Crunchyroll charges your payment method on the same day each month, and the charge appears as "Crunchyroll" or "Ellation" on your statement

Crunchyroll bills you on your subscription renewal date — the same calendar day each month that you started or last changed your plan. If you signed up on the 15th, you are charged on the 15th of every month. The charge shows on your bank or card statement as either "Crunchyroll" or "Ellation" (Crunchyroll's parent company), depending on your payment method and bank.

The amount depends on which plan you chose: the ad-supported tier is free, the ad-free Standard plan costs a set monthly amount, and the Premium plan (which includes offline downloads and simultaneous streams) costs more. Crunchyroll does not prorate charges if you upgrade mid-cycle — you pay the full price of the new plan when ready, and your renewal date stays the same.

If your payment method fails on your renewal date, Crunchyroll will attempt to charge you again over the next few days. If all attempts fail, your account is suspended until you update your payment information. You lose access to the service when ready, but your watchlist and settings remain saved for 30 days.

Key Takeaways

  • Crunchyroll charges you on the same day each month as your renewal date, and the charge appears as "Crunchyroll" or "Ellation" on your statement.
  • If your payment method declines, Crunchyroll retries the charge over several days before suspending your account.
  • You can change your payment method, plan, or billing date through your account settings without contacting support.
  • Crunchyroll does not refund partial months if you cancel mid-cycle, but you keep access until your next renewal date.
  • If you are charged twice in one month, contact Crunchyroll support with your transaction ID and statement screenshot to request a refund.

Where to update your payment method and billing information

Log into your Crunchyroll account on the website or app and go to Account Settings. Select "Billing" or "Payment Method" (the exact label varies by app version). You can add a new card, update an existing one, or switch to a different payment method — PayPal, Google Play, Apple ID, or direct card payment — without interrupting your service.

If you change your payment method, the new one is charged on your next renewal date. If you change your plan (for example, from Standard to Premium), the new plan charges when ready at the full monthly rate, and your renewal date does not shift. If you want to change your renewal date itself, you must cancel your current subscription and start a new one on your preferred date.

Some payment methods process charges differently. If you pay through Google Play or Apple ID, the charge appears on your Google or Apple statement, not directly as "Crunchyroll." If you use PayPal, the charge shows as "Crunchyroll" on your PayPal transaction history, but your bank sees only the PayPal transfer. This matters if you are trying to match a charge to your statement.

What happens when a payment fails and how to fix it

When Crunchyroll attempts to charge your payment method on your renewal date and the charge is declined, the system retries automatically over the next 3 to 5 days. Common reasons for decline include insufficient funds, an expired card, a card flagged for fraud, or a mismatch between your billing address and the address on file with your bank.

During the retry period, you keep access to Crunchyroll. If all retry attempts fail, your account is suspended. You cannot stream, read, or access any paid features. Your watchlist, history, and settings remain in the system for 30 days; after that, they may be deleted.

To restore access, log into your account and update your payment method. You do not need to contact support. Once you add a valid payment method, Crunchyroll charges you when ready for the current month, and your service resumes within minutes. Your renewal date resets to the day you made the payment.

How to cancel your subscription and what you are charged

Go to Account Settings, select "Billing" or "Subscription," and choose "Cancel Subscription." Crunchyroll asks you to confirm and may offer a discount to stay, but cancellation is final once you confirm. You keep access to your paid plan until your next renewal date — Crunchyroll does not charge you again, and you do not receive a refund for the remaining time in your current billing cycle.

If you cancel on the 20th of a month and your renewal date is the 25th, you have access until the 25th and are not charged on that date. If you cancel after your renewal date has already passed, you have already paid for the full month and cannot get that money back.

If you signed up through a third-party platform like Google Play, Apple App Store, or Amazon Prime Video Channels, you must cancel through that platform, not through Crunchyroll. Canceling in your Crunchyroll account settings does not stop the charge if your subscription is linked to one of these services.

Disputed charges and duplicate billing

If you see two charges from Crunchyroll in one month, it usually means you were charged on your renewal date and then charged again when you updated your payment method or plan. Contact Crunchyroll support through the Help Center in your account settings. Have your transaction IDs (from your bank or payment provider) and a screenshot of your statement ready.

Crunchyroll support can see your billing history and will issue a refund if the duplicate charge is confirmed. Refunds typically appear in your account within 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank or payment provider. If you dispute the charge with your bank or card issuer before contacting Crunchyroll, the company may not be able to issue a refund, and you will have to resolve it through the chargeback process instead.

If a charge appears on your statement but you do not recognize it, check whether someone else has access to your account. Crunchyroll allows multiple profiles under one account, but only one payment method. If you suspect unauthorized use, change your password when ready and review your Account Settings for any linked payment methods you did not add.

How Crunchyroll handles plan upgrades and downgrades

If you upgrade from the ad-supported free tier to a paid plan, or from Standard to Premium, Crunchyroll charges you the full price of the new plan when ready. Your renewal date becomes the day you upgraded. On future months, you are charged on that new date.

If you downgrade from Premium to Standard, Crunchyroll does not refund the difference. You keep Premium access until your next renewal date, at which point you are charged the Standard rate. If you downgrade from a paid plan to the free ad-supported tier, you lose access to paid features when ready, but your watchlist and settings are preserved.

Crunchyroll does not offer prorated refunds or credits when you change plans mid-cycle. The company treats each plan change as a new subscription starting on that day, with a new renewal date. If you want to minimize charges when switching plans, do it as close to your renewal date as possible.

Understanding Crunchyroll's payment processing and statement appearance

Crunchyroll processes payments through Ellation, its payment processor. Depending on your bank and payment method, the charge may appear as "Crunchyroll," "Ellation," "Crunchyroll.com," or a variation of these names. Some banks also include a merchant category code or reference number that identifies the charge as a streaming service.

If you pay through a debit card, the charge is typically when ready and appears in your account within one business day. If you pay through a credit card, the charge may take 1 to 3 business days to post, depending on your card issuer. If you pay through PayPal or a mobile payment platform, the charge appears on that service's statement first, then on your bank statement as a transfer to PayPal or the platform.

Crunchyroll does not charge setup fees, set up fees, or hidden charges. The only amount you pay is the monthly subscription price you selected. If you see additional charges, they are either from a third-party service (like a mobile carrier or app store) or a duplicate charge, both of which should be investigated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my renewal date without canceling and restarting?

No. Crunchyroll ties your renewal date to the day you started or last changed your plan. To move your renewal date, you must cancel your current subscription and start a new one on your preferred date. You will not be charged twice if you do this on the same day, but you will lose your current billing cycle's remaining time.

What if I used a gift card or prepaid code to pay for Crunchyroll?

Gift cards and prepaid codes cover your subscription for a set period (usually one month or three months). When the code expires, Crunchyroll will attempt to charge your linked payment method for the next billing cycle. If no payment method is on file, your account is suspended. Add a payment method to your account before your prepaid period ends if you want to keep your subscription active.

Does Crunchyroll charge sales tax?

Yes, depending on your location. Crunchyroll adds sales tax to your bill in states and countries that require it. The tax rate depends on where you are located, not where Crunchyroll is based. Your statement shows the subscription price and tax separately, or combined into a single charge, depending on your payment method.

What happens if I move to a different country?

Crunchyroll's pricing and available content vary by region. If you move, your account may be restricted or your plan may change. Contact Crunchyroll support to update your location and payment method. You may need to use a payment method from your new country, and your subscription price may change based on regional pricing.

Can I get a refund if I paid for a month I did not use?

Crunchyroll does not refund unused subscription time. Once you are charged for a billing cycle, you have access to the service through your renewal date, regardless of whether you use it. If you want to avoid charges, cancel before your renewal date. If you were charged in error or see a duplicate charge, contact support with your transaction details.