KissAnime disappeared in August 2020. Here is what its five frequently cited alternatives offered at the time—and which legal options still make sense now. The original list included AnimeLab, Crunchyroll, Netflix, AnimeTosho, and Funimation, but those services did not all have the same cost, legal status, or current availability.
Short answer: The five services commonly listed as KissAnime alternatives in 2020 were AnimeLab, Crunchyroll, Netflix, AnimeTosho, and Funimation. That list needs an important update. AnimeLab and Funimation are no longer independent services, Netflix was never free, and AnimeTosho was a torrent/file-mirroring service—not a verified legal streaming platform.
For viewers looking for a safe replacement today, start with Crunchyroll, Anime-Planet, or Tubi, depending on your country and the show you want to watch. Netflix remains a legitimate paid option. Always check the current catalog, subtitles, dubs, and release timing for your region.
What happened to KissAnime?
The original KissAnime service shut down permanently in August 2020. The shutdown prompted a wave of “KissAnime alternatives” articles, including the 2020 list covered here.
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Websites that later adopted the KissAnime name should not automatically be treated as authentic replacements. A familiar name does not prove that a site is operated by the original service, legally licensed, or safe. Use the official domain and official app of a known streaming platform, and never enter payment details into an unverified KissAnime-branded site.
The five alternatives listed in 2020
| Service | What it was in 2020 | Status now | Best current interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnimeLab | Legal regional anime streaming service | No longer independent | Historical service; viewers should check Crunchyroll |
| Crunchyroll | Legal service with an ad-supported free option | Active, but free access has changed | Best general legal starting point |
| Netflix | Legal subscription streaming service | Active subscription service | Paid alternative with selected anime |
| AnimeTosho | Torrent and file-mirroring service | Not a verified licensed streaming alternative | Do not present it as legal or safe |
| Funimation | Legal distributor and streaming service | Standalone website and app closed on April 2, 2024 | Historical service; check Crunchyroll for successor availability |
1. AnimeLab: a legitimate 2020 choice for Australia and New Zealand
AnimeLab belonged on the 2020 list because it was a legitimate anime-streaming service serving supported markets, particularly Australia and New Zealand. It was never a universally available alternative: anime licensing is regional, and a service that worked in one country might not have been available in another.
AnimeLab is no longer a standalone service. Crunchyroll’s service documentation directs AnimeLab subscribers toward Crunchyroll using their AnimeLab email address and password, reflecting the migration and consolidation of the two services.
What readers should do now: Do not search for a separate AnimeLab replacement site. Viewers in its former supported territories should check Crunchyroll and confirm that the specific series they want is available in their country.
2. Crunchyroll: the strongest legal entry on the original list
Crunchyroll was arguably the best recommendation in the 2020 article. At that time, its free option was ad-supported, and free viewers could generally watch new simulcast episodes one week after their initial premiere in relevant international territories. That made it a genuine legal option for people who did not want to pay.
Those 2020 rules should not be treated as permanent. Current free access depends on the title, territory, account, platform, and plan rules in force when you watch. The entire Crunchyroll on-demand library should not be described as free.
Crunchyroll also documents the Crunchyroll Channel, a free, no-signup, 24/7 anime channel available on selected platforms, including Amazon Freevee, Roku, LG Smart TVs, and Vizio WatchFree+. This is a curated channel rather than unrestricted access to the full Crunchyroll app catalog.
Why Crunchyroll is still a good first stop
- It is a known legal anime platform.
- It offers both subtitled and dubbed content, although the selection varies by title and region.
- It has options for on-demand viewing and, on supported platforms, a free linear channel.
- It is the current destination most closely associated with the former AnimeLab and Funimation services.
Before relying on it as a replacement for a particular KissAnime title, check the current listing in your country. A series may be unavailable, delayed, subtitled but not dubbed, or included only with a paid plan.
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3. Netflix: legal, but not free
Netflix was a strong legal source of anime in 2020 and remains one today, but it does not belong in a list of genuinely free alternatives. Netflix is subscription-based: viewers choose a plan and provide a payment method under the service’s normal signup process.
Netflix can be worthwhile for viewers interested in selected anime exclusives, films, and shows that are not available on other services. However, its catalog is highly regional and changes over time. A title available on Netflix in one country may be absent in another, and a current catalog list can become outdated.
Verdict: Netflix is a paid legal alternative, not a free replacement for KissAnime. Consider it if you already subscribe or if its current catalog contains the specific anime you want.
4. AnimeTosho: not a legal streaming recommendation
That makes AnimeTosho fundamentally different from licensed platforms such as Crunchyroll, Anime-Planet, and Tubi. “Free” does not automatically mean legal, safe, or equivalent to streaming from an authorized distributor. The original 2020 list should not be used to imply that AnimeTosho had the same legal status as Crunchyroll or Funimation.
This article does not recommend downloading files from torrent mirrors or provide instructions for accessing unauthorized copies. Readers seeking a safe replacement should use an official streaming service or an authorized digital retailer available in their country.
5. Funimation: a historical recommendation that moved into Crunchyroll
Funimation was a legitimate anime distributor and streaming service, and it was especially important to viewers who preferred English dubs. In 2020, it was a reasonable recommendation for people leaving KissAnime, although its catalog and availability differed by market.
Funimation’s standalone website and app closed on April 2, 2024, as part of the effort to unite the services under Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll states that most of the Funimation catalog had been migrated while catalog work continued, so viewers should search Crunchyroll for the show they want rather than assume every former Funimation title is available everywhere.
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Verdict: Funimation was one of the best legal alternatives in 2020, especially for dubbed anime, but it is now a historical service rather than a live standalone recommendation.
Better current legal options
Anime-Planet
Anime-Planet is useful for viewers who want legal, industry-supported viewing alongside discovery tools such as watchlists and anime recommendations. Its watch-online service says that videos are provided legally through partnerships with the anime industry.
It is best viewed as a discovery-friendly legal option, not a guarantee that every popular series is available. Licensing remains title- and region-dependent.
Tubi
Tubi describes its service as free and legal, with no subscription required. It is an ad-supported option that can be useful for viewers who want to watch without paying for a monthly plan. Tubi lists Amazon Fire TV among its supported platforms.
Tubi’s anime selection should be treated as a rotating catalog rather than a permanent replacement for every title once found on KissAnime. Check the current library and your local availability before planning a marathon.
Crunchyroll Channel
For viewers who want no-signup, lean-back viewing, the Crunchyroll Channel is a more precise free recommendation than claiming that the full Crunchyroll on-demand library is free. It is a curated, 24/7 channel on selected devices and services. Platform availability and lineup can change, so verify both before relying on it.
How to choose a KissAnime replacement
- Check legality. Prefer services that identify their licensed or industry-supported relationships. Do not treat a site as authorized merely because it has a large catalog.
- Check the real cost. “Free” may mean ad-supported, limited to a curated channel, delayed for new episodes, or restricted to selected titles. A subscription service such as Netflix is not free.
- Check your country. Anime rights are divided by territory. Use the service’s local catalog rather than relying on a list written for another region.
- Check subtitles and dubs. A show may have subtitles but no English dub, or a dub may be available only in selected countries.
- Check release timing. Free users may receive new episodes later than paid users, and simulcast schedules can differ by territory.
- Check device support. Confirm that the service works in your browser, phone, television, Roku, Fire TV, console, or other preferred device.
- Check service durability. AnimeLab and Funimation show why an apparently good recommendation can become outdated after a merger or closure.
Watching legal anime on a television
If the main appeal of KissAnime was convenient browser access, a streaming device can move compatible legal services from a computer to a television. An Amazon Fire TV Stick for anime streaming can provide access to compatible apps such as Tubi and Crunchyroll, subject to the device, app, title, and region.
A streaming stick does not unlock unavailable shows, remove regional restrictions, or make a paid service free. Check the exact Fire TV model, current app support, and availability in your country before buying.
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- Use the official website or app-store listing for a known licensed service.
- Do not assume a site is genuine because it uses the KissAnime name.
- Never install a browser extension, executable, “special player,” or script merely to play an episode.
- Do not enter payment information into an unverified clone site.
- Be cautious with arbitrary downloads. AnimeTosho’s own disclosure warns that files may include malicious content, executables, or scripts.
If you believe you interacted with a suspicious site, update the operating system and browser, run a reputable security scan, remove unfamiliar extensions, and change important passwords from a clean device. Use professional technical support for signs of an active compromise. No single cleanup product should be assumed to guarantee removal of every threat.
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Final ranking: which option makes sense?
| Reader priority | Most sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| Broad legal anime access | Crunchyroll, subject to current plan and regional rules |
| Free, no-subscription viewing | Tubi or the Crunchyroll Channel where available |
| Anime discovery and watchlists | Anime-Planet |
| Selected exclusives and a service you already pay for | Netflix |
| Former AnimeLab or Funimation user | Check Crunchyroll, then verify the specific title and language options |
The most accurate answer to the 2020 question is therefore not “all five services were free KissAnime replacements.” Crunchyroll was the strongest legal choice, AnimeLab and Funimation were legitimate services whose identities have since been consolidated, Netflix was paid, and AnimeTosho was not a verified legal streaming service. Today, legal availability depends on your country, the show, the language track, the device, and the platform’s current rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KissAnime still available?
KissAnime shut down permanently in August 2020. Sites that later used the KissAnime name are not automatically authentic, licensed, or safe.
What is the best legal alternative to KissAnime?
Crunchyroll remains the best general starting point, but free access depends on the title, country, platform, account, and current plan rules. Tubi, Anime-Planet, and the Crunchyroll Channel may also help.
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Is Netflix a free KissAnime alternative?
No. Netflix is a subscription service, although its catalog includes selected anime and varies by region.
Was AnimeTosho a legal anime streaming service?
No. AnimeTosho describes itself as a torrent/file-mirroring service and warns that arbitrary files may contain malicious content, executables, or scripts.
What happened to Funimation?
Funimation’s standalone website and app closed on April 2, 2024. Check Crunchyroll for titles and catalog content that moved from Funimation.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: For a safe current replacement, check Crunchyroll first, then Anime-Planet or Tubi for additional legal options. Treat AnimeLab and Funimation as historical services, Netflix as paid, and AnimeTosho as an unauthorized torrent/file-mirroring service rather than a legal streaming alternative.
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