- Can we download Crunchyroll episodes on PC? (Official policies explained)
- How to download Crunchyroll episodes on PC? (3 tested downloaders)
- Is it legal & safe to download from Crunchyroll with these tools? (Legality & safety)
- Which Crunchyroll downloader suits you most? (Overall comparison)
- 2025’s must-download anime on Crunchyroll (Personal anime recommendation)
- Extra reading: why Crunchyroll keeps trending among anime lovers?
- More FAQs
Ever been in the middle of an intense JoJo's Bizarre Adventure episode or trying to skip Naruto Shippūden's flashbacks when your Wi-Fi decides to quit? As a dedicated anime fan, I've often found myself staring at Crunchyroll's loading wheel, hoping for the next scene to load.
If you’re anything like me, spotty Wi-Fi, especially on buses or trains, can really get on your nerves. Not having a steady connection is a hassle I run into all the time. Because of this, I started looking for ways to save Crunchyroll episodes straight to my PC. Now, I don’t have to deal with endless loading screens or interrupted shows while I’m out and about.
Official offline downloads are not supported on PC/Mac. Crunchyroll's download feature is only available on mobile devices and Nintendo Switch for Mega Fan/Ultimate Fan members; unwatched content typically expires in about 7 days, and once playback starts, it expires in about 48 hours. For details on the official offline availability and expiration rules, please refer to the sources below.
Can You Download Crunchyroll Episodes on PC?
Nope. Let's clear up the confusion: Crunchyroll does offer downloads, but only if you're in the Mega Fan or Ultimate Fan tier, with mobile devices like Android, iPhone, iPad, and Switch (NOT Switch 2!).
| Plan | Fee | Download | Device Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Trial |
$0 |
❌ |
1 |
|
Fan |
$7.99/mo $79.99/yr |
❌ |
1 |
|
Mega Fan |
$11.99/mo $119.99/yr |
✅ |
4 |
|
Ultimate Fan |
$15.99/mo |
✅ |
6 |
If you're on a PC or Mac, you're out of luck. The desktop website and app don't support offline downloads, no matter how many times you refresh the page or update your browser.
-
Why the snub? Crunchyroll's official stance is all about "content protection" and licensing agreements. In plain English: it's easier to control downloads (and prevent piracy) on mobile apps than on open desktop systems. Frustrating? Absolutely. Logical? Kinda, if you're a copyright lawyer.
But I reject it! These third-party tools I discovered can help us download Crunchyroll episodes on our laptops or desktops. Check them out!
How to Download Crunchyroll Episodes on PC?
Hold on before you get into practice. You can only enter the next section by agreeing that all the downloads of Crunchyroll anime with these methods are only for personal entertainment, educational purposes, making movie clips, or other reasonable purposes. Distributing or selling to any third party violates the copyright policies of Crunchyroll. Did you just nod? Then let's move on.
1. StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader [The GOAT👑]
For desktop users who want local copies for personal offline viewing, StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader offers a built-in browser to fetch episodes and save them as MP4/MKV (up to 1080p with AAC 2.0). It supports bulk and auto-download to streamline season catch-ups.
Bulk download Crunchyroll episodes on PC in 1080p with AAC 2.0 audio, no ads, no fuss, no expirations, no device limit.
- Grab entire seasons or playlists in one go without clicking "next episode" a hundred times
- Automatically download the latest episodes of the preferred anime on Crunchyroll
- Enjoy crisp, high-definition anime on your big screen in lossless 1080p; you deserve it
- Downloads are stripped of ads, so you can marathon without interruptions
- Keep your favorite subs (or dubs) intact for every episode automatically
- No need to upgrade your Crunchyroll subscription, it works even if you're not a Mega Fan
- No tech wizardry is required; if you can use a browser, you can use StreamFab.
Check out this tutorial to start downloading anime from Crunchyroll with StreamFab.
Open StreamFab, select Crunchyroll in VIP Services and sign in with your credentials.
Use the built-in browser to find your favorite anime. Play it. Pick your preferred video quality and subtitle language.
Hit the download button and watch the progress bar fill up. Episodes are saved to your PC for offline viewing.
2. Anime Downloader NX by AniDL
Currently, there is a Crunchyroll Downloader available on GitHub, but it’s not our main focus today, as it only supports Windows 10/11. Instead, I’d like to introduce Anime Downloader NX by AniDL. This Crunchyroll downloader not only supports Windows but also supports Linux and macOS, offering better flexibility across platforms. And good news, it has a web GUI version so that you won't have to face the evil command lines.
However, to download DRM-protected Crunchyroll episodes, you have to manage to get the DRM-related files by yourself. That would be pretty hard if you had never been involved in it before. I can't spoil too much here, because the related topics typically involve you-know-who.
I don't know exactly how it should be operated, so I just took the official guide here, but in simple and direct words, hoping you can figure it out. The following guide is based on the multi-downloader-nx-windows-gui.7z in Releases.
Install 2 dependencies first, ffmpeg 4.0.0 or above, and MKVToolNix 60.0.0 or above. Then get the fit version from the Releases page.
Run the aniDL.exe in the extracted folder. Fill in the info required, such as your account (for authentication) or the episodes you want to download from Crunchyroll.
Now, click on Add to Queue, type the title name in the search bar, and adjust the audio and video quality, specific episodes you want, etc., to start.
Click Start Queue to begin downloading. If it warns you of DRM issues, please refer to its official guidance on its GitHub page.
3. Android Emulators with Crunchyroll App
If you frequently play mobile games, you might already know that Android emulators allow you to run mobile apps on your PC. This same approach applies when you want to download Crunchyroll episodes onto your computer. Simply choose an emulator to run the Crunchyroll app on your laptop and take advantage of its official download feature.
Just taking this one as an example, not a personal recommendation. You can pick anyone you prefer. Some of the Android emulators are not compatible with DRM very well, so you may encounter random bugs or issues while using the official download function on the Crunchyroll app within them, which makes the download success rate pretty lame.
If you don't care, then check this simple guide here to learn how to download Crunchyroll episodes on PC like you usually do on mobile devices with emulators.
Install the Android emulator on your computer. Launch it. Then find and download the Crunchyroll app from its built-in Google Play.
Run the app and log in to it with your account, which should be a Mega Fan or Ultimate Fan tier. Move to the titles you want to download.
Click the download button and wait until the downloads are finished. Then you can watch them with the emulator.
- Insufficient storage: free up space inside the emulator.
- Membership level: downloads require Mega Fan or Ultimate Fan.
- Region limits: catalog and downloads vary by region.
- Network stability: retry on wired/Wi-Fi with low latency.
- DRM compatibility: Some emulators fail to decrypt content.
Is It Legal & Safe to Use the Crunchyroll Downloaders Above?
Here are my own experiences about this topic:
Right now, I can only download Crunchyroll shows for offline watching if I use their official mobile app or the Nintendo Switch. That’s allowed for people who pay for specific plans. If I want to try it on my computer using outside software, as long as I’m just saving episodes for myself, to watch, study, or collect, and I don’t share or sell them, I rarely see much real trouble from it. I know plenty of anime fans around the globe do this so they can watch shows whenever they want. Everything I talk about here is just for my own use, not for making money or giving files away. I always try to support the official versions, and whenever I feel unsure, I double-check the rules where I live.
I always stick to well-known tools and only get them from official sites or sources I trust. From what I’ve seen, these tools are safe, and they don’t come with viruses or dangerous extras. If I need to log in, I turn on two-factor authentication for my Crunchyroll account. I make sure I’ve grabbed the real version, not some fake. If I feel uncertain, I’ll sometimes set up a different or temporary account when testing new apps or programs. That extra step helps me stay on the safe side.
Comparison Between Crunchyroll Downloader: Features & Performances
If you find my introductions on these Crunchyroll downloaders are not clear enough, you can take a look at this sheet to learn their pros and cons quickly and make a smart choice.
| Downloaders | StreamFab | Anime Downloader NX by AniDL | Android Emulators |
|---|---|---|---|
|
System |
Win, Mac |
Win, Mac, Linux |
Win, Mac |
|
DRM-available? |
✅98.9% success rate |
❌extra manual operations |
❌weak compatibility |
|
Quality |
1080p+AAC 2.0 Stereo |
720p, 1080p+Original Sound |
720p, 1080p+Original Sound |
|
Format |
MP4, MKV |
MP4 |
Encrypted |
|
Speed |
6-7mb/s |
3-4mb/s |
2-4mb/s |
|
Subtitle |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Bulk Download |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Auto-download |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
| Membership Needed | Works with all Fans | Mega/Ultimate Fan | Mega/Ultimate Fan |
| Expiry/Limit | No expiry after saving | No expiry after saving | ~7 days / 48 hours in-app |
2025’s Must-Download Anime on Crunchyroll
You now know how to download Crunchyroll episodes on PC, but you may not know which episodes on Crunchyroll to start downloading. So, I list the top anime on Crunchyroll this year, totally based on my own opinion. So, this shortlist is subjective and for illustration only. Don't be so serious, take it as a snack.
- Kaiju No. 8: Fast-paced monster action with a relatable lead; great for testing bulk downloads.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: Quiet, reflective storytelling, ideal for subtitle fans.
- Dan Da Dan: Genre-mix chaos that benefits from offline binge sessions.
Extra Reading: Why Crunchyroll’s Subscriber Count Keeps Smashing Records?
- That’s a massive wave of fans streaming every day, but PC users still can’t officially download episodes for offline viewing. The platform’s growth proves the demand is real, yet the “PC offline” button is still missing.
FAQs
Yes—so long as it’s strictly for personal use (no redistribution or resale). If you’re curious how downloads work on other anime platforms, check out this step‑by‑step guide on how to download episodes on Funimation. It walks through the in‑app download feature available on mobile devices.
Yes. All 3 methods mentioned above can download subtitles and dubs with the anime together. In particular, StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader supports auto-selecting the subtitles in the matching language.
Most of the time, you can get 720p. At this point, StreamFab performs better with stable lossless 1080p output.
No. Official offline downloads are limited to mobile apps and Nintendo Switch for eligible members. Desktop apps/sites don’t support it.
Storage limits, unstable network, region changes, or membership tier. They are the common causes, and they are always suitable for being checked first. If not working, then reboot the app/emulator and check the official help if it persists.
Final Words from a Fellow Anime Addict
If you’ve made it here, I can tell you’re just as serious about anime as I am, and just as tired of endless buffering. For me, grabbing Crunchyroll episodes on my computer isn’t only handy; it’s about watching what I want, whenever I feel like it, without anyone spoiling the story. By using something like StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader, I get to stash shows on my own terms. Once I've got them saved, I don’t even need to hunt for Wi-Fi.
So what am I waiting for? I pick the series I like, hit download, and get comfortable, ready for a real anime marathon. Trust me, my future self always appreciates it, and honestly, my peace of mind does too.
