While it has been receiving pretty mixed reviews overall, no one can really deny the fact that Sword Art Online is one of the most popular isekai series of all time. While SAO does have its flaws, I believe that it is still a pretty enjoyable watch with an awesome concept. You will especially love this anime if you are new to the isekai genre! Today, I’ll tell you guys about the 5 best places to watch Sword Art Online. Like Always, I’ll also be telling you guys about a few websites that let you purchase the Blu-ray version of the series if you are a dedicated fan.
Sword Art Online Plot
The story of Sword Art Online takes place in the year 2022. Humanity has progressed a lot in the field of VR, and thanks to the new NerveGear technology, players can now control their in-game avatars using their thoughts. Sword Art Online is a new and exciting game that uses this technology. Our protagonist named Kirito, and thousands of other players all over Japan log into the game as soon as it gets released. However, the players soon realize that they are not able to log out.
Where to Watch Sword Art Online
1. Crunchyroll
2. Funimation
3. Hulu
4. Wakanim
5. Amazon Prime
PLEASE NOTE: All the platforms mentioned in this article are legal, so you will have to pay for a better experience.
1. Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is definitely the best platform for watching Sword Art Online as it lets you watch the entire series for free. The platform has both subbed and dubbed versions of the series, and you even get access to the Sword Art Online Ordinal Scale movie. You will have to pay in order to unlock certain episodes and get an ad-free experience.
Pros:
- The entire series is available to watch in English and Japanese.
- You can watch the entire thing for free if you don’t mind the ads.
- There is a huge library of other popular anime available on the platform as well.
Cons:
- You can only watch anime on this platform.
- Most anime are only available in Japanese.
Price:
You can get the Fan package of Crunchyroll for only 7.99 USD per month and watch all the anime and dramas available on the platform without ads. You can pay a bit more to enjoy extra perks as well. The most expensive package costs 14.99 USD per month.
2. Funimation
The second best place for watching sword art online is Funimation. Just like Crunchyroll, you can watch almost the entire series for free. However, the latest seasons are only accessible in Japanese. You will also have to pay in order to watch the Ordinal Scale movie.
Pros:
- The entire series can be watched in English and Japanese.
- You can watch most of the episodes for free.
Cons:
- You can only watch anime on this platform.
Price:
The most affordable package on the website only costs 5.99 USD per month, but you can pay up to 99.99 USD per year for the best experience.
3. Hulu
The entire series is available on Hulu as well, but you will have to buy a subscription or use the free trial in order to watch it. While you can watch most of the series in English or Japanese, the latest season is only available in Japanese.
Pros:
- The entire series is available on the platform in English and Japanese.
- You can watch a few other anime series and a lot of drama series on this platform as well.
Cons:
- You can’t watch anything for free.
- The most affordable package of Hulu includes ads.
Price:
The first package of Hulu starts at only 5.99 USD per month. However, this package does include annoying ads. You can pay 11.99 USD per month to get rid of all ads and get the complete streaming experience.
4. Wakanim
Wakanim is a relatively less popular option on this list that is still pretty viable. You can watch the entire series for free on the platform. However, you will have to pay in order to watch the Ordinal Scale movie. The only thing stopping Wakanim from being at the top of this list is the fact that this platform is only accessible in a few countries.
You can still access the content on Wakanim by using a VPN!
How to Watch Sword Art Online on Wakanim via VPN
- Purchase (or start a free trial) of a VPN.
- In the settings, choose the Netherlands as your location.
- Fire up the VPN and wait for it to do its magic.
- Once you’re connected, navigate to Wakanim and enjoy your anime!
IMPORTANT: Try clearing your browser cache if you still can’t watch the anime.
Pros:
- You can watch the entire series for free.
Cons:
- The anime is only available in Japanese.
- You will probably have to use a VPN.
Price:
Wakanim lets you purchase individual collections of anime, so the price varies.
5. Amazon Prime
Sword Art Online is also available on Amazon Prime, but it is definitely not the best place to watch the series online. The availability of episodes depends on your region, and you can’t watch the Ordinal Scale movie.
Pros:
- Every episode that you purchase can be saved forever.
Cons:
- You have to buy individual episodes, which can be very pricy.
- The entire series is not available.
Price:
The price of individual episodes is different. You can purchase most episodes for 1.99 USD each.
Watch Sword Art Online in Blu-ray
If you really want to experience the awesome animation of Sword Art Online in all its glory, then I’d definitely recommend investing in the Blu-Ray version of the series. Buying the Blu-Ray disks also directly helps out the original creators of the series.
Below, I have compiled a few places that let you purchase the first Blu-Ray collection of Sword Art Online at an affordable price:
https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Online-Season-BLURAY-Boxed/dp/B073GJV7BD
https://www.swordart-onlineusa.com/package/bd_box.html
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sword-Art-Online-Box-Set-Blu-ray/187236/
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Sword-Art-Online-Box-Set-Blu-ray
If you’re looking to watch other shounen anime as well, then check out our other articles about the best places to watch Naruto and Fairy Tail.
