The Best Apps for Watching Dramas

In recent years, dramas — Asian television series, especially Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese — have gained a global audience.

With captivating stories, exciting performances and high-quality production, these series have gained space on dedicated and generalist streaming platforms.

For drama fans, finding a good app to watch your favorite series is essential.

In this article, we will explore the best apps available for watching dramas, highlighting their features and advantages.

Viki Rakuten

Viki Rakuten is one of the most popular apps for watching dramas. It stands out for its vast library of Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese dramas, as well as movies and variety shows.

Characteristics:

Subtitles in Multiple Languages: One of Viki's biggest advantages is the availability of subtitles in several languages, including Portuguese, English, Spanish and many others, thanks to its active community of volunteers.

Interactivity: Viki offers a feature called “Timed Comments” where viewers can comment in real time on specific scenes, which creates an interactive and communal viewing experience.

Variety of Content: In addition to dramas, Viki also offers variety shows and films from various Asian countries.

Benefits:

Friendly and easy to use interface.

Wide variety of classic and recent dramas.

Availability of free content, although with ads.

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Netflix

Netflix, one of the largest streaming platforms in the world, also offers a considerable selection of dramas, especially Korean dramas.

Characteristics:

High Transmission Quality: Netflix offers streaming in high definition and even 4K, depending on your subscription.

Exclusive Content: The platform produces and acquires exclusive streaming rights to several popular dramas, including Netflix original titles.

Intuitive Interface: The Netflix interface is known for its ease of use and personalized recommendations based on the user's viewing history.

Benefits:

No ads, providing an uninterrupted viewing experience.

Download episodes for offline viewing.

Large investment in production and acquisition of dramas.

Kocowa

Kocowa is a platform dedicated mainly to Korean dramas, launched in partnership with the three largest television networks in South Korea: KBS, SBS and MBC.

Characteristics:

Exclusive Content: Kocowa offers access to a wide range of dramas, variety shows and music programs directly from major Korean broadcasters.

Quick release: Episodes are released quickly after airing in South Korea, often with English subtitles available within a few hours.

Benefits:

Big focus on Korean content, with quick updates.

HD broadcast quality and fast subtitles.

AsianCrush

AsianCrush offers a wide variety of Asian films and series, including a good selection of dramas.

Characteristics:

Varied Content: In addition to dramas, AsianCrush offers action, comedy, drama, and documentary films from various Asian countries.

Free Access: The platform offers a good amount of free content, supported by ads.

Benefits:

Diverse library that goes beyond just dramas.

Availability of free content.

iQIYI

iQIYI is one of the biggest streaming platforms in China and offers a wide variety of Chinese dramas, as well as Korean and Japanese content.

Characteristics:

Original Content: iQIYI produces and distributes many high-quality original dramas and films.

High definition: Offers HD streaming and offline viewing support.

Benefits:

Big focus on Chinese content, with a vast library of dramas and films.

Availability of free content with ads.

WeTV

WeTV is the international platform of Tencent Video, one of China's largest streaming services, offering a wide range of Chinese dramas and Asian content.

Characteristics:

Large Library: WeTV offers a wide variety of Chinese, Korean, Thai and Japanese dramas.

Multilingual Subtitles: The platform supports multiple subtitle options, making it easy to access for a global audience.

Benefits:

Big focus on Chinese dramas, with quick releases and frequent updates.

Free content options with ads.

Final considerations

Choosing the best app for watching dramas depends on several factors, including your personal preferences, the type of dramas you like, and whether you're willing to pay for a premium subscription to avoid ads and access exclusive content.

Each platform mentioned in this article has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice will vary depending on your individual needs.

For those looking for a vast library of dramas from different Asian countries and an interactive experience, Viki Rakuten is an excellent choice.

If streaming quality and exclusive content are your priorities, Netflix and Kocowa are strong options. As for fans of Chinese dramas, iQIYI and WeTV offer a robust selection of content.

Finally, for those who want a free experience, albeit with ads, AsianCrush is a viable alternative.

Regardless of which platform you choose, dramas continue to offer a fascinating window into Asian culture and entertainment, capturing hearts around the world with their heartwarming stories and captivating characters.