11 Best AniWave Alternatives for Free Anime Streaming In 2025

AniWave, formerly known as 9anime, was once a go-to site for free anime streaming. You could stream and download thousands of titles in high quality without paying a cent. Although it shut down back in August 2024, anime fans still have plenty of AniWave alternatives to dive into. Below are the best free sites like AniWave still working in 2025.

Is AniWave Down or Not Working for You?

Short answer: AniWave is officially down.

In August 2024, Vietnamese police shut down several popular illegal streaming sites, including AniWave, FMovies, and a few clone domains. Ever since, users have been left hanging with broken links and site errors. While the official domain of AniWave or 9anime is gone, there still remain some proxy sites.

So, is AniWave safe anymore? Honestly, not really. It’s best to avoid shady mirror domains and switch to reliable, safe AniWave alternatives instead. Check out the 11 handpicked sites like AniWave that anime fans are loving in 2025 in the next part.

Top 11 AniWave Alternatives to Watch Anime in 2025

Fans love AniWave for its massive library, high-quality streams (even for old shows), reliable servers, years-long track record, and both hard/soft subtitle support in multiple languages. Now that it's gone, here are 11 trusted sites that can fill the AniWave-sized hole in your anime-watching heart:

1 HiAnime

Website: https://hianimez.to/

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Rebranded from Zoro.to and AniWatch.to, HiAnime has quickly become a top-tier pick among anime fans. This AniWave alternative mirrors the clean design and intuitive interface of its predecessors, while offering a huge anime collection across all genres. It also supports soft subtitles in multiple languages, making it a great option for international viewers. Just be ready to deal with some occasional subtitle glitches.

2 AnimeZ

Website: https://animez.org/

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AnimeZ is a direct response to AniWave’s shutdown—and it shows. The site has intentionally cloned AniWave’s subtitle library and streaming style, offering a familiar experience for returning users. With a vast catalog and self-hosted servers, it delivers stable playback for most titles. However, its search engine feels outdated, and it doesn’t let users adjust the video quality, which might be a deal-breaker for those with slower connections or picky preferences.

3 Animeflix

Website: https://animeflix.ltd/

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Animeflix brings flexibility to the table with a blend of scraped content and its own hosted media. That means you often get multiple options for a single anime—great if you’re looking for better subs, dubs, or higher quality. Its smooth interface and wide language support also make it ideal for bilingual or multilingual viewers. However, not everything is consistently available, and its history in the scene is relatively short, which may impact long-term reliability.

4 Kaido

Website: https://kaido.to/home

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Kaido is basically the spiritual successor to both Zoro and aniwatch.to, and it carries their legacy forward with style. If you're looking for a sleek anime streaming site with a huge selection of titles—from trending shows to hidden gems—Kaido delivers. Subtitles are available in multiple languages, and the site is optimized for smooth performance on both desktop and mobile. But like its predecessors, it still struggles with annoying ads and less-than-perfect subtitle formatting.

5 AnimeStream

Website: https://anime.uniquestream.net/

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AnimeStream is your go-to if you’re all about video quality. It consistently delivers top-tier resolution and audio. While its content library is smaller—focusing mostly on Crunchyroll titles—it covers many of the most popular series. The interface is minimalist and user-friendly, which is great for distraction-free binging. Still, it has a relatively short track record, and its maintenance downtime can be frustrating.

6 Animixplay

Website: https://animixplay.fun/

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Animixplay has a loyal fanbase thanks to its simplicity and reliability. It reuploads content from Gogoanime and hosts it on its own servers, which helps cut down buffering. It’s especially convenient for users who want no-frills access to anime without the flashy designs or extra features. However, there's no option to change video quality, and the site’s name is often confused with similarly named clones or fakes, which can be sketchy.

7 KickAssAnime

Website: https://kaa.mx/

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If you're after the latest anime episodes in top-notch quality, KickAssAnime might just live up to its bold name. It offers a sleek, modern interface and high video bitrate for a premium viewing experience. Subtitles are soft and multilingual. That said, its library isn’t the biggest, and older titles are noticeably missing. The dub section also feels half-baked, with many broken links that can frustrate viewers.

8 AnimeSuge

Website: https://animesuge.skin/

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AnimeSuge is a fast-growing alternative to AniWave that aims to make anime streaming simple and accessible. With support for multiple sources and language options, it’s user-friendly and flexible. The modern interface makes navigation a breeze. However, since it scrapes content from external sources, availability and quality can be inconsistent. It’s also a relatively new site, so its long-term reliability is still up in the air.

9 AnimeKai

Website: https://animekai.to/home

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AnimeKai is a rising star among anime streamers, especially if you’re hunting for classic titles in high quality. It combines a modern layout with a massive, actively updated library. Whether you're into subs or dubs, hard or soft subtitles—AnimeKai supports it all. It also hosts its own reliable stream servers, meaning less lag and fewer crashes. The only real downside? It’s a newer site, so it hasn’t been tested over the long haul yet.

10 Animepahe

Website: https://animepahe.ru/

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Animepahe is a veteran in the anime streaming world. Known for its curated fansub releases and consistent video quality, this site keeps things simple but effective. It doesn’t overwhelm you with flashy features—instead, it focuses on smooth playback, small data usage, and clean navigation. It’s not the largest library, but it covers a solid selection. Dubs are available, though not always visible at first glance and definitely not the platform’s main focus.

11 Anime Nexus

Website: https://anime.nexus/

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Anime Nexus is a sleek anime streaming website like AniWave, offering high-definition anime with soft subtitles in various languages. It’s optimized for quality, especially when it comes to video bitrate and subtitle support. The site’s modern design makes for an enjoyable viewing experience. However, the library leans on the smaller side, and compatibility issues on certain browsers or devices may hinder access for some users.

Legal vs. Free Anime Streaming Sites: What You Should Know

Let’s face it—free anime sites are tempting. But before you hit “play,” here’s what you should know.

Legal Streaming Platforms

• 100% Safe & Legal – No malware, phishing, or copyright worries
• Official Subtitles & Dubs – Professionally translated
• High-Quality Streaming – HD/4K with stable servers
• Paywalls – Most require subscriptions or have limited free access
• Geo-Restrictions – Some anime are locked by region
• Delayed Releases – Some titles arrive later than on fan-driven sites

Free Streaming Sites

• Totally Free – No subscription, no signup, just stream
• Massive Libraries – Old, rare, and subbed versions often included
• Fast Updates – New episodes sometimes drop minutes after airing
• Multi-language Subs & Dubs – Especially on fan-subbed sites
• Ads Galore – Expect pop-ups, fake “Download” buttons, and shady redirects
• Safety Risks – Malware, trackers, and phishing attempts are common
• Inconsistent Quality – Subtitles may be poorly timed or mistranslated
• Legality – Most of these sites operate in a legal gray zone (or not legal at all)

If you go the free route, be smart. Use ad blockers, antivirus tools, and always double-check links before clicking. Or better yet—consider using VPNs if you’re just trying to watch region-locked content without compromising safety.

Bonus: How to Download Anime from Any AniWave Alternative Using Fildown

Let’s say you’ve found the perfect anime episode—but your favorite site doesn’t offer a download button. That’s where iRocket Fildown comes in clutch. Free video downloader Fildown lets you save anime episodes from most streaming sites—including popular AniWave alternatives and even platforms like Niconico.

FAQs About Sites like AniWave

1 Is AniWave safe to use?

While AniWave offered a vast anime library, it wasn't officially licensed—meaning it came with potential risks like malware, invasive ads, or phishing links. Always use an ad blocker and avoid clicking suspicious pop-ups if you're using unofficial streaming sites.

2 How do I download something on AniWave (or similar sites)?

Most AniWave alternatives don’t offer direct downloads. However, tools like Fildown let you download anime episodes from supported sites. Just copy the episode link, paste it into Fildown, and download in your preferred format.

Anime Downloader Fildown

Free Video Downloader for 1,000 sites

Try It Free See Pricing

Available for:

168,282 users have downloaded

• Ready to power up your anime stash? Don’t let good episodes vanish into the void. Use Fildown to save, convert, and binge your favorite shows—your way, on your time. Try it once, and you’ll never stream the same again.
• 👉 Paste. Download. Enjoy. Simple as that.

Final Thoughts

To wrap it up—AniWave might be gone, but there are plenty of great AniWave alternatives out there in 2025. Whether you’re after smooth streaming, solid subs, or old classics in HD, sites like AnimeZ, HiAnime, and AnimeKai have you covered. With the right AniWave replacement, you won’t miss a beat. Just pick what fits your vibe—and stream smart!