Best Crunchyroll Downloaders for Windows and Mac Users
Summary: In this guide we have mentioned the best Crunchyroll downloaders available online and explained their major features and pricers.
Table of Contents
Hey there! Let's be real for a second. You're trying to download your favorite anime from Crunchyroll for a long flight, a commute, or just to build your personal collection. You search for a solution, and what do you find? A dozen websites all screaming they're the "best," but they feel more like thinly veiled ads than honest reviews.
You've probably felt that frustration, right? Clicking a download button only to have it fail due to the DRM protection, discovering the downloaded files are a jumbled mess with green or black error screen, or worse, the subtitles are completely missing. I've been there, and honestly, it's a huge pain.
As a tech creator and a massive anime fan myself, I got tired of the misinformation. So, I rolled up my sleeves and dedicated over 40 hours to a single mission: to personally test the most popular Crunchyroll downloaders out there, from the slick paid software to the powerful free command-line tools. This guide is the result of that deep dive. No marketing fluff, no biased recommendations. Just my honest, hands-on findings to help you find a tool that actually works.
Top GUI-Based Crunchyroll Downloaders
For most people, a simple, user-friendly app with a graphical user interface (GUI) is the way to go. You point, you click, you download. Here are the best options I tested, along with their honest pros and cons.
1. StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader
StreamFab is one of the biggest names in this space, and based on my results, its features are impressive. It has a built-in browser that makes finding and queuing up downloads feel seamless, as well as outputing Crunchytoll to MP4 or MKV.
Easy-to-use interface for beginners, with 1080p quality downloads on Crunchyroll.
When I tried it, the download speeds were decent, and it successfully downloaded Dan Da Dan Season 2 in 1080p. However, based on Subreddit comments, it may occasionally be unreliable. In such cases, I checked their updates page and noticed they actively address these issues, averaging about two updates per week, including DRM compatibility fixes.
- Clean, integrated browser interface is easy to navigate
- Supports batch downloading and can grab entire seasons
- Offers high-quality 1080p downloads with AAC audio
- Supports download subtitles & audio tracks in multiple languages
- Ad-removal always available for all Crunchyroll account tiers
- It's a subscription service, which might be a turn-off for some
- Crunchyroll DRM update causes the requirement of a software update
- My Verdict: StreamFab is a powerful tool when it works, but you should definitely use the free trial to test it on your system before committing to a subscription.
Choose the streaming service
Sign in to your Crunchyroll account and play the video you want to download via this program. Now choose the video quality, subtitle, and audio.
Customize the file
Finally, click on the "Download Now: button. After that, the video will start downloading; once the downloading is complete, you can find the video in the downloading section.
2. CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader
CleverGet feels very similar to StreamFab in many ways. Some users in the community even speculate it might be a "clone" using similar underlying technology. In my tests, it performed comparably, offering a straightforward way to download Crunchyroll episodes through its built-in browser.
It successfully downloaded my test season in 1080p MP4 format, and I found its interface slightly cleaner than StreamFab's. However, for some titles, only a 720p option was available. After researching the issue, I concluded that the core method is web-rip rather than web-DL. This means it will screen record Crunchyroll videos in its built-in browser before re-encoding them into a standard format, often resulting in quality loss.
- The interface is clean and easy for beginners to understand
- Download Crunchyroll anime in either MP4 or MKV format
- It's also a paid tool with a subscription model
- It's affected by DRM updates from Crunchyroll
- The trial version is quite limited, pushing you towards a purchase
- Damaged resolution output due to incomplete DRM compatibility
- My Verdict: CleverGet is a lighter alternative to StreamFab in my experience. If you're looking for a simple GUI tool, this would be a recommendation to try as well.
3. Y2Mate Crunchyroll Downloader
Now, let's talk about a special case: Y2Mate Crunchyroll Downloader, a desktop software. Please note, this is not the same as that infamous website Y2Mate.
When I tried to research it, I discovered that, across the entire internet, there was almost no independent, credible evaluation or community discussion about it. So I tested it in person for almost 6 hours, and glad to tell, it's also a qualified Crunchyroll downloader, with enough stablity to rip from Crunchyroll.
- Easy to use interface, which is best for non-tech users
- High download speed
- Looks like a clone product
- Also a paid Crunchyroll downloader
- Reliablity & safety require further tests and validation
- My Verdict: Y2Mate is an less famous choice than StreamFab or Cleverget. Works normally in simple tests, but it's important to check its safety and reliablity first.
For Power Users: The Best CLI & Open-Source Options
Alright, my fellow tech enthusiasts, this section is for you. If you're comfortable with a little bit of command-line magic and prefer free, open-source software, these tools are hands-down the most powerful and flexible options available to watch Crunchyroll offline.
- Think of it this way:
- • A GUI (Graphical User Interface) is like driving an automatic car—it's simple, intuitive, and gets you where you need to go with minimal effort.
- • A CLI (Command-Line Interface) is like driving a manual—it requires a bit more skill and knowledge, but it gives you total control over every aspect of the process.
If you just want to download shows quickly and easily, stick with the GUI tools above. If you love to tinker and want maximum control over formats, codecs, and file structures, welcome to the world of CLI.
1. yt-dlp for Crunchyroll
yt-dlp is a legendary open-source project and my personal go-to for almost any video downloading task. It's a fork of the famous youtube-dl and is incredibly powerful, fast, and constantly updated by its community.
It might look intimidating, but it's easier than you think. After installing it, you can download a Crunchyroll episode with a command shared by the community users or some pros in CLI downloaders.
- Completely free and open-source
- Extremely powerful and customizable. You have full control over quality, format, and file naming
- Can download from hundreds of other websites, not just Crunchyroll
- Requires using the command line, which can be daunting for beginners
- Setup involves a few extra steps, like extracting your browser cookies to log in to your premium account
- My Verdict: If you're willing to spend 15 minutes(shorter or longer, depending on you) learning the basics, yt-dlp is one the most reliable and powerful Crunchyroll downloaders.
2. Crunchy-Downloader on GitHub
For those who want a tool built specifically for Crunchyroll, there are fantastic open-source projects on GitHub like crunchy-cli (used to be, no longer maintained now) and Crunchy-Downloader (still working). These are often created by passionate developers in the anime community.
These tools are tailored to handle Crunchyroll's specific structure, offering excellent subtitle and multi-language audio support. However, they sometimes require a bit more technical setup, such as manually acquiring DRM keys from your browser, which can be a huge technical hurdle for some users.
- Free and specifically optimized for Crunchyroll
- Excellent handling of multi-language audio and subtitle tracks
- Can be even more complex to set up than yt-dlp
- Requires you to source your own DRM decryption keys, which is a significant barrier for most users
- My Verdict: A great option for hobbyists and developers, but I recommend starting with yt-dlp unless you have a specific reason to use a dedicated tool.
Critical Guide: Is Downloading from Crunchyroll Legal & Safe?
This is a question I see all the time, and it's an important one. Let's break it down into two parts: legality and safety.
The Legal Question: Terms of Service vs. Copyright Law
First, let me be crystal clear: I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. You should always research the laws in your own country.
That said, here's the general situation. They offer an official offline viewing feature on their mobile apps for this purpose. Downloading videos from Crunchyroll with third-party downloaders to make personal backups usually is silently acceptable.
The Safety Risk: How "Free" Online Downloaders Can Harm You
Now, let's talk about safety. You might be tempted to use one of those "free" online video downloader websites that just ask for a URL. Please, don't.
I'm singling out sites like Keepvid here because they are a perfect example of the risks. While the site itself might not be a virus, it's often supported by extremely aggressive and malicious advertising networks.
- Fake "Download" buttons that lead to shady websites or try to install unwanted software
- Aggressive pop-ups and redirects that can lead to phishing scams or adware
My advice is simple: stay away from web-based downloaders. The risk just isn't worth it when safer options like yt-dlp (free) or a reputable paid app (with a free trial) like StreamFab exist.
Overall Comparison of The 5 Best Crunchyroll Downloaders
| Feature | StreamFab | CleverGet | Y2Mate | yt-dlp | Crunchy-Downloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Download Quality | 1080p + AAC 2.0 | 1080p/720p + Regular audio | 1080p + Regular audio | 1080p/720p + Regular audio | 1080p + Regular audio |
| Download Speed | 6~8MB/s | 6~7MB/s | 5~7MB/s | 6~7MB/s | 5~7MB/s |
| Success Rate | 90%+ (11/12 episodes) | 75% (9/12 episodes) | 80% (10/12 episodes) | 20%~80% (3~10 episodes, depending on DRM) | 65% (8/12 episodes) |
| Subtitles & Audio | Multiple language selectable | Multiple language selectable | Multiple language selectable | Multiple language selectable (require specific command) | Multiple language selectable (require specific command) |
Also, I've made a radar chart to show how they performed exactly, and a selection flowchart for you to make a wise decision on which one is the most suitable Crunchyroll downloader.
FAQs
Can I use a free Crunchyroll account to download videos?
Generally, yes. But the range of downloadable titles is pretty narrow, since the downloaders, no matter whether a GUI or CLI Crunchyroll downloader, they can download the titles which are accessible by your account.
The CLI Crunchyroll downloaders may require you to provide your credentials or export your browser's login cookies for the tool to access the 1080p streams and the full library.
How can I download Crunchyroll videos to my phone?
The easiest and officially supported way is to use the download feature within the Crunchyroll mobile app.
If you want a permanent file, your best bet is to download the video to your PC or Mac using one of the tools above, and then transfer the MP4/MKV file to your phone via a USB cable or cloud storage.
Can I use a VPN with these downloaders?
Yes, and it can sometimes be helpful! If a show is available in another country's Crunchyroll library but not yours, you can use a VPN to change your location before launching the downloader. However, some tools can be finicky with VPNs, so your mileage may vary.
AConclusion
Alright, we've journeyed together through this lengthy evaluation. From powerful paid software to mysterious unknown tools, and then to stable and reliable open-source gems. So, how should you choose? This is the final point. My answer is: the one that suits you best is the best.
- If you prioritize simplicity and intuitiveness and are willing to pay for convenience:
StreamFab or CleverGet are options you might consider. They offer clear graphical interfaces and powerful features. But remember, they are not flawless—you may encounter occasional bugs and have to wait for DRM updates. Before purchasing, weigh their pros and cons.
- If you seek ultimate stability, security, and zero cost, and don’t mind investing 10 minutes to learn:
yt-dlp is your best choice, and the ultimate solution I personally recommend most highly. Once you master it, you’ll have a nearly fail-proof, fully controllable, and 100% secure downloading tool.
- If you come across something like the "Keepvid Online Crunchyroll Downloader" or other unheard-of software:
Close the webpage immediately and do not download it. Protecting your device’s safety should always come first. Unless widely verified by the community and independent reviewers, do not expose your computer to unknown risks
I hope this evaluation report, into which I've poured immense effort, can genuinely assist you and dispel any hesitation on your path of choice. Now, you possess all the necessary information to make a wise decision.
