Crunchyroll has dominated the anime streaming landscape over the last few years, and that is only going to increase following the merger with Funimation. However, a challenger is quietly building up a strong anime library of its own, along with some interesting simulcasts. So, we’ve done some digging to decide if HIDIVE is worth it for anime fans.
Personally, I started subscribing to HIDIVE for the Spring 2022 season, and have been a Crunchyroll subscriber for many years.
Table of Contents
Related: Where to Watch Anime Online Legally for Free
What is HIDIVE?
click to enlargeHIDIVE is an online streaming platform predominantly consisting of anime series and movies. Similar to Crunchyroll, HIDIVE offers anime simulcasts, dubs and a small selection of live-action series and movies.
HIDIVE was launched in 2017 and is operated by Sentai Holdings, which also owns Sentai Filmworks, which licenses the majority of the anime on the platform.
Early in 2022, Sentai Holdings and HIDIVE were purchased by AMC Networks as part of their ‘targeted streaming strategy’, according to AMC Networks interim CEO Matt Blank.
Until September 2021, HIDIVE was available on the VRV streaming bundle which was owned by Crunchyroll. However, it has now separated itself from Crunchyroll and the Sony group including Funimation.
Following Crunchyroll’s merger with Funimation, HIDIVE is arguably the largest competitor to Crunchyroll in the anime-exclusive streaming market.
Related: Is Funimation Shutting Down Following Crunchyroll Merger? Everything You Need to Know
HIDIVE vs Crunchyroll Comparison
click to enlargeAt the time of writing, HIDIVE struggles to compare as an overall anime service due to the huge amount of shows available on Crunchyroll. However, there are some areas where it does compete.
Here is a quick round-up:
| Comparison | HIDIVE | Crunchyroll |
|---|---|---|
| Anime Library | Classic series and some seasonal simulcasts. | Massive library and more simulcasts. |
| The Platform | Small, clunky player with more features. | Reliable player but with few features. |
| Price | $4.99 per month. | $7.99 per month (or some series free with adverts). |
Anime Library
Crunchyroll has a hugely impressive anime library, which is only getting bigger following the merger with Funimation.
If you love anime, the best place to get as much of what you want as possible is on Crunchyroll. However, HIDIVE has a small but reputable library of its own.
You may have noticed that many popular anime from the last few years that initially aired on Crunchyroll are now unavailable. HIDIVE has played a part in this.
In March 2022, dozens of popular anime left Crunchyroll due to their licences being bought by Sentai Filmworks. These include Food Wars, Akame Ga Kill, Girls und Panzer, No Game No Life and more.
HIDIVE is also building a solid collection of simulcasts. Some of the Summer 2022 anime season's biggest titles are exclusively on HIDIVE, including Made in Abyss, My Isekai Life and Call of the Night.
The Platform
HIDIVE is a smaller operation compared to Crunchyroll, and its applications have been criticised by some fans.
Ultimately, though, both Crunchyroll and HIDIVE offer a similar video player, so the watching experience is not very different.
HIDIVE allows fans to customise the colour of their subtitles, which used to be a popular feature amongst Funimation subscribers. It also has some social elements including chat rooms accompanying episodes.
Most notably, HIDIVE also has MyAnimeList integrations which allow you to see the MAL rating of a series inside the platform.
One problem many fans on HIDIVE find is that the watchlists and 'continue watching' systems are confusing and sometimes just don't work, which can be a pain if you like to jump between dozens of series.
Price
HIDIVE offers a slightly cheaper subscription compared to Crunchyroll. A monthly HIDIVE subscription costs $4.99, while a monthly Crunchyroll subscription costs $7.99.
Crunchyroll used to allow you to have a free account to watch series a week after they've premiered with ad breaks. However, they removed ad-free viewing of the latest anime a few months ago.
So, for new anime releases, HIDIVE is a cheaper subscription. However, Crunchyroll will argue that, for the higher price, you get a larger selection of titles, both new and old.
Is HIDIVE Worth It?
click to enlargeCurrently, HIDIVE is only worth subscribing to if you are looking for specific anime to watch. However, with a growing library available, there are an increasing number of reasons to subscribe.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to what anime you watch, and how much. For myself, there are enough quality HIDIVE simulcasts each season to merit a subscription, along with some classic anime that are worth watching.
However, if you just want to dip your toe into anime and find some titles to discover, by far the best option right now is Crunchyroll.
Remember, both services offer a monthly rolling subscription. If you want to binge a certain series, you can always just subscribe for a month.
Beyond simply accessing certain anime, it’s also important to recognise HIDIVE as a potential competitor to Crunchyroll.
Supporting other anime providers rather than streaming series illegally can help to create a more competitive anime landscape, improving the quality across all platforms.
If you’re not sure, HIDIVE offers a free trial period similar to other streaming platforms.