Crackle — Overview & Pricing

What is Crackle?

Crackle is operated by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC, headquartered in Cos Cob, Connecticut, USA. The product line dates back to Crackle launched 2007 (as Grouper); acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul in 2019, and the operator is Crackle Plus restructuring after Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's 2024 Chapter 11; relaunches under new ownership. In the video streaming category, Crackle is best described as free ad-supported streaming service (FAST/AVOD) competing with Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

For shoppers landing here, the practical question is whether Crackle's current tier ladder and feature mix match the use case — the sections below cover pricing, included features, the 2025-2026 product direction, and category-specific considerations.

Operator, ownership and market context

The legal operator, jurisdiction and ownership matter for billing currency, dispute-resolution venue and consumer-protection rules. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC's ownership posture (crackle plus restructuring after chicken soup for the soul entertainment's 2024 chapter 11; relaunches under new ownership) shapes how aggressive product investment is from quarter to quarter.

Why ownership matters for subscribers

A privately held operator can move quickly on pricing and product changes without public disclosure pressure, while a publicly listed parent has to balance subscriber experience against quarterly results. For Crackle specifically, the crackle plus restructuring after chicken soup for the soul entertainment's 2024 chapter 11; relaunches under new ownership structure has so far translated into the product cadence described in the differentiator section below.

Current pricing and tier ladder

The anchor price point to compare against rivals is $0 for the entry tier; the headline tier on offer is Connected-TV apps. Promo offers and regional pricing can move these numbers — the live pricing page on Crackle itself is the source of truth at any given moment, but the structure above reflects the published ladder as of 2025-2026.

What you get at each tier

The lowest tier covers the core proposition — everyone above that adds either capacity (more data, more seats, more devices, more content) or capability (premium features, priority support, advanced analytics). Subscribers comparing Crackle against alternatives should map the tier they would actually pay for against the equivalent tier on the rival product, not just the headline price.

Catalog and content depth

The feature list above represents the documented capabilities of Crackle as of 2025-2026. The mix is what separates a credible competitor from a clone in the video streaming category — and the items listed are the ones Crackle markets as its actual differentiators rather than table-stakes.

Where Crackle sits in its category

free ad-supported streaming service (FAST/AVOD) competing with Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. The competitive set named here is the realistic comparison list — not every nominal alternative is a like-for-like substitute, but each of those names is one a real shopper is likely to evaluate alongside Crackle.

2025-2026 product direction

Crackle's parent Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed Chapter 11 in 2024; the Crackle FAST/AVOD service continues to operate while ownership is restructured.

This is the most important context for anyone deciding whether to subscribe today. Product roadmaps in the video streaming category move quickly, and the differentiator above is the signal that distinguishes Crackle's current trajectory from the version a reviewer might have written about a year ago.

What is likely next

Operators that ship in line with the differentiator above typically extend in three directions: deeper integration with partner platforms, broader geographic availability, and bigger commitments to the headline feature (more channels, more SKUs, more bandwidth, more AI tooling — whatever the headline is for the category). Subscribers can read the differentiator as a leading indicator of what Crackle's next 6-12 months will look like.

Plans, billing and cancellation

Like most video streaming services, Crackle bills monthly or annually depending on the tier. Annual plans typically save 10-20% vs monthly, but they also lock in pricing — useful when the operator is signalling upcoming increases, less useful when the category is moving toward unbundling.

Cancelling or pausing

Subscribers can cancel or pause from Crackle's account-management dashboard in most cases. The specific path depends on whether billing runs through the operator directly or through an app-store middleman (Apple, Google, Roku) — that matters because cancellation has to be initiated wherever the billing relationship actually lives.

Platforms and access

Crackle's primary distribution depends on its category but typically includes a web client, native mobile apps (iOS and Android where applicable), and connected-device or set-top-box clients for media services. Coverage gaps (Linux, smart-TV vendors, browsers) are documented on the operator's support pages and are worth checking before subscribing if a specific device matters.

Multi-device and family use

Most modern video streaming subscriptions allow multiple concurrent devices on the same account up to a tier-defined cap. The exact cap and family-sharing rules sit under the tier descriptions above — a Premium or Plus tier typically lifts the cap relative to the entry tier.

Use cases and ideal subscribers

Crackle fits subscribers who want what free ad-supported streaming service (FAST/AVOD) promises — that is, the video streaming value proposition delivered through Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC's specific feature mix rather than a generic clone. Subscribers who are already deeply invested in a rival ecosystem (whichever one they came in with) usually have to weigh switching cost against the Crackle-specific differentiator described above.

Who should skip it

Subscribers whose needs are squarely at the lower end of video streaming usage often do not need a paid tier on Crackle at all — a free competitor, a family plan share, or a bundled offering through a telco / employer benefit may already cover them. The tier ladder above is most worth paying for when the headline features genuinely match the use case.

Frequently asked questions

Who operates Crackle?

Crackle is operated by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC, headquartered in Cos Cob, Connecticut, USA.

Is Crackle a free or paid service?

Crackle runs on the tier ladder shown above; the entry price is $0. A free or trial tier may exist depending on the operator's current acquisition strategy.

What is the company behind Crackle?

The operator is Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC, and the ownership / market status is Crackle Plus restructuring after Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment's 2024 Chapter 11; relaunches under new ownership.

When was Crackle founded?

The product line dates to Crackle launched 2007 (as Grouper); acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul in 2019.

What does Crackle compete with?

free ad-supported streaming service (FAST/AVOD) competing with Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

What is new for Crackle in 2025-2026?

Crackle's parent Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment filed Chapter 11 in 2024; the Crackle FAST/AVOD service continues to operate while ownership is restructured.

Can I cancel Crackle any time?

Yes — subscriptions are typically cancellable from the operator's account dashboard or via the billing channel (operator-direct or app store) that processed the original signup.

Where is Crackle available?

Geographic availability depends on the operator. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC's main market is anchored in Cos Cob, Connecticut, USA; some services extend regionally or globally, others are country-restricted.

How does Crackle handle data and privacy?

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Crackle Plus LLC publishes a privacy notice on the Crackle site that covers data collection, retention and third-party sharing. Subscribers in GDPR jurisdictions retain the right to access, export and delete their personal data.

How do I get the best price on Crackle?

Annual billing typically saves 10-20%; promotional pricing surfaces during seasonal campaigns (Black Friday, New Year, back-to-school depending on category). Check Crackle's live pricing page for the current offer.

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