Finding out where can I watch Highschool DxD is surprisingly annoying for a show that’s basically a pillar of the "ecchi" genre. You’d think a series with four seasons and a massive cult following would be everywhere. It isn't. Licensing deals are messy, regions are locked, and if you aren't careful, you’ll end up on a site that tries to install a crypto-miner on your laptop.
Is it worth the hassle? Honestly, yeah. Most people come for the "plot" (you know what I mean) but they stay because Issei Hyoudou is actually a decent protagonist and the Babylonian/Biblical lore mashup is genuinely creative. But we aren't here for a review. We're here to find a stream that doesn't buffer every five seconds.
The Big Players: Hulu and Crunchyroll
If you’re in the United States, your first stop is almost always Crunchyroll. They currently hold the most stable streaming rights for the series. You can find all four seasons there: the original Highschool DxD, New, BorN, and Hero.
One thing that trips people up is the "uncensored" vs. "broadcast" versions. Crunchyroll usually defaults to the broadcast version unless you poke around in the settings or check specific season entries. It’s a weird quirk of anime licensing where the "home video" versions (which remove those pesky white lights and steam clouds) are sometimes siloed off.
Hulu is the other heavy hitter. They have a solid relationship with Funimation (which is now basically absorbed into Crunchyroll/Sony), so they carry the show too. However, Hulu’s library can be a bit spotty with the OVAs. If you want the full experience, including those weird side stories that bridge the seasons, Crunchyroll is usually the safer bet for completionists.
What Happened to Funimation?
You might see old forums from 2019 or 2021 telling you to go to Funimation. Don't.
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Sony bought Crunchyroll and Funimation, and they’ve spent the last few years migrating everything to the orange brand. The Funimation app is basically a ghost town now. If you still have a login there, it might work, but you’re better off just moving your account over to Crunchyroll. It saves the headache of dealing with an app that rarely gets updated anymore.
The Regional Lockdown Problem
This is where it gets frustrating. If you’re in the UK, Canada, or Australia, the answer to where can I watch Highschool DxD changes.
In the UK, Crunchyroll still dominates, but sometimes specific seasons disappear due to local distribution deals with companies like Manga Entertainment. In Australia, AnimeLab used to be the go-to, but since they also merged into Crunchyroll, that’s your primary destination.
What if you’re in a region where it’s just... gone?
It happens. Licenses expire. Sometimes a local broadcaster buys the rights and then does absolutely nothing with them. In these cases, a VPN is your best friend. Setting your location to the US or Japan usually unlocks the full library. Just keep in mind that Netflix Japan has the show, but it rarely has English subtitles. It’s great if you’re practicing your Japanese, but a nightmare if you actually want to follow the devil-politics of the Gremory clan.
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The Censorship Minefield
Let's be real. If you’re looking for Highschool DxD, you probably want the uncensored version. The broadcast version uses "holy light" to cover up the fanservice, and it’s distracting. It ruins the art.
To get the uncensored version legally, you are looking for the Home Video (HV) versions.
- Crunchyroll: Check the version settings on the video player.
- Physical Media: Honestly, buying the Blu-rays is the only 100% way to ensure you own the "true" version.
- Digital Stores: Platforms like Apple TV or Microsoft Store sell the seasons. Check the descriptions carefully. If it mentions "TV Version," keep your wallet in your pocket.
Why Season 3 (BorN) is the Black Sheep
When you start your binge, you’ll notice something weird about Season 3. It’s called Highschool DxD BorN.
The studio at the time, TNK, decided to go "anime-original" for the ending. They ignored the light novels and just did their own thing. Fans hated it. The author of the light novels, Ichiei Ishibumi, wasn't exactly thrilled either. This is why Season 4 (Hero) looks so different—it was handled by a different studio (Passione) and they had to spend the first episode basically retconning the end of Season 3 to get back on track with the books.
So, when you're watching, just know that Season 3 is the weird middle child. It's still worth watching for the fight scenes, but don't get too attached to the plot points at the very end.
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The Netflix and Amazon Situation
Does Netflix have it? Usually, no. Not in the US, anyway.
Netflix occasionally licenses anime for a year or two and then lets them drop. They prefer "Netflix Originals" these days. Amazon Prime Video is a different story. You can often find Highschool DxD there, but it’s usually through a "Crunchyroll Channel" add-on. You pay your Prime subscription, and then you pay an extra fee for the anime channel. It’s a bit of a price gouge if you ask me. Just go to the source and get a standalone Crunchyroll sub. It’s cheaper and the interface is actually built for anime.
Is it on YouTube?
Not legally. You might find "episodes" that are actually just clips or videos with a weird border and high-pitched audio to dodge copyright bots. Save yourself the trouble. It’s a miserable way to watch a show that actually has pretty high production values in the later seasons.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
Don't just click the first link you see on Google. Follow this path:
- Check Crunchyroll first. It is the most consistent platform for all four seasons.
- Verify the Version. Look for the "Home Video" or "Uncut" tag if you want the uncensored experience.
- Watch the OVAs. There are specialized episodes (like the "Boobies Are Full" OVA—yes, that's the real name) that aren't always in the main season playlist. Search for them specifically.
- Mind the Studio Shift. Prepare yourself for the art style change between Season 3 and Season 4. Season 4 (Hero) looks more like the original light novel illustrations, which some people find "softer," but the animation quality is actually higher.
- Use an Ad-Blocker. If you absolutely must use a free "grey area" site because your country is blocked, for the love of your computer, use uBlock Origin.
If you're still coming up empty, the Blu-ray "Classics" sets from Crunchyroll are usually around $30 to $40 and include the digital copy. It’s a one-time payment to never have to hunt for a working stream again.
The series is currently in a weird limbo regarding a Season 5. There’s plenty of source material left, but the gap since 2018 has been long. Watching it on official platforms like Crunchyroll or Hulu is the only way to actually show the producers there’s still demand for Issei’s story to continue.
Check your local listings on Crunchyroll first, toggle the "Uncut" setting in your account preferences, and start with Season 1 Episode 1. Skip the filler summaries if you’re short on time, but definitely don't skip Season 4 just because the art changed; it's arguably the best written part of the entire animated run.