How to Watch Asian Dramas and Movies on Your Cell Phone
It's one in the morning. The episode ends with the two protagonists one step away from kissing, the music swells, and the screen cuts to the credits. You swear you're going to sleep. Two minutes later, the next episode is already playing.
Anyone entering the world of K-dramas is familiar with this scene. Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand produce soap operas, series, and films that captivate people worldwide, and it all fits on your phone, with subtitles in your language. In this guide, you'll discover the best apps for watching K-dramas and Asian films, how to get started today, and where to begin if you've never seen any before.
Viki: the app made for those who love K-dramas.
Viki, from the Rakuten group, was created exclusively for Asian entertainment. It has a 4.6 rating on Google Play, with over 1.1 million reviews, more than 100 million downloads, and a 4.8 rating on the Brazilian App Store. Its catalog includes dramas from Korea, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, as well as Korean films and variety shows.
- Subtitles in over 150 languages: The translation is done by a community of volunteer fans. That's why the drama is subtitled in Portuguese, Spanish, English, French, and dozens of other languages.
- Watch for free with ads: The free plan plays episodes with commercial breaks.
- Viki Pass: The subscription removes ads and unlocks HD video.
- Specific comments: You leave a comment pinpointing an exact moment in the episode and see the reaction of other fans to the same scene.
- My list: Save the dramas and movies you want to watch later and don't lose sight of the series.
- K-pop and variety shows: Programs featuring groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and Twice, award shows, and Korean reality shows.
How to start watching on Viki
- Install Viki using the button at the top of this page, or from Google Play or the App Store.
- Create your free account.
- On the home screen, tap the magnifying glass and type the name of a drama, an actor, or a genre, such as "romance" or "historical".
- Open the first episode. In the player, tap the subtitles icon and choose your language.
- Did you like it? Tap "add to" My list To find the series with one tap next time.
- Follow the actors you liked most on the app's celebrity page.
A tip from someone who binge-watches: start with a short drama, 12 to 16 episodes. You can finish it in a week and already know if your genre is romantic comedy, thriller, or period drama.
iQIYI: Chinese dramas and short episodes
iQIYI is one of the largest video platforms in China, and its international app brings this catalog to the international market. It has a 4.8 rating on Google Play and has surpassed 100 million downloads.
- Chinese dramas galore: Romance novels, historical fiction, fantasy, and exclusive productions from the platform.
- Vertical dramas: Short episodes, recorded standing up, made for watching on your phone while waiting in line at the supermarket.
- Multilingual subtitles: In full-screen mode, you choose the subtitle language directly in the player.
- VIP: The subscription unlocks popular episodes earlier and provides 1080p image quality.
WeTV: Tencent's catalog in your pocket.
WeTV is the international service of Tencent, a Chinese technology giant. It focuses on Chinese dramas and other Asian productions. On Google Play, it has a 3.7 rating and over 100 million downloads. The app has a VIP plan, and the TV version runs in 4K, with a crisp image throughout the entire room.
Netflix: The K-dramas that became a global phenomenon
It was on Netflix that Round 6 became a topic of conversation across all continents. The service invests heavily in Korean series and films, Japanese anime, and productions from other Asian countries. The app has a 4.9 rating on Google Play and has surpassed 1 billion downloads. Netflix operates on a subscription basis, and in several countries there is a cheaper plan with ads.
Where to begin: a quick map of K-dramas
If you've never seen any, choose based on vibe:
- South Korea: The birthplace of K-dramas. Romantic comedy, suspense, medical drama, and fantasy. On Viki, titles like Goblin, Descendants of the Sun, The Heirs, and Hotel Del Luna are gateways for many people.
- China: Historical dramas with cinematic costumes, martial arts, and romances that span dozens of episodes.
- Japan: Short seasons, around ten episodes each, and stories about everyday life.
- Taiwan: "Idol dramas" are light romances with a young cast.
- Thailand: Romances, comedies, and dramas that have gained fans worldwide in recent years.
The catalog for each app varies from country to country due to licensing issues. If a title doesn't appear in the search results, it may be available on another platform in your region.
How to get the most out of each episode
- Watch on Wi-Fi whenever you can. HD episodes consume a lot of data.
- Turn on the subtitles in your language, and if you want to practice another language, switch to English or Spanish for episodes you've already watched.
- Use each app's watchlist to separate what you're watching now from what you want to watch later.
- On Viki, leave a comment about the scene that caught your attention. Other fans will see your reaction the very second it airs.
Which app to choose?
| Application | Best for | Note on Google Play | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viki | Dramas from five countries with subtitles in over 150 languages. | 4,6 | 100 mi+ |
| iQIYI | Chinese dramas and short vertical episodes | 4,8 | 100 mi+ |
| WeTV | Chinese productions and 4K image on TV | 3,7 | 100 mi+ |
| Netflix | K-dramas and Korean films that became a phenomenon. | 4,9 | 1 bi+ |
If you want an app to start with today, stick with Viki: it's made for K-dramas, plays for free with ads, and offers subtitles in your language. Install it using the button at the top of this page, choose your first drama, and get ready for "just one more episode.".
