Did you get as shocked as I did about KissAnime closing down? Truthfully, it has given KissAnime fans from all around the world shock and sadness.
KissAnime was a well-known anime streaming website that allows you to watch or download animated movies and series for free. Those who like to watch Anime would have surely heard of or used KissAnime as many fans did.
For some reason, if you have yet to learn what I am on about, let me tell you more about KissAnime. However, if you know about KissAnime, let me tell you what is happening with the KissAnime and the KissAnime alternatives you can now use.
What is KissAnime?
It is a popular site many anime fans use to stream and download anime series or movies.
The site got launched in 2012. Now, many fans need to learn the first domain of KissAnime to get launched was KissAnime.com. However, it got taken down right after.
After that came KissAnime.ru, the site many are familiar with. KissAnime.ru provided its anime services for 8 long years and got loved by many people worldwide.
It was known for giving fans the classics and thousands and thousands of titles that they could not find anywhere else. It was one of the reasons why it gained so much popularity.
Popular KissAnime Category
- Adventure
- Action
- Cartoon
- Demons
- Drama
- Fantasy
- Horror
- Kids
- Magic
- Mystery
- Romance
- Samurai
- Sci-FI
- Supernatural
- Vampire
Features of Kissanime
Are you wondering, am I upset by it closing down? The fact is, KissAnime had the best features one could find when streaming or downloading Anime online. Let me tell you a few that I like.
Free
I don’t know about you, but free things are hard to find.
Sometimes, you might have seen how some sites claim to be free but still ask for your debit or credit card details.
KissAnime required no such details. All you had to do was go to the site and stream the Anime you wanted without paying a dime.
No Signing-Up Required
You do not have to sign up to use this site. Again, if you wanted to sign-up for some exclusive features, you could, but overall, if you didn’t, you could stream and download Anime in HD without a problem.
I liked it because I had to go to the site, not sign up or log in, and start watching the Anime I wanted.
Simple Interface & HD Quality
KissAnime has all its Anime in HD quality. One does not have to get frustrated over the bad quality. Moreover, the interface was well-designed and extremely easy to use.
You could find everything on their homepage, and it had a search bar for you to search for an anime name without scrolling through the whole site.
Updated & Upgraded
The developers worked day and night to keep the site updated and upgraded with the latest anime episodes and movies. It was a record of this site as soon as one new episode got released; you could find it easily on KissAnime.
Dubbed & Subbed Content
One of the main reasons the site was so popular was that it had dubbed and subbed versions of most of its animes. People could enjoy many dubbed versions or watch Anime and understand it with English subtitles. I appreciated how I could understand the Japanese with the English subtitles and enjoy the Anime more.
What Happened To KissAnime?
Japan has been working on its copyright laws and making them stricter since January 2023. These copyright laws also target sites with pirated Manga or anime torrent files.
Moreover, in June, Japan parliament also revised the copyright issue and punished those who knowingly downloaded Manga, Anime, magazines, and academic works that got illegally uploaded.
Japan has claimed it will be closing down all such sites because they have faced a loss of 320 billion yen (around $4.12 billion). They did just that by closing down KissAnime and its sister site KissManga.
The news of KissAnime closing down first surfaced on the Subreddit account of KissAnime, where a user transcribed the site to close around 10 pm PST on 14 August 2020.
Both sites got closed down because of copyright issues. Many fans were in debated whether the decision to close it down was fair or not. After 8 years of operating, KissAnime.ru closed down. Before closing down, it was said that it had around 95 million visits each month.
Moreover, the site got placed in the 531st place in Alexa ranking. After it got shut down, for many days before the site disappeared, the screen read:
“All files have gotten taken down by copyright owners. The site has gotten closed forever. Thank you for your supports.”
Moreover, they also let their fans know through their Instagram:
“Thank you guys for the support. The cause of this is the Copyright Issue. Since many companies are not getting their revenue. It’s time to say goodbye. But still, Anime is in our hearts.”
Many claim this site made Anime popular and did not claim the content to be theirs. However, many said it used Anime incorrectly, and the original writers or creators got no benefits.
Many fans tweeted their sadness, saying that a legend is gone and they will miss it. On the other hand, others were happy and supported such pirated sites getting taken down.
KissAnime Domains (Mirror Sites)
Did you run into a KissAnime site and get excited thinking they have made a comeback?
The original site was KissAnime.ru, and any other domain using the KissAnime site name has nothing to do with the original website.
Some of the popular domains using KissAnime’s name include:
- .ac
- .me
- .net
- .co
- .ru
- .tube
- .com.ru
- .ws
- .gr
- .help
- .ru
- click
How do I know these domains have nothing to do with the original ones? The Original KissAnime account on Reddit lets their users know.
“KissAnime is dead. No, they are not coming back. No, the new “KissAnime” you found is not real.”
It clarifies that KissAnime is gone forever, and all other domains are not real. Be careful when using copied KissAnime sites. They are not safe.
Is KissAnime Legal?
Whether KissAnime is legal or not has caused a lot of confusion. There is a debate where some say it is legal, some say it’s not, and some say that it is not legal and is legal.
Confusing. Is it not? Even I need clarification about whether the site is legal. From one point of view, the site is legal, and from others, it is illegal.
The copyright concerns are not violated when an anime movie or series gets streamed online, making it legal.
The copyright clause suggests that when content gets used for personal use, it is legal. However, if you use t for redistribution, then it is illegal.
On the other hand, the Anime content on KissAnime has yet to get through legal means. It means through the official ways by getting the content creator’s permission, making it illegal.
The technicality part begins when the question arises: You, as a streamer of that site, are you doing something illegal?
If you stream Anime or Manga from KissAnime, you will not be doing anything illegal, as you are just streaming. However, if you download it, then yes, it will be illegal.
What are your thoughts on whether KissAnime is legal or not for me? It still needs to be clarified.
Is KissAnime Safe?
The original KissAnime site is safe from all viruses and is safe to use.
There was news claiming KissAnime gave people’s devices viruses, which is not safe. However, the official site is safe to use and does not link with any malware or viruses.
The same can not get said for mirrored sites using KissAnime’s name as their domain.
If you use the mirrored site, I will advise you to use it at your own risk. These fake sites are full of viruses, spam ware, and malware.
KissAnime Virus & Removing It
A malware virus you can get from downloading Anime through various anime sites is the KissAnime virus. You are probably thinking, but that’s an anime site. However, it also explains various viruses linked with anime sites.
The adware will collect all your device and information and use it for malicious purposes, putting you in trouble.
What happens once your device gets infected with the KissAnime virus?
If you get the malware, your device will start showing many advertisements and redirects to scamming, phishing, or spoofing sites. Not getting it removed as soon as possible will lead to further malware infections that will exploit your device system without you knowing or intervening.
How do I know if my device has gotten infected with adware? You will get Kissmanga domain pop-ups, flashing windows, and redirects.
Are you getting continuous redirections to the KissAnime website whenever you use a search engine or browser? It is due to an unwanted program installed causing this virus.
Getting Rid of Computer Viruses
Removing a KissAnime virus will depend on what type of virus it is. Threats like cryptojackers, backdoors, rootkits, and others can get cleared out using any security software. Manually eliminating such threats can get too complicated, which is why such software is useful.
You should regularly scan your device system using security tools, and if malware does appear, remove it manually. Moreover, you should keep an eye on the installed programs and apps you have, and if you find anything suspicious, uninstall them as soon as possible.
Never Download or Stream Illegal Videos
You might get tempted to download something you want to watch from an illegal site just because it’s free, without thinking that a hacker could be behind it looking to hack into gullible devices and downloading the user’s personal information.
Such malware can get hidden in PDFs, optimization tools, videos, and even “useful” programs.
Moreover, there are many other ways that users can download adware into your system without knowing, especially if you are an inexperienced computer user.
Therefore, do not download illegal things or even stream them.
Moreover, keep your computer protected by using various security tools and changing your computer settings to ensure your device gets protected.
20 KissAnime Alternatives in 2023
Below I have KissAnime alternatives for you, which I have tried myself, and from the many you can find, I found these to be the best and safe to use.
- Anime-Planet
- GOGO Anime
- Crunchyroll
- 9Anime
- Chia-Anime
- Anime2Watch
- AnimeLab
- Anime Freak
- Anime Frenzy
- A2zAnime
- HorribleSubs
- Anime Land
- Animesim
- Anime Karma
- AniWatcher
- Anime Heaven
- Masteranime
- Justdubs
- AnimeLab
- KIMCartoon
Anime-Planet
The Anime-Plant is an anime site that claims to be “a site ran by fans or fans.”
Millions of users use this site for four various reasons:
- It has Anime in HD, old and new.
- It also has Manga for manga fans to read.
- It has characters’ information, in which various anime and manga characters’ details have gotten given, and the names of the Manga or Anime they are from.
- It has a huge anime community where fans can leave reviews and recommendations and find people with the same interests.
- The site is free for all users.
However, the only downfall to this site is the signing up to use various features, like keeping track of what you have watched. When I visited the site, I clicked on an anime I wanted to watch. It showed me a picture of the Anime, its reviews, and nothing else. I had to research to discover that you can only watch Anime online in your area. They should let users know about this on their homepage.
GOGO Anime
9anime is another anime site with more than 26,000 anime for its users.
It has a simple-to-use interface and gets updated regularly. Moreover, it is reliable and trusted. Moreover, I liked how the site’s homepage divides Anime into various groups, from the animes released recently, Popular series to ongoing series. Similar to KissAnime, it has various categories you can choose from. A feature you would like is how it has a schedule of what episodes will get released on what day. Isn’t that amazing?
The only downfall is you cannot let the developers know if you want to watch an anime, and they do not have it. They have no option for that. Other than that, it’s free to use without signing up. You can also watch them subbed. However, they do not have any dubbed animes yet. A simple site; you should give it a go.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the best alternative to the KissAnime site. An anime site with around 15000 hours of officially licensed content.
The feature I love about this site is how it not only has Anime and Manga but also has Japanese series and games. It is one site with HD content. Its easy-to-use interface has everything categorized according to its genres, seasons, and alphabetical. You can use this site on various platforms and devices. The site also has a section with all the latest anime and manga news.
If I were to find any fault within the site design or development, it would be impossible; it is an almost perfect site, apart from the fact it’s not a free site. It gives you a 14-day free premium trial, and then you can choose to pay monthly or weekly. You must buy the premium membership to watch the Anime you want and read mangas.
9Anime
The most straightforward anime site you can use is 9Anime.
9Anime, is an anime site with 42 various anime genres, with the latest series, and continuously gets updated. I like how it has high-quality Anime that have gotten subbed and dubbed in many languages. Moreover, it has no long waiting times, loads quickly, and has various servers you can choose from. Imagine you are watching an anime series, and it stops working. What do you do? You check it out from the other servers and watch it from there.
Moreover, it has a request feature, allowing you to request anime movies or series you wish to watch that they do not have. The only annoying feature is the pop-up ads. Yes, it has pop-up ads, but only at the beginning of a series when you click them. Other than that, the whole site is quite straightforward.
Chia-Anime
Chia-Anime is a free anime site with top animes like One Piece Gintama, Reborn, Highschool of the Dead, etc.
It has a beautifully designed interface with an enormous database of various genre animes. It divides its options into various options, from the most popular to the most recently released. The site is novel, and the best thing about it is how it allows the user to enjoy Anime in English and Japanese. You only need a high internet speed and can stream all the Anime you want without logging in.
You can bookmark the shows you wish to watch later and see the schedule of all the animes to get released within that week. The one thing that I didn’t like was how the load timing could have been faster. It means you have to wait a long time for it to load, and if you don’t, you will get frustrated by stopping after every minute to load. Other than that, the site is good for anime lovers.
AnimeLab
Do you wish to watch Anime from anywhere and comfortably, whether it’s your Mobile, TV, laptop, or any other device? If yes, then AnimeLab is the way to go.
AnimeLab has gotten created by a team of people from Australia and New Zealand. It has many amazing features, like streaming Anime on up to five devices simultaneously, similar to how Netflix works. Moreover, you can easily download content and watch it without a network. You can watch thousands of subbed and dubbed anime seasons and various Anime from The Helpful Fox Senko-San, A Certain Scientific Accelerator to Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and many others.
You will love the simple interface it has- even on the web version, it feels like you have opened up the app. It has no news or adverts to bother you. However, the only thing is, it’s not free. You will have to get a monthly membership, which is why the site is among the best. You can try out the AnimeLab for 30 days for free and then pay only $7.99 each month afterward.
AnimeFreak
A KissAnime alternative used by millions of users to watch Anime online is AnimeFreak.
Any Anime lover will love this site as it’s free, and you do not have to sign up or sign in to watch Anime. AnimeFreak has various anime categories, from comedy, romance, thriller, adventure, and many more. You can watch thousands of anime series and movies dubbed and subbed in English, including the popular, One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Naruto Shippuden, Attack on Titan, and many more.
The overall interface of the site is easy to use, with Anime listed on the homepage, a search bar, and filtered searches. You can read about Anime before you start watching it to find out whether it interests you. Furthermore, if you are still looking for the Anime you wish to watch, you can contact them on their various social media platforms and put your request in. The only downfall is the side ads you get, but even those do not get in the way of you watching your Anime.
Anime Frenzy
A KissAnime alternative offering on-demand anime and success is AnimeFrenzy.
You can find various anime movies, series, their schedule, popular, ongoing, and Hentai on this site. It has the most easy-to-use interface possible, where you can easily search, choose and play any title you want. You get the option of signing up or signing in, but it’s not needed to watch Anime. Many love how there is so much lesser buffering on this site.
AnimeFrenzy also has a chatbox so you can talk to their developers for any questions or queries. They also can download, autoplay, discord, and bookmark on every Anime watch screen. There are pop-ups and other sorts of advertisements, but there are not bothersome. Overall, this is a good site one can use to watch Anime.
A2ZAnime
A hosting site for Anime that is quite new but has gained a lot of popularity is a2zanime.
The website design is really simple and straightforward. It does not divide Anime into various sections and runs most of its content together. As the name suggests, this site has A-2-Z anime. It has more than 4000 anime titles, some available in English, Japanese, and Chinese. It has categories for the latest episode and the ones to come. A2zanime has many features that make this site unique: voice chat, role-playing forums, feedback and recommendation channels, and many others.
It has no ads and is easy to use on desktops and mobiles. Moreover, it has various Anime also subtitles, so you have no problems watching them. The only frustrating feature is that it has a really slow load time, and the site needs a mobile app.
HorribleSubs
Another new anime streaming site in the market is HorribleSubs.
It might be new, but it offers much new Anime for users to enjoy by watching them online or downloading them to watch them offline in various resolutions from 480p to 1080p. HorribleSubs is free to use and has a ‘Release Schedule’ on its homepage, where users can view the upcoming anime episodes and the specific days and times they will have them. There are no ads; you can find Anime according to their year’s release.
Overall the site is great for people who want something easy to navigate to watch the Anime they want. There is still work for the site, so nothing more can be said.
Animeland
Another great KissAnime alternative for you to watch your favorite Anime is Animeland.
The best feature of this site that many users enjoy is its many anime episodes dubbed in English, which means you can enjoy the Anime without having to read its subtitles. You might have to suffer from pop-ups to watch any title you want, making it quite bothersome, but once you settle, it seems nothing more. Other than that, there are many features that a person will love and forget that the ads are so bothersome.
The Animeland homepage has various tabs at the bottom to view other anime-related sections like, Read Manga, Naruto, Dubbed Anime, and Watch Cartoons Online. The site is not limited to Anime; you can even watch other cartoons. Moreover, you can use this site on various devices, including, Firestick, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Anime Karma
A well-designed KissAnime alternative site is Anime Karma.
You will love its design and how professional it looks, and it is much better than many of the sites on this list. There is a huge catalog of anime movies, and the series is something many users, including you, will appreciate. The whole layout of the site is unique. All anime series and movies have titles and a summary with their IMDb and TMDb ratings on their thumbnail. It also shows you anime trailers for you to view.
However, the most dreadful thing about this site is the pop-up ads and redirects and the time it takes to buffer. It has gotten a high level of good feedback and has a section for you to complain about any video that is not working.
AniWatcher
Aniwatcher is a great alternative to KissAnime for anyone wanting to stream the latest or trending anime episodes.
You can watch both anime and manga videos in dubbed and subbed versions. There is no need to register, sign in, or fill out any form to use this site or stream Anime. You go to the site and stream the episode you want without much problem. The site has gotten well organized, with the latest episodes on the homepage and others divided into various categories.
The most annoying and hateful feature is the redirected ads. You go to the site, and it starts. It can make it extremely difficult to access and enjoy the site to the fullest. However, try a pop-up blocker and see how it goes.
Anime Heaven
Anime Heaven is another anime site many love and use.
Anyone can use the effective and friendly Animeheaven user interface. It allows you to watch it online or download the videos you want, in any resolution and device you want. You will love the quality of Anime; it shows its users a smart anime library. You need a high-quality connection to view the Anime you want. Many Japanese anime series have gotten dubbed into English for the ease of the users.
You can choose to sign in, but you don’t have to. You can watch Anime without registering or signing in. It has great buffer time, and only one redirects ad you will get when you click the show you want to watch; it redirects you once, and that is it. It has all the best features, making the ads bearable.
Masteranime
A site everyone should try when wanting to stream Anime is Master Anime.
Masteranime is the most straightforward anime streaming site you can use. It doesn’t overload its site or make it difficult to understand. You can find most of its Anime subbed and many of them dubbed. This site does not require signing in or signing up. It has a fast buffer and load time. Moreover, once you start streaming an episode, you get no interference. It does have pop-up ads and redirects, but you face them only once, and they do not interfere with your streaming experience.
The site lets users know the schedule of the episodes they are uploading. The schedule shows the episode uploaded a day before, today, and upcoming for the week. Users will love this site because of how simple and easy it is to navigate and access.
Justdubs
A KissAnime alternative with no ads, yes, no ads, is Justdubs.
Justdubs is, so far, a site with no ads. You will love its many features and how easy the whole site is. You can, without any problem, search or browse for videos. All of the videos on this site have subtitles, so you can enjoy anyone and enjoy Anime for hours. Furthermore, to make it easy for users, they have a different section for all their dubbed videos, so you can effortlessly access them. Additionally, it does not only have anime-they also have other animated things you can explore and enjoy.
You can stream without signing in, but you will have to sign in to download and use its many other features, like the anime fan communities, so you can connect with people who have similar anime preferences.
KIMCartoon
Kimcartoon is a KissAnime alternative that has not only Anime but also cartoons.
This site would be great for users wanting to stream cartoons, Anime, or if you want to read comics. Everything on this site is high quality, and you do not have to sign in to stream or use this site to the fullest. You will love the extensive library it has with diverse genres for you can choose from. It has many features, including a section where you can report errors and a section where you can request any video or comics you want but they do not have.
You do not have to pay for any subscription or add your credit card information. However, there are many redirects and pop-ads you have to go through. Apart from that, this site has amazing elements.
Animesim
A similar anime streaming site to KissAnime is Animesim.
On this site, you can watch all your favorite anime seasons without a problem and for free. Anime Sim lists the latest movies and episodes on its homepage for anime fans to stream and download in the desired quality. It has many subbed and dubbed videos for anime fans to enjoy. Moreover, there is a schedule on the right side of the homepage, letting you know what they have coming on their site. You can even listen to soundtracks using the section dedicated to them.
You will not have to sign in or sign up and can stream in any quality you want and any anime you want.
NWAnime
A site provides a place to stream Anime and cares about its users in NWAnime.
NWAinime is a free site with anime series that have gotten completed (all its episodes) and ongoing series (with all its latest episodes). You will like this site as it updates the series as soon as the new episode gets released. Overall the site has a neat and organized interface, and users do not have to go through the hassle of signing in.
The site keeps its users in mind and has a night mode so the viewer’s eyes do not get strained when viewing it from a dark place or at night. A feature no other site on our list has.
AnimePahe
AnimePahe is a KissAnime alternative that has limitless content.
The site has an easygoing interface and has been designed to ensure it is also mobile-friendly. Moreover, you can access this site from any device, including Firestick. You will love its comprehensive content database, and all of its video quality is top from 720p to 1080p. The site gets updated and upgraded regularly to ensure it is error-free and users can use it without complications. You will not have to sign up to stream, and you can download videos.
The two downfalls of this site are the buffering time, which is too much, and the high amount of pop-up adverts you get.
Conclusion
KissAnime was a great site for users to stream and download Anime from, and with it closing down, it broke many anime fans’ hearts. However, this is why I created this site. You can now use KissAnime alternatives and carry on enjoying Anime.
Let me know which site you like most and which worked best for you.