Top 10 Best Sites to Watch Chinese Movies And Dramas in English Subtitles/Dubs
Various platforms offer the opportunity to stream Chinese dramas online with English subtitles or dubs, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (which offers a one-month free trial).Hulu offers a one-month free trial. Nevertheless, in order to continue utilizing these services, you are required to make a payment after the trial period (Netflix does not provide complimentary trials). Consequently, we excluded them from the list.
Below is a list of the best websites where you can watch free Chinese dramas with English subtitles, based on our knowledge. If you have some knowledge of Chinese or are interested in immersing yourself in the language, you're in luck. We have compiled a list of authentic Chinese video platforms that cater specifically to Chinese-speaking viewers.
Although the websites and TV services mentioned below are free and completely legal, a significant amount of content can only be accessed by users located within Mainland China due to copyright restrictions.
Nevertheless, a VPN can be utilized to access and stream unrestricted content that is not accessible in your geographical location. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are VPN services that allow users to circumvent IP restrictions and effortlessly access blocked content, such as dramas.
Learn more: Top 20 Best Free Sites to Download Chinese Dramas with English Subtitles (Legally)
1. iQIYI
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| IQiyi |
iQIYI is one of the best websites out there where you can watch Chinese drama online for free without signing up. It’s basically the Chinese equivalent of Netflix, with over 500 million active users every month.
The site has an awesome collection of famous Chinese dramas, movies, variety shows, anime, and even lots of original content produced by iQIYI itself. The interface is neat and clean with a search bar to help you explore.
To access all the dramas, you need to get a VIP subscription, but there are tons of free content worth checking out on the site. The good streaming quality gives you a great viewing experience while letting you switch between multiple devices through its free apps (Android and iOS).
Best TV drama series to watch on iQIYI:
The Lost Tomb (盗墓笔记)
The Ferry Man (灵魂摆渡)
Price: Free (limited content), or paid version at $6.99 per month.
2. YouTube
Everyone knows YouTube – it practically got everything you can imagine. Yet it may come as a surprise to some new to the world of Chinese dramas to know that yes, there are numerous full-length episodes of Chinese TV series on YouTube, free to all, with multilingual subtitles.
Simply type [Chinese drama name+ eng sub] in the search bar, and you will get a list of matching results. If you don’t know what to watch, start with producers’ official channels. Here are some top recommended YouTube channels to watch C-dramas in high picture and translation quality.
Best TV drama series to watch on YouTube:
Reset (开端)
Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (斛珠夫人)
Remember Me (青春向前冲)
Price: Free
3. Viki
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| Viki - Best Websites to Watch Chinese TV Drama with English Subs and Dubs |
Viki is one of the best streaming sites for watching Chinese drama without registration and downloading. In fact, it has the most extensive array of shows catering to Asian drama fans. Besides Mainland Chinese shows, there are tons of TV series and movies from Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. The video quality is outstanding, and the streaming is pretty fast compared to other websites.
The best part is that subtitles on Viki are sourced by global fans of Chinese dramas, and most of them come with multiple language options including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, etc., which are also very accurate. But sometimes newly released episodes are uploaded before translation, so you might have to wait on those subtitles if you’re a beginner in Chinese.
Like other websites, Viki also offers the common “access all content if you get a VIP subscription” deal. Depending on what you want to watch, this may or may not be worth it. (Many popular Chinese dramas can be watched on this website entirely for free.)
Best TV drama series to watch on Viki:
Go Go Squid! (亲爱的, 热爱的)
Falling into Your Smile (你微笑时很美)
Price: Free (limited content), or VIKIPASS at $4.99 per month.
Learn more: Top 20 Best Sites to Watch Hollywood Movies in Chinese Dubbed (Free and Legal)
4. WeTv
WeTv is another popular TV streaming site that lets you watch Chinese drama and TV shows for free, with English subtitles. China’s tech giant Tencent owns this website so you can trust it regarding quality and reliability.
There is an extensive array of dramas hosted on Wetv across several genres such as romance, fantasy, period costumes, horror, action, etc. While those newly-released series are not 100% free (there is a paid plan), you can stick around with plenty of comparatively older content. And the best part is that you can view them across multiple devices like Android TV or smart TVs by downloading their App.
Best TV drama series to watch on WeTV:
You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀)
The Imperial Coroner (御赐小仵作)
Price: Free (limited content), or you can get a paid plan for unlimited content
5. Mango TV
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| Mango TV |
Mango TV is a great video entertainment platform that lets you watch full-length Chinese TV shows for free without downloading in 2024. Primarily focused on overseas users, Mango TV is best known for its original variety shows. It has also released a ton of English-subbed Chinese dramas, including many that weren’t available with English subtitles before. No registration is required to access its free content.
Best TV drama series to watch on Mango TV:
Under the Power (锦衣之下)
My Dear Brothers (亲爱的吾兄)
Price: Free (limited content), or you can unlock early episodes and archived VIP drama by paying via either Google Play or Apple App store.
6. Tencent Video
Tencent Video is our favorite streaming site to watch Chinese dramas within China. It’s currently one of the largest online video platforms in the world with over 200 million daily users and 106 million VIP subscribers.
While its international version WeTV focuses on overseas users, Tencent Video provides richer content for Chinese audiences. Apart from the most recent TV shows and original series, it has a vast collection of classic dramas, HD movies, and anime, many free of charge without creating an account.
Tencent Video is available in China only. So if you are located overseas, we recommend that you use a VPN to access this website. If you are a mobile user, then download its free apps for Android and iOS.
Best TV drama series to watch on Tencent Video:
Crime Crackdown (扫黑风暴)
Douluo Continent (斗罗大陆)
Price: Free (limited content), or 20 CNY per month for unlimited
7. Youku
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| Youku |
Owned by Alibaba Group, Youku is another go-to resource to watch Chinese drama online for free in good quality without signing up. However, if you choose to do so, Youku lets you create a watch list of favorites and resume playback across different devices.
Navigating the website is pretty easy if you can read Chinese. Also, it allows you to explore shows based on genre (romance, adventure, comedy, crime, period costume, sci-fi, wuxia fantasy, and more) and sort by latest and ratings.
Best TV drama series to watch on Youku:
ER Doctors (急诊科医生)
Let’s Fall in Love (咱们相爱吧)
Price: Free (limited content), or 19 CNY per month for VIP content
8. Bilibili
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| Bilibili |
Bilibili, also nicked named B Site (B站) in China, is the most popular video-sharing website among young Chinese themed around animation and games. However, the site also offers a great collection of free TV dramas, documentaries, variety shows, and other original content for a broader audience.
The fun thing about watching dramas on Bilibili is the “danmu (弹幕)” commentary sharing system. You can post comments directly on top of the video, and they would then scroll across the screen in real time and be seen by everyone. Comments sometimes got so thick that they resembled a barrage of bullets, aka danmu (literally, “bullet curtain”).
You don’t have to sign up to watch the shows, but if you opt to do so, you can get better video quality to boost your viewing experience, and create a watch list of your favorites.
Best TV drama series to watch on Bilibili:
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义)
Couple of Mirrors (双镜)
Price: Free
9. Migu Video
Even though Migu Video is primarily focused on sports streams, its large library of Chinese dramas, TV shows, and movies is equally worth checking out. In short, it is a good platform to watch Chinese shows and sports for free online. But it can be made better by adding more filters for TV series like other websites. Here you get only a bar to search for your favorite TV show.
That being said, Migu Video does offer free Android and iOS apps with a well-managed layout for you to watch the content on mobile devices. While the VIP shows require a subscription, there is a lot of free content you can appreciate in high quality.
Best TV drama series to watch on Migu Video:
The Twelfth Second (第十二秒)
Belief (前行者)
Price: Free (limited content), or 18 CNY per month for VIP subscription
10. Sohu TV
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| Sohu TV |
Owned by China’s leading internet company Sohu, Sohu TV is another great website to watch Chinese drama online for free in 2024, with its huge collection of high video quality TV series. You can filter dramas based on genres like idol, family, romance, suspense, fantasy, and much more. You can watch interesting Chinese vlogs here as well.
This website also has a free version and a VIP section, but most of the new shows become free when they end, so you don’t have to buy their subscriptions if you’re willing to wait.
Best TV drama series to watch on Sohu TV:
Medical Examiner Dr. Qin (法医秦明)
The Disguiser (伪装者)
Price: Free (limited content), or 19 CNY per month for membership plan
Top 20 Most Popular and Beautiful Chinese Actresses
Below is a concise overview of the 20 most prominent Chinese actresses that every Chinese movie/drama enthusiast should be familiar with:
Gong Li (巩俐)
Zhang Ziyi (章子怡)
Zhao Wei (赵薇)
Zhou Xun (周迅)
Fan Bingbing (范冰冰)
Li Bingbing (李冰冰)
Sun Li (孙俪)
Yang Mi (杨幂)
Yao Chen (姚晨)
Liu Yifei (刘亦菲)
Tong Liya (佟丽娅)
Ma Yili (马伊琍)
Gao Yuanyuan (高圆圆)
Liu Tao (刘涛)
Liu Shishi (刘诗诗)
Ni Ni (倪妮)
Yang Ying (杨颖)
Zhao Liying (赵丽颖)
Zhou Dongyu (周冬雨)
Dilraba Dilmurat (迪丽热巴)
In Conclusion
Various audiences possess distinct preferences, and these complimentary Chinese TV series streaming platforms cater to diverse content. The term "best" is subjective and will vary depending on your personal preferences and interests. Presumably, our guide has provided you with some excellent alternatives. It is important to note that all of the aforementioned websites provide a plethora of free dramas without requiring any registration. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly observe your surroundings before making a payment for their VIP pass.
We strongly discourage the act of pirating Chinese dramas. Therefore, exercise caution if you encounter any warnings regarding this matter. Additionally, it is advisable to consider subscribing to paid websites or platforms of lower caliber in order to access movies of superior visual and audio quality.
FAQs on Free Chinese Drama Website
Can I watch Chinese Dramas for free on my phone or TV?
Indeed, it is remarkably effortless to watch Chinese dramas on your mobile device. Applications for most platforms can be accessed on both iOS and Android phones. They can be downloaded for free from either Google Play or the App Store. Subsequently, you have the option to establish a connection between your mobile device and a television, utilizing the latter as a display for the content being played on various applications.
Can I download the Chinese Dramas?
Certain platforms, such as Tencent Video and Youku, offer the capability to download TV shows and movies onto your computer or mobile device. This allows you to watch them at a later time even without an internet connection. Other platforms such as YouTube and Viki do not have a download button, so you must rely on a third-party downloader to watch videos offline.
Can I watch Chinese dramas online for free without a VPN?
Indeed, you most certainly have the ability to do so. YouTube offers a wide selection of full-length Chinese drama episodes. However, in order to gain access to a significantly larger number of resources from genuine Chinese video platforms, it is typically necessary to have a Chinese IP address. In such cases, a VPN service such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN can be extremely useful.
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