Anime has captured the hearts of millions across the globe, with a massive following here in the UK. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the world of anime, finding the right platform to stream your favourite shows is essential.
HiAnime, a popular name among anime fans, has been one of the go-to options for streaming anime online. But, with the rise of copyright regulations and concerns over legality, it’s essential to understand what HiAnime is, whether it’s safe to use, and what alternatives exist for anime lovers looking for free streaming options.
In this blog, we’ll explore what HiAnime is, why it gained popularity, and provide a list of the top 12 free anime streaming alternatives that are safe, legal, and accessible for UK viewers.
What is HiAnime?
HiAnime is an anime streaming platform that gained popularity among anime enthusiasts for offering a wide range of shows for free. Users flocked to HiAnime for its extensive catalogue, which included everything from the latest episodes of ongoing series to classic titles.
The platform was especially known for providing high-quality streaming without the need for a subscription or premium account. However, despite its popularity, HiAnime has faced challenges related to legality and security.
Like many free streaming platforms, HiAnime operates in a grey area of the law, as it offers content without proper licensing. This raises concerns about its safety, legality, and the risk of malware or privacy breaches for users.
Is HiAnime Legal and Safe?
While HiAnime attracted many users for its free and easy access to anime, it operates outside of legal streaming channels. The content available on HiAnime is often not licensed, making its use legally questionable. Streaming copyrighted content from such platforms can potentially lead to legal repercussions, depending on local laws and regulations.
Another concern with HiAnime is user safety. Free streaming sites like HiAnime often come with security risks, such as malware, intrusive ads, and the possibility of personal data breaches. Users may encounter pop-up ads, hidden downloads, and other threats that can compromise their devices or privacy.
Given these risks, it’s crucial for anime fans to consider legal and safe alternatives when looking for places to stream anime.
Why Did HiAnime Gain Popularity?
Despite the risks, HiAnime gained a massive following due to its accessibility and range of content. The platform stood out because:
- Variety of Content: HiAnime offered a vast selection of anime titles, from mainstream hits to lesser-known gems.
- Free Access: Users could stream shows without having to pay for a subscription, making it appealing to those who didn’t want to commit to premium services.
- User-Friendly Interface: HiAnime had a simple, intuitive design that allowed users to navigate easily and find the shows they wanted.
- High-Quality Streams: Many users appreciated the quality of the video streams, which were often available in HD.
HiAnime vs Other Anime Streaming Platforms
When compared to other platforms, HiAnime’s main advantage was its free access to a large variety of anime. However, it had significant downsides compared to legal alternatives:
- Legality: Legal platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation are licensed to stream content, ensuring users aren’t breaking copyright laws.
- User Safety: Paid platforms provide a secure experience without the risk of malware or intrusive ads.
- Exclusive Content: Legal platforms often have exclusive licensing deals, offering anime that can’t be found on free streaming sites like HiAnime.
While HiAnime may have seemed convenient, legal services offer a safer, more reliable experience for viewers.
Is HiAnime Still Available in the UK?
In recent years, there have been reports of HiAnime being restricted or shut down in various countries, including the UK. This is likely due to increased scrutiny over illegal streaming platforms and copyright enforcement by authorities.
Currently, access to HiAnime may be limited or blocked for UK users, depending on internet service providers and local regulations.
For those who were using HiAnime, it’s essential to find alternative platforms that are both legal and safe. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options for anime fans.
Top 12 Free Anime Streaming Alternatives to HiAnime
1. Aniwatch
Aniwatch is a popular platform that has garnered attention for offering a vast library of anime content, including both subbed and dubbed shows. What sets Aniwatch apart from other free streaming sites is its clean, ad-free interface.
It offers high-definition streams and allows users to create accounts to save their progress and favourite series. However, as with many free streaming services, its legality is unclear. Users are advised to exercise caution, as it could potentially be taken down at any time due to copyright violations.
- Pros: No intrusive ads, large library, HD streaming
- Cons: Uncertain legality, potential security risks
Website: aniwatchtv.to
2. 9Anime
9Anime is one of the most well-known anime streaming websites for its extensive collection of high-quality anime series. Users can find nearly any anime they are looking for, ranging from current episodes of ongoing series to older classics.
The site provides multiple streaming links, ensuring availability even if one link is broken. However, like HiAnime, it operates in a legal grey area. While 9Anime is free to use, visitors should be cautious of ads and potential risks from downloading or clicking on unfamiliar links.
- Pros: Massive anime library, multiple servers, HD quality
- Cons: Legal risks, intrusive ads, potential for malware
Website: 9animetv.to
3. Aniwave
Aniwave is another prominent anime streaming site known for its simple layout and a wide range of anime series and movies. It offers good streaming quality and a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to browse and find anime by genre or release year.
However, Aniwave also faces issues regarding legality, as it hosts unlicensed content. Its site is relatively ad-heavy, which can lead to a cluttered experience and potential security risks.
- Pros: Extensive collection, easy navigation
- Cons: Legally questionable, too many ads
Website: aniwave.se
4. Kaido
Kaido is a lesser-known but growing anime streaming site that offers a simple and streamlined experience for anime fans. The platform focuses on providing a fast and reliable streaming service for users who want quick access to popular anime shows.
While Kaido doesn’t boast the same volume of content as 9Anime or Aniwatch, it makes up for it by offering an uninterrupted viewing experience. As with other free services, though, Kaido is not licensed and carries the same legal risks.
- Pros: Simple design, reliable streaming
- Cons: Smaller library, uncertain legality
Website: kaido.to
5. Aniplay
Aniplay is another free streaming platform that allows users to watch a wide range of anime for free. The site has a reputation for its fast loading times and minimal lag during streams. Users can browse anime series by categories such as “popular” or “newly added.”
However, like other free anime sites, Aniplay does not offer legally licensed content. Furthermore, there are risks of encountering malware or unwanted downloads due to its ad-heavy nature.
- Pros: Fast streaming, easy browsing options
- Cons: Legal risks, potential malware issues
Website: aniplaynow.live
6. GoGoAnime
GoGoAnime is a widely used platform in the anime community, known for its massive library of both dubbed and subbed content. It offers anime across various genres, including shonen, shojo, and slice of life, making it a favourite for anime enthusiasts.
The site updates quickly, often uploading new episodes soon after they air in Japan. While GoGoAnime offers convenient access, it operates illegally, and users need to be careful when clicking on ads or downloading content from the site.
- Pros: Extensive collection, regular updates, dubbed anime
- Cons: Legal concerns, security risks, many ads
Website: ww8.gogoanimes.org
7. AnimeTake
AnimeTake is a free platform with a straightforward interface, offering access to a large selection of anime. Unlike some of its competitors, AnimeTake prioritises fast loading times and an easy user experience.
However, while it doesn’t require users to sign up for an account, it hosts unlicensed content and thus operates illegally. Like other sites in the same category, it’s prone to being taken down without warning, and users should avoid downloading from suspicious ads.
- Pros: Fast loading, easy navigation
- Cons: Legal grey area, ad-heavy site
Website: animetake.su
8. Chia-Anime
Chia-Anime has been a longstanding favourite among anime fans, especially for those looking to watch anime from the 2000s or earlier. The site is known for its retro-style interface, and it offers a large collection of both older and current anime shows.
In addition to anime, Chia-Anime also provides access to manga and soundtracks, making it a great option for those who enjoy exploring Japanese pop culture beyond just shows. However, as with many free sites, Chia-Anime operates without legal licensing and carries the associated risks.
- Pros: Extensive collection of older anime, manga and soundtracks
- Cons: Outdated design, legality concerns, ad-heavy
Website: chia-anime.su
9. Netlify
Netlify is not traditionally known as an anime streaming site, but it is sometimes used to host streaming services or user-generated content, including anime. It is a web development platform that can be configured to host different media projects.
While you may find anime content here, it is typically not a dedicated platform for streaming, and the content is usually uploaded without proper licensing. Additionally, the quality and reliability of streams can vary greatly.
- Pros: Potential for finding hidden gems, user-generated content
- Cons: Not a dedicated anime platform, legality concerns, unreliable streams
Website: kaidoanime.netlify.app
10. iQIYI
iQIYI is a Chinese streaming service that has become popular for offering a variety of content, including anime. Unlike many free anime platforms, iQIYI is a legal and licensed platform, providing a secure viewing experience.
The service offers both free and premium plans, allowing users to access some anime content without a subscription. It has an easy-to-use interface and streams content in high definition. However, access to some shows might require a paid account, and not all anime titles are available for free users.
- Pros: Legal and licensed, HD streaming, ad-supported free plan
- Cons: Limited free content, premium required for full access
Website: www.iq.com/anime
11. Zoro TV
Zoro TV is a relatively new player in the anime streaming world, offering a broad range of subbed and dubbed anime for free. It features a sleek and modern design that makes browsing its library easy.
The platform provides multiple streaming servers, ensuring a consistent experience for users. Like other free platforms, however, Zoro TV is not licensed, and it relies on advertisements to maintain its service. This poses both legal risks and security threats.
- Pros: Modern interface, extensive anime library, multiple servers
- Cons: Legal issues, ad-supported model, potential security risks
Website: zoroto.live
12. Yidio
Yidio is a content aggregation platform that allows users to find and stream movies and TV shows, including anime. It doesn’t host content itself but directs users to legal streaming services that carry the show they’re looking for.
While some anime on Yidio is available for free, others may require a subscription to a third-party service like Hulu or Crunchyroll. The biggest benefit of Yidio is that it provides legal streaming options, though it may not always be free.
- Pros: Aggregates legal content, easy to use
- Cons: Limited free content, may redirect to paid services
Website: www.yidio.com/category/anime
How to Choose the Best Anime Streaming Platform?
When selecting an anime streaming platform, it’s important to consider several factors:
- Legality: Always ensure the platform is legal and licensed to stream the anime you’re watching. This helps avoid any potential legal issues.
- Safety: Legal platforms are generally safer, with fewer risks of malware, pop-up ads, or privacy concerns.
- Catalogue Size: The best platforms offer a wide variety of anime genres and titles to suit your interests.
- User Experience: A clean, user-friendly interface can enhance your viewing experience and make it easier to find shows.
While free platforms like HiAnime can be tempting, it’s worth considering legal services for a more secure, reliable experience.
Conclusion
HiAnime was once a popular choice for anime lovers, but its legal status and potential safety risks make it a less-than-ideal option in today’s streaming landscape.
Fortunately, there are many alternatives, both free and legal, that offer a vast array of anime content for UK viewers. By choosing safe, licensed platforms, you can enjoy your favourite anime without the worry of legal trouble or security risks.
FAQs
Is HiAnime safe to use in the UK?
HiAnime is not considered safe due to its association with illegal streaming and potential malware risks. Users are advised to seek legal alternatives.
What are the risks of using illegal anime streaming sites?
Risks include exposure to malware, data breaches, and legal consequences for streaming unlicensed content.
Can I find English-dubbed anime on free streaming sites?
Yes, many free platforms offer dubbed anime, though the quality and legality may vary.
What is the best legal anime streaming platform in the UK?
Crunchyroll and Funimation are popular legal platforms offering a vast array of anime for UK viewers.
Are free anime streaming sites legal?
Most free anime streaming sites operate in a legal grey area or are outright illegal. It’s best to use licensed services.
How can I access premium anime services legally?
Premium services like Crunchyroll and Funimation offer subscription options that grant legal access to a large catalogue of anime.
Can I watch anime in high-definition for free?
Some free sites offer HD streams, but they may be illegal and carry security risks. Legal platforms often provide high-definition streams through subscriptions.
