Media & Entertainment · head to head
Crunchyroll vs Pluto TV
Crunchyroll
Media & Entertainment
The world's largest anime streaming platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
P
Pluto TV
Media & Entertainment
Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Crunchyroll the App Store listing states Crunchyroll allows streaming on up to six devices simultaneously, and separately notes the annual plan is cheaper than paying monthly.; Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
- They diverge on capability: Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming, Pluto TV covers Streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Crunchyroll and Pluto TV actually diverge.
| Attribute | Crunchyroll | Pluto TV |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv |
| Founded | 2006 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Media & Entertainment).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Crunchyroll
- Anime streaming
- Simulcasts
- Manga
- Games
- Gaming consoles
- Profile management
- Gaming-consoles support
Only in Pluto TV
- Streaming
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Streaming devices
- Account management
- Roku support
Both cover
- Smart TVs
- Parental controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Smart-tv support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Crunchyroll
- Anime watchingnot Pluto TV
- Manga readingnot Pluto TV
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Crunchyroll
- Live TVnot Crunchyroll
- On-demand contentnot Crunchyroll
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Crunchyroll
- The App Store listing states Crunchyroll allows streaming on up to six devices simultaneously, and separately notes the annual plan is cheaper than paying monthly.
Pluto TV
- Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
Pricing, plan by plan
Crunchyroll
Free- FreeFree
- Limited anime
- Ads
- Fan$7.99/month
- Ad-free
- Simulcasts
- Mega Fan$9.99/month
- Offline viewing
- 4 streams
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Which should you pick?
Choose Crunchyroll if
- You need anime streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- You also want simulcasts.
Choose Pluto TV if
- You need streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- You also want live tv channels.
Questions people ask
- Is Crunchyroll or Pluto TV better?
- Neither clearly leads. Crunchyroll starts at Free and Pluto TV at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Crunchyroll or Pluto TV?
- Crunchyroll starts at Free and Pluto TV at Free.
- Does Crunchyroll or Pluto TV run on more platforms?
- Crunchyroll runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles. Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
- Can I use Crunchyroll for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Crunchyroll best used for?
- Crunchyroll is most often used for anime watching, manga reading. Of those, anime watching and manga reading are not what Pluto TV is typically brought in for.
- What can Crunchyroll do that Pluto TV cannot?
- Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming, Simulcasts, Manga, Games. Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.