How do you find where an anime is streaming? (not asking for a pirated site)

I recently quit watching anime on pirated sites due to an issue. Now I am trying to take subscriptions on two platforms to watch anime, because watching anime is my only entertainment. Of course, my first one will be Crunchyroll, as it is the most famous anime streaming service. The issue is, I have watched most of the famous anime, so I will be using the Crunchyroll subscription to watch only the upcoming anime. So, I want to spend my second subscription on a platform that has low-key, underrated anime. I searched across websites like IMDb and LiveChart to find where some of the under-rated series are available to watch, but the results are outdated, and I couldn't find results for some anime. For example:

91 Days, Higurashi When They Cry (2006) — both LiveChart and IMDb didn't show where it is streaming.

GATE — not there on IMDb; LiveChart says it's on Netflix, but it is not there.

And the list goes on.

Is there any better way to find where an anime streams? How are you finding where to watch an anime? Thanks in advance.

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Commentaires

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N7CombatWombat2026-01-20 15:31

You can use websites like livechart.me and justwatch.com. Livechart should show you services in your region with the anime, justwatch should show you everywhere it's streaming.

If you're in the US, then Crunchyroll and HiDive subscriptions will get you most of the anime that's available. There's also retrocrush for older anime.

Sadly though, you're not going to find every anime even if you had access to all the streaming networks. Anime licensing is a bitch.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 15:56

Thanks for your recommendation. I tried Just Watch, it's not even better than IMDb. I think it's only for movies and series, not for anime. And Livechart provide correct information for popular anime, but tha results are outdated and wrong for less popular shows.

N7CombatWombat2026-01-20 15:59

No, it's for anime too. If you aren't getting any hits then most likely what you're looking for isn't available on any services, or there's an issue with the spelling or the title you're using. That's one of the reasons piracy is still so popular. Some anime are only licensed to some areas, some anime aren't licensed at all.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 16:31

I searched for "my teen romantic comedy snafu", on Just watch, it says this anime is not streaming anywhere. But before two days when I was trying to find a website that says where an anime streams, I saw this anime on HIDIVE. - At both instances I was using US VPN. But still, you got a point, this is why I was using pirated websites before, but now I chose not to because, an unknown apk file got installed even though I used ad blocker. And from that time, my mobile is heating up a lot even if I use for a 30 mins

whoisfriend2026-01-20 16:35

Looks like this is an issue on your side with JustWatch then. I can see SNAFU on both JustWatch and HIDIVE.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:06

ok, I thought, these sites won't show the streaming platforms as per our location, instead they show based on the US/other common location. Sorry for making the same point over and over, if it's based on location, I used a VPN (this VPN really works), and still I got the same results on my side.

Han_Sandwich_19072026-01-20 16:37

I also looked up Oregairu season 1 on LiveChart and JustWatch (I am in the USA). LiveChart says streaming on Hidive. JustWatch also says streaming on Hidive, and you can also buy Episode 1 on Apple TV or Prime Video (??) not sure about these

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 16:59

Ok... that's why i made this post, many less popular anime are hard to find.

TheWhiteHunter2026-01-20 17:22

I'm in Canada and searched for that series on Just Watch and it shows Crunchyroll, HiDive, and also separately the HiDive channel on Amazon Video.

The fun bit though is clicking through to Crunchyroll and HiDive and they don't actually have the series available. The HiDive channel on Amazon Video *does* appear to have it though which is weird. Not sure if this link is of any good to you though.

[https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0PFYW0KQ81I7ONDJXXLZWDVIMD](https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0PFYW0KQ81I7ONDJXXLZWDVIMD)

whoisfriend2026-01-20 17:26

I had to log in to HIDIVE and search it. Going to the page from Google didn't work.

[https://www.hidive.com/season/19273?seriesId=1078](https://www.hidive.com/season/19273?seriesId=1078)

FourRaccoonsInASuit2026-01-20 16:11

I always use justwatch and it's generally pretty accurate, and has almost everything I've looked for. Looking at Higurashi When They Cry, it says it's on Amazon Prime. Looking at GATE, it says it's on Hulu and Hidive.

I'm not able to currently check to verify those, but there's only been a handful of times I went to check it and it be wrong. Maybe it's your location that makes it more difficult to check? I'm in the US so maybe it's using what's available on streaming services there as its baseline.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:04

Higurashi when they cry is not on Amazon prime, what's on amazon prime is "Hiigurashi when they cry:gou", which is the most recent season. I am searching for Higurashi when they cry (2006) the very first season. And GATE is not on HULU, I earched it already.

I don't think location can be a probem. Because, these sites won't show the streaming platforms as per your location, they show based on the US/other common location only. That's why you get the same results even if you use a good VPN.

Thanks for answering.

FourRaccoonsInASuit2026-01-20 17:40

Yeah Higurashi is a pretty bad example given it has such a difficult history with different releases and versions. I went to look and Amazon lists it as "When They Cry" and it says it's available to purchase not stream (although I don't know if I could even actually purchase it). Looking at GATE, I can't check Hulu but I can check Hidive, and it's on Hidive. So that one it might not have been 100% accurate, but it's still accurate.

If you're looking for something that is always right no matter what, then I hate to break it to you but that probably doesn't exist. Especially when it comes to the content you're looking for, which is niche anime. Anime has some titles that are just a struggle to find due to rights issues alongside sites just not picking them up because it's not worth it. Even popular anime can be difficult, like Food Wars has 5 seasons but it's spread across three different streaming sites (or at least used to be). Your best bet is to take all the sites that you are currently using to find stuff, as well as the ones people are suggesting to you, and just check them all. If they say it's available somewhere, check that place to see if it's correct. It sucks, but if you're really into anime and want to watch the lesser known or older things, then that's unfortunately just what you gotta do.

gf_jw2026-01-20 21:57

Hey everyone, JustWatch person here! I wanted to jump in because anime is basically the Wild West of streaming data, and you guys have touched on the exact reasons why it’s so tricky to get 100% right.

To u/One-Composer-1819**:** I totally get the frustration. The reason you saw Gou instead of the 2006 Higurashi is usually an "episode architecture" issue. We pull data from TMDB/IMDb, and if they group seasons differently than Crunchyroll or HIDIVE, the mapping gets messy. Our team is actually working on a way to customize these mappings specifically to stop these "Season 1 vs. Remake" mix-ups.

Also, the app definitely isn't US-only! You can change your country in the settings to see exactly what’s in your local catalog. VPNs usually don't work because we detect your actual location to keep the data accurate for where you are.

To u/N7CombatWombat & u/FourRaccoonsInASuit**:** You're spot on, licensing is a headache. 91 Days actually just left Crunchyroll recently, and *GATE* is currently on HIDIVE (and usually Hulu, though it flickers).

The TL;DR: We have the titles, but if the streaming service labels "Season 5" as "Season 1: Part B," our systems sometimes clash. We’re on it, though! If you find a specific title that's definitely wrong, please ping us again, our content team uses those reports to manually fix the mapping.

Appreciate the honest feedback, even the "worse than IMDb" part, it gives us a bar to clear!

whoisfriend2026-01-20 16:14

Make sure you're checking your spelling and/or using localized titles. I looked for a bunch of anime just now that are only on a service like HiDive or Retro Crush and found them easily on JustWatch. I even found shows that have never been licensed, like Uninhabited Planet Survive (using both the commonly accepted English title and the Japanese title).

Using Gate as your example, I can see that it is both on HiDive and Amazon Prime (through the HiDive add-on channel). I am in Canada though, so there may be mild differences.

EDIT: If you're just looking for a secondary service with more obscure anime, HiDive has pretty much got you covered. Most of the recent stuff that isn't on Netflix/Prime will be on HiDive. I would also check out Retro Crush and Tubi for other titles. Both of those are free with ads.

EDIT 2: Looks like Higurashi isn't currently streaming anywhere, but the Blu-Rays have come out in the past few years from Discotek. A popular series like Higurashi won't stay off streaming for too long, but it might be a few years before it comes back.

Mvri2026-01-20 15:40

Just search up the anime on your aggregate website of choice. For example [gate](https://anilist.co/anime/20994/GATE-Jieitai-Kanochi-nite-Kaku-Tatakaeri/) on anilist has links to CR, hidive, Hulu, and Netflix. Although it seems only the CR link still works.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 16:01

This is the issue buddy, most of the platforms mentioned in anilist don't have the anime in it. Searching all the platforms before watching a single anime itself is difficult. But here, I am trying to take a subscription for a platform that hosts most of the less popular/ under rated anime. So, I can't just search every platform for all the anime in the list I have before taking the subscription.
Thanks for answering.

N7CombatWombat2026-01-20 16:04

If you see it there or not depends on where you live. For me, I see it available on everything but Netflix on Anilist.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 16:10

No I tried with a VPN, and still Crunchyroll, Prime, and Netflix didn't has the anime. If I find a way, I will update you

N7CombatWombat2026-01-20 16:12

A VPN doesn't always work, rather, not every kind of VPN works. Like I said, I can see Gate available for me to watch on CR, HiDive and Hulu, but Netflix tells me it's not there. That means that Gate is on Netflix, it's just not available in my region on Netflix.

NewSauerKraus2026-01-20 15:52

I usually just type the title of the anime after "watch"binto a search engine to find out where it is available.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 16:05

Thanks for you recommendation, but I tried this, it shows outdated results. I searched "watch Gate" on google just like you said, it shows that the show is in Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Prime - The first part where the answer is given by Gemini, and below that you'll also see the link showing like: Crunchyroll - Watch Gate, the same for Netflix, and Prime, but when you open it, you'll find nothing there. If this subreddit allowed it, I would have posted an image to show this.

Thanks for answering.

Cocacola_Desierto2026-01-20 16:14

LiveChart works for Gate.

You don't have any other option but to try searching every series. There is no 100% surefire way to find where something is streaming every single time because licenses can change hands at any moment and are country to country.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:11

Ok, I was searching for these anime and a streaming platform for almost a week, as I couldn't find them, I asked here. Thanks for your response.

Dumey2026-01-20 16:19

When I Google "watch Gate anime" it does not give me crunchyroll as an answer. It gives me Hulu and Disney+, with the first few results not part of the Google summary also mentioning HiDive has the rights. Like people have said before, licensing is messy in anime, and series get moved every couple of years, so outdated info may be out there unfortunately. Just try to make sure you're looking at more recent sources rather than trusting whatever the Google AI summary automatically pulls up.

Also, are you in the US? It may be regional issues you're running into where the Google result is giving you US results, but then your local region streaming service doesn't have it available. You could try using a VPN to change region and double check that way. Not for GATE, but other shows I know have regional differences.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:12

I live in India, and I mostly use US vpn. Thanks for answering.

Kitsunelight2026-01-20 16:49

GATE is in HIDIVE, BTW. Just rewatched it over the weekend.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:09

Ok, thanks buddy

shadebug2026-01-20 17:06

Older stuff is tricky but JustWatch will have listings if they appear on the big streamers, Crunchyroll and even HiDive because it’s a channel on Prime.

That said, its listings aren’t always perfect but it might be a good start.

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:15

Yes, the listings aren't perfect. that's why I made this post to know if I can find a solid resource. Thanks for answering.

InfiniteEstimate9772026-01-20 17:08

[deleted]

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:14

MAL don't update them. Thanks for answering, I will also try to keep a list here after.

InfiniteEstimate9772026-01-20 17:15

Good to know!

EconomyProcedure92026-01-20 17:15

I use JustWatch.com to find where/if it's streaming (depends on where you live).

Crunchy is easily the best selection, though I kinda wonder if you have watched "everything" cause yeah there's a ton of stuff.

Hi Dive is OK, but their user interface sucks (at least on a Roku). They are the lower key stuff that Crunchy doesn't get.

Netflix/Hulu (or Disney+ depending on where you live) is also good selection wise.

If you want older stuff try a combination of Pluto TV, Tubi, and RetroCrush.

Or perhaps go check out your local library system (assuming you have at least a DVD player), cause they often have older/harder to find stuff,

If you want to buy DVD/Blu-Ray check out various used game/movie stores (especially Half Price Books).

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:23

Ok, but for me, Live chart is better than Justwatch. And I am not searching for older anime, I'm searching less popular/under-rated anime(some times they are old)

One-Composer-18192026-01-20 17:50

I updated the post with the website I got recommended by someone, and it is working. Thanks for answering.

magnidwarf19002026-01-20 18:13

www.google.com

Khashishi2026-01-20 18:20

[https://www.justwatch.com/](https://www.justwatch.com/)

[https://myanimelist.net/](https://myanimelist.net/)

[https://anilist.co/](https://anilist.co/)

N7CombatWombat2026-01-20 18:58

Sorry, your submission has been removed.

- It looks like your questions have been answered, so we're taking it off the list of new posts to make room for other content. For future reference, here are some additional resources that may help you find an answer even faster:

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- [For finding an anime based off of a single image, reverse image searching typically works instantly](http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/reverse_image_searching)

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