Crunchyroll ends its free streaming plan

Anime-streaming giant Crunchyroll is officially axing its free, ad-supported tier, and the announcement arrived in what might be the most unceremonious way possible: an in-player pop-up notifying users that the limited plan will disappear on December 31, 2025.Starting Jan. 1, anyone who wants to watch anything on Crunchyroll will need a paid subscription. For many fans, the loss may feel more symbolic than practical as the company has been quietly hollowing out the free tier for years. The free