Get your
wallets ready, because watching anime legally is about to get more expensive.
The orange platform has confirmed what many feared: Crunchyroll raises
prices on its subscription plans, affecting both the United States and
select international markets, including Latin America. This
"adjustment" will take effect for billing cycles after March
4, 2026.
The news
has fallen like a bucket of cold water for users, who will see an approximate
increase of 2 dollars in each level of service. Although the
company justifies this as a "necessary investment" to bring more
licenses and original content, the reality is that many subscribers are already
threatening to cancel the service and return to sailing the seven seas of
piracy.
Details
of why Crunchyroll raises prices and new fees
According
to the official statement, the blow to the pocket will be reflected as follows
in US dollars (with proportional adjustments in local currency for countries
such as Mexico, Chile or Colombia):
- Fan Plan: It goes up to $9.99
USD (was $7.99).
- Mega Fan Plan: It goes up to $13.99
USD (was $11.99).
- Ultimate Fan Plan: It goes up to $17.99
USD (was $15.99).
For users
in Latin America, although the exact amount in pesos or soles has not been
detailed, the increase is expected to be proportional. The only good news is
for those who have annual plans, since they will not see the change until it is
their turn to renew their period.
The
reaction of the community
The
networks have not taken long to fill with complaints. With over 100 million
registered users, Sony-owned Crunchyroll dominates the market, but moves such
as the removal of the free plan in 2024 and this new increase have worn out
fans' patience. Many argue that the quality of service — server crashes on
large releases and lack of dubbing in certain languages — doesn't justify
paying more.
