This guide pulls together actionable tips to help you enjoy every episode without letting your monthly entertainment bill spiral. From plan selection and promotional stacking to sharing limits and data-savvy settings, the following strategies will keep you on budget while staying current with the latest shows.

1. Understand Your Funimation Subscription Options

Funimation historically offered two main recurring plans: Premium and Premium Plus. The basic Premium plan unlocked ad‑free streaming, access to the English dub library, and simulcasts shortly after their Japanese broadcast. Premium Plus added offline downloads for mobile devices, the ability to stream on more screens simultaneously, and occasional members‑only merchandise discounts. Before the Crunchyroll merger, an annual billing cycle was available for both tiers, typically saving subscribers 16–20% compared to paying month‑to‑month.

Today, new Funimation sign‑ups are no longer available because the platform is gradually sunsetting in favor of Crunchyroll. Existing subscribers can still access their accounts and continue to be billed, but the real cost‑benefit analysis now involves deciding whether to remain on a legacy Funimation plan or migrate to the unified Crunchyroll experience. Understanding what you’re currently paying for—and what a Crunchyroll subscription offers—is the first step to saving money. If you’re still on a month‑to‑month Premium plan, you might be paying about $5.99–$7.99, while the Premium Plus annual plan worked out to $99.99 per year. Compare that with Crunchyroll’s Fan tier ($7.99/month) and Mega Fan tier ($9.99/month, with offline viewing), and you’ll see that moving platforms often provides more content for a similar or lower effective cost.

2. Take Advantage of Promotions, Discounts, and Free Trials

Even while Funimation’s direct sales have ceased, promotional pricing is still relevant—both for legacy billing adjustments and when transitioning to Crunchyroll. Companies frequently offer seasonal deals during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holiday marathons, and anime industry events like Anime Expo. A one‑year Crunchyroll Mega Fan plan can sometimes be found for 20–30% off during these windows, effectively bringing the monthly cost down below $7. If you’re currently paying full price on a Funimation annual renewal, contacting support to inquire about loyalty discounts or promotional extension offers may yield a surprise break.

Don’t overlook free trial periods. Crunchyroll offers a 14‑day free trial for new users (and sometimes longer for returning lapsed subscribers). This trial gives you full access to the library, simulcasts, and offline downloads—everything you need to evaluate whether replacing your Funimation plan makes sense. Set a calendar reminder a few days before the trial ends; if the service doesn’t meet your anime flow, cancel promptly to avoid being charged. Similarly, keep a lookout for student discounts. Crunchyroll partners with SheerID to verify student status and often provides a discounted premium membership for college and university students. If you qualify, you can slash the monthly fee by a significant margin for up to a year.

Finding Current Deals

Bookmark the official Crunchyroll welcome page and check their news section when holidays approach. You can also follow anime news outlets or subreddits that share verified discount codes. If you’re still tied to a Funimation‑specific billing cycle, watch for email announcements about grandfathered plan changes; sometimes the merger transition triggers a “choose your new plan” prompt that comes with a limited‑time reduced rate. Always read the terms to make sure the discount isn’t a temporary teaser that hikes after a few months.

3. Share Your Subscription Responsibly

One of the most effective ways to reduce individual cost is sharing a plan with trusted family or friends. Funimation’s Premium Plus tier allowed simultaneous streams on multiple devices, making it possible for two or more people to split a single annual subscription. Crunchyroll’s Mega Fan tier permits four concurrent streams, so if you migrate and rally a small group, each person’s monthly expense can drop to just a few dollars. Be mindful of the service’s terms of use: account sharing should be limited to your household or close circle to avoid security flags and potential service interruption.

When splitting, treat the arrangement as you would any shared utility. Set up a dedicated profile for each user so watchlists and recommendations stay separate. Agree on a clear payment method—whether one person pays and others reimburse via a cash‑app, or everyone contributes to a digital wallet. Keep login credentials secure and change the password if a group member leaves. Remember that sharing beyond a reasonable household could violate the platform’s acceptable use policy; misuse can result in account termination, which wastes any prepaid annual balance.

4. Choose the Right Tier for Your Actual Usage

Before merging, Funimation’s tiers diverged mostly on offline viewing and stream count. Many subscribers paid for Premium Plus simply because the initial sign‑up flow highlighted it, but then rarely used downloads or only ever watched on a single device. Analyze your real habits: are you primarily streaming at home on Wi‑Fi, or do you frequently need offline episodes for your commute? If offline access isn’t essential, the cheaper tier (or Crunchyroll’s Fan plan) does everything you need—ad‑free, full library, simulcast access—at a lower price. Similarly, if you live alone and never multitask streams, you won’t benefit from three extra concurrent screens.

Crunchyroll’s Fan tier matches Funimation Premium in spirit, while Mega Fan adds offline downloads and a $10‑a‑month streaming allowance for additional screens. The top‑end Ultimate Fan tier ($14.99/month) adds a yearly swag bag and an offline‑view‑on‑all‑devices perk. Unless you’re an ardent collector of physical goodies, the Ultimate tier rarely justifies its price tag purely for anime streaming. Downgrading to the tier that aligns with your actual behavior avoids paying for unused features each billing cycle.

5. Leverage the Funimation‑Crunchyroll Merger for Savings

The single biggest recommendation for anyone still holding a Funimation subscription is to evaluate the migration process to Crunchyroll. Since Funimation’s library is being absorbed into Crunchyroll, paying separately for both is no longer necessary. By switching to a Crunchyroll plan, you gain access to the combined catalog—over 1,300 series and simulcasts from Japan—often at a price point comparable to what you were already paying. Plus, the Crunchyroll player, apps, and download experience have matured, meaning you lose nothing in quality while gaining more content.

Crunchyroll has offered special migration offers to Funimation users, such as a free trial period of Mega Fan for existing Funimation subscribers, or discounted first‑year rates. Check your email for “Complete Your Transition” messages. If you missed those windows, reach out to Crunchyroll support directly and mention you’re a legacy Funimation customer. They may extend a retention or loyalty offer to bring you aboard. Avoiding the duplication of paying for a fading service and a fuller one is a straightforward way to cut monthly streaming costs.

6. Optimize Streaming Settings to Save Data (and Money)

While not a direct subscription cost, incidental expenses like exceeding mobile data caps or upgrading home internet tiers because of heavy streaming can add up. Both Funimation’s and Crunchyroll’s apps let you adjust video quality. On a mobile connection, set the default to “Data Saver” or “Low” when you’re away from Wi‑Fi. This reduces the bitrate, cutting data usage by up to 70% per episode. If you’re on a metered broadband plan at home, consider capping the maximum resolution to 1080p instead of allowing 4K where supported—most anime cel animation doesn’t materially benefit from ultra‑high resolutions anyway.

Also disable “Autoplay Next Episode” if you’re prone to falling asleep with the app running. A whole season can burn through gigs of data overnight, triggering overage charges. These small app‑side tweaks ensure your anime habit doesn’t leak into your telecom bill, making your overall entertainment budget more predictable.

7. Use Gift Cards and Alternative Payment Methods

Buying digital subscription gift cards on sale is a classic tactic that works for Funimation (through its legacy merchant channels) and Crunchyroll. Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Amazon occasionally discount streaming gift cards by 10–20%. When you spot a deal, purchase enough to cover your desired plan length and stack them in your account. This effectively locks in a lower rate for months ahead. Crunchyroll also accepts Crunchyroll‑branded gift cards, which go on sale during holiday shopping events. Redeem them toward an annual renewal instead of billing a credit card at full price.

Another angle: some credit cards offer cashback or extra rewards for streaming service purchases or “digital entertainment” categories. Check your card’s benefits; you might be leaving $5–$10 a year on the table simply by using the wrong payment method. Prepaid debit cards can also serve as a budgeting tool—load a set amount each month and update your billing information, so you never overspend by forgetting to cancel a trial.

8. Cancel or Pause When You’re Not Watching

Anime tastes are seasonal, and so should be your subscription. If you follow a handful of shows that air in the winter and fall, you may not need continuous year‑round access. Funimation’s legacy system rarely offered a “pause” feature, but canceling a monthly plan at the end of a simulcast season and resubscribing when the next slate debuts is perfectly acceptable. On Crunchyroll, you can simply cancel auto‑renewal and let the premium period expire naturally; your watchlist and history remain saved. When the next season starts, a fresh sign‑up takes just a few clicks.

This approach also lets you take advantage of “welcome back” promotions. Many streaming platforms, Crunchyroll included, send enticing offers to lapsed users—such as a month of Mega Fan for $0.99 or a longer free trial. Cycling subscriptions around the anime calendar ensures you always pay only for the months you actively watch, which can halve your annual anime streaming bill with minimal effort.

9. Monitor and Audit Your Subscription Regularly

Digital subscription creep happens to everyone. Set a recurring calendar reminder every three months to review your Funimation or Crunchyroll payment. Check whether you’ve been upgraded inadvertently to a higher tier, or if any add‑on services (like a separate VPN or merchandise subscription) are still running despite being unused. The merger period can cause billing shifts; a legacy annual plan might renew at a different rate without explicit notice. Logging into your account settings routinely keeps you informed of the exact charges and renewal dates.

Additionally, general streaming savings habits apply here: unbundle services, rotate them, and don’t be afraid to completely cancel if the library no longer matches your interests. The anime catalog on Crunchyroll is massive, but if your tastes shift toward manga or gaming, redirect that $8 monthly fee toward a different service that brings more joy.

10. Conclusion

Managing your anime streaming budget doesn’t mean cutting back on what you love—it means being strategic. Start by auditing your current Funimation plan and comparing it with Crunchyroll’s offerings to see if a migration saves you money while adding more titles. Use free trials, student discounts, and seasonal promotions to pay less each month. Share a family‑tier subscription responsibly, lower your data usage, and cancel during off‑seasons. Small actions like buying discounted gift cards or switching to an annual cycle can accumulate into substantial yearly savings. With these tips, you’ll be able to support the anime industry and still keep your wallet happy, one simulcast at a time.

For further reading, explore Crunchyroll’s official plans and the Funimation FAQ to stay updated on the transition. Your anime journey can be both epic and economical.