Crunchyroll slashes prices to $1.99

Anime subscriptions do not usually get interesting. This one does. Crunchyroll just cut its U.S. ad-free Fan plan to $1.99 a month for three months, and its Mega Fan plan to $2.99 for the same stretch. That is a real price cut, not a vague bundle trick, and it is aimed at new and returning subscribers during the company’s Ani-May promotion. ### What is Crunchyroll actually offering? In the United States, the deal is simple: three months of Fan for $1.99 a month, or three months of Mega Fan for $2.99 a month. After the promo period, the subscription rolls into the normal monthly price unless you cancel. On Crunchyroll’s own signup page, the regular U.S. prices show as $9.99 for Fan and $13.99 for Mega Fan. (crunchyroll.com) ### Who can get it? The offer is for select new and returning subscribers, which basically means people who are not actively paying right now. Crunchyroll’s site flags the promotion as a limited-time special offer with eligibility restrictions, and coverage of the company’s announcement says the same thing. So if you already have an active paid plan, this is probably not your discount. (crunchyroll.com) ### How long does the deal last? The main Ani-May membership sale started on May 7, 2026, and runs through May 21 in the U.S. and many other supported territories. Some markets get longer windows — Anime Corner notes that India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Thailand have certain versions of the promotion through May 31. For U.S. readers, though, May 21 is the date that matters. (crunchyroll.com) ### Why is $1.99 a big deal? Because the cut is steep. Fan drops from $9.99 to $1.99, and Mega Fan drops from $13.99 to $2.99. That is not “a few dollars off.” It is a short-term entry price that turns Crunchyroll from a normal streaming subscription into an impulse buy. If you have been curious about anime but did not want another $10-to-$14 monthly charge, this changes the math. (animecorner.me) ### What do those tiers actually include? Both paid tiers are ad-free and include full access to Crunchyroll’s library plus new episodes shortly after they air in Japan. Fan streams on one device at a time. Mega Fan bumps that to four devices and adds Game Vault access, offline viewing, and better store perks. The catch is that the Ani-May membership promo excludes Crunchyroll Manga. (crunchyroll.com) ### Why launch this now? Because May is Crunchyroll’s annual Ani-May marketing push, and 2026’s version is bigger than just a subscription sale. The company has been tying the month to streaming premieres, gaming tie-ins, retail promos, live events, and the 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The sale is basically the on-ramp — get people in cheap, then give them a packed month of reasons to stay. (crunchyroll.com) ### What are they hoping people watch? Spring 2026 is part of the pitch. Coverage around the offer keeps pointing to a strong seasonal lineup, including titles like *Witch Hat Atelier*, and Crunchyroll’s own service page is stuffed with current simulcasts and catalog hits. In plain English — this is timed for maximum temptation, when there is enough fresh stuff to make a trial feel useful instead of empty. (crunchyroll.com) ### So what’s the bottom line? Crunchyroll is not permanently becoming a $1.99 service. It is using Ani-May to slash the barrier to entry for a few weeks and pull in people who drifted away — or never subscribed in the first place. If you were waiting for a cheap moment to sample the platform, this is the clearest one Crunchyroll has put on the table this month. (crunchyroll.com) (animecorner.me)