YouTube is a video-sharing platform where users can upload and share content with each other. It’s
one of the most popular websites in the world, and it’s used by 2.1 billion people around the world.
However, it’s not available in China.
The site has been blocked since September 2012 by the country’s government, which means that if you’re living or traveling there, you’ll face a few problems if you want to get around this restriction:
For one thing, you can only access YouTube by using a VPN —and that means having to spend money to access a platform that’s actually free.
If you’re not sure what a VPN is, it’s a service that reroutes your internet access through another server — in this case, one outside of China.
The bad news is that the Chinese government has advanced anti-VPN software that can usually detect when someone is using a VPN and block it.
Even if they don’t catch you, the speed of your Internet connection will be slow enough to cause lag or buffering. Or worse, you might not be able to find any VPN provider with good security and privacy features to keep your online history safe from hackers or ISPs.
Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to YouTube in China.
They’re not exactly the same as the platform, since the country has developed its own ecosystem to fit the Asian audience. However, they’re still worth checking out if you want to share and watch videos.
Here are some of the best:
15 Best YouTube Alternatives in China You Need to Try Now
1. iQiyi
iQiyi is an excellent choice because it has many of the same features as YouTube, including the ability to upload videos, share them with friends, and watch them on your smartphone or computer.
The platform has over 530 million monthly active users, and it offers a wide variety of content. From top-tier drama series like The Rap of China to classic movies like Oldboy, there’s literally something for everybody.
Now, the first thing you’ll notice about iQiyi is that it looks a lot like Netflix. The homepage of the website features trending videos, new releases, and popular shows.
But like on YouTube, there are also featured channels where you can find different types of content and you can browse by genre if you want more specific results.
Besides, if you want more information about any particular video, there’s a small description box under each title that gives a brief summary of what it’s about.
iQiyi also has a built-in player that works seamlessly with pretty much any device you throw at it. And if you want to watch something in English? No problem —their subtitles automatically appear whenever you need them.
In addition to that, iQiyi offers a premium membership that unlocks additional features like ad-free viewing and access to exclusive content such as live award ceremonies in China.
Related: 20 Best YouTube Alternatives to Take Your Videos to the Next Level
2. MangoTV
MangoTV is a video-streaming website owned by Baidu, China’s leading search engine.
Like YouTube, it offers a large collection of high-quality videos from movies to TV shows, but the site’s offering is way more varied. Their content ranges from user-generated videos to movies and TV shows..
Furthermore, MangoTV has a huge database of music videos, including K-pop and Japanese pop music. For children, there are tons of programs and educational videos.
On top of that, it has a clean and user-friendly interface.
Users can easily find the video they want by searching using keywords or categories or clicking on the recommended list on the homepage. You can also use its built-in browser plugin to download any video you like quickly and easily in one go.
Additionally, MangoTV’s videos are available in multiple languages including English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.
3. YouKu
Youku is one of the best YouTube substitutes in China because it offers a lot of the same features.
You can upload content to the platform, comment on videos, subscribe to channels, and have your favorites show up in your feed. You can even watch live streams of events like music concerts or sports matches via the app or website.
The video site is the country’s largest online video platform, with a user base of over 600 million people. The service originally had a Western-style interface and offered a wide variety of entertainment —music videos, sitcoms, dramas, etc.— but later evolved into an online video provider that included user-generated content.
In terms of appearance and functionality, Youku looks a lot like YouTube. It has channels similar to YouTube’s playlists that make it easy for users to follow or subscribe to video feeds from their favorite creators (or TV shows).
Besides, Youku also has a feature called “Video Recommendations” which will suggest content based on what you’ve watched before.
However, the best thing about the platform is that it doesn’t have ads on its site or its apps at all. That means you’ll never have to worry about those pesky pre-roll ads before every video starts playing again
4. Tencent Video
Tencent Video is another fantastic option. It has many similar features, like a library of HD videos, user profiles, playlists, video search and suggested content, and live streaming (including a feature called “Super Chat”)
One of the best things about this platform is its user-friendly interface and intuitive controls. You can find exactly what you’re looking for without having to spend too much time searching through menus or scrolling through lists.
In addition, Tencent Video supports HD streaming and subtitles in multiple languages (English included), which means that even if you don’t speak Chinese fluently or at all, you’ll still be able to understand what’s going on during each video.
It has a wide range of content, from short-form videos to full-length movies. You can watch the news, live-streamed concerts, education programs, and even professional sporting events
The only downside of this platform is that it doesn’t offer as many monetization options as YouTube. However, if you’re trying to share ideas with friends and family or watch local content, then Tencent Video is more than enough!
5. Bilibili
Bilibili is a Chinese platform that has become one of the most well-known alternatives to YouTube in the country. It provides a wide variety of content, including anime and gaming videos, as well as music videos and live streams.
It’s so popular because it has all the features you would expect from a solid video-sharing platform:
On the site, users can upload their own videos or watch others’ videos. They can comment on those videos, and even become friends with other users who share their interests through their community forum.
However, one of the biggest advantages of Bilibili is the sheer volume of content available on the site.
With over 293 million users posting videos every day, you’re bound to find something that interests you. There’s also a lot of content created specifically for Chinese viewers, so if you’re looking for local entertainment, this is a good place to start.
Additionally, it has a special appeal for those who are fans of Japanese cartoons (anime), and it even hosts live streams from events related to the industry.
Another cool thing is that Bilibili’s user interface looks similar to YouTube’s. It also has some neat features, such as the “hot search”, which allows you to quickly find trending and frequently searched videos.
6. TuDou
TuDou is another great choice. The interface is very user-friendly, and it lets you watch videos without any registration or subscription.
TuDou offers something similar to YouTube in terms of content categories (e.g., music videos, gameplays), channels (e.g., TuDouTV), and a subscription feature (e.g., paid memberships).
The app lets you watch videos, save them to your phone, comment on them, share them with other users… the list goes on and on.
The main difference between TuDou and the US platform is that TuDou offers a more mobile-oriented alternative, with short clips instead of full-length videos.
Another difference is the number of ads on each page —there are fewer ads on TuDou than there are on YouTube, so it doesn’t feel as cluttered or overwhelming
Additionally, it also supports various devices including computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Also Read: Best Browsers For YouTube Streaming
7. 56 Video
56 Video has everything you love about YouTube: short videos and long-form content from creators, live streaming, and even paid subscriptions for certain channels.
And unlike many other Chinese video sites, it’s completely free —you can just sign up with your WeChat account or your phone number.
In addition to that, you can find any kind of video here —music, news, funny clips, even how-to videos— and interact with the content in an easy way.
For example, you can like or dislike a video, favorite it, or comment on it. You can even create playlists of your favorite videos!
Furthermore, 56 Video has an app available on both Android and iOS devices, making it easy to watch videos from anywhere at any time.
The app also allows users to watch videos offline, which is helpful when traveling or when there isn’t a secure internet connection available nearby.
8. AcFun
AcFun is another excellent alternative. The site offers a wide variety of content, from news to entertainment, sports, food and cooking, fashion and beauty tips, music videos, movies and TV series, cartoons and anime, documentaries —you name it!
Its layout is similar to YouTube’s as well. Videos are organized into channels, playlists and video searches are available, and users can subscribe to channels and leave comments.
Plus, they’ve kept their player and other features pretty consistent with what you’d expect from a top video-sharing platform.
There are also some unique features that set AcFun apart from other sites. For example, viewers can vote on videos before they are uploaded —this helps Chinese creators decide what kind of content should be posted more often during their next upload session.
Besides, it comes with built-in tools such as translation options and an integrated chat feature that allow you to talk with other viewers while watching videos together in real-time.
9. SoHu Video
SoHu Video is a good substitute for YouTube in China. Like the US platform, it offers a wide selection of videos, including music videos, news clips, and educational content.
You can also find videos on topics such as entertainment and sports. And if you’re looking for something specific, you can use the search function to locate exactly what you’re looking for.
Another nice feature of SoHu Video is its ability to act as a standalone app for playing music files on your computer or mobile device.
You can either use the native player on the website itself (which is very similar in appearance and functionality to YouTube Music), or download the app onto your phone if you want more control over how things look and sound when listening via headphones or earbuds.
In addition to watching videos on your phone or tablet screen, you can also play them on your TV using Chromecast or AirPlay (if your device supports these features).
Furthermore, the platform offers both free and paid services. While the free service is ad-supported and has a smaller selection of content, the paid version has no ads, no restrictions on playback speed or resolution, and access to exclusive content.
1o. Baidu Video
Baidu Video is a great alternative to YouTube in China, and it’s also one of the easiest to use.
You can find all kinds of videos, from comedy skits to music videos to educational content. You can also upload your own videos, share them with friends, and view other people’s creations.
In addition to this, you can create playlists and add them to your profile page so that others can check out everything you’ve uploaded.
Besides, the platform’s interface is very intuitive even if you’re not fluent in Chinese because most of the categories are self-explanatory and there aren’t too many options to choose from when uploading your own videos.
There are other benefits to using Baidu Video as well: for example, it has a large database of videos, so finding something new is simple.
It also offers a mobile app so you can watch videos on the go, and it doesn’t restrict access based on location like other sites do in China.
11. Xigua
Xigua is a Chinese-language video streaming service that has gained a lot of popularity since its launch in 2016. It’s not as well known as Youku, but it does have an impressive number of users —some 131 million monthly active users— and a growing library of content.
Unlike YouTube, Xigua has a wide variety of shows and user-generated videos available to watch, from dramas and reality TV to comedy series, music videos, and much more.
The site also has a news section with articles related to your interests, as well as social media features so you can share your favorite videos with friends on social media platforms like Weibo (China’s Twitter).
In addition to that, Xigua has an app available for Android users who want to watch videos on their smartphones or tablets.
The most interesting thing about Xigua though, is that it allows users to upload videos and add subtitles in their own language. Plus, it has a great copyright protection system: it uses AI technology to detect copyrighted content and block it from being uploaded on its platform (except for music).
12. Kuaishou
Kuaishou is another well-known Chinese video-sharing app that’s become the go-to place for short videos. In fact, it has over 347.3 million daily users.
The app allows you to make your own videos, add effects, music, or voiceovers and then share them with friends or publish them on its website.
It also lets you search for content by topic, which makes it easier for you to find exactly what you are looking for. Plus, you can watch videos uploaded by other users, comment on them, and like or share them with friends on social media sites like WeChat or Weibo.
Besides, one of Kuaishou’s strongest points is that you can become an influencer on the platform, just like on YouTube.
13. LeTV
LeTV is a platform that began operating in 2011, and it’s a great substitute for YouTube in China. Millions of people use it, and it’s very simple to use.
LeTV also has a number of different features that make it stand out from its competitors. For example, it lets you watch videos without having to create an account (which is great if you don’t want to give up any personal information).
In addition, the platform offers high-definition streaming at no additional cost —which means you can watch videos in 1080p quality and enjoy them in all their glory.
Another thing that makes LeTV an excellent choice is its “Live” feature. It lets you interact with other viewers while watching certain shows or movies by posting comments onscreen or sending private messages through the app itself.
The platform also offers plenty of options for watching it on different devices —including Android and iOs smartphones and tablets— as well as through your browser or TV via Chromecast or AirPlay.
14. Funshion
Funshion is also a great choice. It’s like YouTube, but instead of being a web-based platform, Funshion operates on peer-to-peer (P2P) technology.
Think of it as a decentralized network, but instead of files being distributed between computers, they’re distributed between users.
This means that there is no central server where the data is stored – instead, everyone who downloads Funshion becomes part of the network and helps distribute the videos.
Now, Funshion’s biggest strongest point is its security features. It uses 256-bit AES encryption and a zero-knowledge system to keep your information secure.
The platform also deletes all data after 30 days of inactivity on the site, so you don’t have to worry about them holding onto your info after it’s no longer relevant.
One more thing:
The videos on Funshion have subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and many other languages.
Additionally, you can chat with other users on the site by clicking on their name and selecting “chat” from the dropdown menu that appears next to their profile picture
Sum Up: What’s The Best YouTube Alternative in China?
So, what’s the best substitute for YouTube in China?
Well, it depends. If you want to watch videos in English, iQiyi is your best bet.
It has a huge selection of videos, great search functionality, and an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to find what you need. Plus, you can set up subtitles and enjoy your streaming experience ad-free.
Now, if what you miss is more the community aspect of YouTube, you should check out AcFun. The site has a ton of different features for interacting with other users, including live streaming and user-generated content.
Finally, if you want to watch local content, we recommend MangoTV. The platform offers thousands of user-generated videos that are only available in China, and you can watch them with excellent quality.
