On August 16, 2020, anime fans were devastated to learn that KissAnime was folding after years of providing us with quality shows that are not easy to find anywhere else. They enabled fans, both new and old, to watch anime online for free. As you might expect, the community didn’t take this news too well, and many vented their frustrations out on social media.
So, what happens now? If you’re among the many people who weren’t able to finish KissAnime Demon Slayer and want to know what happens to Tanjiro and Nezuko, then fret not. We have the top 10 alternatives to KissAnime that you can visit today to get your fix!
What is KissAnime?
If you’re fairly new to the anime community and have no idea what KissAnime is, you definitely missed out on a lot. International fans have very little places where they can watch anime online free, after all. This is important because not everyone can afford streaming services these days.
The website provided not just popular titles, but also obscure ones that introduced audiences to an entirely new “world” of anime styles. The website hosted pirated shows and movies, which is illegal, but it can’t be denied that they provided a great service to those in the English-speaking world. With it gone, it’s understandable why so many feel it’s such a significant loss.
Notably, the company behind KissAnime also ran other similar websites, including KissCartoon, KissAsian, and KissManga.
What Happened to KissAnime: Copyright Issues
Then the KissAnime site closed. Regulars were greeted with a simple white screen instead of the usual black and green motif the KissAnime site used to have. If you were among those looking for “My Hero Academia KissAnime” then you would have been the first to see the sad change.
Instead of anime titles, there were only three sentences written on it: “All files are taken down by copyright owners. The site will be closed forever. Thank you for your support.”
It wasn’t just KissAnime that folded that day. KissManga followed suit, after years of hosting manga for people who may not have easy access to it. Just like that, the community lost two of its helpful resources.
There have been many sites like KissAnime throughout the years, but few can really hold up to the website’s impact on the community.
KissAnime Alternatives
Since the KissAnime site closed, many scam sites have popped up using its name to fool people into believing it is still up. The original url was kissanime.ru, so it’s wise to double-check before you click out of excitement.
One of the most important rules to follow if you’re going to watch anime online is finding safe links. Using a VPN is also great for this purpose. So, where to watch anime without worrying about viruses? Here are some websites you can check out:
Free KissAnime Alternatives
If you choose the pirate life, there are many relatively safe and well-known sites you can choose from. Some of these have been around alongside KissAnime, but were fortunate enough to not have met the same fate. While there’s no guarantee of their longevity, here are some free websites where you can watch anime online free.
GogoAnime
If you’re looking for a similar experience as KissAnime, this is a great site to look into. GogoAnime is a pretty straightforward and popular KissAnime alternative that you can try. They have a pretty good selection of both older and newer titles. You won’t have trouble finding finished anime shows as well, especially if you’re looking to rewatch some old favorites.
If you were not able to finish Black Clover KissAnime or if you want to try classics such as One Punch KissAnime, you’ll find both shows on this website. Do be mindful that this website is not legally providing these titles, so using a VPN is advisable.
Chia-Anime
While this KissAnime alternative doesn’t come with extra features like the previously mentioned websites, it will provide you with a great streaming experience. It is similar to KissAnime and KissManga because it provides both content in one easy-access website.
Though there are some shows that don’t come with subs and are not dubbed, most of the titles on Chia-Anime do provide these features. It is still relatively unknown, which some might find suspicious, but they are definitely worth checking out.
As an added bonus, you don’t have to pay for this service and it can be accessed from everywhere. Note that the website also contains pirated content.
AnimeHeaven
Most free KissAnime alternatives offer similar features, but that only adds to why they’re still favored by many people. AnimeHeaven is another of those websites that provide straightforward streaming and at no cost.
If you’re the type to keep up with the most current anime releases, then this is the website for you. The website is updated following the show’s Japan-time release. That’s a considerably impressive feat that many fans will surely love. If you enjoyed KissAnime Jojo Bizarre Adventure, you can continue watching it here!
Most of their titles have also been subbed or dubbed. It covers all the basics, making it one of the best alternatives to KissAnime.
AniWatcher
So, let’s say you’re new to anime and have no idea what to watch. If that’s the case, this KissAnime alternative is for you. While it has the standard features you’ll find in the aforementioned options, AniWatcher also provides users with recommendations. This is regardless of whether they’ve registered or not. Fun, right?
It’s got subbed and dubbed titles available, so you can easily switch between the two with ease. The titles aren’t bad either! You’ll find familiar titles such as KissAnime Demon Slayer and even Violet Evergarden.
Anime Tosho
This is one of the most accessible KissAnime alternatives we have available. However, unlike other alternatives on this list, this website is exclusive to torrenting different shows. With Anime Tosho, it’s much easier to find a show that really suits your taste. There’s a wide selection to choose from and it’s always up to date. You’ll even be able to find anime shows that have been subbed or dubbed in your language!
Of course, to access the goodies, you’ll need something like uTorrent.
Honorable Mention: The Pirate Bay
If you want to download content directly, you might want to check out The Pirate Bay. It will only take you a few minutes to learn the ropes, but it is a treasure trove of anime shows and movies for enthusiasts. For those looking for really obscure titles or older shows that are no longer on any of the platforms we listed above, give The Pirate Bay a try. Another trustworthy platform for sharing shows and movies would be YIFY, which works similarly to The Pirate Bay.
Paid KissAnime Alternatives
If you want to avoid the pain of reliving the day you were told KissAnime is down, then paid streaming services are your best bet. These are completely legal and have just as much variety as the free options. Even the likes of Netflix has obscure titles like Hoozuki no Reitetsu currently available — all three seasons, in fact.
AnimeLab – $6.95 per Month
If you’re tired of the pirate life, then this is one of the best streaming platforms for you. The biggest difference between KissAnime and this website is legality. They have rights to stream, so you won’t have to worry about it shutting down mid-marathon. Their collection is just as impressive as well. If you enjoyed Dr Stone KissAnime, then you’ll find similar shows here. There are thousands of titles to choose from.
The platform itself is newbie-friendly. There are AnimeLab guides to help you through each show or movie you find. It also provides the number of episodes (so you can calculate how many hours to allot to each season!), show ratings, and the different languages available for every show.
There is one slight drawback to this KissAnime alternative, though. It is only available in New Zealand and Australia. If you know how to work a VPN, however, you should be just fine.
Funimation – $5.99 per Month
Looks familiar? That’s because this company is operated by Sony. Don’t let that discourage you from giving it a try, however. Funimation provides dubbed anime to its subscribers with no limit. It is a paid service, but you can use the free trial if you’re not ready to commit. This KissAnime alternative has a regularly updated library, along with old favorites such as Hunter X Hunter.
They also have Dragon Ball Z, Mob Psycho 100, Cowboy Bebop, Fruits Basket, and Code Geass: Lelouch of The Rebellion available for streaming. Unfortunately for Ghibli fans, Funimation does not carry any of the studio’s titles.
If you were not able to finish KissAnime Beastars, then look into the free trial for this website. You will need VPN to access it if you’re outside of the UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, though.
Netflix – $10 per Month
It’s been slowly happening for a while now, but Netflix has been creating a much stronger library of anime titles for fans to enjoy. At the moment, you’ll find a lot of fan favorites such as Seraph of the End, Kakegurui, Akame Ga Kill, Noragami, and Bungo Stray Dogs to mention a few. They even have older titles such as YuYu Hakusho!
If you want to enjoy watching, without fear of viruses or unwanted ads, then Netflix is one of the best alternatives to KissAnime that you can consider. You will have to pay for the service, but considering all the other movies and shows you can watch on it—and the fact that you can share the account with someone else—it’s definitely worth the investment.
Hulu – $10 per Month
Much like Netflix, Hulu has certainly expanded their anime library significantly. In fact, it’s one of the few streaming services where you’ll find dubbed Gundam shows! It is a paid KissAnime alternative, which might turn some people off, but you do get a lot for the price.
Some of the titles they currently have available include the likes of Attack on Titan, Food Wars, Your Lie in April, Death Note, One Punch Man, and Elfen Lied. If you began watching Kimetsu no Yaiba KissAnime, but didn’t get to finish it, Hulu has this title as well!
If there’s a drawback, it would be that the streaming platform sometimes has shows that have been dubbed in English for a certain number of episodes, and then subbed for the rest. The switch can really put you off of watching, but if you’re able to look past that, Hulu is a gold mine for lots of anime gems. It is one of the best alternatives to KissAnime.
Crunchyroll – $7 per Month
If KissAnime was one of the biggest names for free anime streaming, it’s safe to say that Crunchyroll is its paid counterpart. Whether you’ve been part of the community for a while or are still dipping your toes in it, someone would have recommended this website to you at some point.
Aside from being perfectly legal, it has been around since 2006, way before there was even a KissAnime. It is beloved by Otakus outside Japan and its main market is America. Crunchyroll has a free plan that would allow you to watch thousands of titles, but opting for the premium one gives you an ad-free experience.
It caters to those looking for dubbed or subbed titles in crystal clear HD.
Honorable Mention: Amazon Prime
Amazon sure has it all—even your favorite anime shows. For $8.99 a month, you’ll get to watch anime online whenever you please. There’s a free trial to get you familiarized with what to expect before committing to a monthly subscription. If you’re a Ghibli fan, you’ll find a lot of the studio’s titles here. The same goes for Pokémon fanatics or those in the early stages of becoming one.
It’s only an honorable mention because the selection is limited compared to the others. We can’t really consider it a great alternative to KissAnime because of this, but it is an option. The interface is also a little too basic, but if you want to see Amazon Prime Video originals such as Gorō Miyazaki’s Ronja, The Robber’s Daughter, then give this one a try.
In Closing:
KissAnime certainly set a standard when it comes to free streaming platforms for anime. While a replacement might be hard to find, there are alternatives that you can try. Whether you want to watch anime online for free or don’t mind paying for this service, we hope this list helps you decide!
Disclaimer:
We at CitizenSide do not condone streaming illegally. Always watch from official platforms whenever possible.
