TL;DR
Don't have time for my tech rants? Here is the directory to get you offline fast:
- Why does your Crunchyroll "Fan" subscription block downloads? ➡️ Jump to Section 1
- KeepStreams saves the stream you can play on Crunchyroll. ➡️ Jump to Section 2
- The Free Method: Screen Recording (Slow, risky, quality loss). ➡️ Jump to Section 3
- The Verdict: Speed Test & Comparison Table. ➡️ Jump to Section 4
Note: This guide works for PC and Mac. If you are looking for mobile solutions, you are unfortunately stuck with the official app's limitations unless you transfer files from your computer.
I was sitting on the subway last Tuesday, totally pumped to watch the latest arc of One Piece. I had my headphones on, phone out, and the buffering circle of death. Zero signal. Then I pay for Crunchyroll. I tapped the download button. Nothing happened.
It turns out, my $7.99 "Fan" Tier subscription grants me access to the library but treats me exactly like a free user when it comes to offline viewing. This logic annoyed me. I’m already paying for the right to watch these shows. Why does my spotty internet connection get to decide when I watch them?
After spending a weekend testing everything from Python scripts to screen recorders, I found a reliable workaround. Here is how I did it.
Can You Download from Crunchyroll?
Kenneth Quick Note:
Yes. We can download anime from Crunchyroll. But it only appears for "Mega Fan" or "Ultimate Fan" subscribers. If you have the right tier and it's still missing, it might be a licensing restriction for that specific anime in your region.
As of 2025, Crunchyroll offers a 3-tier plan. The "Fan" Tier ($7.99/mo) gives you ad-free streaming, but it does not include offline viewing. You have to upgrade to "Mega Fan," which recently hiked to $11.99/mo, to unlock that toggle in the app.
But even if you pay for Mega Fan (or the $15.99 Ultimate Fan tier), you hit
If you are like me and want to stockpile episodes for a long flight without worrying about expiration timers, the official app doesn't cut it.
How to Download Crunchyroll to MP4?
I needed a tool that acts like a browser but allows me to save the incoming video stream. After testing five different Crunchyroll "downloaders," the most consistent one was KeepStreams for Crunchyroll.
Can KeepStreams Download 1080p from a Free Crunchyroll Account?
Kenneth Quick Note: Yes, provided that Crunchyroll is serving a 1080p stream to free users for that specific show. KeepStreams saves the highest quality stream your account is authorized to access.
KeepStreams doesn't generate a premium membership out of thin air. Instead, it includes a built-in browser that you log into. If you can play the video, KeepStreams can download it.
- For "Fan" or "Ultimate Fan": It takes the high-quality stream you are paying for and saves it to your hard drive instead of just a temporary cache.
- For Free Users: It accesses the free stream availability. However, its download engine is smart enough to identify the ad-insertion segments and simply not save them to the final file.
Step-by-Step Guide to Download Crunchyroll
- Install & Launch the client (Windows/Mac).
- Open the Crunchyroll icon inside KeepStreams. Log in with your own account so the tool can verify your access rights to the content.
- Navigate to the anime you want.
- When you play the video, KeepStreams analyzes the playlist file served to your account.
- A popup appears, setting download preferences. Click Download Now.
The downloaded Crunchyroll video is a standard 1080p MP4 file with AAC 2.0 audio. Since it pulls the source file directly, the quality is identical to what you see when streaming at "High" quality.
Tech Tip: If you are archiving for a media server like Plex or Jellyfin, select the "Remux into MKV" option in settings. This saves subtitles as a separate text track rather than burning them into the video.
The "Free" Alternative: Screen Recording (Why I Hate It)?
Note: For a deeper dive on setting this up, if you're desperate, check out how to screen record Crunchyroll.
If you don't want to use specialized software, you can try the manual route: Screen Recording. I tried OBS Studio or Windows Game Bar (Win+G). This is literally recording your monitor while the video plays. While the drawbacks are quite distinct as well.
To record a 12-episode season, you must play the videos for 5 hours. You cannot use your computer for anything else during this time. If you are on the "Fan" Tier, you have to record the ads, too.
Kenneth
I edited them out manually later in video editing software anyway; it takes me quite a while.
What's worse, Crunchyroll protects its stream overlay. You often get a black screen with audio after recording for 5 hours, as I did. To fix it, I have to go to browser settings (Chrome/Edge/Firefox), search for "Hardware Acceleration," turn it OFF, and restart the browser.
Finally, I forced the video to render in a way OBS can "see." I successfully got a file named ScreenRecord_001.mp4, not the proper episode title.
KeepStreams vs. Official App vs. Screen Recording
I put these methods to the test on my Windows 11 rig (Ryzen 7, RTX 3070). Here is the breakdown:
| Feature | Official App (Mega Fan ~$11.99) | Screen Recording (OBS) | KeepStreams |
| Max Resolution | 1080p | Variable (Screen dependent) | 1080p (Source Stream) |
| Download Speed | Fast | Slow (1:1 Real-time) | Fast (High speed) |
| Ads (Free User) | Cannot download | Must record ads | Filters ads during download |
| File Expiry | 7 Days / 48 Hours | Never | Never |
| Batch Mode | Manual Selection | ❌ | ✔️ (Whole Seasons) |
| Transferable? | ❌ (App only) | ✔️ | ✔️ (MP4/MKV) |
Kenneth Verdict:
- Use the Official App if you want convenience on your mobile device and are willing to pay $11.99/mo.
- Use Screen Recording if you have zero budget and only need one short clip.
- Use KeepStreams if you are on the "Fan" tier and want to watch offline on your PC, or if you want to keep a permanent collection of the shows you have access to.
FAQs
Q1. Is it legal to download these videos?
A1. In many regions, downloading content you have legal access to for personal, offline use (format shifting) is often considered a gray area or fair use, provided you do not distribute or sell the files. However, bypassing DRM technically violates Crunchyroll's Terms of Service.
Note: I am not a lawyer, and this is a general summary based on public information, not formal legal advice. If you have doubts, please check your local laws.
Q2. If I cancel my Crunchyroll subscription, do I keep the KeepStreams downloads?
A2. Technically, yes. Since the files are standard MP4s saved to your local drive, they do not "phone home" to check for an active subscription. However, you should download whatever you need while your subscription is still active.
Q3. Does this work on the ad-supported free version?
A3. Yes, but only for episodes that are available to free users. If an episode is locked behind the "Premium Only" tag, KeepStreams cannot download it unless you log in with a Premium account.
Q4. Do Crunchyroll downloads expire?
A4. Official ones do. Third-party downloads do not.
Conclusion
The Crunchyroll "Fan" tier is a great value for streaming but a terrible value for freedom. I believe that if you are paying for content, you shouldn't be penalized just because you want to watch it on a plane, a subway, or a device that the official app doesn't support.
For me, keeping a permanent, ad-free library on my hard drive and syncing it to my Steam Deck for my commute makes KeepStreams the clear winner.
DISCLAIMER
Content available on Crunchyroll™ is protected by copyright. Unauthorized redistribution of this content may violate copyright laws in the United States and other countries. KeepStreams is an independent company that is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Crunchyroll™ or its parent company. The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement of KeepStreams products by any third party.
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