Believe it or not, you haven’t seen the best Asian drama and movies yet. We are here to do something about it. Here are five streaming platforms to checck out.
iQIYI
They started with Chinese content and have since expanded to include Korean, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, and other Asian movies and Dramas, including animation
Pricing: Free with ads; VIP ~$6–$9/month
What are the cons?
- Subtitles can be inconsistent depending on the title
- The interface occasionally feels clunky outside Asia
- Some regions get delayed or limited access
Kocowa
They heavily focus on Korean dramas + variety shows (from major broadcasters). Kocowa is essentially a direct pipeline from Korea’s “Big Three” broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC). Episodes often drop within hours of airing in Korea, which makes it one of the fastest legal sources for current K-content.
Pricing: $6.99–$7.99/month
What are the cons?
- Library is narrower than competitors
- Older dramas and non-broadcast content are limited
- Less variety outside mainstream Korean TV
Rakuten Viki
Rakuten Viki has a large catalogue of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai dramas. Viki’s edge is its community-driven subtitle system that allows it to offer more accurate and multiple language subtitles, Cultural notes embedded into translations, and a broader regional mix than most platforms.
Pricing: Free with ads; Viki Pass ~$5.99–$9.99/month
The Con
Some shows take longer to get fully subtitled.
WeTV
They also started with Chinese dramas but have since expanded to Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and others content. They are backed by Tencent and a good alternative to iQIYI but often feels more accessible and slightly more international in its presentation.
Pricing: Free with ads; VIP ~$5–$8/month
The cons? Some titles are locked behind VIP tiers and the User Interface still feels optimized for mobile-first audiences
HiTV
They have a good mix of Asian dramas, it is free with ads, and they also have shorts and vertical drama. They have a surprisingly extensive catalogue. It often aggregates trending dramas across regions in one place.
What are the cons?
However, licensing is a little unclear and video quality and subtitles are inconsistent.
