[2026 Ranking] 7 Best Crunchyroll Downloaders for PC & Mac

Crunchyroll is a must-visit site for anime lovers, but its offline viewing limits leave a lot to be desired. While the official app allows downloads for "Mega Fan" subscribers, this feature is strictly limited to iOS and Android mobile devices. And it's impossible to save the downloads forever with the official app.

That is exactly why third-party Crunchyroll downloaders have become essential tools for anime collectors and PC users. Whether you want to archive your favorite series in 1080p, extract soft subtitles for language learning, or simply watch offline without buffering, you need a tool that can bypass these restrictions safely.

In this guide, I have tested and ranked the top 7 Crunchyroll downloaders available right now, ranging from professional software to free open-source GitHub projects.

Is Downloading from Crunchyroll Legal?

Before we dive into the review, let's address the most common question I see on Reddit and anime forums: Is it actually legal to use these downloaders?

From a legal standpoint, downloading copyrighted content for personal, non-commercial offline viewing (often called "Fair Use" or "Private Copying" depending on your country) is generally tolerated, provided you do NOT distribute or sell the files.

Anon

Is it safe for my Crunchyroll account?

Alyssa

In my 5+ years of testing streaming tools, I have rarely seen a user banned simply for downloading, provided we use secure, private downloaders.

Especially when using professional tools like KeepStreams and BBFly that can simulate a browser environment. To Crunchyroll's servers, it simply looks like you are streaming the video from a Chrome browser.

Top 4 Professional Crunchyroll Downloaders

If you are serious about building an offline anime library—I'm talking about storing Attack on Titan in full HD permanently, not just caching it for 48 hours—you need professional software. Unlike browser extensions that often crash mid-download, these desktop tools handle DRM decryption natively.

I have spent the last two weeks testing over 15 tools on my MacBook Pro (M2) and Windows 11. Here are the 4 that actually survived the "Black Screen" test.

1. KeepStreams for Crunchyroll

If you want a "set it and forget it" solution, KeepStreams is a good choice, high-quality and easy to use. It's the tool I personally kept installed after this review. Unlike screen recorders that take 24 minutes to record a 24-minute episode, KeepStreams downloads the raw video file directly from the server in about 2-3 minutes.

KeepStreams for Crunchyroll

Download videos from Crunchyroll in 1080p, MP4 video files for offline viewing

• Save 720p and 1080p videos in original quality
• Verified by 172+ security vendors
• Use AAC 2.0 audio and H264 video codec
• Download videos in compatible MP4/MKV format
• Save subtitles into separate SRT files
• Save subs and audio in different languages
• Schedule download and save newly added episodes automatically
• Support batch download
• Free trial of 3 downloads in 30 days

 Free Trial  Free Trial

Learn More

I tested it with the Spy x Family Season 3. I checked "Select All," and it queued up 10 episodes instantly. One detail I loved: it automatically detects and downloads a newly added episode. The metadata scraping is also top-notch. Every file came with the artwork, synopsis, and episode title, which made my Plex server look beautiful.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?              

• Pricey for Casuals: Although it offers a free trial, it's a premium tool, and the price reflects that.
• MAC Version Updates: According to some users on the r/KeepStreams subreddit, the Mac version sometimes receives updates a few days later than the Windows version.

The free trial allows you to download 3 full videos with all features (1080p, audio, subs) enabled. No watermarks, just a quantity cap. And here's how to use KeepStreams to download Crunchyroll shows:

1. Launch KeepStreams and find Crunchyroll in the VIP Services.

 2. A built-in browser window will open. Log in to your Crunchyroll account (free and premium both work).

3. Play the anime you want to download, and wait for the analysis.

4. In a pop-up setting window, choose your preferred download options, and click on "Download Now."

All downloaded videos will be saved in the "Downloaded" section. Click the file icon to open the local folder where these videos are saved.

2. CleverGet Crunchyroll Downloader

You have probably seen CleverGet mentioned a lot if you Googled "Crunchyroll downloader." It's a very popular tool that operates similarly to KeepStreams but with a slightly different philosophy. It positions itself as a more "browser-centric" video downloader.

✅ Key Features:

• Built-in Browser: CleverGet essentially functions as a specialized web browser that sniffs out video links.
• Built-in Recorder: If the analysis fails, we can click the "REC" button to do real-time recording.

I have mixed feelings about CleverGet. On the plus side, it's intuitive. I also tried downloading Spy x Family with it. The analysis speed and download speed maxed out my fiber connection. However, I noticed that on some Windows machines, it's more resource-intensive compared to KeepStreams.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• Failed or slow analysis: Users on Trustpilot frequently report that the software "works 80% of the time," but is plagued by random "Analysis Failed" errors on newer video releases.
• Complex UI: It tries to show every element on one page, which makes the UI look confusing.
• No auto-download: I have to manually search and download every newly added episode.

The free version is strictly limited to 3 downloads. Once you use them up, you cannot download anything else without paying. To use CleverGet to download Crunchyroll videos on PC, follow these steps:

1. Launch CleverGet and scroll down. Find Crunchyroll in All Modules > International.
2. Click the icon to enter the official site. Log in to your own Crunchyroll account.

3. Play the video you want to download, and click the blue download button to open the download settings window.

4. Wait for analysis (it might take several minutes sometimes). Choose your preferred options and click on "Download". The whole process will be shown in the side column.

3. BBFly Crunchyroll Downloader

BBFly is often marketed as a "Cord-Cutting" solution by the Reddit users. It claims to support over 150 streaming services, including some niche regional ones. For Crunchyroll specifically, it offers a reliable and fast approach.

✅ Key Features:

• Simplified Interface: BBFly looks identical to older versions of KeepStreams. It's very "Click and Go."
• All-in-one Solution: Different from KeepStreams and CleverGet, BBFly doesn't provide a single module of Crunchyroll. It's an AIO tool. Buy one, enjoy downloads from 150+ sites.
• Lower Price: Although it's an AIO tool, the price is comparatively lower (Check the comparison table).

Testing BBFly felt... familiar. If you have used any generic video downloader in the last 5 years, you will feel at home. I focused on its Batch Download capability. I navigated to My Hero Academia, and it correctly identified all seasons.

The download speed was stable. However, it lacks the polish of KeepStreams. The thumbnails in the library sometimes took a while to load, and the "Scheduled Download" feature felt less robust—it missed a scheduled update for me once during testing.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• Generic Support: Support responses can be slow. Users on Quora have mentioned that getting help for specific errors (like Error Code 310) can take days.
• Re-skin Feeling: It lacks unique, standout features. It does the job, but it doesn't "wow" you.

It also has a standard 3-video limit for the trial. Here's how to use BBFly:

1. Click Crunchyroll from the main menu.
2. Enter your credentials in the embedded browser.

3. Play the video. A white window pops up asking for resolution preferences.

4. Check the "Select All" box at the top right of the pop-up window to grab the whole season.
5. Check the download process in the "Downloading" section.

4. Leawo Screen Recorder (Backup)

Different from the 3 downloaders above, Leawo is a veteran video recorder. I included it in this "Professional" list for one specific reason: Backup. Sometimes, streaming sites update their DRM keys, and all direct downloaders might temporarily fail for a few days until they patch their software.

In those rare moments, a robust screen recorder is your only option. While it’s not as elegant as downloading, Leawo allows you to "rip" content the old-fashioned way—by playing it and capturing the pixels.

✅ Key Features:

• Targeted Audio Recording: Unlike basic tools, Leawo allows you to record only the system sound (the anime audio) while muting your microphone, ensuring your coughing or keyboard clicking doesn’t end up in the final video.
• Scheduled Recording: You can set a timer. For example, if you know a live stream event starts at 3 AM, you can schedule Leawo to launch and start recording automatically.
• No Black Screen: It can handle DRM-protected videos and deliver clear video without a black screen.

Recording an entire anime season this way is a test of patience. Because it is a recorder, not a downloader, speed is strictly 1x. Leawo captured my screen at 1080p, but since it's a recording, the file size was massive compared to a direct download, and the bitrate wasn't as efficient. It felt a bit like going back to 2010, but it did work when I needed to capture a specific clip.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• Time-consuming: "Batch Downloading" is impossible. You have to sit there and play every single episode.
• No metadata: You need to name the file yourself.
• Risk of Glitches: If your internet buffers for a second, that buffering circle is recorded into your video forever.
• Resource Heavy: Unlike KeepStreams, which runs quietly in the background, screen recording eats up significant CPU/GPU resources.

The free trial is basically a "demo." It adds a watermark to your video and restricts recording time to just 3 minutes per clip. To record Crunchyroll videos with Leawo, follow these steps:

1. Launch Leawo and click "Record Screen". Choose the mode you like.
2. Record the screen after a 3-second countdown. Click the red button to end recording.

3. In a pop-up window, check the recorded file. Click the file icon to open the local folder.

4. There is no black screen. But watermarks and the recording bar will show up.

Best Free Crunchyroll Downloaders

Before we jump into the free tools, I need to address the single most frustrating issue for PC users: The Black Screen. This isn't a bug. It's a feature. It is caused by HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) and Widevine DRM.

Why NOT OBS?

You have probably tried it. You opened OBS Studio or the Windows Game Bar, hit "Record," played an episode of JuJutsu Kaisen, and everything looked fine. But when you played back the file, you saw a pitch-black screen with perfect audio.

When you stream Crunchyroll in Chrome/Edge, the browser utilizes Hardware Acceleration. The video stream is decrypted directly by your Graphics Card (GPU) and sent securely to your monitor. Screen recorders sit in the middle of this pipeline. The recorder cannot "see" the video layer—it only sees the black canvas beneath it.

Some users on Reddit recommend Settings > System > Use graphics acceleration when available > OFF to fix the black screen problem, but disabling this forces your CPU to do all the rendering. It means choppy video playback, dropped frames, and a laptop that sounds like a jet engine.

That is why Direct Downloaders (like the ones above) are better. They request the video file directly from the server rather than trying to capture pixels from your screen. Of course, there are some free tools that have more advanced decryption tech that can directly bypass a black screen. I collected 3 of them.

5. Crunchy-DL

If you are comfortable typing commands into a black window and know what "Python" is, Crunchy-DL is, hands down, the best free solution. It is an open-source project hosted on GitHub that is beloved by the r/AnimePiracy community.

✅ Key Features:

• Zero Cost, Zero Ads: It is open-source code. No upsells, no watermarks.
• Soft Subtitles: It downloads the video and the subtitles as separate tracks (ass/srt), allowing you to toggle them on/off in your player.

Setting this up is a barrier to entry. First, I had to install Python on my Windows machine. Then, I had to download the source code and install the requirements via the command line. A little mistake can lead to failure. But once I got it running, it flies. The download speed and quality (1080p) perform well.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• No GUI: There is no mouse to click. Everything is text-based. If you type a command wrong, it just errors out.
• The "CDM" Hurdle: This is the big catch. To decrypt 1080p streams, the tool needs a CDM (Content Decryption Module) file (device_private_key.pem). The developers cannot include this legally. You have to find it yourself in the dark corners of the internet or dump it from an Android device. Without it, you might be stuck at lower resolutions.

Crunchy DL is completely free. The only limit is your technical skill and your hard drive space.

1. Install Prerequisites: Install Python 3.x and FFmpeg, and add them to your System Path.
2. Setup: Clone the repository from GitHub and install dependencies via terminal.

3. Configure: (Optional) Add your Crunchyroll login credentials in the config.yml file if you want Premium content.
4. Run: Open your terminal in the folder and type: python main.py "https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GRMG8ZQZR/one-piece"

6. Video DownloadHelper

If installing Python sounds like homework, you have probably looked for a Chrome Extension. Video DownloadHelper (VDH) is the grandfather of video downloader extensions. It used to be the king of YouTube downloading, but how does it fare with Crunchyroll?

✅ Key Features:

• Browser Integration: It sits right next to your address bar. The icon lights up when it detects a video.
• HLS Streaming Detection: It is surprisingly good at finding .m3u8 streaming manifests.
• Free-to-Use: Totally free to download videos from 100+ sites.

I installed the extension on Chrome and navigated to an episode of Dr. STONE. However, it told me, "We do not support videos with DRM." The new limit was introduced in 2025. Luckily, Crunchyroll also provides some popular anime on its YouTube Channel.

I tried some free-to-watch videos from the Crunchyroll Channel. The add-on can successfully detect it, but the download is still banned on Chrome. We need to use the Firefox or Edge version of Video DownloadHelper.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• Reliability: It frequently fails to combine the audio and video, leaving a silent video.
• The "QR Code" Watermark: The free version of the extension recently introduced a "feature" where it stamps a giant QR code watermark on your video unless you pay for a premium license ($20).

Here's how to use the extension to download from Crunchyroll (YouTube Channel):

1. Install: Get it from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons. (I strongly recommend Firefox)
2. Play: Open a Crunchyroll video from YouTube.
3. Click Icon: Click the three colored balls icon in your toolbar.
4. Select & Install CoApp: Choose the resolution. If prompted, download and install the Companion App to enable HLS assembling.

7. KeepVid

Finally, for those who don't want to install anything, there are online converters like KeepVid (and its hundred clones like Yammy or 9xbuddy). The promise is simple: copy URL, paste, download. The reality is... messier.

✅ Key Features:

• Simple UI: Just a search bar. That's it.
• No Installation: Completely cloud-based. Works on any device, including a Chromebook or a locked school computer.

To be honest, I listed it here just because of the "online video downloader" possibility, and it performs relatively better than other free tools. The test results were awful. I pasted the link for My Hero Academia, and...

Click 1: A pop-up ad for a gambling site opened. I closed it. Click 2: Another pop-up. Click 3: The site finally said "Loading..." After about 2 minutes of spinning, it returned... nothing. "Download Link Not Found." I tried a different clip (a free trailer). It worked! But the quality was capped at 720p, and the filename was a gibberish string of numbers.

⚠️ What Could Be Better?

• Low Success Rate: For premium, DRM-protected episodes, these tools fail 90% of the time.
• Malware Risk: I cannot stress this enough. These sites are minefields of "malvertising." One wrong click on a fake "Download" button can download a .exe virus instead of your anime.

Such a free online video downloader is free, but you pay with your privacy and patience. It's very easy to use:

1. Copy Link: Copy the URL of the Crunchyroll episode.
2. Paste: Go to the site and paste it in the box.
3. Dodge Ads: Carefully click the real "Go" or "Download" button (hover over it to check it's not an ad).
4. Save: Right-click the resulting video link and "Save As."

Comparison: Pro Tools vs. Free Tools vs. Crunchyroll App

Hope you're not lost in the 7 different Crunchyroll video downloaders. To help you better choose the most suitable one, I made a comparison table

Conclusion

After testing these 7 tools extensively, the result is obvious: You get what you pay for.

If you are a broke college student (I've been there!) and you are tech-savvy, go with Crunchy-DL. It's a powerful tool for Mac, Windows, and Linux, provided you can navigate the legal and technical hurdles of setting up CDM keys.

However, if you just want to relax and watch Demon Slayer without debugging code or staring at a "Analysis Failed" error, a dedicated tool like KeepStreams for Crunchyroll and BBFly is the only tool. After all, you paid for a flawless, one-click experience.