Media & Entertainment · head to head
Pluto TV vs Crunchyroll
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Pluto TV
Media & Entertainment
Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Crunchyroll
Media & Entertainment
The world's largest anime streaming platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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); 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.
- They diverge on capability: Pluto TV covers Streaming, Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and Crunchyroll actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pluto TV | Crunchyroll |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles |
| Founded | 2013 | 2006 |
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 Pluto TV
- Streaming
- Live TV channels
- Movies
- TV shows
- Recommendations
- Streaming devices
- Account management
- Roku support
Only in Crunchyroll
- Anime streaming
- Simulcasts
- Manga
- Games
- Gaming consoles
- Profile management
- Gaming-consoles 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.
Pluto TV
- Free streamingnot Crunchyroll
- Live TVnot Crunchyroll
- On-demand contentnot Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll
- Anime watchingnot Pluto TV
- Manga readingnot Pluto TV
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Pluto TV
Free- FreeFree
- Full content
- Live channels
- Ad-supported
Crunchyroll
Free- FreeFree
- Limited anime
- Ads
- Fan$7.99/month
- Ad-free
- Simulcasts
- Mega Fan$9.99/month
- Offline viewing
- 4 streams
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Pluto TV or Crunchyroll better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and Crunchyroll at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or Crunchyroll?
- Pluto TV starts at Free and Crunchyroll at Free.
- Does Pluto TV or Crunchyroll run on more platforms?
- Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. Crunchyroll runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- Can I use Pluto TV for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Pluto TV best used for?
- Pluto TV is most often used for free streaming, live tv, on-demand content. Of those, free streaming and live tv are not what Crunchyroll is typically brought in for.
- What can Pluto TV do that Crunchyroll cannot?
- Pluto TV covers Streaming, Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows. Crunchyroll covers Anime streaming, Simulcasts, Manga, Games. Both handle Smart TVs, Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.