10 Best Legal, Paid, and Free Aniwave Alternative

Aniwave (formerly 9Anime) pulled in millions of fans through its huge anime library with dubbed and subbed shows. The site made it easy to download shows and watch them offline. But copyright owners stepped in, and Aniwave had to close down because it didn't have proper licenses to share the content. Now, you might feel stuck looking for an Aniwave alternative to watch anime. This is where we step in and show you where to find all your favorite shows on legal and lookalike platforms with clear streaming quality.

Part 1. 5 Paid and Legal Aniwave Alternatives

Ready to explore your next go-to Aniwave alternative site? These legal Aniwave alternatives bring you official content straight from Japan. The platforms below keep your streaming safe and smooth with proper licenses and regular updates.

1. Crunchyroll

More fans join Crunchyroll every day because it puts out fresh content each season without fail. You'll catch new episodes just hours after they air. This legal Aniwave alternative site brings international anime directly to you through deals with Japanese studios, so you always get the real deal. Sign up for premium to skip ads and save movies or shows on your device.

The only con is that the free tier pops up in a lot of ads.

Crunchyroll Features:

• Connect up to four devices at once with the Mega Fan plan so everyone in your house can watch different shows without getting in each other's way, even during peak viewing hours.
• Adjust streaming quality between 480p and 1080p HD instantly, ensuring you never deal with buffering or quality drops during scenes.
• Browse and read through a massive collection of over 1000 manga titles included in your membership, with new chapters added weekly and special early access to selected series.
• Get personalized show suggestions based on your completed series and watching habits, helping you discover hidden anime treasures that match your exact interests.
• Take full control of your subtitle experience by tweaking font styles, sizes, colors, and positioning until they're exactly how you want them on every device.

2. Netflix

On Netflix, you'll discover tons of anime content. The platform adds new shows every month and even makes its own original movies and shows. When you finish an anime, Netflix looks at what you liked and points you to similar anime you might enjoy.

You can download any show or movie to your device and watch without the internet - perfect for long trips or when your connection isn't great. The more anime you watch, the better Netflix gets at searching exactly what matches your taste.

Netflix Features:

• Watch crystal-clear anime with HDR and Dolby Vision support that brings out every detail in animation.
• Switch between languages or subtitles mid-streaming without pausing or restarting.
• Set up different profiles for each person in your house.
• Jump straight into the next episode automatically with smart playback that skips intros and credits when you want to binge-watch an anime series.
• Lock specific shows or entire profiles with PIN protection, making sure younger viewers only see age-appropriate anime content.

3. Amazon Prime Video

You'll get exclusive anime content on Prime Video that isn't available anywhere else. While watching, you can click/tap the screen to see details about voice actors and music playing in that scene.

Prime Video keeps the video quality super sharp, so you catch every detail in fast-moving scenes. You can also download full seasons or movies like Aniwave, and you get to pick the download quality as well.

Prime Video Features:

• Stream anime through servers placed worldwide that cut down on loading times and keep your shows running smoothly even during internet slowdowns.
• Pull up instant information about anime characters, voice actors, and music through the X-Ray feature that shows details without interrupting your viewing experience.
• Watch anime in a small window while browsing other stuff on your device, perfect for multitasking or checking show details without stopping playback.
• Find exactly what you want to watch using search filters that sort shows by genre, release date, rating, and dozens of other categories.
• Pick up exactly where you left off on any device, with your watchlist and progress syncing automatically between your streaming devices.
• Experience selected anime titles in stunning 4K quality that shows off the artistry of animation with incredible detail and color accuracy.
• Skip opening songs and recaps with one click when you're eager to jump straight into new episodes.

4. WatchCartoonOnline

Ready for a legal anime library that dates back decades? WatchCartoonOnline opens the door for you to both new releases and classic hits with a clean layout and the controls right where you need them. The site arranges shows by year, making it easy to track down that old favorite you've been missing. You can download movies and shows, just the way you did on Aniwave, directly through the built-in downloader that works with various video qualities.

You need to create an account and pay for the service before watching anime.

WatchCartoonOnline Features:

• Advanced filtering system that sorts by genre.
• Resume playback where you stopped.
• Multiple video servers and streaming quality options.
• Access the upcoming episode schedule for seasonal anime, complete with release dates and countdown timers for new episodes.
• Switch between different audio tracks and subtitle options without reloading the page or losing your spot in an episode.
• Save your favorite shows to custom playlists that sync across devices.

5. Hulu

Our last paid and legal Aniwave alternative is Hulu. It has a collection that mixes current season hits with popular movies. The best part? You can download content to six different devices at once - perfect for sharing with family members who love anime.

You can also set up different profiles to keep everyone's watchlists separate and get notifications when a new movie or show drops in.

Hulu Features:

• Create up to six personalized profiles with individual watchlists, viewing histories, and download libraries that keep everyone's anime organized.
• Switch between live TV channels showing anime and on-demand content without switching apps or logging out.
• Customize your anime homepage with the genres you watch most, putting new episodes and recommendations front and center.
• Set up parental controls for each profile individually, controlling which age ratings and content types are visible.
• Get notifications about new episodes, season premieres, and expiring shows so you never miss watching your favorites.
• Stream in 4K quality on compatible devices with support for HDR content and enhanced color depth.

Part 2. 5 Best Free Aniwave Alternatives for Streaming and Downloading Anime

If you want the free Aniwave experience for streaming and downloading anime content, you'll find an alternative that brings anime right to your screen totally free.

1. Gogoanime

Gogoanime is a great Aniwave alternative, where each show drops in both subbed and dubbed versions. The site packs everything from 80s classics to today's hot releases. Like Anwave, you can also download episodes for offline viewing or stream them instantly - your choice.

Pick video quality that matches your internet speed, and the player saves your settings in every series automatically. The simple layout makes finding your next favorite show super easy.

Gogoanime Features:

• Access multiple download servers that let you grab episodes in quality ranging from mobile-friendly 480p to crisp 1080p resolution.
• Choose between different video mirrors that automatically switch if one goes offline.
• Sort through thousands of shows with search filters that combine genres, release years, and popularity rankings.
• Pick between various subtitle styles and languages that stay synced perfectly with the video playback.

2. AnimeHeaven

Take control of your anime streaming experience with AnimeHeaven's super-fast servers. The site loads anime movies and episodes instantly and lets you download them for offline viewing.

Built-in quality controls mean you can watch in HD when Wi-Fi is good or switch to lower quality on slow connections.

AnimeHeaven Features:

• Stream shows through multiple backup servers that kick in automatically.
• Create custom watch lists that group shows by mood, genre, or your own rating system.
• Set up alerts for new anime releases of shows you follow without creating an account.
• Customize the video player with shortcuts for quick forward, rewind, and quality switching.
• Mark episodes as watched or unwatched to keep track of long series with multiple seasons.
• Switch between playback speed and light and dark modes.

3. Animepahe

Do you miss the clean and simple interface of Aniwave? Well, you get exactly that on Animepahe, putting the focus on what matters - watching your favorite anime. You can choose between different video qualities that match your screen size, from phone-friendly to full HD.

The search filters help you find content based on your watching history and suggest new ones you might like. A download button on the stream makes it easy for you to save your favorite show or movie with one click.

Animepahe Features:

• Customize your homepage to show only the genres and types of anime you enjoy watching.
• Switch between different subtitle styles and positions during playback without restarting.
• Sort shows using filters that combine ratings, release dates, and popularity scores.
• Save different video and audio settings for each device you use to watch.
• Tag shows with custom labels to organize them into personal categories.
• Get recommendations based on what other fans of your favorite shows are watching.

4. AnimeLab

AnimeLab site is another best Aniwave alternative, where you can start streaming in seconds with zero buffering because the player adapts video quality based on your connection speed, so no lag ruins intense scenes.

If you are into anime shows rather than movies, you can also create lists to group shows by theme, and the site remembers where you stopped in each series.

AnimeLab Features:

• Switch between light and dark viewing modes.
• Download movies and episodes in different quality settings.
• Jump between episodes using the mini-preview that shows key scenes before you click.
• Set up auto-play rules that match how you like to watch - skip intros, play the next episode, or pause between shows.

5. Hianime

Hianime has a huge collection of anime series and movies that are ready for streaming or downloading. Built-in filters help you find exactly what you want to watch or download, from action-packed movies to relaxing slice-of-life shows.

The progress tracker saves your spot in each show, so you can watch multiple series at once.

Hianime Features:

• Pick between multiple video qualities that adjust automatically based on your screen size.
• Save shows for offline viewing with the quick downloader.
• Create custom watch lists that remind you when to catch up on different series.
• Switch between different subtitle fonts and colors to match your reading preference.
• Sort your library with search filters.
• Share anime links to different social media platforms.

Part 3. FAQs of Aniwave Alternative

Conclusion on Aniwave Alternative

The 10 Aniwave alternatives in this guide offer different ways to watch your favorite anime. Paid platforms bring you official releases with top video quality, while free sites balance convenience with cost. Each option packs unique features for streaming and downloading, so you can pick the one that matches your needs.