Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z, Super & GT in Order in 2024: A How to Guide
Loved by fans from all corners of the globe, 'Dragon Ball' (1986) and its subsequent installments are among the most legendary anime series of all time. From the watch order to where it's available, we’ll tell you all about how and where to watch 'Dragon Ball.'
Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated: 2024-09-30T20:54:48+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Watch Dragon Ball With a VPN
- Sign up for NordVPN by going to its website and grabbing a 73% discounted plan.
- Download the VPN’s app on your computer or smartphone.
- Connect to a server in a country where ‘Dragon Ball’ is available, like the U.S., and open Crunchyroll to start streaming the series.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Dragon Ball Watch Order — Chronological
- ‘Dragon Ball’ (1986-1989)
- ‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989-1996) or ‘Dragon Ball Kai’ (2009-2011 & 2014-2015 — recut version of ‘Dragon Ball Z’)
- ‘Super Dragon Ball Heroes’ (2018-present — non-canon web series)
- ‘Dragon Ball Super’ (2015-2018)
- ‘Dragon Ball GT’ (1996-1997)
- ‘Dragon Ball DAIMA’ (2024 fall release scheduled)
Based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, who recently passed away, the anime franchise ‘Dragon Ball’ takes viewers on a journey through the life of Son Goku, a martial artist with a monkey tail. Son Goku grows from a young martial arts trainee into the world’s strongest fighter and makes it his mission to keep the universe safe. In this guide, we explain how and where to watch ‘Dragon Ball.’
In some countries, it’s easy to watch ‘Dragon Ball’ on Crunchyroll, and some episodes are free. However, if you’re in a location where ‘Dragon Ball’ isn’t offered in Crunchyroll’s library (like Austria or Denmark), you’ll need a helping hand.
This comes in the form of a reliable VPN service like NordVPN, which switches your IP address. Keep scrolling to learn how to use a VPN to stream ‘Dragon Ball’ from anywhere.
Not available in your country?
Watch Dragon Ball Super now on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming platforms.
Status checked 2024/11/03:
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09/30/2021
Updated the article to reflect current streaming platforms where Dragon Ball is available, added step-by-step instructions on how to use a VPN to watch Dragon Ball.
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05/17/2024 Facts checked
Rewritten to include current information on where to watch all ‘Dragon Ball’ series.
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10/01/2024
We updated the VPN choice to incorporate the latest user feedback and expert evaluations.
How to Watch Dragon Ball in Order
In this guide, we’ll cover how and where to watch all series in the ‘Dragon Ball’ franchise (excluding movies and TV specials), from the original ‘Dragon Ball’ to the most recent episodes.
The release order is different from the chronological viewing order, so we’ve arranged this table chronologically to outline which streaming platforms host each series before we go into more detail later on.
Crunchyroll is available in many countries, but ‘Dragon Ball’ and its sequels aren’t on the streaming platform in every country (Austria, Denmark and Sweden are a few examples that don’t have ‘Dragon Ball’ on Crunchyroll). We’ll note some of the countries that do offer it here. In addition, you can buy some series on the Microsoft Store in certain countries.
| Chronology: | Where to Watch | Crunchyroll Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Dragon Ball‘ (1986) | 1. Crunchyroll (various countries) 2. Hulu (U.S., Japan) | 🇺🇸 U.S. 🇬🇧 U.K. 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇫🇷 France 🇧🇷 Brazil* | N/A |
| ‘Dragon Ball Z‘ (1989) | 1. Crunchyroll (various countries) 2. Hulu (Japan) | 🇺🇸 U.S. 🇬🇧 U.K. 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇷 Brazil* | ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ (2009, the recut version) is not on Crunchyroll in the U.S., though it is on Hulu. It’s on Crunchyroll in several Latin American countries, but with no English subtitles or dubbing. |
| ‘Super Dragon Ball Heroes‘ (2018, non-canon) | 1. YouTube (Various countries, including the U.S.) | N/A | This series is currently ongoing. A few episodes are missing from the dedicated YouTube playlist. |
| ‘Dragon Ball Super‘ (2015) | 1. Crunchyroll (various countries) 2. Hulu (U.S.) 3. BBC iPlayer (U.K.) | 🇺🇸 U.S. 🇬🇧 U.K. 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇷 Brazil* | BBC iPlayer has all episodes free to stream. Connect to a U.K. server if you’re abroad. Click “yes” when asked if you have a TV license. |
| ‘Dragon Ball GT‘ (1996) | 1. Crunchyroll (various countries) 2. Hulu (U.S., Japan) | 🇺🇸 U.S. 🇬🇧 U.K. 🇨🇦 Canada 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇷 Brazil* | N/A |
Dragon Ball Z vs Kai Explained
‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ (2009) is a recut version of ‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989). According to CBR, while the two series are the same at their core, several changes were made to ‘Kai.’ These include a new soundtrack, dialogue changes to be more faithful to the manga, new voice actors for some characters, less “filler” material, and changes to the openings and endings. Kai is also censored to make it less gory.
Where Is Dragon Ball Streaming?
Here, we’ll explore where you can watch each ‘Dragon Ball’ series online (in release order), and then we’ll get into how to watch them from anywhere with a VPN. Note that getting Crunchyroll Premium — which has a seven-day free trial — will unlock all episodes on the platform.
Some of the episodes on Crunchyroll are free with ads; however, this can differ by country. For example, when we checked out ‘Dragon Ball Super’ on Crunchyroll, we found that some episodes were free in Australia and the U.S. By contrast, there were no free episodes for that series in Brazil.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball (1986)
episodes are free on Crunchyroll.
Watch On:
- Crunchyroll (various countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada & more)
- (U.S., Japan)
‘Dragon Ball’ (1986) follows a monkey-tailed boy called Son Goku as he heads off on a quest with his friends — including the genius, Bulma — to find seven Dragon Balls. These enchanted balls have the power to grant a wish to those who bear them, but villains keep getting in the way.
Master Roshi (Goku’s trainer) and Krillin (Goku’s martial arts partner) are other infamous characters introduced in the first series.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z (1989)
Watch On:
- Crunchyroll (various locations, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada & more)
- (Japan)
‘Dragon Ball Z’ episodes see an adult Goku — now the world’s strongest fighter — battle androids, aliens and other curious creatures to keep the planet safe. We also meet Goku’s son Gohan, who is on the path to discovering and developing his own martial arts talent.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball GT (1996)
but exceptions include France, Austria and Germany.
Watch On:
- Crunchyroll (various countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada & more)
- (U.S., Japan)
The sequel to ‘Dragon Ball Z’ centers around Son Goku, his friends and his granddaughter as they seek out the Black Star Dragon Balls. This time, the balls are dispersed across the universe, and Son Goku and his associates must hunt them down before Earth pays the price.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009)
Watch On:
- Crunchyroll (many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile & more)
- (U.S., Japan)
‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ is a newer, fresher take on ‘Dragon Ball Z.’ It’s the same series except for the sound, visual and dialogue changes that were made to ‘Kai’ (learn more about this in the “Dragon Ball Z vs Kai” section further up). Some fans have expressed that they prefer ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai’ because it’s closer to the original manga.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball Super (2015)
Watch On:
- Crunchyroll (various countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada & more)
- (U.S.)
- (U.K.)
‘Dragon Ball Super’ (2015) is set after Majin Buu’s defeat. Now living in peace, Goku has taken up work as a farmer. However, as with all the ‘Dragon Ball’ series, it’s not long before harmony is shattered. Beerus, the God of Destruction, is about to head for Earth.
Where to Watch Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018)
available, but we found it on YouTube.
‘Super Dragon Ball Heroes’ (2018-present) is an ongoing, non-canon web series. Goku and his friends must compete against some formidable foes in the Super Space-Time Tournament. You can watch many episodes of this series on YouTube, though some are missing. While some are available in 480p, certain episodes have higher-quality streaming options.
How to Watch Dragon Ball Anime Series Online With a VPN
If you want to watch ‘Dragon Ball’ on Crunchyroll but it’s unavailable in your location, don’t worry: You can get a new IP address with a VPN that works with Crunchyroll to stream the series. Here’s how to do it.
You can use this method for other geoblocked streaming services. For example, if you’re outside the U.K. but want to access ‘Dragon Ball Super’ for free on BBC iPlayer, you can connect to a U.K. server on your VPN.
- Sign Up for a VPN Service
Start by visiting NordVPN’s website and selecting a plan with a 73% discount, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind.
- Download the VPN
If you’re on a PC, go to the provider’s website to download the app file for your device. Open the file to start installing the app. On mobile, navigate to the Apple app store (iOS) or Google Play store (Android) to download the VPN.
- Connect to a Server
Launch the app and connect to a server in a location where ‘Dragon Ball’ is available on Crunchyroll, like the U.S.
- Watch ‘Dragon Ball’
Go to Crunchyroll and start streaming the ‘Dragon Ball’ series you want to watch.
NordVPN — The Best VPN to Watch Dragon Ball Episodes
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
If you want to watch ‘Dragon Ball’ and other popular anime like Naruto with no hassle, NordVPN is a great choice. Not only is NordVPN the most secure provider, but it’s also the perfect beginner VPN for those who aren’t entirely comfortable with techy stuff. It’s pricey, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re undecided. Find out more in our NordVPN review.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been raring to watch Goku and his friends hunt down Dragon Balls and take on the bad guys, but you couldn’t find the show online in your location, we hope we were able to help.
If NordVPN seems interesting to you, you can check it out risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.
Did we miss any platforms for streaming ‘Dragon Ball?’ Has a VPN helped you keep up with your favorite anime series? Don’t forget to drop us a comment below, and thanks for reading.
FAQ: Dragon Ball Watch Order
You can watch all five canon ‘Dragon Ball’ series on Crunchyroll, though it’s not available on this platform in every location. Use a VPN to change your IP address if this is the case.
No, ‘Dragon Ball’ isn’t on Netflix.
Yes, ‘Dragon Ball Z’ is on Hulu in the U.S. and Japan.
Based on estimates from various sources, it would take around 10-12 days to watch all ‘Dragon Ball’ series and movies, but this can vary greatly depending on your pacing.
On Crunchyroll, ‘Dragon Ball’ is available in both English and Japanese. However, non-English-speaking countries may not offer English dubbing or subtitles, as is the case in Latin America.