No. You can stream anime on a PS5 through media apps such as Crunchyroll without a PlayStation Plus membership. You do need an internet connection, a PlayStation Network account and, depending on the service and episode, either a free account or a separate streaming subscription.
PlayStation Plus is a gaming subscription. Sony lists benefits such as online multiplayer features and Sony Pictures Core movie access, but it does not make Plus a general requirement for PS5 entertainment apps.
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The short version
If your goal is simply to watch anime in the Crunchyroll app, do not buy PlayStation Plus for that purpose. Install the media app, sign in with a PlayStation Network account and use either Crunchyroll’s free access or the paid plan offered in your region. Plus does not unlock episodes that Crunchyroll reserves for subscribers.
The subscription question is separate from whether a particular show is free, whether it is licensed in your country and how you choose to pay. A Plus prompt usually belongs to a gaming feature, not to ordinary video playback.
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What you need to watch anime on a PS5
Sony’s PS5 entertainment guidance places Crunchyroll among the console’s media services. Media Home lets you choose from free and paid entertainment services, and the app runs independently of the PlayStation Plus subscription system.
| Requirement | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Internet access | Media apps need a connection to sign in, load catalogs and play video. | Connect the PS5 by Wi-Fi or Ethernet and confirm that other online features work. |
| PlayStation Network account | Sony’s PS5 FAQ says a PSN account is required for media apps. | Sign in to the account on the console before downloading or opening the app. |
| Crunchyroll app | The app provides the anime catalog on PS5. | Find it in Media Home or in the PlayStation Store’s Media section. |
| Service account or membership | Crunchyroll permits some viewing without payment, while other episodes and features require its own membership. | Check which titles are available under the account and plan in your country. |
| Regional availability | Apps, catalogs, plans and offers differ by country or region. | Use the store and service listing shown for your PSN region. |
| Compatible system software | Crunchyroll’s device-support search listing identified PS5 and version 6.00.00.00 as a minimum at the time it was indexed. | Because that support page redirected, check Crunchyroll’s current requirement before troubleshooting an install failure. |
| PlayStation Plus | It is not listed as a prerequisite for watching anime in a media app. | Do not buy Plus solely to unlock Crunchyroll playback. |
What you do not need
You do not need a new PS5 model, a special HDMI cable, a headset, a separate streaming box or a physical anime disc. The console’s built-in Media Home and the supported app are enough. You also do not need to add Plus after installing the app. If playback is blocked, investigate the service account, title rights, region or connection before treating it as a console-subscription problem.
How to install Crunchyroll on PS5
- Turn on the PS5 and sign in to the PlayStation Network account you use for the console.
- From the home screen, open Media Home.
- Choose All Apps and search for Crunchyroll.
- Select the app and choose the download or install option.
- If it does not appear in Media Home, open the PlayStation Store, switch to its Media section, search for Crunchyroll and install it there.
- Launch Crunchyroll, then sign in to an existing account or create one using the options displayed in the app.
- Choose an available title and start playback. If a program is restricted to members, the app will show the service’s sign-up or upgrade route.
The exact store listing can change, and an app may be absent when the service is not offered in the country attached to your PSN account. That is a regional availability issue, not evidence that PlayStation Plus is required.
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How Crunchyroll access is billed
Crunchyroll’s PlayStation subscription support information describes two broad access levels. A free membership can watch a selection of episodes. A paid membership expands access, but the available plan and catalog depend on the market.
| Access route | What it provides | Billing and account notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Crunchyroll membership | A selection of episodes without a recurring paid plan. | Selection and availability can change by region and title. |
| Subscription purchased through PlayStation | Paid Crunchyroll access under the plan shown in the PlayStation Store. | Crunchyroll’s support article said Mega Fan was the only plan currently available through the PlayStation Store at the time of publication. Charges go to the PlayStation Wallet, and the Crunchyroll account must be linked to the Sony account. |
| Subscription purchased directly from Crunchyroll | Paid access managed through Crunchyroll rather than the PlayStation Store. | Plan names, prices and payment methods are controlled by Crunchyroll and vary by region. |
There is no single worldwide price to quote safely. Before paying, read the plan name, renewal terms, taxes or other charges shown for your account. A plan advertised on Crunchyroll’s website, a phone app or another console may not be the plan offered in your PS5’s PlayStation Store.
Plan details are changeable. Before paying, read the plan name, renewal terms and catalog information shown for your account rather than assuming that a plan available on another device or in another country is offered on PS5.
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Switching from a direct subscription to PlayStation billing
Crunchyroll says that an existing direct Premium subscription must be canceled and allowed to reach the end of its current billing cycle before subscribing through PlayStation. Starting a second subscription immediately can create overlapping billing. Check the subscription status in the account that currently holds the membership, wait for the paid period to finish, and then use the PlayStation Store option if that is the billing method you want.
Before you confirm payment
- Confirm which Crunchyroll account is signed in; paying on the wrong account can make the membership appear to be missing.
- Check whether the purchase is being made through the PlayStation Wallet or directly with Crunchyroll.
- Review the renewal date and cancellation instructions for that billing route.
- Make sure the title you want is available in your country and included with the plan shown.
What PlayStation Plus is—and is not—in this situation
PlayStation Plus covers gaming-related benefits. Sony’s entertainment page separately mentions Plus-related Sony Pictures Core movie benefits, which belong to that movie service and do not turn Plus into an all-purpose key for third-party media apps.
Crunchyroll access is controlled by Crunchyroll’s account and membership rules. If an episode is available to free members, Plus does not need to be added. If the episode requires a paid Crunchyroll plan, purchasing Plus does not substitute for that plan; you would still need the Crunchyroll membership offered in your region.
Do not confuse anime playback with game streaming or Share Play
PS5 uses several online features that sound similar but have different subscription rules:
- Media-app playback: watching a program inside Crunchyroll or another video app. Sony does not state that Plus is required.
- Game streaming: playing streamed games through a PlayStation gaming service. This is a gaming benefit with its own eligibility and subscription terms, not a condition for opening an anime app.
- Share Play: inviting another player to view or interact with a game session. Sony’s PS5 FAQ specifically says an active PlayStation Plus subscription is required for Share Play.
A Plus prompt therefore may be legitimate when you are entering Share Play or another gaming feature, but it does not establish a requirement for Crunchyroll video. Exit that feature and open the app from Media Home instead.
Regional and account pitfalls
Sony’s PS5 FAQ, published November 9, 2020, says media apps require internet access and a PSN account and warns that service availability differs by country or region. The account guidance is broad, while individual apps and catalogs change over time, so use the current store listing and Crunchyroll information for your market.
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Changing the console’s language or location does not guarantee access to another country’s catalog. The relevant store and service region is normally tied to the account and market in which the app is offered. If family members use different accounts, verify which PSN and Crunchyroll accounts are linked before subscribing.
Troubleshooting when Crunchyroll will not play
The app cannot be found
- Search both Media Home > All Apps and the PlayStation Store’s Media section.
- Confirm that the PSN account’s country or region is one where Crunchyroll is offered.
- Install pending PS5 system updates, then search again.
- Check Crunchyroll’s current supported-device page. The indexed listing that named PS5 and system software 6.00.00.00 may no longer reflect the latest requirement.
The app opens but a title is locked
That normally indicates a Crunchyroll access rule: the episode may require a paid membership, may not be licensed in your territory, or may be outside the selection available to free members. Review the message inside Crunchyroll and the plan offered for your region. PlayStation Plus will not remove a Crunchyroll membership or licensing restriction.
Playback fails or keeps buffering
- Test another PS5 online feature to determine whether the console is connected.
- Restart the PS5 and your network equipment.
- Open another Crunchyroll episode to see whether the problem affects one title or the entire service.
- Check for updates to the PS5 system and the Crunchyroll app.
- If other services work but Crunchyroll does not, check Crunchyroll’s service-status and support information for a regional outage.
Payment or account linking fails
When you subscribe through the PlayStation Store, the charge uses the PlayStation Wallet and the service requires a linked Sony account. Verify the wallet funding, the signed-in PSN account and the Crunchyroll account shown in the app. If a direct Premium subscription is still active, follow Crunchyroll’s cancellation and billing-cycle instructions before attempting a PlayStation subscription.
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Plus may make sense for a PS5 owner who wants its gaming benefits, such as online multiplayer eligibility or other features included with the selected tier. Sony also associates certain Sony Pictures Core movie benefits with Plus. Those are separate reasons to subscribe. Anime viewing through Crunchyroll should be evaluated using Crunchyroll’s free selection, paid-plan availability and billing terms—not as a justification for purchasing Plus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A future anime area on PS5
On October 7, 2026, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a dedicated anime space planned for a future PS5 home-experience update. The announcement said the area would bring together anime, anime-inspired games and access to Crunchyroll. Because it was described as arriving the following spring, it should be treated as a planned feature for spring 2027, not a feature already present on every console.
“Serving fans means meeting them where they already are,” Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini said in the announcement.
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The planned hub is intended to make discovery easier. It does not change the current app requirement: today, you can use the Crunchyroll app without PlayStation Plus, subject to internet access, a PSN account, regional availability and Crunchyroll’s own access rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Crunchyroll on PS5 without PS Plus?
Yes. Install Crunchyroll, sign in with a PSN account and use the free selection or a Crunchyroll membership. PlayStation Plus is not required for ordinary media-app playback.
Is Crunchyroll included with PlayStation Plus?
No. Crunchyroll is a separate service. Plus does not replace a paid Crunchyroll plan, and an episode’s access is determined by Crunchyroll’s membership and licensing rules.
Do I need a PlayStation Network account?
Yes. Sony’s PS5 FAQ says a PSN account and internet access are required for PS5 media apps.
Does Crunchyroll have a free option on PS5?
Crunchyroll says a free membership can watch a selection of episodes. The exact selection and availability vary by title and region.
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Where do I download Crunchyroll on PS5?
Open Media Home, choose All Apps and search for Crunchyroll. You can also search for it in the PlayStation Store’s Media section.
Why is a show locked even though I have PlayStation Plus?
The show may require a paid Crunchyroll membership, be unavailable in your territory or fall outside the free selection. Plus does not remove those restrictions.
Can I move my direct Crunchyroll subscription to PlayStation billing?
Crunchyroll says to cancel the direct Premium subscription and wait until its current billing cycle ends before subscribing through PlayStation. This helps prevent overlapping charges.
When is PlayStation Plus actually required?
Sony specifically says Plus is required for Share Play. That gaming feature is different from watching anime in a media app.
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Sony announced the dedicated anime space on October 7, 2026, with arrival planned for spring 2027. It is not a current requirement for using Crunchyroll.
What system software does Crunchyroll require on PS5?
An indexed Crunchyroll support listing identified PS5 and version 6.00.00.00 as a minimum at that time. Because the support page redirected, verify the current requirement before relying on that version.
The Bottom Line
You do not need PlayStation Plus to stream anime on PS5. Use Crunchyroll through Media Home or the PlayStation Store with internet access and a PSN account. Choose its free selection or the paid plan offered in your region; subscribe to Plus only if you also want its separate gaming or Sony Pictures Core benefits.
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