How to get Crunchyroll cheaper in 2026
Crunchyroll, known for its extensive collection of East Asian media, including Japanese anime, offers over 1,000 titles and simulcasts. Yet, pricing varies dramatically by country; for example, the US Fan plan costs $9.99/month, while in India, it's around $1.04/month.
A VPN can help you access the cheapest Crunchyroll plans globally if you have a compatible payment method. By acquiring a new IP address and changing your digital location, you can get Crunchyroll at a lower cost. Additionally, VPNs provide benefits like unblocking restricted content, data encryption, and ad blocking.
Together with our team of experts, I tested top VPNs to find the best for Crunchyroll. But before we get to the next steps, it's worth being clear on what a VPN actually solves and what it doesn't, so check the table below for a better understanding.
| What you need | What it requires | Can a VPN help? |
| Cheaper regional price | An account registered in that country | ✅ Yes |
| Completing sign-up | A local payment method or billing address | ❌ No |
| Downloading the app on mobile | An App Store / Google Play account in that region | ❌ No |
Keep in mind that signing up for Crunchyroll in a country where you don't live goes against the platform's Terms of Service. Your account must match your country of residence, so if Crunchyroll detects otherwise, it may cancel your subscription, suspend your account, or cause you to lose your watch history and any account credits. Make sure the potential savings are worth that risk before signing up.
How to get Crunchyroll cheaper with a VPN
I tested the method below and found it works best through Crunchyroll's website on a desktop browser. If you're signing up on your phone, go to your device settings and turn off location access for the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). This prevents the store from using your GPS as an additional location signal. However, it won't change your store's country, which is tied to your account and billing details rather than your location settings. To access the version of Crunchyroll or the pricing available in another country, you'll likely still need an app store account registered there.
- Register for a reliable VPN with servers in countries where Crunchyroll is cheaper, such as India or Turkey
- Download and set up the VPN on your device
- Connect to a server in India or Turkey – countries known for offering some of the cheapest Crunchyroll plans
- Go to Crunchyroll and create an account
- Complete sign up – remember you'll also need a payment method or billing address that the platform accepts for that country
Changing your IP address may not be enough. Crunchyroll also checks the payment method and billing address, and most regions require these to match the country you're signing up from. A VPN changes your IP but can't provide a local card or billing address, so if you don't have a payment method tied to the cheaper country, you may not be able to finish signing up even once connected.
Best VPNs for getting Crunchyroll cheaper
| VPN for Crunchyroll | Average speed | Servers in Turkey | Server network | Unblocking capabilities | Price | Anonymous payments |
| NordVPN | 791Mbps | ✅ Yes | Thousands of servers in 224 locations | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | $3.49/month for Basic plan | ✅ Accepts crypto |
| Surfshark | 780Mbps | ✅ Yes | 4,500+ servers 100 countries | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more | $2.49/month for Starter plan | ✅ Accepts crypto |
| Proton VPN | 767Mbps | ✅ Yes | 20,500+ servers in 148 countries | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube | $1.99/month for Standard plan | ✅ Accepts crypto |
How can a VPN help you to get a cheaper Crunchyroll subscription?
The cost of Crunchyroll subscriptions varies significantly depending on your country. For example, while the Crunchyroll Fan plan is priced at $9.99/month in the US, for the same plan, users pay only about $1.04/month in India.
To take advantage of these differences in pricing, consider using the best VPN. By switching your IP to a country with cheaper Crunchyroll rates, you can access more affordable subscription options during sign-up. Consider opting for a VPN service like NordVPN, which offers extensive server locations for maximum flexibility.
Keep in mind that a VPN only changes the country Crunchyroll sees you connecting from. You will still need a payment method or billing address from that country to complete the signup, and if you're using the mobile app, your App Store or Google Play account also needs to be set to that country. In other words, a VPN is only one part of the process.
Cheapest Crunchyroll membership by country
Crunchyroll subscription prices differ greatly depending on the country you're in. People in India, Brazil, Turkey, and Nigeria benefit from some of the lowest rates globally, while those in the United States, France, and Austria face higher costs for Crunchyroll services.
For the most budget-friendly Crunchyroll subscription, opting for a virtually located server in India provides the cheapest option, with subscriptions available for as low as $1.04/month. Here's a breakdown of the pricing for Crunchyroll subscription plans in India:
- Fan – $0.94/month
- Mega Fan – $1.25/month
Here are the subscription rates for Crunchyroll in the US, for comparison:
- Fan – $9.99/month
- Mega Fan – $13.99/month
- Ultimate Fan – $17.99/month
Here's a detailed breakdown of the varying costs of Crunchyroll subscriptions across different countries:
| Country | Monthly price for the Fan plan | Monthly price for the Mega Fan plan |
| Argentina | $3.50 | $4.10 |
| India | $1.04 | $1.25 |
| Turkey | $1.49 | $1.92 |
| Nigeria | $2.19 | $2.78 |
| Indonesia | $2.17 | $2.73 |
| Georgia | $2.28 | $3.04 |
| Columbia | $5.08 | $5.98 |
| Brazil | $3.88 | $4.86 |
| Ukraine | $3.99 | $4.99 |
| Singapore | $4.25 | $5.41 |
| Honk Kong | $4.97 | $6.25 |
| Cyprus | $5.71 | $7.42 |
| United Kingdom | $8.02 | $9.36 |
| USA | $9.99 | $13.99 |
Note: Crunchyroll subscription prices are regularly updated, with the latest changes noted as of July 17th, 2026.
Other methods to get Crunchyroll cheaper
A VPN can get you a lower regional price, but as covered above, you'll still need a payment method that works for that country, so it's worth knowing your other options too:
- You can ease the financial burden by sharing your Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription, which allows streaming on up to 4 devices simultaneously. This lets you split the cost among friends, family, or relatives, making it more affordable for all.
- Consider exploring alternative streaming services such as Hulu or Netflix, but keep in mind that they offer less anime content at a higher cost. While these platforms may provide a wider variety of content beyond anime, if you're a dedicated anime enthusiast, your best bet is to stick with Crunchyroll.
- You may consider using a free VPN to avoid paying for a reliable VPN subscription, but I don't recommend it. Free VPNs often struggle to bypass geo-restrictions, meaning you may not be able to connect to India to access the cheapest Crunchyroll plan. Even when free VPNs do work, their weak security, slow speeds, and limited features can hinder your experience.
Final thoughts
Crunchyroll offers on-demand streaming, primarily focusing on anime. However, subscription prices vary significantly across countries, with rates as high as $9.99/month in countries like the US, which may discourage some users.
A VPN can help you access a cheaper regional price by changing your IP address, but it's only one part of the process. You'll still need a payment method that works in the country you're signing up from, and subscribing through another region goes against Crunchyroll's Terms of Service, so it's worth weighing the potential savings against the risks.
If you decide to go ahead with the process, I highly recommend NordVPN as the top choice, with thousands of servers in 224 locations. It enables you to explore the best prices globally, and our in-house tests confirm it's one of the fastest VPNs available, ensuring uninterrupted streaming.
Do you need a credit card to get Crunchyroll cheaper?
No, you don't need a credit card to access cheaper Crunchyroll subscriptions. However, you'll still need a payment method Crunchyroll accepts for that region. Options like PayPal or a local gift card sometimes work, though this varies and your payment may be declined.
How to get Crunchyroll for cheap with VPN?
Connect to a VPN server in a country with lower Crunchyroll pricing, such as India, Turkey, or Nigeria, then sign up from there. This changes your IP address, so Crunchyroll sees you as being in that country, but you'll still need a payment method that works for that region, and this approach goes against Crunchyroll's terms of service, so there's some risk involved.
Is there a student discount for Crunchyroll?
No, Crunchyroll doesn't offer student discounts. However, you can access the Crunchyroll Fan plan for only $1.04/month using a VPN to connect to India. If you have an Indian payment method, this method provides the cheapest possible way to get a Crunchyroll subscription.
How much is the cheapest Crunchyroll subscription?
For just $1.04/month, the Fan plan in India proves to be the most economical option. A VPN can get you the lower price by changing your IP to that country, but you'll still need a payment method that works there, and this isn't within Crunchyroll's terms of service.
Does NordVPN have servers in India for Crunchyroll subscription?
NordVPN has shut down its physical servers in India due to regulatory requirements. However, NordVPN has a virtual server location that allows users to connect with an Indian IP address. This virtual server can be used to access services like Crunchyroll with an Indian IP. For more information, please refer to NordVPN’s support page.
