In the past few years, streaming platforms have started popping up all over the place, in all shapes and sizes. In most countries there are tons of different options available, but almost all of them require a monthly paid subscription. Among the free services (or ones with free options) you can find some that contain ads, like Pluto TV or IQIYI. In this case, we’re here to talk about IQIYI, a service that’s similar to Netflix, but with content that’s almost entirely produced in China or surrounding countries.
IQIYI has been around for a few months and has an app available for Android and iOS. Although the content on the platform is all in original version —that is, with audio only in Chinese—, it offers subtitles in multiple languages. Now, you may be wondering, is it worth downloading? Read on to find out.
What exactly does IQIYI have to offer?
Among this platform’s offerings, you’ll find the usual: TV shows, movies from a variety of genres, entertainment programs, reality shows and anime. However, the app also has two categories called “Drama” and “Sweet On” composed entirely of romantic and dramatic series (typical soap opera-style shows).
The movies are also divided by the usual genres (fantasy, action, etc.) although there’s also a section dedicated exclusively to Kung Fu related titles.
The app is nice and intuitive to use. It offers all the features you’re used to seeing in these sorts of services: a start menu, a search section, another with your profile and a download section for you to store all the content you download to watch offline. The downloads section is where you’ll find some of the differences between the free version and the paid version, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the app also offers the possibility to cast the content to a smart TV or a dongle to enjoy it on a big screen.
Free version vs. VIP
As you can see, this app offers a good variety of unique content. So if you’re a fan of watching movies and shows in their original version or don’t mind reading subtitles, it can be a nice addition to your current streaming collection. The most appealing thing about it may be its free version, but you should keep in mind that you’ll come across blocked content, ads, limited downloads, and a maximum playback and download quality, which is 720p.
If you give IQIYI a try and feel like it’s worth paying for more and improved features, you can subscribe to its VIP version to have no limitations for 6.99 euros/dollars (depending on where you live). And of course, you can try the premium version out for free for the first month.
Translated by Sarah Odebralski
