5 Best VPNs for Anime in 2024 

Although the word anime is synonymous with Japan, this genre is becoming hugely popular globally, especially in the US. However, anime platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, HIDIVE, Retro Crush, and Tubi are not available everywhere. Plus, their content varies depending on your region, which means you'll face rigorous geo-blocks while traveling.

Aside from that, there's also the issue of ISP-induced throttling, which happens across the US. Luckily, you can easily solve these issues by using a VPN for anime. A VPN will help you easily access any geo-restricted content, sign up for unsupported countries, and even access a specific country's content library. Plus, VPNs are great for bypassing ISP-induced throttling.

In this article, you will find the 5 best VPNs for anime and a quick guide on how to watch anime with a VPN. We'll also explain why you should use a VPN when watching anime before we finalize with a round of helpful FAQs.

Best Anime VPNs - Our Shortlist

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Anime in 2024
2. Surfshark – Anime VPN with Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
3. ExpressVPN – VPN to Watch Anime with Very Fast Speeds
4. CyberGhost VPN – Specialty VPN Servers for Streaming
5. Private Internet Access – Highly Customizable VPN for Advanced Users

How to Watch Anime with a VPN from Anywhere

To watch anime with a VPN, first find a VPN that can bypass geo-restrictions. Then, download and install it and connect to a VPN server. Here's what exactly you need to do:

1. Subscribe to a suitable VPN for anime (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN on your device.
3. Launch the VPN app and log in using your credentials.
4. Connect to a server in the country where your desired content is available.
5. That’s it! Now, you can watch anime from anywhere. 

To unblock an anime streaming service such as Crunchyroll or Hulu, connect to a VPN server where that platform is available (the US, for example). If your anime streaming app works across many countries, you can explore other countries' content by connecting to those countries' VPN servers.

The Best VPNs for Anime in 2024

To choose the best VPN for anime, you can consult our guide for selecting the best streaming VPN. The most important thing to look for is the ability to unblock anime platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, (HBO) Max, and more. It should also employ an extensive global network with servers in regions containing the biggest anime libraries, like Japan, the Philippines, the US, and France. 

Ensure also that your VPN has fast speeds and reliable performance. Most streaming services have anti-VPN firewalls, so make sure your provider has obfuscation to make your VPN traffic look like normal HTTPS traffic. In addition, your VPN should be equipped with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and secure VPN protocols to safeguard your online privacy.

It also needs to allow multiple simultaneous device connections and support popular devices like computers and mobiles. Finally, your VPN should offer a fair price, plenty of value overall, a generous money-back policy, as well as 24/7 customer support.

Based on the criteria above, here are the 5 best anime VPNs in 2024:

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Anime in 2024

NordVPN is the best VPN for anime, managing to easily unblock major anime platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max from anywhere, as well as other streaming sites. It offers 6,300+ servers in 110+ countries, and its network includes 130+ servers in Japan, 1,970+ in the US, and 230+ in France to access the largest libraries of all popular streamers.

You can enjoy bufferless streaming with NordVPN’s ultra-fast speeds, knowing that NordVPN is among the fastest-performing VPN services right now. It also offers obfuscated servers, which are especially useful for bypassing VPN blocks imposed by different networks or streaming platforms.

NordVPN allows you to choose between multiple protocols, including NordLynx, the VPN’s alternative to WireGuard. Speaking of security, this VPN has military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and a kill switch. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy to ensure it doesn’t record any of your online activity. It also has a Threat Protection feature to block adware (including pop-up ads), malware, and trackers.  

NordVPN allows you to connect up to 10 of your devices simultaneously, which seems quite generous. You'll find its apps across any platform/device imaginable, which includes Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, dedicated streaming devices, and even routers.

You can become a subscriber for only $3.09/month (2-year subscription plan), and you can also test all its features risk-free thanks to its trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee. In case you run into any problems, it has 24/7 customer support to assist you.

2. Surfshark – Anime VPN with Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Surfshark is a very good anime VPN that can easily unblock anime on platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max. It can also give you access to other geo-restricted streaming services.  This VPN offers 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including 60+ Japanese servers, 6 servers in the Philippines, 600+ US servers, and 70+ French servers.

With Surfshark, you get very fast speeds with stable performance for bufferless streaming. It has a Camouflage Mode to automatically obfuscate your traffic when it detects Internet firewalls. In addition, its dynamic Multi-Hop feature can double your encryption.

In terms of the available protocols, you can choose between Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec. This VPN matches other top-tier providers by offering robust security features like AES-256-GCM encryption, leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. It also follows a strict no-logs policy, and its Cleanweb feature is useful for blocking ads, malware, and trackers.

Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections to protect all its supported devices, including computers, mobile devices, streaming devices, routers, and more. We'll also add that Surfshark's apps are very polished and suitable even for complete beginners.

This VPN starts at $2.29/month for its 2-year subscription plan, which is backed by a handy 30-day money-back guarantee. You'll also find very responsive 24/7 customer support, along with a very extensive database of self-support articles.

3. ExpressVPN – VPN to Watch Anime with Very Fast Speeds

ExpressVPN is a solid VPN for unblocking and watching anime content on all popular platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max. It has a wide network of thousands of servers in 105 countries and offers coverage in 3 Japanese server locations, 1 in the Philippines, 24 in the US, and 5 in France.

You'll also be pleased with ExpressVPN's performance, as it's among the fastest VPNs on the market. Moreover, ExpressVPN offers automatic obfuscation on all of its servers. It recently added an ad blocker and can also block malware and trackers. 

In addition to OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, ExpressVPN offers its self-developed Lightway protocol. This VPN employs a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy, and military-grade encryption to safeguard your data. Of course, a no-logs policy is also there, which has been audited many times in the past.

ExpressVPN’s apps are very easy to use and support devices like computers, phones, and tablets. It even offers its own routers with pre-installed VPN software. Moreover, it allows 8 simultaneous connections, which is on the higher side compared to most other VPNs.

The lowest you can pay for this VPN is $6.67/month (annual subscription), and it offers a solid 30-day money-back guarantee so users can test all its features without any financial risk involved. If you need guidance or information, contact its 24/7 customer support anytime.

4. CyberGhost VPN – Specialty VPN Servers for Streaming

CyberGhost is a streaming-focused VPN that unblocks anime platforms with regional geo-restricted content like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max, along with other streaming services. Its network of thousands of servers in 100 countries includes 230+ servers in Japan, 70 in the Philippines, 2,100+ in the US, and 860+ in France. 

Overall, CyberGhost is capable of medium-fast speeds. That said, this VPN offers optimized servers for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and security, allowing it to deliver reliable performance. Unfortunately, it does not offer any obfuscation feature. 

CyberGhost employs WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN protocols. Due to its strict no-logs policy, it does not record the online activity of any connected device. It also has a kill switch, military-grade data encryption, and a handy 'Content Block' feature, which is designed to prevent ads with malware or trackers from loading.

CyberGhost protects its many supported devices, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. You can also set it up on a router to protect your entire household at once. You get 7 simultaneous connections, which seems generous enough.

At the moment, this VPN is priced at $2.03/month for its 2-year plan. You'll be happy to hear that long-term plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Of course, there's also 24/7 live chat support, in addition to plenty of other customer support channels and resources.

5. Private Internet Access – Highly Customizable VPN for Advanced Users

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another great option because it can unblock anime on geo-restricted platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and HBO Max. You can also use it to access other streamers thanks to its thousands of servers in 90+ countries, including servers in all 50 US states and many servers in France, Japan, and the Philippines.

PIA offers medium-fast speeds out of the box. However, it provides a wealth of customization options, making it suitable for more advanced users. In other words, you can reach faster speeds if you optimize this VPN. There's also obfuscation on board, as privacy is PIA's focus.

In addition, it offers the WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec protocols. PIA also has a kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. Plus, you can stream without any pop-ups, banners, or other harmful invasive ads with PIA’s MACE feature. MACE is also very effective in blocking malware and preventing trackers from compromising your online data.

Another benefit of PIA is that you can protect unlimited devices simultaneously. This is particularly useful for large households, as it can support multiple devices, such as computers, tablets, smartphones, routers, and more. 

PIA's 2-year subscription plan is priced at only $2.03/month and is backed by a generous 30-day money-back policy. For customer support, you'll find 24/7 live chat, installation guides, FAQs, support via email, and more.

Should You Use a VPN When Watching Anime?

You should use a VPN when watching anime because you'll want to bypass geo-blocks and reach more content. A VPN is the most effective tool for bypassing digital restrictions, allowing you to stream on sites not usually available in your country.

For example, HIDIVE is not available outside of North America. Those who try to access it will see the following message: "Unfortunately, this service is not available in your region." The same happens with many other streaming services, such as Hulu, Tubi, Retro Crush, and more.

The best VPN for anime doesn't only change your virtual location. It helps you watch your favorite anime when traveling, helps you secure any type of Wi-Fi network, and protects your privacy. Here's more info:

• Unblock Anime Sites from Anywhere - By connecting to a VPN server abroad, you'll gain access to anime sites available there. In other words, you'll unblock any anime streaming site.
• Keep Watching Anime Even While Traveling - Most streaming apps implement country-based libraries. For example, the best VPN for Crunchyroll will help you access your home library when traveling, so you won't experience any interruptions.
• Bypass Bandwidth Throttling - A VPN for anime will also encrypt (hide) your Web data, which means that your ISP won't be able to implement selective throttling.
• Connect Safely on Public Wi-Fi - Use a VPN to secure any public Wi-Fi and ensure that your sensitive data isn't logged, which is something that most public Wi-Fis are designed to do.
• Hide Your Web Browsing History - Your Internet provider can see everything you do online and keeps that data stored for up to 6 months. A VPN helps you fight against that.
• Hide Your IP Address - Online trackers use your IP address to detect your physical location and track your online. With a VPN, you'll get a new IP every time you connect to a server.
• Block Ads and Trackers While Streaming - Some VPNs can even block ads and trackers while streaming, allowing you to watch any kind of anime in private.

Final Thoughts

Although anime platforms have become quite popular, they're not available everywhere. Some are geo-restricted, and if they are unavailable in your region, you can’t even sign up for them. In addition, they serve different content in different countries, which is an issue when traveling. Also, your ISP can throttle your bandwidth, making it hard to stream. A VPN can, fortunately, solve all these issues.

We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for anime because it has ultra-fast speeds and a large server network that can reliably unblock geo-restricted content from anywhere. This means that you can access any anime platform (including Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, HIDIVE, and more) and won’t lose access to your favorite shows while traveling.

That concludes our guide on selecting a VPN for anime. If you have any inquiries or comments, feel free to share them in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!