Top 6 Bilibili Alternatives & Substitutes in 2023

bilibili

What is Bilibili?

Bilibli is China’s equivalent of YouTube and Netflix combined into one platform. Over at Bilibili, you can find a number of different types of videos and movies to watch, as it is a free platform. 

Earlier, Bilibili started out only as a site that showed Anime content on it, but now, it has become one of the biggest video platforms in China, and people are able to upload content regularly on Bilibili.

You can easily watch different types of videos on Bilibili and support your favorite content creator with special coins, etc.   

Reason to look for sites like Bilibili

Reason 1 – Mostly available in China

The site, Bilibili, is mostly available to use in China and not in other countries, so if you were planning to view this website without the usage of a VPN, then chances are that you won’t be able to access the website. 

The entire site is also in Chinese and no other language, and if you are someone who doesn’t understand Chinese, then you will have trouble using it because there is not a direct option to translate the site. 

Reason 2 – Bullet comments

Bilibili also has a distinct feature which is known as ‘Bullet Comments’, and these comments are basically placed directly over the video. 

Not all users can write a bullet comment, and for that, you actually have to pass a test, yes, an actual test on Bilibili’s website, that allows users to post Bullet comments on any video, and they are highly distracting to the video viewing experience. 

There are a number of videos with Bullet Comments placed on them from top to bottom, so you cannot see the video at all. 

Reason 3 – China’s privacy rules

China’s privacy rules are notoriously known throughout the world as being very infringing on its own citizens, and everything that is said and uploaded is tracked by the Chinese government, and the same is the case with Bilibili as well. 

There are a lot of videos that are not allowed to be shared on Bilibili’s platform because they interfere with certain agendas of the Chinese government, and some users are also put to jail because of some of the videos that are published on Bilibili’s platform. 

Things like these can be very annoying if you want to express your own opinion towards a specific agenda that is not aligned with the Chinese government’s agendas.

Best Bilibili Alternatives

YouTube

youtube

YouTube is the best alternative you can find for Bilibili, and not just for Bilibili but for any selected free video streaming site available right now.

I don’t have to talk a lot about YouTube since everyone uses YouTube for all sorts of different things, whether it be movies, music, education, etc. 

YouTube is a hub for all sorts of content, and everyone is trying to make their own YouTube channel because it is quite profitable!

What we liked about YouTube

YouTube has billions of users everywhere which means it has been tried and tested by many people. 

So, everything on YouTube has gone through years of testing before going live.

YouTube is a great place for many people to be recognised as well. 

Plus, you get all sorts of content, such as movies, educational videos, music is one of the key draws for which people usually come to YouTube to check their service out.

What we didn’t like about YouTube

A lot of people appreciate YouTube for what it delivers. Still, mostly it is appreciated by advertisers simply because they get a really good customer base from YouTube.

YouTube’s ads have gotten very annoying lately because of how frequent they are. You will find tons of ads just on its homepage, but the number of ads on the videos is the worst.

One can very easily find two ads placed between the content, and it ruins the entire video viewing experience. 

Why did we choose YouTube as a Bilibili alternative?

YouTube is better than Bilibili in every single thing possible. First of all, YouTube is a well-known site across the globe, unlike Bilibili. 

It has billions of downloads compared to Bilibili. 

The other great thing, and the only reason I would recommend YouTube over Bilibili, is its sheer content. 

Literally, everything that Bilibili has to offer, you will find ten times better options on YouTube.

Review and rating of YouTube

YouTube is an app that has become a major source of income for so many people. 

It is a service with everything on it; you can get entertained on it, learn from it, raise your voice through it, and literally do anything you want from it, and no one gets to stop you, as well.

Your content will speak for you and will be much more recognizable than a website with next to no users on it.

I would be rating YouTube 4/5 stars!

Plex

Plex tv

Thanks to its applications, Plex is a media server that lets you stream your content on different devices. Plex makes your laptop or desktop into its very own private server.

Through this, you can access and share your media files onto different devices like your tv, phone, etc., with its applications.

But that’s not all that. Plex also has its own library of content ranging from movies, music, and podcasts, all of which can be accessed for free.

Also read: Jellyfin VS Plex

What we liked about Plex

Plex is a great alternative for people with tons of different media on their laptop or desktop, which they wish to watch on their television or mobile device wirelessly.

And you also get all your content laid out nicely without doing much. Regarding its free content, such as movies, music and podcasts, that is also not where Plex shies. 

You get some great set of content on Plex for free, and some of the movies that it has to offer are genuinely good as well.

What we didn’t like about Plex

Plex recently got hacked by a third-party hacker, and Plex claims that nothing serious has happened and the hackers couldn’t extract any key information about their users.

And they were quick enough to send emails to all of their users and let them know about this attack and to change their password. 

All of this sounds good on their side, but it still makes one think about the security of their data while using Plex.

Plus, you also don’t get the added option of watching games on Plex, which you can do on Bilibili.

Why did we choose Plex as a Bilibili alternative?

Plex is a good alternative to Bilibili on two accounts. One major account is that you can watch free movies and listen to free music, which you are also able to do on Bilibili, but Plex has more users than Bilibili.

But Plex also acts as a good way of streaming your content on your devices like laptops and desktops; this is something Bilibili can’t do yet.

Review and rating of Plex

Plex is targeted to a different set of users, but it also has features similar to what you can get on Bilibili, making it a good alternative to Bilibili.

It is an application that can be useful to many people; if you want to watch free content and share it with different devices of yours, and if you haven’t given it a try, you really should.

Because of that reason and more, I would rate Plex 3.5/5 stars.

BBC iPlayer 

bbc-iplayer

BBC iPlayer is a streaming service which is owned and operated by BBC Networks. On it, you will find everything which BBC has the rights to stream.

It is a streaming service I have recommended a lot of times in different articles as well, simply because the service on display seems really good.

There are also plenty of good things to talk about BBC iPlayer, so let’s get started.

What we liked about BBC iPlayer 

The content which is on BBC iPlayer is simply great, and it is just as great an alternative to Bilibili as it is also for cable cutters as well.

It has dedicated sub-sections for shows, live tv, movies, and songs, and BBC also has Radio One Podcasts, where they interview different celebrities.

Plus, you get the added convenience of using it on your smartphone, TV, laptop, and other devices!

What we didn’t like about BBC iPlayer 

The only thing I am not a fan of for BBC iPlayer is its availability. This is because BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK and nowhere else.

You can try to use a VPN to access iPlayer, but some of the VPNs have been put on blacklisted, making it even more difficult for people outside of the UK to access iPlayer.

This is really a shame because the iPlayer has content that is some of the best you can find for any streaming site, let alone a site like Bilibili.

Why did we choose BBC iPlayer as a Bilibili alternative?

BBC iPlayer is like the bigger, wealthier version of Bilibili. It has gotten everything that Bilibili does; you can watch movies, tv shows, live tv, podcast, songs, sports, news, literally everything at a paid price.

It has dedicated apps for different devices, which people use, and is capable of streaming its content from anywhere you would like to watch it.

Review and rating of BBC iPlayer 

BBC iPlayer has been my go-to recommendation for many people looking for alternatives, such as sites like Bilibili and others.

And it is surprising that not many people talk about it because even I didn’t know much about it until very recently, and it is a great service.

I would have given it five stars if it was available worldwide because, in this context, it is the perfect alternative, but for now, I would be rating it 4/5 stars.

Prime Services

amazon-prime-video

Through Prime, you get a lot of good stuff, which you wouldn’t be getting on Bilibili at all.

You have to pay an annual or monthly-based subscription for Prime, and then you are rewarded with their services on it. 

However, even after their subscription cost, you will find that it is a great service.

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What we liked about Prime Services

Prime services are great for the price point you have to pay.  A monthly price of around $15/month will get you so much stuff to offer that you won’t complain about it.

Through Prime, you will have free shipping and discounts on the Amazon Shopping app, you will get a subscription to Prime Videos, and you will also get a subscription to Prime Music.

On Prime Music, you have access to more than 70 Million songs! And you also have Original content in terms of Podcasts and songs, which is a pretty great deal!

What we didn’t like about Prime Services

Prime Services does offer a lot for its bucks, but it is still $15 more expensive than Bilibili.

Some people may not be interested in spending that much money, especially in these times of inflation when people are looking for ways to lower their expenses.

This could be a downside for Prime Services since they don’t have free trials or free limited services, as well.

Why did we choose Prime Services as a Bilibili alternative?

Prime Services are definitely paid alternative to Bilibili, but if you look at it in terms of investment, it is a fairly good investment.

You get tons of different features and functionalities for those $15 you are spending and compare to other streaming sites, you are offered more things.

Plus, the service is just much more reliable than Bilibili. The apps are tried and tested out, it has a dedicated customer base, and you just have a better experience.

If you are not happy with Prime we have listed the best Prime Video Alternatives for streaming movies and tv shows

Review and rating of Prime Services

Prime Services, like I have said in the past as well, is a service which you can use if you have the money to spend because you won’t regret spending.

The content library both for movies and music, are enormous, and you get additional treatment in terms of free shipping on Amazon shipping and more.

It is a service used by many people, and if you feel like using it, you should go right ahead and get it; I would be rating Prime Services 3/5 stars.

Queensland Max

Queensland Max is a website I recently found out about, and I am quite impressed by how well it functions for a free streaming site. 

Over at Queensland Max, you will find movies and tv shows from every genre. The website also features movies from different countries, and it is a pretty good website. 

You can actually get to watch some of the latest movies and tv shows on this site, and you won’t have to pay for anything.

There are also some other great things about Queensland Max as well, so let’s discuss all of them in detail.

What we liked about Queensland Max

Queensland Max has a pretty impressive website. Everything on it seems quite posh and well-placed. You really don’t have to search through a lot.

Its content library is filled with the latest movies and tv shows, and there are next to no pop-up ads on the website.

You can easily click on the film that you would want to watch, and you can watch it in HD or other resolution on its player and have a great time streaming.

What we didn’t like about Queensland Max

Queensland Max doesn’t stream any music or games on its site; maybe in the future, which is available on Bilibili.

The website is also the only place you can access its content; it doesn’t have any dedicated app to watch it on or stream from your TV.

The website also doesn’t hold any rights to streaming the contents that it has on its website; they are all illegally embedded on it.

Why did we choose Queensland Max as a Bilibili alternative?

Queensland Max is a site where you can watch the latest movies and shows and the movies which are listed on Bilibili are also available on Queensland Max as well.

The only downside is that you are not able to listen to any songs or podcasts on Queensland Max, if that is the reason why you are looking for Bilibili alternatives, then you should check out the other alternatives.

Other than that, the website performs quite smoothly. You get a decent viewing experience on Queensland Max.

Review and rating of Queensland Max

Queensland Max is not a direct alternative to Bilibili, but it is a site you can access for viewing your latest movies and tv shows.

You will be greeted with a website that works well when compared to other sites which provide similar content but have terrible websites to go around.

I am pretty impressed with Queensland Max, and for that reason, I would be rating it 3/5 stars.

Netflix

Netflix

At the beginning of the article, I said Bilibili is a website like YouTube and Netflix, so it seems fitting to include Netflix as its final alternative.

Netflix has lots to like and things that aren’t so great about it as well; let’s discuss all of its plus and negative points!

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What we liked about Netflix

Netflix clearly has lots to offer in terms of both content and quantity. They have been producing content for a long time and have content for everyone. 

That is different in that the content gets lost in the bottomless pit, but they still have some really great Originals and award-winning movies and shows in their library.

They are also fairly moderate in terms of their subscription plan; they are not the cheapest compared to others, but with the amount of stuff they offer, the price is more or less justified.

What we didn’t like about Netflix

Netflix also has some downsides, and they aren’t that pretty. Netflix has the habit of geo-locking its content, which roughly means that most content isn’t accessible globally.

Speaking of legal things, Netflix has also released an ad-supported plan at the end of last year, but due to some legal issues, some of the content that Netflix has rights to won’t be available on the ad-supported plan.

Netflix also has an annoying thing in that they immediately cancel an Original series of theirs after it has been released for just one season.

Why did we choose Netflix as a Bilibili alternative?

Bilibili has been active for some time now, but Netflix has been here for quite some time now, and it has learned a lot of things from its journey so far. 

Bilibili, on the other hand, has a lot to figure out in terms of services and content as well. Netflix is also available worldwide right now, so you can use it from almost anywhere.


It is a streaming service that all the streaming services look very closely because every successful movie that Netflix makes, it is replicated by its competitors. 

Review and rating of Netflix

Whether you like Netflix or not, you really can’t deny that they are the king of streaming, and no streaming service has as much content and subscribers as Netflix.

And those subscribers, even though they just lost a million subscribers last quarter, are there because of their services.

They are the streaming service in the streaming wars, and for that reason, I would be rating Netflix 3/5 stars.

Our recommendations on the best Bilibili alternative?

Well, there you have it. An article discussing the best Bilibili alternatives present in the market right now. Bilbili is a Chinese website, and not a lot of people can access it. 

The alternatives that I mentioned above are all accessible worldwide, and on top of that, they are all fairly good in their respective fields, as well. 

So, when it comes to picking up the best Bilbili alternatives, I will go with YouTube and Netflix as the best alternatives. 

Why did we choose YouTube and Netflix as the best Bilibili alternative?

YouTube is the direct alternative to Bilibili as Bilibili is called China’s YouTube. The amount of content that is available on YouTube is on the next level when compared to Bilbili. 

It has all the features that Bilbili has and then more, as well. It is truly the king of free streaming platforms, and there is one taking its place. 

On the other hand, Netflix is a good paid alternative to Bilibili. You are not able to upload your content on Netflix, but you get to watch a lot of different movies, tv shows and play games on it as well. 

These are all available on Bilbili and one of the reasons why Bilbili is so popular in China. 

As always, these have been my thoughts on this topic. What about you? Do you agree with these alternatives? Or do you think that I missed out on a few better ones?

Whatever your thoughts are, do let us know about them in the comments section down below!

Picture of Sanjit Mansingh

Sanjit Mansingh

Sanjit Mansingh is a Journalism and Mass Communication graduate. While studying in this field he quickly realized what he wants to do in his life: Filmmaking. His interest in writing scripts is what made him give a try in the world of content writing. Sanjit's an avid Movie Geek and is an award winning Director as well.

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