With subscription-based streaming services getting costlier day by day, the options for watching cartoons have dwindled down to almost nothing. At this point, free streaming websites are the only outlets remaining.
Which, as it turns out, is not that bad either. You access local libraries and on-demand titles without paying hefty subscription fees. The only problem? They are not ad-free.
In this regard, we did our research and have come up with the 10 best platforms to watch anime for free.
FYI: As they are free, expect to deal with periodic shutdowns and commercial ads to watch cartoons for free. You can also check out our article on the best free anime apps if you are interested in watching anime on your phone, Firestick, or PlayStation.
Now, Let’s get started.
Free Anime and Cartoon Streaming Sites
1. Watch Cartoon Online
Watch cartoon online is one such free cartoon streaming website where there would barely be any cartoons that you would not stumble upon. The website also provides a user-friendly interface.
You can therefore easily reach out to the right sidebar which lists all the new releases from time to time. Additionally, it offers a broad division between movies and series which makes browsing easier.
You can also browse according to genres such as action, adventure, animation, kids, comedy, horror, crime, sci-fi, etc.
What sets Watchcartoononline aside from similar websites is that they hear people out; if you request a particular show, they will upload it for you in time. However, due to copyright issues, the website tends to remain down once in a while.
Hence, you might have to look at other websites in the meantime. With picture quality starting from 480p to full HD to select from, Watch Cartoon Online is indeed one of the best free cartoon streaming sites you could use in 2023.
Pros
- 100% free
- Offline streaming
- Fewer Ads
Cons
- Illegal in some countries
2. Kiss Anime
Kiss Anime is completely dedicated to anime lovers only. This free media streaming website offers thousands of animes with exceptional video qualities, ranging from 240p to 1080p.
You can easily get your hands on any anime to watch with English subtitles. If you are lucky, you might even come across non-English cartoons dubbed in English.
KissAnime has a very organized and user-friendly interface where content are neatly categorized as per their genres. They are even further micro-categorized into ‘upcoming anime’, ‘ongoing anime’, and ‘popular’ sections.
KissAnime sources its content from various online sources, both legal and illegal, and therefore has received the brunt of copyright infringement.
Nonetheless, KissAnime comes up with a new domain to cater to its fans and users every time it is forced to shut down. Also, if you are an avid reader of Manga, this website will prove to be a delightful haven as it has a section dedicated to reading Manga only.
Pros
- HQ video playback
- Huge library
- Offline streaming
Cons
- Contains pirated contents
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3. Go Go Anime
If you are a fan of KissAnime and have been looking for other options because of its frequent technical issues, Go Go Anime would be another option to watch anime online for free.
Go Go Anime is a free global website, meaning anyone across the globe can access it. Browsing through Go Go Anime is fairly easy because the website has clearly divided its content into English Subbed content and English Dubbed content categories. It updates its show list daily and offers simulcast, so you don’t miss out on any moments of your favorite show.
The home page clearly displays new releases every time you visit the website. Although most of the content in this website is free to watch, you may have to subscribe its premium service to access some selected exclusive cartoons.
Go Go Anime also has an android app that runs quite smoothly on all android devices.
Pros
- Offline Streaming
- Mostly Free Content
- Ad Free
- Legal; Requires No VPN
Cons
- Paid premium content
4. AnimeLab
AnimeLab is an online media streaming website that provides both free and paid services. Under the free plan, you can browse through thousands of anime in bi-lingual (English and Japanese) subs and dubs in up to 480p video quality.
However, if you want a better quality video playback to watch anime without ads, avail of its premium subscription pack at $7.99 per month. You can watch all cartoons for free in HD. You also won’t have to sit through random pre-roll ads that pop up in the free pack.
Another difference between free and paid plans is that you find new releases a week later in the free plan whereas a paid plan offers instant access. AnimeLab is home to new as well as classic hits.
However, the only downside is that it currently serves the regions of Australia and New Zealand only. If you are native to these regions, you have to opt for a secured VPN.
Pros
- Bilingual content
- Only pre-roll ads
- Rare contents available
Cons
- Geo-blocking applicable
5. CartoonsOn!
CartoonsOn is another free cartoon streaming website where you can watch any cartoon or anime without any signup or registration. You can even watch all Disney cartoons for free without having to download them from unsafe websites.
CartoonsOn constantly keeps on updating its wide range of animated movies and shows with new titles every week. It also provides video playback in multiple formats and can even auto-adjust streaming quality according to your internet speed.
It has other helpful features like ‘offline downloads’, ‘watch where you left’, and auto-suggestions based on your watch habit. You can filter content based on characters, and genres which makes browsing even easier.
It however hosts many illegally sourced content and therefore might be at the risk of getting pulled off anytime. But surely, it would keep entertaining its users through multiple mirror websites, if ever pulled off.
Pros
- HQ Free Content
- No Registration Required
- Diverse Collection
- Well Organised Library
Cons
- Unethically sourced content
6. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is one of the most popular free anime streaming sites. It offers a wide selection of anime shows and movies, including many fan-favorite series. Some of the popular shows available on Crunchyroll include “Naruto Shippuden,” “One Piece,” and “Attack on Titan.”
In addition to popular series, Crunchyroll also offers simulcasts. This means that new episodes of popular shows are added to the site soon after they air in Japan. This is a great feature for fans of anime who want to stay up-to-date on the latest releases.
One of the drawbacks of Crunchyroll is that it does include some ads. However, the site offers a premium subscription option that allows users to watch ad-free. The premium subscription also includes access to additional content and features, such as offline viewing and exclusive discounts.
Overall, Crunchyroll is a great free anime streaming site for fans of the genre. With its wide selection of shows and simulcasts of popular series, it’s a great option for anyone looking to watch anime online.
Pros
- Supports HD Streaming
- Manga and Apparel Store
- Multiple Simulcast shows
Cons
- No offline streaming
7. Disney Junior
If you are here because of your children, stream Disney Junior. Disney Junior is intended for children of age groups between two to seven. Most of the cartoons are free to watch but may require you to sign up for one time.
Disney not only caters to your children’s entertainment but also to their pre-school learning elements. There are shows to offer fun activities in the form of art and craft for your children. And, there are shows for you as well to learn parent-led activities to keep your toddlers engaged.
The UI is quite simple on this platform so that even small kids can find their way to their favorite shows. Disney Junior is perhaps the only streaming site on this list that actually encourages children to spend some time offline and get up from the computer once in a while.
With all these features and no price to it, Disney Junior easily becomes one of the best free cartoon streaming sites for the family.
Pros
- 100% Free
- Great Learning Opportunities
- Expansive Library
Cons
- Inaccessible in many countries
8. 9Anime
9Anime can be your savior when KissAnime goes down momentarily to come up with a new domain. It is similar to KissAnime and mimics all its features in a smart way.
9Anime has more than 25,000 cartoons for you to choose from. Even if you can’t find what you were looking for, you can request them for the title and they are popular to accept such requests in no time.
Most of the shows marked as SD on 9Anime can be viewed in full 1080p HD. So, before you ignore a link, open and check it for yourself.
It hosts content through multiple high-speed servers that ensure users a seamless streaming experience. Although the website is free from malware, the ads on it might be not.
The pop-ups sometimes contain adult links or malware sites hyperlinked. So it is best for you to use an ad-blocker to stay safe.
Pros
- 100% Free
- Streams Offline
- Playbacks in HD
Cons
- Frequent Ads
9. Funimation
Funimation is the only streaming website in our list completely dedicated to dubbed anime. Popular series like Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, One Piece, and My Hero Academia are available on Funimation dubbed in English.
It quickly dubs shows to English and uploads them to its platform as soon as they are released in Japan. Thus it is always highly sought-after by viewers from all over the world. Here all contents are ethically procured to keep you out of trouble.
Funimation has both free and premium plans. With a premium plan, you access new episodes instantly on the day of their release rather a week later in free mode. The free version may also test your patience with frequently appearing ads which again can be easily avoided with ad blockers.
Funimation stands out with a merch store with collectibles and other things along with DVD and Blu-ray options.
Pros
- Huge Library
- Fewer Ads
- Dubbed contents
Cons
- Geo-blocking restrictions applied
10. YouTube
If you don’t want to waste your time discovering free cartoon streamers, you can always resort back to good old YouTube. There are thousands of channels on YouTube to watch cartoons and anime for free.
If you are unable to find what you’re looking for, YouTube probably has it under its “buy or rent” section. The plus point of YouTube is that you will come across many individual animators who have their own creations uploaded to the platform.
Since YouTube has strict guidelines against copyright infringement, you are unlikely to come across any pirated content. Additionally, most cartoon channels on YouTube stream their content in HQ or full HD with subtitles.
Take its Premium plan and you can access YouTube’s exclusive Premium Anime cartoons ads-free. There will be options to download them for offline viewing as well!
Pros
- HQ Video Playback
- Offline Streaming
- 100% Legal
Cons
- Frequent Ads
Conclusion
Free options always have some downside, so keep a safe distance from them. To stay on the safe side, always use a VPN and ad blockers, irrespective of the choice you make. And, don’t forget to tell our readers if you know any other platform to watch cartoons for free. Cheers!
