Hi guys, many of you have asked about the list of legal streaming websites for Asian dramas, so we'll use this topic to update the list.
Please feel free to post the links of the ones you know (the sites have to be legal!).
The list:
Website: | Type of dramas: | Membership cost: |
---|---|---|
Viki | Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Latin telenovelas, Variety shows SUBBED | Free streaming $4.99/month; $49.99/year *first access, HD Quality & No Ads *if you're a contributor (subbing, segmenting) then you get a 6-months Viki pass. The license restrictions are not publicly known. |
Crunchyroll | Japanese SUBBED | Free streaming $6.95/month + a 14-Day Free Trial *first access, HD Quality & No Ads |
Netflix | Japanese, Chinese, Hong Kong, Korean, Taiwanese, for the full list go HERE. SUBBED | Depends on the country; average cost is $7.99 per month |
Hulu | Japanese, Korean SUBBED | 30 days free, then starts at $5.99/ month; Hulu with Live TV -BETA: 7 days free, then starts at $39.99/ month |
OnDemandKorea | Korean SUBBED/UNSUBBED | Free streaming $6.99/month; $59.99/year *first access, HD Quality & No Ads |
Viu | Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese and Korean variety shows SUBBED | $18/month *available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Mongolia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan. |
GMMTV | Thai SUBBED/UNSUBBED | Free |
Kocowa | Korean SUBBED | Free streaming Daily subscription $0.99; monthly $6.99; and annual $69.99 *first access, HD Quality & No Ads *available only in North and South America |
KBS World TV | Korean SUBBED | Free |
Asian Crush | Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese SUBBED | $4.99 |
AmazonPrime | Japanese SUBBED | $99 per year (or about $8.25 per month) *available worldwide (except for Mainland China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria). |
Popcorn Flix | Japanese, Korean, Chinese (mostly films) SUBBED | Free *currently available in the USA and Canada only. |
Tubi | Chinese, Korean SUBBED | Free *some content might be geoblocked except for the USA |
TVer | Japanese UNSUBBED | Free *available in Japan only |
meWATCH | Chinese, Korean SUBBED | Free (most of the content?) $9.90 per month (Prime content) |
V LIVE | Korean SUBBED | Free |
Naver TV | Korean UNSUBBED | Free |
dTV | Japanese UNSUBBED | $5/month |
MBCClassic | Korean UNSUBBED | Free |
iFlix | Filipino, Thai, Chinese, Korean SUBBED | $2 to $3 a month *available in: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Morocco and Uganda. |
tfc.tv | Filipino SUBBED | Check here. |
YoYo TV | Chinese SUBBED/UNSUBBED | Free |
OnDemandChina | Chinese UNSUBBED | Free |
Vidfish | Chinese SUBBED | $3.33/month |
iQiyi | Chinese SUBBED | Google Play / Apple store Free VIP privileges: $3+ |
Malimar TV | Thai UNSUBBED | $11.99/month |
Korean SUBBED | Free / maintained by the Korean Film Archive | |
WeTV | Chinese/Korean SUBBED | $16 – $20 for 44–57 channels |
*updating
There are also at least 3 free (but ad-supported) roku channels with subtitled Asian dramas and movies. I think you can also stream on their websites and they have various apps and whatnot, but I have never tried anything but the roku channels. I know for sure they are all available in the US, but I'm not sure about other places. And there is an option to subscribe, too, but I don't know how much it costs. I only use them occasionally, and I suffer through the ads :)
Those who have Amazon Prime also have access to some Asian movies and dramas.
MBC used to upload old dramas on their MBC Classic youtube channel. Some are subtitled, some are not.
There's also TVer for Japanese dramas. It's legal (and free), but it can only be accessed from Japan, as far as I know.
zeamays:There are also at least 3 free (but ad-supported) roku channels with subtitled Asian dramas and movies. I think you can also stream on their websites and they have various apps and whatnot, but I have never tried anything but the roku channels. I know for sure they are all available in the US, but I'm not sure about other places. And there is an option to subscribe, too, but I don't know how much it costs. I only use them occasionally, and I suffer through the ads :)
Those who have Amazon Prime also have access to some Asian movies and dramas.
MBC used to upload old dramas on their MBC Classic youtube channel. Some are subtitled, some are not.
kura2ninja:There's also TVer for Japanese dramas. It's legal (and free), but it can only be accessed from Japan, as far as I know.
Thanks! will add them to the list :)
Nice list. But It should be mentioned that what's available to you on Viki, Netflix and dramafever will depend where you are. Correct me if I'm wrong, There is also stuff you can watch for free on Viki, and Dramafever. But you will be subjected to ads.
Viki also has stuff from the Philippines. Well I watched Darna from there years ago. But maybe it's changed now.
There is also mediacorp from singapore.
this is a list of all mediacorp websites.
https://www.mediacorp.sg/en/other-mediacorp-websites-5945628
the best one to go to is probably toggle
free and premium options.
if you hit the video menu, it will being up a number of submenus. Among those are MOVIES> DRAMA> TOGGLE ORIGINALS>SHORTS, and others.
Any of the movies I tried were unavailable to me. (i live in ireland)
I know at least some of the toggle originals are.
If you hit the drama section. You will get
English Drama. ie the actors speak english. No it's not dubbed. Any ones I tried I could watch.
chinese drama. Any i tried were not available to me.
Malay Drama. Some available. click on the gear thing beside the musical note thing for english subs. I don't know if english subs are available for everything.
tamil drama.
None of the dramas I tried were available to me.
hmm. I don't know if this a legal channel or not.
some youtube channels
Chinese drama. (not sure if legal or not)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UUwfyntghfisq02q5v2tw/playlists
Seems to be legal.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrR1ynvdUJ_zSXWQCE5TK8A/playlists
Then Naver TV Cast should be added: http://tv.naver.com/ It is free but unsubbed.
Also, dTV is a legal J-drama streaming website. Unfortunately, it is only available in Japan (Not sure though) with no subs, but good for people who know Japanese. https://pc.video.dmkt-sp.jp/ Costs 500 yen ($5) per month.
Ceki:^ I added Toggle, you're right, the registration is selective but I can't find which countries/territories fall under that category.
okay. So I guess you only mention specific Asian countries.
I didn't know Toggle had Korean stuff.
Some stuff on dramafever is avaiilable in ireland.
Are you including Ireland In UK? Please don't. We can be pretty sensitive about that kind of stuff over here. :)
Hessa:Then Naver TV Cast should be added: http://tv.naver.com/ It is free but unsubbed.
Also, dTV is a legal J-drama streaming website. Unfortunately, it is only available in Japan (Not sure though) with no subs, but good for people who know Japanese. https://pc.video.dmkt-sp.jp/ Costs 500 yen ($5) per month.
will add now!
irish:okay. So I guess you only mention specific Asian countries.
I didn't know Toggle had Korean stuff.
Some stuff on dramafever is avaiilable in ireland.
Are you including Ireland In UK? Please don't. We can be pretty sensitive about that kind of stuff over here. :)
Hahaha I didn't know that some dramas on DF were available in Ireland, I'll add it :) :D