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ExpressVPN Crunchyroll access held up where most rivals failed. Gizmodo’s 2026 test left only three VPNs standing, NordVPN, ExpressVPN and PIA, and ExpressVPN lost about 11% of its speed on distant servers. Gizmodo counted 62 US locations in the app; the US library carries the most anime. MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s smart DNS, also worked with Crunchyroll, which helps on TVs without apps.
This guide covers the results, which library to target, setup, TVs, speed and fixes.
What Gizmodo Found, and Which Library to Target
Gizmodo dropped most VPNs it tried for slow speeds, buffering or inconsistent unblocking, keeping only NordVPN, ExpressVPN and PIA on its list. With ExpressVPN, Attack on Titan played at the highest quality setting without buffering.
Its speed loss of about 11% on distant servers was on a par with NordVPN, the other leader in that test. Our Crunchyroll VPN guide compares providers.
Crunchyroll’s catalogue differs by country. Gizmodo recommends the US library because Crunchyroll is a US company with the largest selection there. Connect to whichever country carries the series you want to watch.
Simulcasts and dubs vary by region too, so check before settling on one library.
ExpressVPN Crunchyroll Setup
Connect ExpressVPN to a US city, open Crunchyroll in the app or browser, and sign in with your usual account. If the catalogue does not change, close the app, reconnect and reopen it, or clear the browser’s cookies.
Choose a US city near you for the best speed; the library is the same across US locations, so there is no reason to pick a distant one.
TVs, Consoles and Speed
Gizmodo found MediaStreamer worked with Crunchyroll, so TVs and consoles without VPN apps can use it once you register your home IP address in your ExpressVPN account. It changes DNS only and adds no encryption.
Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV can run ExpressVPN’s own apps, with encryption. Our Smart DNS vs VPN guide explains the difference.
An 11% loss on distant servers leaves plenty for HD anime on most connections, and nearby servers lose less. Use Lightway, ExpressVPN’s default protocol, and a wired connection for the TV.
If playback drops in quality, pick a US city closer to where you are.
Fixing Errors
If Crunchyroll shows your home catalogue or an error, clear cookies or the app’s data, switch to another US city and reload the page or app. A DNS or WebRTC leak can reveal your real country to Crunchyroll, so run a leak test after connecting.
Our ExpressVPN Netflix guide covers similar fixes for another service.
On Phones and Tablets
The Crunchyroll app caches your region, so after connecting ExpressVPN, close it fully or clear its data before reopening. Check that the app has no permission to use your device’s location, which could reveal your real country.
ExpressVPN’s iPhone and Android apps use Lightway by default, and WireGuard is available on both since August 2025.
Offline Downloads and Alternatives
Crunchyroll’s premium tiers let you download episodes for offline viewing. Downloading through the VPN gets you episodes from the library you connected to; watching them offline needs no VPN at all.
That suits flights and commutes where a VPN connection would be patchy anyway, and saves mobile data.
NordVPN and Private Internet Access also passed Gizmodo’s Crunchyroll test. Nord Security owns NordVPN, and Kape owns PIA as well as ExpressVPN.
Our NordVPN Crunchyroll guide covers one of them.
Terms, Price and Refund
Crunchyroll licenses anime by country, and its terms may restrict viewing outside your region; a VPN does not change your subscription. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan renews at $99.95 a year for 10 devices, our tables record, and new users get 30 days to ask for a refund.
ExpressVPN lists 27 independent audits by May 2026.
Simulcasts, Dubs and Checking the Catalogue
New episodes stream as simulcasts shortly after airing in Japan, but which simulcasts and dubbed versions appear depends on the region’s licences. A show missing from one library may well be in another, sometimes with different dubs.
Search for the title after connecting; if it does not appear, try the next most likely region rather than switching randomly. Write down which region carried it for next time.
Pick a series you know is US-only and search for it after connecting. If it appears, the location worked; if you still see your home library, the app or browser has cached your region.
Clearing the cache usually fixes it on the first try, without needing a new server.
Privacy While Streaming
ExpressVPN lists 27 independent audits by May 2026, including three KPMG no-logs reports, and its servers run from memory. On shared Wi-Fi, the tunnel hides what you watch from the network owner.
Kape owns ExpressVPN, along with CyberGhost and PIA; the audits cover how the service handles your data.
How We Research
This page draws on Gizmodo’s 2026 Crunchyroll VPN tests, older Wizcase results and our ExpressVPN tables. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Gizmodo’s Crunchyroll VPN tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page. WizCase belongs to Kape, which also owns ExpressVPN, so we weigh its findings alongside independent sources.
ExpressVPN Crunchyroll FAQ
Yes; it was one of three VPNs that worked in Gizmodo’s 2026 test.
The US library, Gizmodo notes.
Gizmodo found it did, without encryption.
About 11% on distant servers in Gizmodo’s test.
Gizmodo counted 62 in the app.
The Verdict
ExpressVPN Crunchyroll access tested among the best in 2026. Target the US library, and use MediaStreamer only where apps will not install.