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 like me and don't always have reliable Wi-Fi, especially while commuting or traveling, I understand the frustration. That's why I've found ways to download Crunchyroll episodes on PC to avoid those buffering woes.
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!). If you want the official breakdown of their offline policy, check this article on crunchyroll offline viewing.
| 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!
Industry Thermometer: Why Crunchyroll’s subscriber count keeps smashing records
Crunchyroll has climbed from about 5 million paid subscribers in August 2021 to 13 million by late 2023, 15 million in August 2024, and 17 million by spring 2025, according to Sony’s earnings materials and multiple trade outlets.
What’s driving the surge?
- Sony’s post-acquisition synergy. Since buying Crunchyroll in 2021, Sony has tied streaming, theatrical distribution, merchandise, events, and even PlayStation game adaptations into one flywheel, turning anime from a niche into a core profit engine.
- Aggressive content pipeline. Hits like Solo Leveling boosted 2024 streams, and Crunchyroll now distributes many top-grossing anime films in U.S. theaters—keeping fans inside its ecosystem.
- New perks for higher tiers. The Game Vault, launched in late 2023 and expanded to 50+ exclusive mobile titles by March 2025, gives Mega and Ultimate Fan members tangible extras beyond video.
- A booming global anime market. The industry hit roughly ¥3.4 trillion (≈$23B) in 2023, with over half of revenue from outside Japan, and Sony estimates 1+ billion fans worldwide—projected to double by 2030.
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👑]
So, you're a PC user who wants to download anime for offline viewing on Crunchyroll, without jumping through a million hoops or risking sketchy software. Enter StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader: the tool that finally gives desktop fans the download button they deserve.
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 the 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.
Comparison Between Crunchyroll Download Methods
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 Crunchyroll Downloader | 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 |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
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 with. So, I list the top anime on Crunchyroll this year, totally based on my own opinion. So, don't be so serious, take it as a snack.
- Kaiju No. 8: Monsters crash through the city, and our guy, just a regular dude, suddenly turns into a powerhouse. Wild actions are perfect.
- Dan Da Dan: Aliens, ghosts, and total chaos. The characters are oddballs, the plot’s unpredictable, and honestly, I laughed out loud more than once.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: Totally different from the clichéd otherworldly anime. This one’s gentle but hits deep. Frieren remembers old friends and loses time. Quiet, a bit sad, and really beautiful.
- Cowboy Bebop: Cool jazz, space chases, and a crew that’s a total mess. Every episode feels fresh. I always end up humming the soundtrack. Forever classic.
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Attractive plot. Bizarre battles, wild poses, and style for days. It’s so over-the-top, Nobody can’t help but love it unless you are a vampire.
- Although it's not on Crunchyroll, I still like Delicious in Dungeon the most, so I put it here with an extra seat as a personal recommendation.
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.
Final Words from a Fellow Anime Addict
If you've made it this far, you're clearly as passionate about anime (and as allergic to buffering) as I am. Downloading Crunchyroll episodes on PC isn't just about convenience—it's about reclaiming your right to binge-watch, spoiler-free, wherever and whenever you want. With tools like StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader, you can finally build your own offline anime library, no Wi-Fi required.
So go ahead, grab your favorite shows, settle in, and let the marathons begin. Your future self (and your sanity) will thank you.
