Last updated on July 24th, 2026 at 10:28 am
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As you know from my blog, I’m a huge fan of Chinese dramas. There are more platforms than expected where you can watch these shows.
This blog post discusses where to watch Chinese dramas with English subtitles for free.
Here are the best nine platforms:
Where to Watch Chinese Dramas with English Subtitles #1 – YouTube
By now, you must live under a rock if you don’t know about YouTube. It’s one of the largest video platforms, offering a wide range of content – from music videos to celebrity interviews and full-length Chinese dramas.
I spend way too much time on it. Other than Google, it’s probably my most visited website, as I’m sure millions of people feel the same way.
Most Chinese dramas have 1-2 episodes you can watch on YouTube. The rest of the episodes are either member-only content or the channel redirects you to its official streaming platform.
Although not all episodes of a Chinese drama are on here, most dramas have at least some related content you can indulge in. This can include short behind-the-scenes clips, brief scenes, upcoming trailers, and on-set interviews with the actors (except for the few drama episodes, these might not be subtitled in English).
In my opinion, YouTube is the best website for discovering Chinese dramas.
Since the YouTube algorithm monitors your activity, it will recommend similar videos to keep you on its website as long as possible. (Yes, I know this sounds creepy, but at this point, don’t all websites and companies do that now?)
Once you start watching Chinese drama-related content on their website or app, you’ll quickly find yourself continuing to do so.
There are numerous Chinese dramas available on YouTube. Here are some that have all the episodes:
- The Journey of Flower
- A Love So Beautiful
- Perfect and Casual
- The Legend of Fei
- My Sassy Princess
2) Netflix
Another popular video streaming platform everyone has heard of is Netflix. By now, most people are familiar with Netflix. If they are not registered users, they at least know a few people who subscribe to the website.
Netflix is suitable for people dipping their toes into C-dramas for the first time. This website is easy to navigate and familiar to most users, but it offers fewer choices than YouTube. With YouTube, you probably need to have in mind a specific drama you want to look up, since the YouTube algorithm hasn’t caught on yet. You can browse the dozens of options on Netflix to check out what kind of Chinese drama you like.
This platform offers enough options to keep you occupied once you become addicted to Chinese dramas, without so many choices that you feel overwhelmed and have to revert to your go-to comfort shows.
Netflix also usually uploads Chinese dramas in full, so you don’t have to wait for each episode to air. You can binge-watch a show at one time.
While I already have an entire blog post dedicated to Chinese dramas on Netflix, here are some shows I recommend checking out:
- Hidden Love
- The Rational Life
- Love Between Fairy and Devil
- Perfect Match
- Everyone Loves Me
3) Viki
Viki has come a long way since I started watching dramas on this website.
It feels more like a community than the others on this list because fans are the ones who sub the dramas. It feels more accessible and has a less corporate vibe.
You can watch dramas on Viki as long as you are patient with the subtitles and don’t mind the multiple ads that interrupt each episode. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the Viki Pass and enjoy an ad-free experience.
Shows on Viki include:
- Go Go Squid
- A Familiar Stranger
- Meet Yourself
- The Blue Whisper
- My Sunshine
4) iQIYI
iQIYI is owned by Baidu, China’s version of Google, so you know it’s a reputable company.
Although iQIYI is based in China, it features content from other countries, including Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, and the U.S.A. For viewers who want to watch Asian movies, TV shows, or variety shows, iQIYI is the perfect choice.
There is free content on iQIYI, but some content can only be accessed through a monthly or yearly VIP subscription.
With the content available, subscribing to iQIYI will keep you entertained for hours, if not days.
Shows on iQIYI include:
- Moonlight Mystique
- Love is Sweet
- Story of Kunning Palace
- One and Only
- New Life Begins
Where to Watch Chinese Dramas with English Subtitles #5 – Youku
Youku is second among the four extremely popular Chinese streaming platforms.
It’s owned by Alibaba, a company we’ve all heard of by now, and it has millions of active users who are attracted to the anime, reality TV shows, dramas, and movies it offers.
This platform is easy to use due to its numerous filters. You can filter out by year, genre, region, subscription level, and more.
Shows on Youku include:
- The Double
- Derailment
- In Blossom
- Till the end of the Moon
- The Starry Love
6) Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video is unique because it’s part of Amazon, one of the world’s largest online retailers, whereas other streaming services are standalone.
Customers love Amazon because it’s a fast and convenient way to shop online. There’s Amazon Prime, a subscription service that offers shorter shipping times and free returns. Another benefit is that this monthly or yearly subscription includes Prime Video, where you can watch a wide range of Chinese dramas.
It’s okay even if you’re not an Amazon Prime member. Prime Video lets you rent or buy each episode or the whole Chinese drama. For example, you can watch the free content on YouTube, as the first few episodes are already available there. Then, you can purchase the rest of the drama on Prime Video to save money.
Shows on Amazon Prime include:
- My Journey to You
- The Legend of Shen Li
- Forever and Ever
- You Are My Glory
- Dance of the Sky Empire
7) WeTV
WeTV is the international version of Tencent Video, China’s largest video platform. With the company Tencent behind this company, you’re in good hands when consuming content.
On the home page, a popularity chart shows what is currently trending with the audience, and the company updates it regularly. Usually, dramas are airing currently, but it’s a great place to start if you don’t know much about Chinese dramas.
Most of the content is only available to VIP members, but there is also free content if you’re unsure about committing.
Shows on WeTV include:
- Sword and Fairy
- Love like the Galaxy
- The Prisoner of Beauty
- Shine on Me
- Love’s Ambition
8) Mango TV
Although Mango TV offers a decent number of Chinese dramas, fans aren’t eager to use the platform because its English subtitles often lack the quality of competitors’.
Those who are better at understanding Chinese will not find the subtitles problematic, but those with little to no knowledge of Chinese may struggle with this platform. On the plus side, when the English subtitles are off, it makes for a good laugh!
They also have an extensive catalogue of Chinese dramas, but place a greater emphasis on their reality TV shows.
This platform allows users to watch Chinese reality shows like Chinese Restaurant, Back to Field, Who’s the Murderer, and Viva La Romance, which are extremely popular domestically.
Shows on Mango TV include:
- Fireworks of My Heart
- Flourished Peony
- Go Ahead
- Only for Love
- Unforgettable Love
9) Disney+
Are you surprised to see Disney+ on this list? From the name alone, you might think there is only Disney content, like Mickey Mouse and Marvel movies. Yes, there’s a lot of that, but there are also some Chinese dramas on this platform.
As a subscriber for a few years now, I can say that Disney+ has improved its Chinese drama library, but it still has a long way to go.
Disney+ has the fewest options, so it isn’t the website for people looking for an online subscription to Chinese dramas.
This is more for people who are fans of Disney (duh!) but are open to watching historical Chinese dramas (because there are more Chinese historical dramas than modern ones here).
Shows on Mango TV include:
- Nothing Gold Can Stay
- Joy of Life
- I Will Never Let You Go
- Legend of Zang Hai
- Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace
Final Thoughts – Where to Watch Chinese Dramas with English Subtitles
With these 9 video platforms, you can find almost every single Chinese drama that has aired since the beginning of time.
Most people will use YouTube and Netflix the most, but give the other websites a shot. If the Chinese drama you want to watch isn’t on there, it’s likely on another platform.
For newcomers to the world of Chinese drama, I recommend the top dramas that both domestic and international audiences have well received. You can start with some of the items on the list and work your way through them before expanding to watching more shows.
Now to You – Where to Watch Chinese Dramas with English Subtitles
What platform do you use the most? Why? Let me know in the comments down below!
Xoxo,
Nicole
