When you watch Crunchyroll outside the United States, it checks your IP address and shows that country’s catalog, so some US titles disappear. Unblock Crunchyroll with GatewayVPN by connecting to a US server, and Crunchyroll shows the US catalog again. You still need a paid Crunchyroll plan, because the free ad-supported tier ended on December 31, 2025.
How to watch Crunchyroll outside the US with GatewayVPN
Connect to a US server before you open Crunchyroll, and the app loads the US catalog instead of the local one. Two details decide whether it works the first time.
Which server to connect to
Connect to a server in the United States. Crunchyroll picks the catalog from your IP address, so a server in Canada or the UK shows those countries’ shows, not the US lineup.
Any US city works, since Crunchyroll has one US catalog. On Windows or macOS, choose United States in the server list rather than “Connect to the fastest server”, which may pick a server near you instead.
Your first stream
Connect GatewayVPN first, then open Crunchyroll. If the app or site was already open, close the app or clear Crunchyroll’s cookies in your browser, because it can keep the location it saw before you connected.
Still seeing the local catalog? Log out of Crunchyroll while connected, then log back in. Search for a show you know is on the US catalog: if it plays, you’re set.
Why use a VPN for Crunchyroll
A US IP address brings back the US catalog. These GatewayVPN features keep it there on every device, and our VPN for streaming page covers other services too:
- US servers: pick United States in the server list on any app, from the 70 countries GatewayVPN covers, with no bandwidth limits for a full-season binge.
- Kill switch: a kill switch cuts your internet if the VPN drops, so Crunchyroll never sees your real IP mid-episode. It’s on Windows, macOS and Android; see how the VPN kill switch works.
- Split tunneling: send only Crunchyroll through the US server while your local banking and maps apps stay on your real connection. It’s available on Windows, macOS and Android with VPN split tunneling.
- 5 devices at once: one GatewayVPN account covers your laptop, your phone and the console you watch on, which suits a Mega Fan plan’s 4 streams.
- Try it first: the iOS and Android apps come with a 7-day free trial, and every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why is Crunchyroll blocked outside the US?
You can watch Crunchyroll abroad in most places, just not always the US lineup. Crunchyroll says it’s available in over 200 countries, but anime is licensed country by country, so some shows aren’t offered in some regions.
Crunchyroll works out your region from your IP address. A VPN changes that, so a US server gets you the US catalog. It doesn’t change your plan or what you pay, which depend on your account, not your location.
Is Crunchyroll still free in 2026?
No. Crunchyroll ended its free ad-supported plan on December 31, 2025, so every show now needs a paid plan. Many guides still say you can watch for free with ads. That’s out of date.
New subscribers can still try it first: Crunchyroll’s free trial runs for 7 days, down from 14. Cancel before it ends if you don’t want to be charged.
How much does Crunchyroll cost in 2026?
Crunchyroll starts at $9.99 a month in the US, after a price increase announced on February 2, 2026. Here’s what each plan includes:
| Plan | US price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fan | $9.99/month | No ads; offline viewing on 1 device. Limited-time annual plan at $66.99/year |
| Mega Fan | $13.99/month | 4 streams at once; offline viewing |
| Ultimate Fan | $17.99/month | 6 streams at once; offline viewing; store discounts and an annual swag bag |
Prices from Nerdist and Anime News Network, checked November 2026. Existing monthly subscribers moved to these prices after March 4, 2026.
Prices differ by country, and you pay whatever your account’s plan costs wherever you are. Pick Mega Fan if more than one person watches, since Fan streams on one screen.
Crunchyroll not working with a VPN? How to fix it
These are the problems you’re most likely to hit abroad, and the fix for each:
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A show says it isn’t available in your region | Crunchyroll still sees your real location, or the title isn’t licensed in the US either | Check you’re on a US server, then log out and back in while connected |
| Access denied or an error page instead of the site | Crunchyroll has flagged that server’s IP address | Disconnect, connect to a different US city, and reload |
| The local catalog still shows | The app or browser kept the location from before you connected | Close the app or clear Crunchyroll’s cookies, then reopen it while connected |
| Stream stops mid-episode | The VPN dropped and Crunchyroll saw your real IP for a moment | Turn on the kill switch (Windows, macOS, Android) or Reconnect automatically (iOS) |
Still stuck? Try a different US city before anything else. Switching servers fixes most VPN errors on Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll VPN FAQ
Is it legal to watch Crunchyroll with a VPN?
Using a VPN is legal in the US and most other countries. Watching another region’s catalog is a question of Crunchyroll’s terms of use, not the law. Check those terms before you rely on it.
Does GatewayVPN work with Crunchyroll on PlayStation and Roku?
Yes, through manual setup. GatewayVPN has no app for consoles or Roku, so you set it up on your router or share the connection from a Windows PC or Mac. The table below links the setup guide for each device.
Can I use my Crunchyroll account in another country?
Yes. Your plan works wherever Crunchyroll is offered, but the catalog switches to the country you’re in. Connect to a US server if you want the US lineup back.
Can I download Crunchyroll episodes to watch offline abroad?
Yes, on paid plans. Fan includes offline viewing on one device, and Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan include it too. Download before a flight or a trip with patchy internet.
Can I watch Crunchyroll with a free VPN?
We don’t recommend it. Free VPNs put many users on a handful of US servers, which makes them easy for Crunchyroll to flag. You’ll spend more time switching servers than watching.
Watch Crunchyroll on any device with GatewayVPN
This table shows each device Crunchyroll supports and how GatewayVPN runs on it. Phones and computers use our apps; TVs and consoles use manual setup.
| On Crunchyroll | With GatewayVPN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Device | Crunchyroll support | GatewayVPN support | Setup guide |
| iPhone and iPad | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNApplication | VPN for iOS |
| Android phones and tablets | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNApplication | VPN for Android |
| Windows PC | CrunchyrollWeb browser | GatewayVPNApplication | Windows VPN |
| Mac | CrunchyrollWeb browser | GatewayVPNApplication | macOS VPN |
| Apple TV | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | Apple TV guide |
| Amazon Fire TV | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | Fire TV guide |
| Roku | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | Roku guide |
| Chromecast | CrunchyrollCast from the app | GatewayVPNManual setup | Chromecast guide |
| Smart TVs | CrunchyrollApp on select Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO and Android TV models | GatewayVPNManual setup | Smart TV guide |
| PlayStation | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | PlayStation guide |
| Xbox | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | Xbox guide |
| Nintendo Switch | CrunchyrollApp | GatewayVPNManual setup | Router guide |
Application GatewayVPN has a native app on this device. Manual setup Set GatewayVPN up on your router or share it from a computer. Devices from The Streamable’s Crunchyroll device list, November 2026.
For manual setup, the simplest route is your router: set it up once and every TV and console on your Wi-Fi gets a US IP address. You can also run GatewayVPN on a Windows PC or Mac and share its connection with the device.
Watching Crunchyroll abroad: the bottom line
Crunchyroll shows the US catalog to any connection with a US IP address. Connect GatewayVPN to a server in the United States and Crunchyroll loads that lineup on your phone, laptop, console or TV.
A VPN changes your location, not your plan. You still need a paid Crunchyroll subscription, since the free tier is gone. If a show won’t load, switch to a different US city and log back in.
Install GatewayVPN on the device you’ll watch on and connect to a US server before you open Crunchyroll.
